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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-03 Library Commission SummaryKENAI ADVISORY LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTIVITY ROOM MARCH 3, 1998 ~ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES ao Regular Meeting of February 3, 1998. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: REPORTS ao Director Friends of the Library Public Relations Committee ITEM 6' OLD BUSINESS ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS a, April Openings "Into the Future "Video ITEM 8: COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/~UESTIONS ITEM 9' INFORMATION ao Kenai City Council Action Agenda of February 18, 1998. Open House Announcements- Animal Shelter and Wellhouse No. 3 ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT Kenai Advisory Library Commission March 3, 1998- 7:30 p.m. Kenai Community Library Activity Room Chair Bob Peters *** MINUTES *** 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Bob Peters, Kathy Heus, Lorrene Forbes, Janet Brown, Janice Rodes, Vincent O~eilly, Carol Brenckle, Members Absent: Elissa Fahnholz Also Present: Emily DeForest, Councilman Joe Moore, Ethel Clausen, Contract Secretary Barb Roper 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA FORBES MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION SECONDED BY BROWN. Heus noted the date needed to be changed from March 2 to March 3. MOTION PASSED WITH THE DATE CHANGE. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of February 3, 1998 HEUS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 3~ 1998. MOTION SECONDED BY FORBES. Brown requested the first paragraph under Item b, page 2 be changed to read, "Brown stated there was no Friends report as the bank statement had not been received and they didn't meet on their normal date in January as it fell on New Years Day." The minutes were approved with the above noted change. Library Commission March 3, 1998 Page 1 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None ® REPORTS c. Director DeForest provided members with a copy of the March calendar and a flyer from Cook Inlet Book Company prior to the meeting. The "Be a Pal" (Partners Assisting Libraries) program offered by Cook Inlet Book Company provides a credit to a library that is mentioned whenever an individual purchases material from them. The Kenai Community Library received $10.30 last month. The Cook Inlet Book Company provides mainly Alaskana materials and also has a great classic paperback inventory. The "Writer's Night" is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 1998 at the Kenai Visitors Center. Local writers will be present to read their materials. The fee is $20.00 and half of the proceeds will be given to the Library. The tax assistants have been coming to the Library and will continue to do so until April. There has been a good turnout with them taking two people every half hour and their schedule has been full. Mr. Biggs at the School District is writing a technology training grant and has incorporated the information from the Kenai Community Library. If the grant is awarded, part of the monies will go towards training the Kenai Community Library staff to provide may facets of computer instruction. The grant will pay for staff to attend the training and will include temporary staff coverage. This program will not cost the City anything. The home schoolers will benefit from the grant. It was noted the district has approximately 300 home schoolers. The library has new light fixtures in most areas. Additional CD reference materials have been purchased. There is one computer that is too slow for Internet use so it is being prepared to be used as the CD server. DeForest and Hall will attend the Alaska Library Association conference in Ketchikan on March 4, 1998. March 5, 1998 is another full day for the universal service grant. The final word is the second section can be filed 28 days after the first Library Commission March 3, 1998 Page 2 section is filed and approved. It was noted the grants are filed on the Internet. It was also confirmed this grant is for the reduced phone charges. Approximately 30 children attended Dr. Suess' Birthday party at the library. Virginia Walters and Hall coordinated the event and both read stories. Cookies were also served. Check out sessions for February totaled 3,698. Rodes asked about the computer use for Internet access. DeForest reported the computers are used quite extensively and individuals are allowed one hour per day, once per day. There are five computers available for public use. Friends of the Library Heus reported the Friends of the Library met on March 2, 1998. The at- home tea membership drive was very successful and $2,200.00 has been raised to date. An additional $620.00 was donated toward the building fund. There is currently 87 members enrolled and this is the highest number for any given year. A letter is being prepared to be sent out to local businesses and organizations inviting them to underwrite a number of library programs which include the Mystery Lover's program; storytelling; summer reading program; industry day booth, etc. This will offset some of the cost associated with these various programs. The organizations will have the opportunity to choose a particular program as they will be provided with a list along with the associated costs. Friends will continue fund raising by selling the book lovers pins. These will be sold at the front desk and all profits will go the Friends of the Library. Consideration is being given to updating the library brochure that is given out to new members. The Sunday openings will take place in April from 1'00 p.m. to 4'00 p.m., however, the Library will be closed on April 12 for Easter. There will be a sign up sheet for anyone interested in participating, at least two people are needed each Sunday for the entire day. Donna Peterson, an author, is tentatively scheduled to be at the library on one of the Sundays (possibly April 26) for a reception and book signing. This will need to be confirmed. Library Commission March 3, 1998 Page 3 Moore asked if Sunday openings was included in the budget. DeForest replied it was not but another employee was included. DeForest reported she was informed today the additional person was removed. Moore felt the Sunday openings should be included in the budget since it isn't a large dollar item. It was noted that several people utilize the library on Sundays. Moore stated he would like to see the Commission push for Sunday openings and he would take it to the budget session which is scheduled for April. DeForest indicated there was some justification since the library had doubled the fines which would more than support the Sunday opening person. It was noted those revenues are placed in the General Fund and are not accessible for the library to use for staff funding. RODES MOVED TO SUPPORT THE APRIL SUNDAY OPENINGS AT THE LIBRARY AND TO TAKE IT TO COUNCIL IN WHATEVER FORM WAS APPROPRIATE. It was noted the Sunday openings would be for the full year and not just limited to April. RODES AMENDED THE MOTION TO SUPPORT SUNDAY OPENINGS AT THE LIBRARY AND TAKE IT TO COUNCIL IN WHATEVER FORM WAS APPROPRIATE. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BROWN. VOICE VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. Moore recommended that some cost figures accompany the budget request. DeForest will provide those figures. Heus reported that the post cards would support Sunday openings. After a general group discussion it was decided a packet of information will be provided as justification. DeForest thought, since the library lost the loan clerk, the new person working 20 hours per week could cover Sunday and do the inter-library loans. There have been a lot of complaints about the lack of an inter-library loan clerk. This task could not be assigned to a volunteer as someone is needed on constant basis. DeForest reported she will be meeting with the City Manager on Tuesday, March 10, 1998 for the first budget cuts. It was noted the building would probably be removed. Public Relations Committee No report. Library Commission March 3, 1998 Page 4 6. OLD BUSINF~S- None ® ® NEW BUSINF.,SS a. April Openings Discussed under Item 5b. b. "Into the Future" Video The Commission decided to view the video after the meeting was adjourned. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS / QUESTIONS Commissioner Heus asked about the status of the philanthropist list from Tess Whalen of EDD. It was noted the list has not yet been provided. Peters reported this is a task for the Public Relations Committee and they will follow up on it. Commissioner Forbes reported that she contacted Linda Swarner and it was recommended that Sue Carter be invited to a meeting to explain the steps taken for funding of the cultural center. DeForest will obtain Carter's phone number and provide it to Forbes. Commissioner Brown again reminded Commissioners of the "Writer's Night" at the Visitor Center on March 5 at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Rodes apologized for missing the past two meetings and indicated she would not be available for the April meeting. Chairman Peters excused Rodes absence in April. Councilman Moore asked if anyone had any questions regarding the Council agenda which was included in the packet. A brief discussion took place on the Cunningham Park issue and Councilman Moore explained that the City had sold a portion of their land to Garcia after he had encroached on it. The City gave Mr. Garcia a list of items to complete prior to the sale. Garcia complied and the parcel of land was sold. Moore encouraged Commissioners to inquire about anything included on the agenda. DeForest reported that Parks and Rec and the Library will have a booth at the Kenai River Festival again this year. Volunteers are needed to work the booth. Library Commission March 3, 1998 Page 5 Brenckle arrived at 8:10 p.m. 9. INFORMATION a® Kenai City Council Action Agendas of February 8, 1998 Open House Announcements ~ Animal Shelter and Wellhouse No. 3 10. ADJOURNMENT. FORBES MOVED TO ADJOURN. ADJOURNED AT 8:20 P.M. SECONDED BY HEUS. MEETING Respectfully submitted, Barbar~a Roper Library Commission March 3, 1998 Page 6