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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-07 Library Commission SummaryKENAI ADVISORY LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTIVITY ROOM APRIL 7, 1998 ~ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/k ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES- March 3, 1998 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ao Corey Hall- Kenai Community Library ITEM 5' REPORTS a, Director Friends of the Library Public Relations Committee ITEM 6' OLD BUSINESS ao April Openings ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS ao City of Kenai Budget Work Sessions Goals & Objectives ITEM 8: COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/OUESTIONS ITEM 9: INFORMATION a~ Kenai City Council Action Agendas of March 4, 18 and April 1, 1998. ITEM 10' ADJOURNMENT ® ® ® ® Kenai Advisory Library Commission April 7, 1998- 7:30 p.m. Kenai Community Library Activity Room Chair Bob Peters *** MINUTES *** 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, Vincent 0 ~eilly, Members Absent: Janice Rodes, Carol Brenckle, Elissa Fahnholz Also Present: Emily DeForest, Ethel Clausen, Contract Secretary Barb Roper APPROVAL OF AGENDA O~REILLY MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. HEUS SECONDED. AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of March 3, 1998 FORBES MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 3~ 1998. MOTION SECONDED BY BROWN. Heus noted a correction on page 3, third paragraph under the Friends of the Library, the first sentence should read, "Friends will continue fund raising by selling the book lovers pins". The minutes were approve with the correction. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Corey Hall - Kenai Community Library- Hall reported the Library hosted the Read Across America event requested by local retired teachers. Approximately 42 children participated and one teacher showed up to read. Events included storytellin§, crafts and watching videos. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 7, 1998 Page 1 ® Hall attended the Library Association Conference in Ketchikan with Director DeForest. The conference was quite interesting and it was beneficial to have two representatives from the Kenai Library as DeForest attended the technical meetings and Hall attended the workshops dealing with various library programs. The programs included a mother/daughter book club, poetry club, etc. It was noted that several of the work sessions overlapped so it would have been impossible for one person to attend all sessions. Hall indicated that she received some good ideas for summer programs for children and she felt very good about the conference. Goals were set and problems discussed. DeForest noted that Hall was asked to be a presenter at the conference next year. Hall gave a brief report on upcoming events at the library which include the National Library Week and Turn Off TV Week. Activities planned for the Turn Off TV week include Bingo, family read nights, and storytelling. The theme for this year's summer read program is "Take Me To Your Reader". Hall will begin the program the first week in June. The Library will have a booth at the Kenai River Festival and volunteers are needed to help out. REPORTS a. Director DeForest provided members with a copy of the April calendar and the monthly report. DeForest reported there were 674 individuals using the Internet at the Library. There are 5 computers and a person is allowed one hour per day, once per day. Discussion took place on the type of patrons and DeForest reported there may be 20 regulars that come in for various reasons, i.e., building a home page, building a home, checking stocks, etc. There are a lot of different people using the Internet. DeForest stated a special card is available for people visiting the area who wish to use the Internet. It was noted that Soldotna Library has one computer available for Internet use. The library had received two new computers. One is being used to monitor the magazines and will alert staff to missing issues and provide some control over the magazines. The library has about 350 magazines and newspapers that come in monthly. Staff is entering the data in the LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 7, 1998 Page 2 computer at this time. The genealogy group will also use the computer as it has the has the CD drives. Free CD's are available for this group. The Totem Chaser group (a genealogy club) has started again, they meet once per month. The library is open on Sundays in April except for Easter. There is a writer's group that meets at the library twice per month. They requested an earlier time for their next meeting to accommodate their guest Diane Olthuis. The Kenai Fire Department and State Forestry Department held a work shop at the library last Saturday and discussed prevention of home fires. There was a good turnout. The State Library card was discussed at the Library Association Conference and there are some pros and cons to having one. An advantage would be the system would alert other libraries of problem patrons and assist in collection of fees. It was noted that a holder of a State library card could use any library is the State. It was noted the system does not have a mechanism for having books returned to the library should a person from out of town take one with them. A lengthy discussion took place on delinquent accounts and collection agencies. Heus noted that a particular collection agency discussed in a newsletter used tact when approaching patrons and was very successful in getting fees paid. The agency gets a percentage. DeForest stated the Kenai Municipal Library has approximately $10,000 out in books and materials alone. There is quite a problem with vandalism and theft at the library. The library has been very busy and 173 new cards were issued from January through March. There is approximately 9000 cards issued to Kenai residents. The Universal Services Grant deadline is April 8, 1998 and the librarY's will be submitted on time. If awarded the grant will take care of approximately 60% of the library's communications to include Internet and telephone. Discussion took place on Microsoft grants and it was note that Kenai probably won't qualify due to the population size. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 7, 1998 Page 3 Friends of the Library Heus reported the Sunday hours are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and it is the intent to have some type of special event to draw people in. Donna Peterson will be at the Library on April 26, 1998 to give a short talk about her book, writing, and will have a book signing. There were 71 patrons in last Sunday which was quite good considering the lack of publicity. The people that did visit expressed their appreciation. The Writer's night at the Visitor's Center was successful. The Friends shared the sponsorship and also the proceeds. The total earned was $417.50. The program was excellent. Work will begin on the library brochure for patrons. A new member is getting the information together and will do the computer work. The brochure should be ready by the beginning of dune. A book sale is scheduled for June 4 and 5. The Friends of the Library members could preview the books on June 3. The Kenai Festival is held on Sunday and the remaining books will be sold at the library booth. The newsletter will be sent out after April 15, 1998. Fund raising activities will include the sale of book lover pins. Discussion took place on whether or not the Friends wanted to do another raffle and the decision will be made in May. Friends may have something in the 4th of July parade, perhaps with children. There is a women interested in organizing the event if she would be in town. A final decision will be made in May. The corporation (business) donations made also include a donation to the building fund. More letters will be sent out to other businesses once the addresses are received. These letters request donations for various library programs. Friends will be asking for assistance with the membership. There is currently 93 members which is probably the most the group has had. The volunteer will help with maintaining records. An Open House will be coming soon. The building fund currently has $21,000.00. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 7, 1998 Page 4 ® ® O'Reilly and Peters expressed appreciation for the fine work the Friends of the Library is doing with fund raising and the various library programs. c. Public Relations Committee: Peters reported the PR Committee contacted Tess ~Vhalen with EDD regarding the philanthropist list she talked about when she met with the Library Commission. Whalen informed Peters that her list is in Montana and she suggested the Commission compile its own list since they are very specialized. Whalen also suggested that the State of Alaska be contacted as they may have a similar list available. Whalen indicated she would be willing to provide assistance to a specific committee rather than the Commission as a whole. Peters stated the PR Committee will continue their efforts on this issue. Forbes reported that she invited Sue Carter to this meeting but unfortunately Carter was out of State but is enthusiastic about coming to the May meeting. Carter will give a history of fund raising efforts for the Cultural Center. OLD BUSINESS a. April Openings Peters requested support of Sunday openings by the Commissioners. If they are unable to volunteer any time a visit to the library is sufficient. NEW BUSINESS City of Kenai Budget Work Sessions Peters reported the City is holding budget work sessions on April 8, 15, and 22. DeForest confirmed that the half-time employee is still in the budget but the building and plans for the building have been removed. Forbes will attend the April 8th work session to present the budget request for Sunday hours. Commissioners reviewed the draft memo provided by Forbes and had no additional comments. HEUS MOVED THAT THE KENAI LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SUFFICIENT MONEY BE INCLUDED IN THE 1998-1999 BUDGET TO ALLOW OPERATION OF THE KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ON SUNDAYS. MOTION SECONDED BY BROWN. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 7, 1998 Page 5 VOICE VOTE - MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. be Goals and Objectives The goals and objectives for the Library were discussed and it was decided that Commissioner's will review the old list and be prepared to discuss them at the next meeting. Heus recommended the library plan be revisited. The group agreed the plan would be included in the goals and objectives. Se COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS / QUESTIONS Commissioner Forbes reiterated that she will attend the budget work session and present the memo regarding Sunday openings. She will make 40 copies at the library to hand out at the session. Forbes pointed out the comment regarding the Kenai Rec Center in the memo. She thought it was important to mention it as it is another facility that doesn't pay for the cost of doing business. Commissioner Heus reported that she was very pleased with the new lighting at the library. She worked on Sunday and was happy with the remarkable difference. Commissioner Brown invited members to visit the Sunday openings. Commissioner O'Reilly indicated that he was pleased with the meeting and the hard work being done at the library but was frustrated with the lack of a solution to the building problem. 9. INFORMATION Kenai City Council Action Agendas of March 4, 18 and April 1, 1998 10. ADJOURNMENT. HEUS MOVED TO ADJOURN. ADJOURNED AT 9:10 P.M. SECONDED BY FORBES. MEETING Respectfully submitted, Barbara Roper, ~(~ntract Secretary LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 7, 1998 Page 6