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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-11-03 Library Commission SummaryKENAI ADVISORY LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTMTY ROOM NOVEMBER 3, 1998 ~ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL ITEM.2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- October 6, 1998 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5' REPORTS ao Director Friends of the Library ITEM 6: OLD BUSINESS ao Joint Committee Patron Survey ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS ao December Open House Holt Revisited-- Back to the Drawingboard ITEM 8: COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/QUESTIONS ITEM 9' INFORMATION a, Kenai City Council Action Agendas of October 7 and 21, 1998. ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT ® REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF KENAI ADVISORY LIBRARY COMMISSION NOVEMBER 3, 1998-- 7:30 P.M. KENAI LIBRARY BOB PETERS~ CHAIR *** MINUTES *** CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at 7'30 p.m. Members Present: Bob Peters, Vince O~eilly, Janet Brown, Janice Rodes, Carol Brenckle, Kathy Heus. Lorrene Forbes ® . ® ® Also Present: Director Emily DeForest, Councilman Joe Moore, Ethel Clausen, Contract Secretary Alison Rapp. APPROVAL OF AGENDA BROWN MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN. MOTION SF~ONDED BY HEUS. THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS WRITTEN. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of October 6, 1998 Brown requested a change to Item 5b, paragraph one. The change will read "Brown reported Friends of the Library are considering offering the trip..." BROWN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OCTOBER 6, 1998 AS AMENDED. MOTION SECONDED BY RODES. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS AMENDED. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None REPORTS ,, a. Director Director DeForest reported a new employee, Carmen O'Neil, had been hired to replace a retiring employee, Dorothy Shaw. DeForest commented Ms. O~leil has had two years training in the capacity as a temporary, part-time Library employee. DeForest noted the Library will be looking for a new temporary, part-time employee. Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 1 DeForest reported on the Director's Leadership Conference she attended in Girdwood the previous month. She noted discussion included a concern of public/school libraries diverting funds intended for public use to school use only. DeForest commented the Library closure has been advertised. Two-week books checked out after November 9, 1998, and one- week books checked out after November 16, 1998, will be due December 7, 1998. DeForest noted patrons were being asked to check out the maximum number of books. She further noted the book drop would be open and cleaned daily. DeForest reported the Library employees will be working on community projects during the closure. She noted this would serve two purposes: Benefit the community by providing needed services and drawing positive attention to the Library. DeForest reported on an impending merger between OCLC and WLN databases. DeForest anticipates the merger to be a good thing for the Library. She noted the Alaska State Library is in favor of the merger. DeForest reported employee Julie Niederhauser will be going to Anchorage on Thursday, November 5, 1998 to attend training. Training will be an introduction to statewide database services soon to be available on the Intemet. Brenckle inquired if all users would have access to this new database via SLED. DeForest replied yes, the database will be on-line. DeForest commented she would like to request a new NT server and router at the next budget session. Chairman Peters inquired about the approximate cost. DeForest replied around $20,000. Brenckle inquired if that was an annual or one time cost. DeForest noted that was just to purchase the equipment. She further noted that is the type of item for which the Universal Service Fund would provide partial credits. DeForest reported the carpet installers had been in and had discussed their intentions for moving the books and shelves. DeForest commented they are planning on shrink wrapping a shelf at a time with the books still on them. She noted the individual shelves are not freestanding units and will fall apart when removed from the main bookshelf. Councilman Moore inquired if there was anything in the RFP regarding how the shelves and books were supposed to be moved. DeForest replied she did not know. DeForest noted she was having employees Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 2 charting location of shelves and books. Councilman Moore suggested the Library take pictures before the move starts. be Friends of the Library Heus commented the 50th Anniversary Committee reported they were in the process of making an invitation list for a March 7, 1999 tea-type event. Heus reported invitations would be ordered within the week. She requested suggestions on whom, from the past, might need to be invited. Heus noted Friends of the Library will be providing 50th anniversary stickers for the Library to use on correspondence and such. Heus reported the fall book sale earned proceeds of approximately $1,500. Heus commented the raffle was a tremendous success. She noted they anticipate profits of $14,000 - $15,000 from the $30,461 taken in. Heus reported Betsy and Steve Arbelovsky, winners of the grand prize, were quite pleased. Heus reported the Joint Committee now has a new name, the Library Improvement Committee. Heus commented artwork from the Nikiski school children was being considered for the new Library banner. Heus noted the Friends of the Library will be providing dessert at the upcoming December Open House. Heus reported the next Friends of the Library meeting will be on December 7, 1998. Heus reported author Alan Poynor donated five copies of his new book, Of Moose and Men, A Skewed Look at Life in Alaska, to Friends of the Library. She noted Friends of the Library were considering hosting an author signing. OLD BUSINESS a. Joint Committee Chairman Peters noted the new name is the Library Improvement Committee. O'Reilly reported on the Library Improvement ' Committee 's meeting with the City Manager and the Mayor. O~Reilly reported the City still thinks the expansion is needed and outside money Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 3 needs to be brought in to help pay for expansion. He also noted the City would like the Library Improvement Committee to seek Council support more actively. O'Reilly reported the next step for the Library Improvement Committee is to review expansion needs and provide a Holt System report. He further reported the City Manager and Mayor would like to see preliminary schematic drawings. Councilman Moore commented he hoped the Committee would not spend too much time on the Holt Study, he noted most of the work done on the Holt Study created for the bond issue should still be valid. Rodes reported on the Library Improvement Committee meeting with the City. She noted the Council would feel more secure if the City Attorney approved the RFP. Rodes noted Margaret Simon had referred to "re-submitting" to Public Works, Rodes was not aware of it being submitted in the first place. Discussion ensued regarding Public Works. Heus pointed out since the architect working on the estimate was hired by Public Works, that might have been considered a submittal. Councilman Moore suggested the Committee contact Council members to garner support for the expansion. Moore noted the existing schematic drawings for the expansion were probably adequate. Heus commented she felt there was not Council backing on the previous two issues the Library brought before them. O'Reilly noted he felt the City Manager and Mayor were both helpful and supportive. Chairman Peters commented on an article in the paper described the expansion as 16,000 square feet and the cost estimate of $3 million was being based on that square footage. He further commented if the project is only 15,400 square feet, rounding up to 16,000 is inaccurate. Chairman Peters stated if it were going to be rounded it would be more accurate to round it down to 15,000 square feet. Patron Survey Chairman Peters commented City Council would be considering a survey at the following evening's Council Meeting. Chairman Peters noted the City Clerk had suggested submitting some questions the Library would like to have on the survey. Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 4 ® A lengthy discussion ensued regarding which questions the Library Commission would like to submit. The following questions were determined: Have you, or your family, used the Library in the last 12 months? Were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the services you received? How could the Library better serve you? The Library Commission has determined the need for expansion to best serve the community needs. How should this be funded? Increased property tax. Increased sales tax. Bonds. Other, be specific. · Removal of Question//27. RODES MOVED TO ACCEPT THE (~UESTIONS AS READ AND ASKED THE CHAIR TO PRESENT THEM TO THE CITY COUNCIL. RODES ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. HEUS SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED. NEW BUSINESS December Open House Chairman Peters verified the Open House would be Sunday, December 13, 1998 from 12'00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. He commented it would be a catered event with the dessert provided by the Friends of the Library. Brenckle inquired who would be providing the catering and who was paying for it. Director DeForest responded The Chase Is Over would be doing the catering and the City would be paying for it. be Holt Revisited -- Back to the Drawing Board Chairman Peters commented he felt this issue had already been discussed under Item 6a. Chairman Peters added the Library Improvement Committee should coordinate with Director DeForest to determine what new technology is lacking from the old Holt Survey. Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 5 ® Heus commented a book she was reading, ...Libraries of the Future, had a lot of good ideas for spatial considerations, particularly patron use of space. Forbes suggested the original Committee Members for the expansion get together to address the Holt Survey. Chairman Peters determined there would be a meeting of Committee Members and volunteers on Monday, November 16, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS ! QUESTIONS Commissioner Brown commented she was very pleased with today's meeting and with the City's cooperation toward the expansion. Commissioner Forbes congratulated the Friends of the Library for the wonderful job they have done. Forbes commented she liked the article in the paper. She stated she would like to another one on the re- carpeting. Forbes commented a classmate had told her the Library needs more space and had suggested charging non-residents of the City for usage. Forbes commented that was an interesting suggestion and might warrant action. Director DeForest commented on attempts to charge user fees in the past. DeForest stated it had not worked out well and had resulted in a lot of animosity from the patrons including Library cards being thrown at employees. Commissioner O'Reilly stated it was a good meeting again, many different points were brought up. Councilman Moore reported the Five Iron lot sale generated over $200,000. Moore commented those lots remaining unsold could be bought through the City Manager for the minimum bid of $34,500. Commissioner Rodes stated it had been a succession of good meetings. Chairman Peters stated it was a good meeting and congratulated the Friends of the Library. Chairman Peters stated he had received another flyer from The Exchange on their 1999 edition of The Alaskan Funds Guide. He noted the cost was $64.00 plus postage. INFORMATION Kenai City Council Action Agenda of October 7 and 21, 1998. Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 6 i 10. ADJOURNMENT O'REILLY MOVED TO ADJOURN. MOTION SECONDED BY BRENCKLE. MEETING ADJOURNED 9:32 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Alison Rapp Contract Secretary Kenai Advisory Library Commission November 3, 1998 Page 7