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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-01 Library Commission Summary KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTMTY ROOM DECEMBER 1, 1998 ~ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- November 3, 1998 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: REPORTS a. Director Friends of the Library Library Improvement Committee ITEM 6. OLD BUSINESS ao Elissa Fahnholz letter Patron Survey ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS ITEM 8: COMMISSIONERS= COMMENTS/i}UF~TIONS ITEM 9- INFORMATION a. Kenai City Council Action Agendas of 4 and 18, 1998. ITEM 10: , ADJOURNMENT ,, ® ® ® ® ® REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION DECEMBER 1, 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. Chairman Peters welcomed the new Student Commissioner, Melinda Haring. Members Present: Bob Peters, Kathy Heus, Janet Brown, Vince O~Reilly, Janice Rodes, Carol Brenckle, Melinda Haring, Lorrene Forbes (arrived at 7:45 p.m.) Also Present: Director Emily DeForest, Councilman Joe Moore, Contract Secretary Alison Rapp. APPROVAL OF AGENDA HEUS MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION SECONDED BY BRENCKI,E. THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS REVISED. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a® Regular Meeting of November 3, 1998 BROWN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 3, 1998 AS WRITTEN. MOTION SECONDED BY BRENCKLE. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None REPORTS a. Director Director DeForest commented the renovations, despite the mess, seemed to be going well. DeForest shared photographs of the renovation's progress. Brenckle and DeForest noted the new carpeting looked nice. O~eilly inquired regarding the applicants for the Library Director position. DeForest replied she would be meeting with City Kenai Library Commission December 1, 1998 Page 1 Manager Ross on Thursday to help determine which applicants would be interviewed. It was noted there were ten total applicants, one of which was local. Friends of the Library Heus stated there would be no report as the Friends of the Library had not met since the last Library Commission meeting. Library Improvement Committee O'Reilly discussed his trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota and San Mateo, California. O~Reilly reported his daughter is the chair of the San Mateo Library Foundation Committee. He noted the committee was currently working on a $60 million library expansion project. O'Reilly commented he sat in on one of their meetings and was surprised to realize the similarities between the San Mateo and the Kenai Commissions. He noted he was pleased San Mateo had used the Holt System to determine their needs. O'Reilly commented they have a large staff at the San Mateo Library and the employees had been sent to Colorado to learn fund raising techniques. He noted no outside fundraising help would be utilized. O'Reilly commented the San Mateo Librarian had discussed her efforts towards a nationwide library Internet program. She requested Commission O~Reilly's assistance eliciting support for the program from Senator Stevens. Forbes inquired what the population of San Mateo was. O~Reilly estimated it to be approximately 100,000 - 125,000 people. Chairman Peters commented, if the Kenai Library expansion cost $2.5 million, that would be $350 per city resident. He noted with San Mateo's estimated population, the cost per resident would be around $600. Chairman Peters reported the Library Improvement Committee's subcommittee had met to discuss the needs assessment to determine if any new technologies needed to be added. He reported the subcommittee determined the existing assessment was adequate. Forbes commented they still needed to review the anticipated increase in operating expenses. Chairman Peters commented the budget amount of $225 per square foot was based on the Health Center's costs. He stated, he had discussed this price with the architect and according to him, a more reasonable estimate for the Library expansion would be $150 per square foot. Chairman Peters noted the lower cost per square foot was a result of less electrical and plumbing requirements. Kenai Library Commission December 1, 1998 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS a. Elissa Fanholz Letter Chairman Peters noted the letter of resignation from Elissa Fanholz had been received. He inquired if a letter had been sent to her. DeForest replied the Library and the City Clerk both had sent letters thanking her for her service. be Patron Survey Chairman Peters distributed the proposed patron survey (Item 6.b.). Councilman Moore commented the survey would be valuable to bring before the City Council. BRENCKLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PATRON SURVEY. BROWN SECONDED THE MOTION. Discussion ensued regarding the patron survey. amendments were suggested: The following Change "Do you support library expansion?" to read' "Do you support the Library Commission's recommended library expansion?" Add "General City Revenues" as a funding option for the Library expansion. Remove the word "increase" from the funding options for the Library expansion. BRENCKLE MOVED TO WITHDRAW THE PREVIOUS MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PATRON SURVEY. BROWN SECONDED THE MOTION. THERE WERE NO OBJECTIONS. PREVIOUS MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN. BRENCKLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PATRON SURVEY WITH THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS. BROWN SF~ONDED THE MOTION. THERE WERE NO OBJECTIONS. MOTION WAS APPROVED. Chairman Peters opened the discussion regarding how to distribute the survey. Brenckle inquired how the City Council's survey would be mailed and to whom. Councilman Moore commented he was not sure the exact date but expected it to be Kenai Library Commission December 1, 1998 Page 3 ® relatively soon. He added, the City Council would be mailing their survey to individuals that had voted in all of the last three elections. Discussion ensued regarding different methods of distribution and sources of mailing lists. RODF_~ MOVED TO ALLOW THE LIBRARY SURVEY GROUP TO DETERMINE HOW AND TO WHOM THE SURVEY GETS DISTRIBUTED. BROWN SECONDED THE MOTION. Heus inquired to what methodology the City Council would give the most credence. Councilman Moore commented, results from surveys distributed at the Library's checkout desk would probably not carry much weight. He noted mailed surveys to the general population would be given more credibility. VOTE O~REILLY YES BROWN YE~ RODF,~ YES BRENCKI,E YE~ HEU$ NO FORBES YES HARING YES PETERS YE~ MOTION PASSED NEW BUSINESS -- None COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/QUESTIONS Commissioner Brenckle welcomed the new Student Commissioner, Melinda Haring. She stated she anticipated great things. Brenckle reported the Library Open House would be December 13, 1998 from 12 to 4 p.m. Commissioner Haring stated she was glad to be here and excited to get started.. Commissioner Forbes inquired when the next meeting for the Library Improvement Committee would be. Chairman Peters replied that could be determined after adjournment. Forbes thanked the Friends of the Library for the report on the San Mateo Library Foundation Committee. Commissioner Heus invited people to bring desserts to the upcoming open house. She noted, the food would be catered but the Friends of the Library were responsible for the desserts. Kenai Library Commission December 1, 1998 Page 4 Commissioner Brown welcomed Melissa Haring. the Library Survey Group on their efforts. Brown commended Chairman O~Reilly stated it was a good meeting and also commended the Library Survey Group on their efforts. Director DeForest inquired when the next Library Commission meeting would be. It was determined the next meeting will be January 5, 1999. Councilman Moore commented he had read Haring's application and was impressed with her credentials. Chairman Peters welcomed Melinda Ha_ring. He commented he had known her for a long time and noted she is a great humanitarian. Chairman Peters wished everyone Happy Holidays. 9. INFORMATION Kenai City Council Action Agendas of November 4 and 18, 1998. 10. ADJOURNMENT FORBES MOVED TO ADJOURN. MOTION SECONDED BY BROWN MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Alison Rapp Contract Secretary Kenai Library Commission December 1, 1998 Page 5