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Home My WebLink About1999-02-02 Library Commission Summary KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTIVITY ROOM FEBRUARY 2, 1999 ~ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' ,, CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL ITEM 2: ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR ITEM 3' AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- ao December 1, 1998 January 5, 1999. ITEM 5' PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM REPORTS ao Director Friends of the Library Public Relations Committee ITEM 7: OLD BUSINESS ITEM 8: NEW BUSINESS ao Goals & Objectives Update ITEM 9' COMMISSIONERS= COMMENTS/QUESTIONS ITEM 10: INFORMATION ao Kenai City Council Action Agendas of January 6 and 20, 1999. ITEM 11' ADJOURNMENT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION FEBRUARY 2, 1999 - 7:30 P.M. KENAI CITY HALL BOB PETERS~ CHAIR *** MINUTES **~ 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at 7'30 p.m. Members Present: Bob Peters, Kathy Heus, Janet Brown, Vince O~eilly, Janice Rodes, Carol Brenckle, Lorrene Forbes, Melinda Haring Members Absent: None Also Present: Library Director Emily DeForest, Councilman Joe Moore, Contract Secretary Victoria Askin 2. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FORBES MOVED TO RE-ELECT BOB PETERS AS CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION. O'REILLY SECONDED. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED. BROWN MOVED TO RE-ELECT LORRENE FORBF~ AS VICE CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION. BRENCKLE SECONDED. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Director DeForest asked Julie Niederhauser be allowed to speak under Persons Scheduled to be Heard. BROWN MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. SECONDED. THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS AMENDED. RODES 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of December 1, 1998 FORBES MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 1, 1998. MOTION SECONDED BY BROWN. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. BECAUSE THE JANUARY 5, 1999 MEETING HAD NO (~UORUM, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING February 2, 1999 Page 1 ® PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD- Julie Niederhauser Julie Niederhauser gave a short presentation on the library's cooperative involvement with the Literacy Volunteers of America in the Incredible Reading Rally. She explained, part of the program is to provide a person to work with the library. Holly Wiley is currently working with the library with the goal to teach adults how to teach children and adults to read. Niederhauser distributed brochures for pledges, 40% of which is given to the Library. The kickoff is March 2 at 6:00 p.m. with door prizes to be given. In addition, prizes will be given to the participant with the most donations, as well as other prizes. Literacy baskets are being donated by Barnes and Noble. REPORTS a. Director DeForest announced a new librarian, Ewa Jankowsky, has been hired and will start on May 1, 1999. Her background includes working at the New York Public Library and the last nine years as director of a reference library in New York. June Penel Stevens was here January 17 and gave an Intellectual Freedom Seminar. DeForest stated she learned that access to the internet or Library equipment cannot be denied to anyone, even if they have late fines on overdue books. However, she can refuse to check out additional books. The information was part of the American Literacy Act. DeForest related she received a subpoena requesting library records in a local criminal case. The City Attorney has advised her she does not have to relinquish that information. February 11, Larry Kaniut, author of Bear Tales, will speak at the Library and have books for sale. On February 17, Roxanne Clingrnan will be here to speak about Tax Aide. February 25, Pam Mclntosh with the Census Bureau will give a talk on how to find census information on the Internet. Homer Library and Seldovia Library have contacted DeForest regarding a joint effort to purchase a closed-caption TV for their respective libraries. Money is available in the budget to match funds so the purchase will go forward. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING February 2, 1999 Page 2 One bathroom is almost handicap-accessible. The ceiling tiles and carpeting around two posts needs to be completed first. DeForest reported she and Peters had spoken with City Manager Ross and it was suggested the Commission put $25,000 in the Library budget under Professional Services for future procurement of a consultant to pursue the library expansion. DeForest has received the grant applications for next year and will get them out. E-rate material is done. As a follow-up, communication companies will be offering credit with the use of Internet communications. Some maintenance charges are also eligible for coverage. The amount received is dependent upon kids getting reduced meals in the school. Last year, the Library received 62% of monies requested. In response to O'Reilly's request for utility figures for the library building, DeForest related HEA was $14,586.22, Peninsula Sanitation was $963.60, and Enstar was $1,200. A short discussion ensued regarding the low cost of heating the Library compared to other commercial buildings in the City. O~Reilly asked if the Library was on track with the budget process. DeForest responded the budget presentations wouldn't occur until April. DeForest also reported GCI had come in and installed cable TV capabilities at the library for programming. This is a requirement of GCI but until now they weren't willing to fund a cable from Willow Street. be Friends of the Library Heus reported on the Friends of the Library February 2 meeting. March 7 will be their 50th Birthday celebration from 1:00- 4:00. Invitations will be mailed out shortly. Refreshment arrangements and the program are being arranged. The At-Home Tea membership drive is going very well. About $3,000 has been received in memberships this month. The drawing for the trip to Hawaii for those who got their memberships in by January 31 will be held Friday, February 5. Ideas for a banner have been completed and a professional artist will be retained to render a draft of the banner. March 4 will be a Writers' Night at the Kenai Visitor Center, hosted by the Writers' Group. Friends of the Library will be LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING February 2, 1999 Page 3 ® providing refreshments. Cost is $20.00. The evening begins at 7'00. Proceeds are shared among the groups and last year Friends of Library received $800. A newsletter is tentatively scheduled to be out next week. Lastly, the staff is selling Sees Valentine candy. Friends of Library support this endeavor and everyone was encouraged to purchase Valentine candy. c. Public Relations Committee O'Reilly inquired about the library survey and was told the surveys were available at the front desk and are being filled out. Peters related the library is in the process of sending the survey to non-library users as well. O~Reilly gave DeForest a copy of items the Library Commission has been involved in the last few years to pass along to Ms. Jankowsky for orientation upon her arrival. Heus asked Councilman Moore if any of the Commission's questions had been included in the survey being sent out by the City. Moore answered they had been. Heus clarified this is a Public Relations and Library Improvement Subcommittee. O~Reilly stated he will schedule a Committee meeting prior to the April budget presentations. OLD BUSINF_~S - None NEW BUSINESS Goals & Objectives Update Forbes suggested several changes to Goal B, Objective 1, reword "Maintain library hours and keep Sunday hours." to "Maintain current library hours including Sunday hours." Goal B, Objective 6, reword from "Maintain utilization of the activities room by library related groups" to read "Continue to promote utilization of the activities room by library related groups." Goal B, Objective 7, reword from "Continue recognition of volunteer efforts..." to read "Continue recognition of efforts made by volunteers..." LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING February 2, 1999 Page 4 ® 10. Goal B, Objective 13, Heus suggested rewording from "Continue support of budget increases as they become necessary for additional library personnel." After discussion, consensus was to reword as "Support budget increases as they become necessary for additional library personnel and services." Goal B, Objective 14, Rodes suggested rewording from "Cooperate with..." to "Continue to cooperate with..." Goal C, Objective 1, Forbes asked if music CD library with player should be stricken or reworded because music CDs are considered materials, not equipment. After discussion, consensus was to modify "Music CD library with player" to "Music CD library equipment/materials.", add "Closed Circuit TV" and modify "More computer terminals" to read "More public access computer terminals." After discussio¢, it was agreed Forbes would make the preceding modifications and distribute at the next meeting for review and adoption. In addition, a report of Library Commission accomplishments would be drafted for the Commission's review. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/OUESTIONS Councilman Moore gave a brief synopsis of the six Council candidates and answered several questions of the Commission. He reported election of the new City Council member would occur at the February 3, 1999 meeting. Commissioner Brenckle stated she was glad to be back. Commissioner Brown asked everyone to remember the Birthday Celebration, the Reading Rally and Writers' Night. Commissioner O'Reilly expressed his concern regarding the decrease in the use of the library. Rodes suggested one cause might be the increase in home Internet use. DeForest felt the three weeks the Library was closed didn't help. Commissioner Rodes stated she was glad to see everyone come out in the cold (-20°) and prove they were Alaskans. INFORMATION ao Kenai City Council Action Agendas of January 6 and 20, 1999. LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING February 2, 1999 Page 5 11. ADJOURNMENT BROWN MOVED TO ADJOURN. MOTION SECONDED BY HEUS. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Victoria Askin Contract Secretary LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING February 2, 1999 Page 6