HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-07 Library Commission Summary KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION
KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTMTY ROOM
MARCH 7~ 2000
7:30 P.M.
AGENDA
ITEM 1'
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
ITEM 2'
AGENDA APPROVAL
ITEM 3'
APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- February 1, 2000
ITEM 4:
PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD
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Sandra Ghormley-- Homer Electric Association, Inc.
ITEM 5:
REPORTS
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Director
Friends of the Library
City Council Liaison
ITEM 6'
OLD BUSINESS
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Discussion -- Library Expansion
Discussion -- Student Library Survey Results
ITEM 7:
NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 8:
COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/QUF~TIONS
ITEM 9'
INFORMATION
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Kenai City Council Action Agendas of February 2 and 16, 2000.
2/10/2000 B. Peters letter supporting job upgrade for Corey Hall.
Updated Library Commission membership list.
ITEM 10:
ADJOURNMENT
KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION
KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTMTY ROOM
MARCH 7~ 2000
7:30 P.M.
CHAIR BOB PETERS~ PRESIDING
ITEM 1'
CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL
Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The roll was taken as
follows:
Present:
Absent'
Others Present'
Forbes, Brown, Rodes, Peters, and Brenckle
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Librarian Jankowska, Councilman Moore, Student Representative
Ha_ring, Emily Deforest, and Contract Secretary Kellerby
ITEM 2:
AGENDA APPROVAL
It was noted that Dwayne Farlo was representing Homer Electric Association, Inc.
instead of Sandra Ghormley.
MOTION:
Commissioner Brown MOVED to approve the agenda as presented and Commissioner
Rodes SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED.
ITEM 3'
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-- February 1, 2000
MOTION:
Commissioner Forbes MOVED to approve the minutes of the February 1, 2000 meeting
and Commissioner Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO
ORDERED.
ITEM 4'
PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD
Sandra Ghormley-- Homer Electric Association, Inc.
As noted at Agenda Approval, Dwayne Fa_rio gave a presentation on Homer Electric's
fiber optics project. He explained research on the fiber optics project began in 1995
and though the project was something unlike anything HEA had done in the past the
Board committed to build a fiber optic infrastructure between Homer and Kenai by way
of Soldotna and their generation plant north of town.
Farlo explained, fiber optics was transmitting a signal through glass and that Homer
Electric began using fiber optics for increased communications within their utility
organization and also with their substations throughout the service area. Farlo
demonstrated how fiber optics worked by passing around a casing or band width
approximately two inches in diameter and containing 24 strands of fiber. He noted,
this type of casing was suspended for 90 miles approximately two feet under the power
lines from Homer to Kenai. HEA was only using two strands for themselves and had
two as backup in case of power failure; leaving 20 strands for other communication
use. He also passed out information comparing the old communication of transmitting
signals through copper to the new fiber optics technology. Farlo noted more verbal
communications, data communication, and video conferencing is available through
fiber optics and expansion is unlimited.
Farlo also noted, in the early stages of development HEA wanted to help the School
District develop a communications technology that would allow their students to have
the same opportunities of other children in Seattle or San Francisco at a cost that they
could afford. HEA contracted with the School District and leased the 20 strands (in the
casing) to PTI first and later ATULD to be used for the Internet for the schools. He
noted, a network of 16 schools was scheduled to begin using this technology at the end
of the week which would cover every school within two miles of the transmission line.
With the technology, the Kenai Peninsula School District would be able to get more
information than any other in the United States.
Questions were asked as to whether HEA could hook the library up to their lines, but it
was found they would be unable to do it. The library would need to speak with PTI
about this hooking in.
ITEM 5: REPORTS
5-a. Director - Jankowska reported she and Emily DeForest went to the Alaska
Libraries Conference in Fairbanks and felt it was the best conference she had ever
attended. She noted she would be meeting with the Finance Director and the City
Manager to discuss the library's budget for the coming year and also discussed the
memorandum in the Commission packet regarding library opening hours and use of
staff hours. She passed out March's library calendar and discussed some of the
events listed. In response to Dwayne Farlo's presentation, she felt it was very
important the library upgrade their phone system and modem capabilities because
they use the Internet for almost everything they do. Chair Peters asked everyone to
review the handout concerning FY01 Capital Budget Planning and to contact any of the
legislators listed on the back for their comments.
5-b. Friends of the Library - Commissioner Brown reported the Friends
membership information had been mailed out. She also reported, the tea introducing
the Frances Meeks memorial book collection was very well attended.
$-c. City Council Liaison - Moore gave no report.
ITEM 6'
OLD BUSINESS
Discussion -- Library Expansion
LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 7, 2000
PAGE 2
The Commission discussed the Kenai Library Needs Assessment and the floor plan for
the proposed library addition which was included in the packet. Jankowska stated she
hoped to spend more time researching needs for the proposed expansion.
6-]3.
Discussion -- Student Library Survey Results
Forbes and Haring distributed the findings of the student use survey of the library
which involved KCHS, KMS, KAHS and was presented in a colorful graph format.
ITEM 7:
NEW BUSINESS -- None.
ITEM 8:
COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS/QUESTIONS -- None.
ITEM 9'
INFORMATION
Melinda Haring was welcomed as an official member of the Library Commission.
Councilman Moore gave information on the Kenai golf course fees. Susan Kellerby was
welcomed as the new recorder and Councilman Moore explained the minutes from now
on would be more like Action minutes in an effort to cut costs and the time it takes to
produce minutes. Chairman Bob Peters suggested that a thank-you note be sent to
Dwayne Farlo for his presentation.
ITEM 10'
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Commissioner Forbes MOVED to adjourn and Commissioner Hating SECONDED the
motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED.
The meeting was adjourned at 9'40 P.M.
Minutes transcribed and prepared by:
Susan Kellerby, Contract Secreta~
LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 7, 2000
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