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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-01 Library Commission Packet KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTIVITY ROOM AUGUST 1, 2000 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- June 6, 2000 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5' REPORTS ao Director Friends of the Library City Council Liaison ITEM 6- OLD BUSINESS ao Discussion -- Student Survey ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS a, Discussion -- www.kenailibrary.org Discussion -- New Library Commissioner ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/OUESTIONS ITEM 9- INFORMATION ao Kenai City Council Action Agendas of July 5 and 19, 2000. 5/11/2000 Peninsula Clarion article, Say Goodbye to Marian the Librarian. Baltimore Sun newspaper article, Gates Monitors Charity Giving. ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMU1TITY LIBRARY ACTIVITY ROOM JUNE 6, 2000 7:30 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL ITEM 2' AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- May 2, 2000 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5' REPORTS Director Friends of the Library City Council Liaison ITEM 6: OLD BUSINESS ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS ao Discussion -- July 2000 Library Commission Meeting ITEM 8: COMMISSIONE~' COMMENTS/OUESTIONS ITEM 9: INFORMATION Kenai City Council Action Agendas of May 3 and May 17, 2000. ITEM 10' ADJOURNMENT KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNI~ LIBRARY ACTMTY ROOM JUNE 6, 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 7:35 p.m. The roll was taken as follows: Present: Absent: Others Present: Heus, Brown, Peters, Brenckle, and Forbes Rodes, Harmg-resigned Librarian Jankowska, Councilman Moore, Emily Deforest, Ethel Claussen, and Contract Secretary Kellerby ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL MOTION: Commissioner Brenckle MOVED to approve the agenda as presented and Commissioner Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. ORDERED. SO ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- May 2, 2000 MOTION: Commissioner Heus MOVED to approve the minutes of the May 2, 2000 meeting with the spelling correction of "Hues" should be "Heus" and Commissioner Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None ITEM 5: REPORTS 5-a. Director - Director Jankowska reported on the budget progress and noted the library has received their Web pack and their domain name will be ww.kenailibrary.org. They are waiting for a fire wall for security before giving access to the web library catalogue. Jankowska gave information on their computer upgrades which will allow the operation of the library computer catalogue. She expressed that they were going to order more computer educational games and more testing materials such as SAT. The summer reading program will begin June 12 and the program theme this year is "Search for Treasure, Read for Pleasure." They have received a grant for $4,790 from the Data Base Foundation for Alaskans to be used for training for the Web pack and new computers. Jankowska also reported the technology plan hat the Commission accepted is posted on the Intemet by the State Library as the technology plan for other libraries to follow. 5-b. Friends of the Library - Commissioner Brown reported the Friends have been working on getting ready for the summer book sale beginning June 8 which will be held in the library meeting room. There was some discussion on the Kenai River Festival. Commissioner Heus reported on the last newsletter marled out and that it is time for members to renew their membership dues. There will be a vacant seat on the Friends Board soon. 5-c. City Council Liaison - Councilman Moore reported on the final budget to be voted on at the next City Council meeting. There was also discussion on the high school library survey which is in Council's packet for their next meeting. ITEM 6: OLD BUSINESS- None ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS Discussion -- July 2000 Library Commission MeetinE It was agreed by the Commission to cancel the July meeting because there would not be enough members present for a quorum. ITEM 8: COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/(~UESTIONS The Commission discussed filling the vacant Library Commission seat with a high school student. Members also congratulated Bob Peters on his son's wonderful presentation at the KCHS graduation. ITEM 9: INFORMATION Kenai City Council Action Agendas of May 3 and 17, 2000. ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Commissioner Heus MOVED to adjourn and Commissioner Forbes SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M. Minutes transcribed and prepared by: Susan Kellerby, Contract Secretary LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 6, 2000 PAGE 2 Kenai Library Commission ibra Student Survey 1999-00 The Kenai Library Commission surveyed public school students during the 1999-00 school year. Students at Kenai Middle School (KMS), Kenai Alternative High School (I~S), and Kenai Central High School (KCHS) were included in the survey. This survey was conducted to track student use of public library materials and services, monitor effoctiveness of library services among this age group, and strengthen library services for this user group if necessary. The principals at all three Kenai schools surveyed were definitely cooperative. All students in each building were surveyed in the class and time chosen by the building administrator. - It should be noted that the Kenai Alternative High School does not have its own library. Questions pertaining to their school library or asking for a comparison of school and public library services are not applicable. It should, also, be kept in mind, that this survey only accounts for students in three schools in the City of Kenai. It does not include elementary school students. Nor does it include public school students ot;tside of the city limits, or home school students. Answers, when expressed as percentages, sometimes total more or less than 100%. This is due to the effo¢t of rounding decimals. In some roses a small percentage of answers were uncountable due to a lack of response by the particip, ant, or, in a very small percentage of roses, due to non-responsive answers. " This survey was conducted at three separate schools, with different student populations, and different school library facilities available to the student body. After much thought, it was decided that survey results among the differing age groups, student bodies, and developmental levels displayed interesting differences and commonalities. Therefore, instead of lumping the student surveys together, the results from each school will be presented by student body. Survey results will be presented question by question, with the results from each school displayed for the purpose of comparison. Student comments will also be kept separate according to participating schools. The student comment section is included at the end of this report. ii URVEY SUMMARY 1999'00 J Of the total student population in Kenai middle and high schools, almost 70% responded to survey questions. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of all students participating in this Survey use the public library. Over 83% of all students responding use the library at .least once a month. The survey shows that 57% use the library 1 to 2 times per month, and 26% of all students surveyed use the library 3 or more times per month. These figures indicate that the Kenai Community Library is widely used by the youth of our community. At Kenai Middle School, 88% of students surveyed use their school library and 77% of Kenai High School students use theirs. At both schools, when asked which library, public or school, provid.ed the most information or material for school projects, 70% chose the public library. The K~nai Community Library offor~ positive support services for the public schools. Neither of these questions applied to the Kenai Alternative High School sinc® it does not have its own library. When surveyed about adequacy of services, 93% of all students felt the library provides sufficient work and study areas; however student comments suggested that areas for group study and projects are desired. Current shortage of space prohibits group work areas, but should be noted as a future possibility. Eighty-seven percent (87%) believed the library provided adequate resources for academic purposed although comments indicate a desire for more recent books and reference materials. CompUter and internet services received the least satisfactory responses as 83% folt these services were available when needed. Computer and internet services also generated the most comments for improvement of facilities. · . Students were asked to check those materials and services that they use. Student use profiles by school do show many differences. Students' use of the library also shows many differences when compared to results from the general patron survey. Most notable is the greater use of computer and internet services by students. Planning for library services and a possible expansion at some time in the future must be sensitive to this trend. Educational methods and requirements, use of technology, and differences in the surveyed schools' purpose and objectives would account for many differences in usage profiles. Students were asked to rate various elements of library service and the physical conditions. The greatest number of students, 29%, were least satisfied with "ease in finding materials." The public library offers a greater number of resources not found in the public school libraries. This unfamiliarity as well as less training in library skills in the public schools may contribute to this result. Teachers should be encouraged to tour library facilities with their classes. for groups of students. Short instructional sessions might be offered It should be noted that one third to one quarter of KMS and KCHS students were not satisfied with library hours. The greatest conflict seems to be with evening hours and extracurricular activities. As morning hours have had to be shortened, evening hours can not be extended at this time, especially with the present manpower. The idea Warrants future consideration. About 20% of all students were dissatisfied with assistance from employees and at the reforence desk. Student expectations may be part of the problem. This is another area in which short training sessions might help students. Finally, students were least satisfied with computer and internet services. Students now and in the future have greater expectations regarding technological and telecommunications services. The library will need to continue improving services in these areas for students and the general public. When asked their opinion concerning library expansion, the majority of students agreed that an addition should be built. Overall results of this survey definitely demonstrate that the library facility is used regularly by the youth of our community. The library staff does an excellent job in reaching out to our young people. The surveys show that the library is used for both academic and recreational purposes. The library enhances the quality of life and education in our community. urvey Resul 1999-00 SUrvey participation KMS KCHS KAS Student enrollment Students surveyed Percentage surveyed 413 521 60 297 369 39 72% 71% 65% Of the total student population, almost 70% responded. 1. Do' you use the Kenai Public Library? (If "No," answer no more questions.) Yes 73% (217) 71% (262) 62% (24) No 27% (80) 29% (107) 38% (15) Nearly three quarters of high school and middle school students use the public libra~ facilitT. Usage by altemative school students is about 10% less than the other schools surveyed. Since the altemative high school does not have its own libra~, classroom assignments may not necessarily require library research. It is gratifying to note that, even so, more than half of the altemative school students patronize the public libra~. 2. Please estimate how many times per month you use the public library. Less than 1 x 19% (42) 12% (31) lx 28% (60) 41% (108) 2x 21%(45) 19% (50) 3x or more 33% (70) 23% (61) 17% (4) 42% (10) 21% (5) 21% (5) Of the total number of students surveyed, 57% use the public library 1 to 2 times per month. Over 83% of all students responding use the library at least once a month. Also, 26% of ali students use the library 3 or more times a month. The city library provides a well used public service for the intermediate and high school age population. 3. Do you use your school library? KMS Yes 88% (190) No 8% (17) KCHS KAS 77% (202) na 22% (57) na This question was added for comparison purposes. Do students use both of the libraries available to them? As the figures show, most students do use the Kenai Community Library as well as their school library. 4. Which library provides the most information or materials for school projects? School library 18% (40) 20% (52) na Public library 70% (152) 70% (183) na The public library does have a larger collection than the public school libraries. The public library also subscribes to more and different services, which may explain why the greater majority of students chose the public library. Students at both schools with libraries, definitely use the Kenai Community Library as an additional resource. 5. Does the public library provide sufficient work and study areas? Yes 93% (202) 91% (239) 96% (23). No' 5% (10) 9% (23) 4% (1) The study tables and study area is used by more than 50% of all students sunteyed. While the greatest majorit7 (95%) considered this area to be sufficient to student needs, several individual comments suggested more study ar~a and private study ar~as for group study that would not disturb other patrons would be appreciated. 6. Does the public library provide sufficient resources for your academic needs? Yes 90% (195) 89% (233) 83% (20) No 7% (16) 10% (27) 17% (4) Eighty-seven percent (87%) of all students surveyed, believed the public library provided adequate resources for academic purposes. A f~w students commented that they felt reference materials and book collections could be updated. 7. Are you able to use internet/computer services when needed? KMS KCHS Yes 78% (170) 85% (222) No 17% (36) 13% (35) KAS 86% (21) 12% (3) While 83%, which is a large majority of all students surveyed, were satisfied with intemet and computer services, this question generated less approval than Questions #5 and #6. Another way to look at it, is that more students are dissatisfied with intemet and computer services than other services. Individual student comments requesting more and faster computer terminals, might suggest a need to expand and improve technology in these areas of service. 8. Please check, the box to indicate which of the following collections or services you use. (Note: Results of the regular patron survey will also be displayed for comparison as there are some interesting differences.) Fiction books Non-fiction books Reference books Newspapers Magazines Typewriters Photocopiers Computer- internet Computer- word processing Electronic databases Audiotapes Videotapes Interlibrary loan service Study tables KMS KCHS KAS Adult 86% 79% 71% 87% 76% 68% 58% 71% 49% 71% 50% 71% 17% 19% 33% 36% 46% 44% 79% 54% 10% 4% 17% 20% 23% 47% 50% 42% 55% 55% 63% 35%' 36% 23% 17% 1,9% 7% 21% 12% 16% 21% 15% 12% 29% 35% 18% 17% 53% 5% 2% -8% - 26% 49% 54% 63% 32% · 58% of all students surveyed use the internet services compared to 35% of adults. This is probably the result of increased instruction using computer technology in the schools recently. · 55% of students use the study tables compared to 32% of adults. Students may use library facilities for study, group projects, and social opportunities. · Although the fiction book collection was the most frequently used collection when all students are considered, 11 to 15% mom KMS students use the fiction book collection than high school students. The middle school program includes a reading requirement, which may help explain this figure. · More KMS students use the non.fiction book collection than high school students or adults surveyed. Again class assignments may explain the different usage figures. · 21% more students at KCHS use reference materials when compared to KMS and KAS students. This may reflect the type and quantity of school assignments. · 33 to 35% more KAS students, than KCHS or KMS students, use the magazine collection. 25% more KAS students use the magazine 'collection than participants in the general patrons survey. The magazine collection, used by 79% of KAS students, was selected most often when students were asked to indicate which services and collections they used. · 11 to 16% more KAS use the newspaper collection than other public school students included in the survey. · Kenai middle and high school students use word-processing services more frequently than patrons in the general survey. · 6 tO 19% fewer KAS students use computer word-processing services as the other two student populations, but 7 to 13% more KAS students use the typewriters. · More middle school students use the video and audiotape collections than high school students. · High school students use the photocopier service even more frequently than adults. 9. Please rate the following elements: S = Satisfied N = Not Satisfied Library hours Satisfied Not Satisfied KM.~ KCHR KAS Adult 70% 65% J 96% 94% 25% 34%~/ 4% 6% Assistance from library employees Satisfied Not satisfied 76% 76% 83% 99% 19% 23% 17% 1% Assistance at reference desk Satisfied Not satisfied 78% 81% 83% 96% 17% 18% 17% 3%. Ease of finding materials Satisfied Not satisfied 66% 73% 71% 96% 28% 26% 33% 5% Computers Satisfied Not satisfied 77% 81% 79% 91% 16% 18% 21% 9% Noise level Satisfied Not satisfied 85 % 91% 100% 94 % 8% 8% 0 5% Temperature Satisfied Not satisfied 80% 85% 96% 97% 13% 13% 4% 3% Lighting Satisfied Not satisfied 82% 91% 96% 99% 16% 8% 4% 1% In general the student populations were much stemer than the general population when asked to rate library operations and environmental elements. KCHS and KMS students were more dissatisfied with all elements included in this survey. It is interesting to note that while KAS students were least satisfied with assistance from library employees and the reference desk, ease of finding materials, and computers, they most closely approximated results from the general survey in all other categories. An average of 29% of all students surveyed, were least satisfied with ease in finding' materials. I would venture to guess that the public library offers more materials that are unfamiliar to students, as well as being provided in a format or technology not available in their school Ilibrades. The cutbacks that have been required in public education also means that students are receiving less training in' library skills at the elementary level. Perhaps more upper elementary and middle school teachers need to be encouraged to bring students to tour the public library so students may become more familiar with materials and services available. Short sessions could be offered to various age groups to provide training in library usage. (If these could be worked into an already busy schedule with fewer volunteer hours.) One third to one quarter, of KMS and KCHS students were not satisfied with library hours. Student comments mention their wish to have the library open later in the evenings so as to have more time after extra-curricular activities. While this is a valid concem since many of our students are involved in a variety of activities, an extension of library hours is not possible at this time. Changes have already occurred in library hours so as to have sufficient employee coverage of higher traffic hours. The current budget and manpower is not available to extend hours, but could be considered in the future. One fifth of all students surveyed were dissatisfied with assistance from library employees and 17% were not satisfied with assistance from the reference desk. Perhaps part of the problem is due to student expectatio~ns. Many times when they ask for help, they are actually expecting library employees to "do it for them," rather than getting the directions to help themselves. Offering short training sessions in library usage might help this problem, also. Eighteen percent of all students surveyed were not satisfied with computers and computer services. Today's students will be more exacting than the general population. The future is only going to bring increased expectations for these services. More and more library patrons are growing-up in the age of technology and telecommunications. We must be aware of this trend if we plan to meet the increased expectations. KMS and KCHS students were several times more dissatisfied with the elements of noise level, lighting, and temperature. The library has already received new lighting, and the majority of patrons are definitely satisfied. $ 10. Do you think the library building needs to have an addition built? KMS KCHS KAS Yes 66% (144) 59% (155) No 37% (80) 36% (95) No response 14% (30) 4% (10) 75% (18) 25% (6) 0 Student. opinion speaks for itself. Again it is interesting to note that the KAS students' opinions most closely matches opinions expressed in the general survey. In the 1999 general survey of patrons, 75% of all participants supported library expansion. Student Comments 1999-00 Kenai Middle School · All of the supplies I need are all at the library. I luv the library because I like to read a lot so I go to the library every other Sunday. I like the workers because al....[I of them are kind and nice. Hope you guys are having a nice day. P.S I think that them should be more books than what you already have. So that means maybe another addition, maybe. · I love reading. · Good jobl But some workers are rudel · I'm quite satisfied with both libraries. I think it would be nicer if the school library had information computers like the public library has, so you can enter a title, author, or type of book your looking for. · I think that the library is good because they have better books. · The temperature is sometimes too hot or too cold. The light is really bright. I like it them because it helps me with my homework. · I couldn't think of anything that I think you should change about your library. · The library is a good place to get resources. They have good books. But they should have more videos. · I like your library because you got more books and theirs a lots of room so everybody can fit in theirl ~ · I like the library because you have books that the school doesn't have. It is a nice place to study and the computers am very helpful. But I don't ever really get to go them. When my parents say I need to do something educational I play a good game on the computer. Maybe you should start renting computer games. Or have games people can play on your computers. · I think that the Public Library should have holiday parties. kids and maybe you could have one for the big kids, too. It might be fun to do for the little · I think the library should add another hour, I mean, when people go to school they sometimes have sports after school, and after they get done sometimes the library is closed, or a student might go home, but they may need to wait for their parent to get off work. · It's not easy finding books all the time because they are mixed up a lot. on the other side of the room. So,times they are · Computer games/networking in separate area. Snack place/food (not allowed in main library. Make stuff easier to find. More multimedia. Ask, 'May I take you to that book section?" · SOme more magazine selections and more books on certain authors (more detail). · It's kind of crammed. · I don't think you should have to have an I.D. to check out a book. · More intemet terminals, more lighting, better service, maybe some better working employees. Gmat library though. · You should get more computers, and should be able to stay on the internet longer. · Lame ;3.rint copies of books. More books. · Get more good books. · More magazines for teens and young children. · I don't want a library, I want a ice rink! · I do not want an addition on the library now. think it would be better for Kenai. I want the ice dnk finished before the library, I · I don't want the library bigger. I want the ice rink finished!!!!!!! · I don't know I only go their in the summer to skate board on Sundays what do you think Kenai Central High School · I like your children's section. · Nice facility. · The public library has a good variety of books to choose from. · Your library could use more tables and a separate area for people that need to talk in order to not disturb people around us. · I believe the public library needs to add more autobiographies and a special section for them. They also need to expand the building to support more books. You should connect all the Kenai libraries together on the same computer system so you don't have to go to each library to see if it has the book you need. Maybe even all the ones in Soldotna and Kenai on the same system. I know from experience it works greatl l0 · I believe that instead of spending money on an addition, utilize the funding to replace out of date non-fiction and fiction books. Newer books with better color photos, newer information, etc. (An example: Dorling Kindersley) · SAT and ACT practice stuff would be great. · More sports autobiographies (figure skaters), more search computers ('specially in the summer), more intemet terminals (summer at leasfl), more room in between shelves, and more step stools l · I like the Cliff notes, SAT tests, etc. Those are all beneficiary. · Please put paperbacks on computerized car catalog. · Duplicate copies of novels. · Get more Stephen King. · Duplicate copies of most of your most read fiction books. · Duplicate copies of books. · My suggested library hours: 3-7 p.m. · I think that the library should have better assistance, the people them seem really rude and I hate going there because of them, but I do because they have a lot of references. It is also way too cold in the library. I have to wear my coat the whole time. The library hours should be at least till 7:00 p.m. because some have sports and other things that run till after 5:00 p.m. Have more books by Sidney Sheldon. · I think they should start speeding up the internet connections, so when you need to do research on it, it doesn't take so long. Ithink the library should be open longer. It seems that when you really need to use it, it's closed. · More computers (and more time to be on them). More librarians who like helping people and who aren't jerks when you ask them a question, or who aren't jerks at all. That would be nice. More books of witchcraft, yoga, Satanism, meditation, religion, and Wicca (ore else I'll put a spell on youll waahahaha). More copies of books. Turn the heat up. Need private study areas. Stay open longer, till 9 or 10. Some people like to come in and read later at night. You should consider them, too. · More computers for intemet or typing use. · More net services. Cliff notes would help. · I believe the public library needs longer hours, especially on Friday and the weekend. · Library hours are too short. Some students have sport or academic clubs after school that run late. The library is closed by the time I'm done at school. More intemet computers would be nice. The library should make a monthly featured book list with $ or so books from each book section. Eg: Adult fiction/non-fiction, juvenile fiction/non- fiction, poetry, cooking, children's, etc. · Library could improve with more books both fiction and non-fiction, more internet accessible computers, study areas, secluded children's area. · When copying papers it is good to use both sides of the paper. The price should be $.25 for copying the front side and the back side. Then people will have a reason to save paper, by using both sides of the paper. Kenai Alternative High School No comments were submitted. AGENDA KENAI CITY COUNCIL- REGULAR MEETING JULY 5, 2000 7:00 P.M. KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS http' / / www.ci.kenai.ak.us ITEM A: CALL TO ORDER 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll Call 3. Agenda Approval 4. Consent Agenda *All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine and non- controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the General Orders. ITEM B: . SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS(10 minutes) Christine Mon£or-- Miscellaneous Observations ITEM C' PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance No. 1870-2000 -- Amending Various Parts of Title 23 (Personnel} of the Kenai Municipal Code. . Resolution No. 2000-30 -- Approving the Sale of the Property Consisting of 420 Square Feet Situated Within and Along the Northeast Boundary of Existing Lot 6, Block 5, Inlet Woods Subdivision, Part One, at Appraised Value, to the Owner of the Adjacent Land. Co Remove from table. Motion to Substitute with -- Substitute Resolution No. 2000-30 -- Approving the Sale of the Property Consisting of 300 Square Feet Situated Within and Along the Northeast Boundary of Existing Lot 6, Block 5, Inlet Woods Subdivision, Part One, at Appraised Value, to the Owner of the Adjacent Land. Consideration of Substitute. Resolution No. 2000-37-- Transferring $3,300 in the Congregate Housing Enterprise Fund for Building Caretaker Services. Resolution No. 2000-38 -- Transferring $6,444 in the Wellhouse No. 4 Capital Project Fund for Engineering Design Services. -1- ITEM D: o 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. ITEM E: o ITEM F: ITEM G: . , ITEM I: , Resolution No. 2000-39 -- Awarding a Contract to Wm. J. Nelson & Associates for Professional Engineering Design Services on the Project Entitled Wellhouse No. 4 for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $96,444.00. COMMISSION/COMI~TTEE REPORTS Council on Aging Airport Commission Harbor Commission Library Commission Parks & Recreation Commission Planning & Zoning Commission Miscellaneous Commissions and Committees a. Beautification Committee b. Historic District Board c. Kenai Visitors & Convention Bureau Board d. Alaska Municipal League Report MINUTES *Regular Meeting of June 21, 2000. CORRESPONDENCE OLD BUSINESS Discussion -- Amended Livestock Ordinance/DRAFT NEW BUSINESS Bills to be Paid, Bills to be Ratified Purchase Orders Exceeding $2,500 Approval-- Assignment of Lease -- Louis B. and Theresa C. Schilling to Claire T., David L. and Michael Schilling/Lots 5 and 6, Block 3, Cook Inlet Industrial Air Park. Approval-- Assignment of Lease -- Calvin R. and Nancy Gourley, d/b/a Groomingdales to Dan Roberts/Lot 6A, Block 1, Gusty Subdivision No. 4. Approval -- Waiver of Building Permit and Inspection Fees/Health Center. ADMINISTRATION REPORTS Ma.vor City Manager Attorney City. Clerk . Finance Director Public Works Managers Airport Manager ITEM J: DISCUSSION , , 1. Citizens (five minutes) 2. Council EXECUTIVE SESSION- None Scheduled ITEM K: ADJOURNMENT -3- AGENDA KENAI CITY COUNCIL- REGULAR MEETING JULY 19, 2000 7:00 P.M. KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS http://www.ci.kenai.ak.us ITEM A: CALL TO ORDER 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll Call 3. Agenda Approval 4. Consent Agenda *Ail items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine and non- controversial by the council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the General Orders. ITEM B' SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS (10 minutes) ITEM C' PUBLIC HEARINGS o Ordinance No. 1864-2000 -- Prohibiting the Keeping of Livestock on Certain Lots Within the City of Kenai. Ce Remove from table. Substitute Ordinance No. 1864-2000 (Amendments included' acreage changed from 1V~ to 1 V4 acres, adding rabbits to livestock definition, and provisions for acquisition of a Conditional Use Permit.) Consideration of ordinance. , Resolution No. 2000-40 -- Thanking the Donald Mellish Family for Gifts Donated to the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center. Resolution No. 2000-41 -- Declaring Equipment, Supplies, and Materials Surplus or Obsolete. Resolution No. 2000-42 -- Awarding the Bid to NC Machinery Co. for a Cat 966C Loader Rebuild-2000 for the Total Amount of $127,500. Resolution No. 2000-43 -- Awarding a Janitorial Contract for the Kenai Municipal Airport to Peninsula Janitorial for the Period August 1, 2000 Through June 30, 2001 for the Amount of $38,500. ITEM D' o 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. ITEM E: o ITEM F: , ITEM G: ITEM H: o 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REPORTS Council on Aging Airport Commission Harbor Commission Library Commission Parks & Recreation Commission Planning & Zoning COmmission Miscellaneous Commissions and Committees a. Beautification Committee b. Historic District Board c. Kenai Visitors & Convention Bureau Board d. Alaska Municipal League Report MINUTES *Regular Meeting of July 5, 2000. CORRESPONDENCE OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Bills to be Paid, Bills to be Ratified Purchase Orders Exceeding $2,500 Approval-- Statement of Policy and Procedures/Leif Hansen Memorial Park-- Amendment Approval-- Special Use Permit/Bill Joyce, Arctech Services, Inc. for the Purpose of Harvesting Spruce Beetle Killed/Infested Spruce Trees. Discussion -- Senior Center Carport Roof Modifications ADMINISTRATION REPORTS Mayor City Manager Attorney City Clerk Finance Director Public Works Managers Airport Manager ITEM J: DISCUSSION 1. Citizens (five minutes) 2. Council EXECUTIVE SESSION- None Scheduled ITEM K: ADJOURNMENT B-2 Peninsula Clarion, May 11,2000 ...Library Continued from page B-1 hair braiding. Statistics indicate that the new approach is working. According to a Gallup poll, almost two out of every three Americans visited a public library in 1998, up from 51 percent in 1978. Circulation fig- ures, which include books, CDs and videos, increased from 1.3 bil- lion in 1990 to 1.6 billion in 1996, the most recent year available from the American Library Association. "I know some people have this 'Marian the Librarian' image of public libraries," said ALA President Sarah Ann Long, "but if you walk into a library these days, that image should quickly go away." Librarians are reinventing themselves. They are t01d----and tell each other ~ that they must learn from the private sector. Many now call their patrons "cus- tomers,'' refer to themselves as "entrepreneurs" and "merchan- disers'' and worry about making the correct "investments." A booklet distributed by the San Jose Public Library in California is entitled "The Merchant Librarian," and calls on "merchants and promoters of the library collection" to visit "gro- cery stores, bookstores, depart- ment stores, museums, other libraries, anyplace that has items for sale." In Fail'fax County, Va., the library has a department of research and development and divisions for marketing and fund raising. Library director Edwin Clay III, who teaches a course called The Entrepreneurial Librarian at Catholic University, said he was influenced by his work in the private sector. "When you're in the business world, it gives you an idea of how things should operate," Clay said. "We're very entrepreneurial." From coast to coast, the public library has evolved from being a haven from commerce to an exper- iment with it. Starbucks, for .exam- ple, has two franchises attached to · public libraries: the Ferguson Public Library in Stamford, Conn., and the main branch of the 'Muitnomah County system in Portland, Ore. It's an arrangement ali parties see as profitable. The culture of coffee has never been far from the culture of the book and the exis- tence of one seems to enhance the other. "When coffee shops began to crop up in large bookstores we began thinking that it was sr" -- thing we should do. We see i~. service to our customers," sald Ferguson library President Ernest A. DiMattia, Jr. Other businesses have become involved with public libraries. Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com both have affiliate programs, a profit-sharing arrangement through which a patron can buy a book from an Interact seller. Dozens of libraries, from the Tacoma system in Washington to the New York Public Library are now members. "We have a number of commer- cial endeavors," says Karen Van Westering, manager of publica- tions for the New York library. "We do some commercial publish- ing in connection with Simon & Schuster and others and we have two library shops. Also, we're interested in Interact selling and Barnes and Noble has long been a supporter of the library." But the booster spirit does not mn throughout the library con,' ~ nity. Some worry that comme tie-ins compromise a basic princ~- pie: Libraries are not mandated to choose among patrons or among businesses. Agreeing to do busi- ness with a Starbucks or an Interact seller is a tax-supported endorsement of one product over another. "When Amazon.corn came to us there was pretty strong feeling that it wasn't the fight thing to do," says Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library. "It's not the library's role to pick among bookstores." "Amazon and Barnes and Noble do ask for exclusives," Van Westering says. "Given our druthers, we'd rather have done it with others, too." Another controversial practice has been the charging of fees. A brochure from a public library in Paso Robles, Calif., promotes the "Library Plus Card ... an exciting and economical way to maxir your use of library services." an annual cost of up to $40, pu6 chasers receive such benefits as computer and typewriter use, pho- tocopying privileges and home delivery. "A few years ago, we were short on funding and we had to come up with something new." says Paso Robles city librarian Ann Robb. "The idea was to pro- vide some services that we didn't have before and they would be fee- based." In 1989, the L. os Angeles County Public Library. began the fee-based FYI program. FYI offers a variety of business-related ser- vices, with costs ranging from $10 for a government document to potentially thousands of dollars for extensive research. Coffman, director of the library's FYI program, said patrons had been asking for com- puter-based research facilities and there wasn't money to give them for free. "The first issue to us was that if you don't offer the services, nobody at all has access,'.' he says. "And say if you're a woman get- ting her business off the ground. If she can't go to the public library, she'll have to get help from some- where else. Their objective will be to maximize their profit. Ours will be to get her what she needs." "I think the commercialization that's going on is to be deplored." says David Sabsay, a California- based library consultant and the former director of the San Jose Public Library. "I would rather see libraries looking for ways to increase public funding rather than tapping the poor user. It's sup- posed to be a free, public library.." The first libraries in the United States were either private or charged for services. That changed thanks to a minister named Dr. Abiel Abbot. Arriving in Peterborough, N.H., in 1827, he was eager to encourage reading among his fellow citizens. Abbot began lending his own books and by 1833 had helped persuade the town to provide money for the country's first free, tax-supported library. Much of the original col- lection was religious, but it also included works bv Cervantes. Daniel Defoe and Washington Irving. Peterborough still operates today, but other public libraries took years to catch on. The first major branch didn't open until the 1850s. in Boston, and only in the 1900s did libraries really prolifer- ate, with millions of dollars donat- ed by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Libraries expanded throughout the 20th century, especially after World War II, when the rise of suburban communities created the need for new facilities all over the country. Today, there are 8,946 libraries. In the early years, the mission of public libraries was very much a mission. Driven by the spirit of Yankee reform, they viewed them- selves as educators of the under- classes. The ideal librarian, observed one 19th-century official, was "the city physician." called upon to "administer from the bib- liothecal dispensary just the strengthening draught that will suit each case." But these days librarians are more likely to let patrons fill out their own prescriptions. Fairfax County, for example, has a "track- ing'' system that allows libraries to identify trends in circulation and adjust new purchases accordingly. When managers noted heavy bor- rowing of computer, health, travel and home decorating books, they bought more books in those cate- gories. Inspiration came from the sub- urban Baltimore County libraries, known for decades as the "Give 'Em What They Want Svstem." This model was implemented by iongtime director Charles Robinson. who joined the library in 1960s and began to reduce the number of individual titles pur- chased each year. while increasing copies of popular books. "People who read best sellers are taxpayers." says Robinson, who retired in 1996 and now serves as director emeritus. "And it' you're going to have a bunch of taxpayers who come to the library every week, what I am going to do'? Get this unusual book about poetry in South Africa because I think it's good literature'? And if you buy a book which nobody reads you're cheating the taxpay- er. Baltimore County's circulation per capita quadrupled over a 25- year period and the system's influ- ence is now so strong that libraries don't have to use Robinson's name to borrow his ideas. The belief is common that libraries cannot sim- ply choose what they think the public needs, but what the public wants. "I worked with Charlie in the Baltimore system (in the 1970s), and what was then very new and very controversial has become a standard philosophy," says Elliot Shelkrot, director and president of the Philadelphia Free Library. "By the time I joined the Philadelphia library (in the mid-1980s), many of the things we were doing in Baltimore had been adopted there." "His ideas have merit, but he's carried them too far." Sabsay says. "There's no depth to the Baltimore County collection. You end up leaning too heavily on what people request." While libraries ~ including Baltimore County ~ still stock historical documents, government archives and other items you don't find at a superstore, they now make the kinds of decisions asso- ciated with superstores. Should they take the initiative in deciding what to-purchase, hoping that patrons will come around? Or should they simply base their pur- chases on what patrons have already bought? Either d~:cision is risky. You could end up buying books no one checks out. but you could end up not buying a book that over time becomes a classic. Under the sys- tem of "Give 'Em, What They Want," a library would have rejected "Moby-Dick," which took decades to find an audience. "Libraries get caught up justi- fying themselves and one easy way of justifying yourself is to look at circulation," Pearl notes. "The thinking becomes that because John Grisham and Tom Clancy are going to circulate far more often than Shakespeare's 'Coriolanus.' why not put your money into John Grisham and Tom Clancy'? I don't feel this is good for the future of libraries." ates monitors charity givinu By KATE SHATZKIN ................... . .......... :~. cases. Those new patrons tend to hay. The Baltimore Sun SEA~'[J~ g From its inconspicuous headquarters on the shore of Lake Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $350 million, to transform public school districts int9 engines of achievement. Another $750 million to provide vaccines to the 'poorest regions of the world. And $200 million to help li- braries cross the "digital divide." Now comes the. hard part-- how to tell whether any of it works. For the $21.8 billion Gates Foundation, powered with enough of the MicrOsoft founder's money over the past year to be- come the largest charitable foundation in the world,, the answer lies in methods of monitoring and evaluation that philan- thropy experts say could become models for the fumre~, -. . To justify its' huge investments in schools, health and libraries-- gifts that, by their very scale, are designed to influ- ence public policy".-- the foundation has: arranged for a small arm~of ofitside searchers to amass statistiCS~ conduct fo- cus groups and collect narratives. Their' lower incomes than previous users, leac ing Gordon to believe the project i reaching its target group. But Gordon's nine months of work als, has yielded some answers the foundatio~ might not have anticipated. One is that along with the iacrease i~ patronage has come more work am stress for librarians, who must tend b more requests .for their l~lp. "They'r~ putting librarians further behind the 8 ball," Gordon said. Other problems arise from the tech nology itself. To address those questions the foundation operates a "help line" i~ its Seattle headquarters and has expand. ed training for librarians before the com- puters arrive. Gordon said the foundation hasn't fig ured out what to do about some of whax it's hearing. But he says tl~e foundation i.~ listening ~ to the bad news as well as the good. "Typically you'll turn in a report and never' know if it's being read," Gordon said. "This is really a learning organiza- tion.'' goal is to illustrate PrOgress tOward'that,'. That approach to research is even elusive target of phflanthr0~,.ic endeavors-:'.",~ ' ' ~.' '.'. '~ .~.~':-~-' "~..-~..-'.'.,' . more central to the foundation's work in --~mpact.? ,'-:'~'.;~; ~"."~'~' ...~ ~:'~'.~?;'~':i,~.' '~'- '~ , ~,' earh'est_' 'p,hi]an. mro~i~ projects,, dating the field of education, where it has just !manY- lJ~ge' foundationS, that' job ~?' back ~ 1997.'-~'~-. ,~ ~;~'~,~:~.,;,:- .~'. ' ' launched a bold grant program that aim,,_ x .~ be done b~, prograrn officers who' -" So. far,-..th~, foundation b~ss in'stalled~ to demonstrate that every child can worked on staff..But the Gates Founda, mom than9,000 computem and trained,.-hchieve at a "high level." tion's philos0p~"~of~remaining;Small in- 10,000 librarians.acrosg some southern The program, unveiled in March, will size 'while dispensing iuni!r, ecedented states.. Its~hope is!i'toin~p/-6v~ access.to~' 'offer $350 million in grants to'Schools gifts has led to a different-- and some~' computers and onliiie infO~tionfor mi- and districts" over the next tl~ee years, say better_ --. approach ~'to e~aluationT, norities andpeople in poverty in the neu- starting' in Washington state. Seattle "We've outsourcedi-.I .gu~s is the corn,;: .yral, public spaces libraries provide.;.-' ' · schools alone will receive $26 million. mon phrase that's u.sed in business,'" said/'~. _The project also has been controver: To evaluate that. program '-- and pro- Dr. ,Gordon W. Perkin, director, of the'- ~ sial, seen-, by critics as a way for Gates'to' vide the research to plan its future direc- foundation's global health:' Program and . seed the market for Microsoft products, tions ~ the foundation has dedicated $1.6 one of a handful of senior staff members. :b.: Enter Andrew. C. Gordon, a prOfessor million to create a school assessment That approach comes of some necessi-., in the Daniel j. Evans School of Public center at Seattle Pacific. UniversiW. The ry. Just to keep up with government.re.~ Affairs at the .University of Washington, quirements that it give away 5 percent of who directs the evaluation of the library its assets annually, the $21,8 billion foun- dation must hand out nearly $1.1 billion this year ~ or nearly $3 million a day. To do all that, the foundation has only about 200 employees -- most of whom work building and installing library com- puters ~ compared to the Ford Founda- initiatiVe. ..: Employing a group of graduate stu- dents, Gordon collects information about . how many people use the computers, what they use them for, and demograph- ic data on the patrons, from their race and age to how much money they make. tion's staff of 600 worldwide and the 290.: '- But he doesn't stop there. He sends employees of the $6-billion W.K. Kellogg..- students to beauty parlors, mayor's of-' Foundation. Hence, the need to hire. out, rices, comer stores -- anywhere stories side evaluators. . .' Foundati- ''''~on will ' might be heard about how and whether For now, the Gates the computers are changing anything in rely on its "partners" -- other nonprOfits ' small towns.. and foundations with a long track record.. Some questions are open-ended. They of work in a given field ~ to be its eyes and ears in the far comers of the globe where some of its grants operate; ..,, Contrast that with billionaire George Sc, --' network of foundations, with of- f ia more than 30 countries. .x)bably it's an efficient way 'for them tO operate," said Soros. "Ours is not efficient. It has other virtues, in that it touches the grass roots. We are bottom up, and they are top down." The first results of the Gates evalua~ :ion approach can be seen in the founda- :ion,s library, program, otte of Bill Gates' seek to learn, for example, how the. com- puters have changed "the ecology" of the libraries. '~Ve give them many opportu- nities to say, ~tis is the worst thing that ever happened to my library,'" Gordon So far, few people are saying that. Gor- don's preliminary research has found that more than 70 percent of the patrons surveyed welcomed the computers, com- pared with the 2 percent to 4 percent who complained. The computers are bringing new ~eople into libraries ~ bumping up attendance by at least 20 percent in most center will collect, and process a wide va- riety of data on the performance of stu- dents-- both before and after Gates' grants arrive at their schools. ' At the same time, observers from the center will be hanging around class- rooms,' taking notes on whether teachers have what they need and how the lesson plans fit, or don't, with the rest of the school day. Eventually, participating schools may be required to administer a new round of tests to measUre whethe( the i:~rid~ mance of students is chan~.~~ a~ online format that could give teachers in- stant results. In the arena of global health, where the. Gates Foundation has committed nearly $1 billion to development and de- livery of vaccines, the best sign may be the willingness of governments, other foundations and pharmaceutical compa- nies to join the cause. The largest chunk of the foundation's investment has gone to the Global Al- liance for Vaccines and Immunization, or GAVI, a.public-private coalition trying to raise $1.75 billion over five years to save the lives of 3 million children a year who now go without basic immunizations.