HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-04 Library Commission SummaryKENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 4, 2003
6:00 P.M.
[KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS[
AGENDA
ITEM 1'
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
ITEM 2'
AGENDA APPROVAL
ITEM 3:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- January 7, 2003
ITEM 4:
PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD
ITEM 5:
REPORTS
a,
Director
Friends of the Library
City Council Liaison
ITEM 6'
OLD BUSINESS
a,
Election of Officers
ITEM 7'
NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 8:
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/~UESTIONS
ITEM 9:
INFORMATION
ao
Kenai City Council Action Agendas of January 2 and 15, 2003.
ITEM 10'
ADJOURNMENT
NOTE' A VISIONING SESSION FOR PLANNING THE FUTURE OF THE LIBRARY WILL
COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION MEETING (APPROXIMATELY
6'30 P.M.). THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND, OFFER IDEAS, AND PARTICIPATE.
KENAI LIBRARY COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 4~ 2003
/5:00 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CHAIRMAN BOB PETERS~ PRESIDING
MINUTES
ITEM 1'
CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL
Chairman Peters called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
follows'
Roll was confirmed as
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Others Present'
DeForest, Brenckle, Brown, Peters, Heus, Rodes
Coon
Councilman Moore, Library Director Jankowska, Deputy
Clerk Harris
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 -- January 7, 2003
Commissioner Brenckle requested a change to the January 7, 2003 minutes Item 2 to
state, "Seconded the motion."
MOTION:
Commissioner Brenckle MOVED to approve the corrected minutes and Commissioner
Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO 'ORDERED.
ITEM 4:
PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None
ITEM 5' REPORTS
Director -- Director Jankowska reported the following:
· 9,000 items were checked out in the last month.
March 2, 2003 is Dr. Seuss's birthday with a party being held at the
library at 2 p.m.
S-bo
Friends of the Library-- Commissioner Heus reported the following:
· The Friends sent reminders for all Friends of the Library members to
attend the Visioning Session.
· $16,000 from the Gates Foundation has been received. Allotment of the
money is to be determined by the Foundation.
Eleven new members have joined.
March 6, 2003 is Writer's Night.
The 2003 raffle brought in $13,487 toward the building fund.
City Council Liaison -- Councilman Moore reported the following:
Moore provided a brief summary of the K-Mart closing situation.
Council will hear public testimony on the proposed ban on smoking in
restaurants.
· The City of Kenai and the City of Soldotna met for dinner and discussion;
the work session went well.
ITEM 6:
OLD BUSINESS
6-a. Election of Officers
MOTION:
Commissioner Brenckle MOVED to nominate Emily DeForest as Library Chairperson
and Commissioner Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO
ORDERED.
MOTION'
Commissioner Brown MOVED to nominate Kathy Heus as Library Co-Chair and
Commissioner Brenckle SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO
ORDERED.
ITEM 7:
NEW BUSINESS -- None
ITEM 8:
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Heus informed the Commission of a presentation made by Betsy Arbelovsky concerning
the Community Care Foundation which is a non-profit organization designed to provide
support with grants and funding. Councilman Moore informed the Commission
Arbelovsky would be addressing this issue at the February 5, 2003 Council meeting.
ITEM 9.
INFORMATION
Kenai City Council Action Agendas of January 2 and 15, 2003.
ITEM 10:
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6'30 p.m.
Minutes prepared and written by:
Sharon M. Harris, Department Assistant
LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING
FEBRUARY 4, 2003
PAGE 2
Kenai Library VisioninE Session
February 4, 2003
Kenai City Council Chambers
6:30 p.m.
NOTES
Library Commission Present:
Library Commission Absent:
Staff/Council Present:
DeForest, Brown, Rodes, Heus, Brenckle
Coon
Mayor Williams, Councilman Moore, Councilwoman
Swarner, Library Director Jankowska, Department
Assistant Harris
Library Director Jankowska began the session at approximately 6:50 p.m. Jankowska
provided a presentation outlining contemporary library architectural designs, public
needs, and types of aesthetic qualities which attract patrons. Jankowska stated
modern libraries are more multi-media focused and are becoming largely digitally
based with online catalog classification systems. Jankowska introduced Phil North as
the session's moderator and Margaret Gilman as the recorder.
North explained, the idea of the session is to brainstorm and produce various ideas
focusing on increasing library patronage and library improvements to possibly be
implemented in future library endeavors. The following suggestions were made:
North read a letter submitted by Mark Johnson which stated the library is a
great asset and should continue its evening and weekend hours, improve book
and magazine selections, create more space and reduce size of stacks, and
provide snacks and many comfortable chairs.
Replace lost or stolen books in a timely manner.
Reorganize books; some are very difficult to locate as the stacks are too full.
Try to get the community more involved and create public ownership.
Create a 'community center' at the library by incorporating theater,
performance space, teen center activities (movies, music, snacks), art displays
and enclosed study rooms. Create a space which can comfortably
accommodate up to 150 people for various activities.
Provide language classes.
Produce and send an email newsletter on a monthly basis; include staff picks
for books, student representative perspectives, etc.
Provide better lighting.
Increase comic book (graphic novel) selections.
Create more space for the Alaskana section.
Merge online cataloging information with local school and university systems to
possibly provide a unified catalog.
Create service areas for the library.
To create more space in the current library, utilize the old courthouse basement
to store books with little to no circulation.
More publicity.
Establish programs to combine the Parks and Recreation department with
library activities to help meet the needs of junior high school/high school-aged
patrons by providing an enclosed teen center area with music, television, study
rooms, snacks, etc.
Create a high school competition in which the students 'plan' the library and
layout; involve local high schools as well as the Alternative school.
Use Friends of the Library as a public relations group to help publicize library
happenings and establish fundraising events.
Create space for and bring the law library into the Kenai library.
Expand the volunteer program to include incentives such as Friends of the
Library scholarships.
Bob Peters provided a recap and history of the library expansion and
fundraising efforts. Peters suggested future energies should be spent on
fundraising and public awareness of library endeavors.
Create a more appealing junior section {junior high/high school age). Several
participants commented on the lack of involvement the library has in this age
bracket.
Provide extended hours for parties.
Provide a cafe-style atmosphere with a comfortable reading/lounge area.
North thanked everyone for participating and closed the visioning session at 8:45 p.m.
Notes prepared by:
Sharon M. Harris, Departr~nt Assistant
LIBRARY COMMISSION VISIONING SESSION
FEBRUARY 4, 2003
PAGE 2