Minutes Meeting
                                                              of the
                                             Columbus Library Board                                          
                                                    October 14 , 2004

Prior to the start of the meeting, the Library Board watched at 24 minute video on
“Team Building”

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Columbus Public Library Board was called to order at 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 14th by the Chairman of the Board, Charlie Bahr. Other Library Board members present included Jolaine Nielsen, Jerry Jirka, and Jim Schaefer. Also in attendance was Robert Trautwein, Library Director.

Notice of this meeting was given in advance with a copy of the agenda posted at City Hall, the County Court House and in the Public Library. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the public.

A motion was made by Jolaine Nielsen and seconded by Jerry Jirka to excuse the absence of Lynne Rambour. The motion passed by voice vote.

The minutes to the September 9th meeting were reviewed and allowed to stand as submitted with a motion from Jerry Jirka and a second from Jim Schaefer. The motion passed by voice vote.

The Library Director distributed the October financial reports for the City Library, the Platte County Library, and the Library Foundation. He noted that October is the first month of the 2004-05 fiscal year. Following a review of the reports a motion was made by Jim Schaefer and seconded by Jolaine Nielsen to accept the reports. This motion passed by roll call vote: Bahr-aye, Nielsen-aye, Jirka-aye, and Schaefer-aye.

Trautwein reviewed his monthly report.

There were no committee reports.

Under correspondences, it was noted that Alex Kava, a local author, sent a thank you note for allowing her to hold an “author signing” at the Library during Columbus Days. Along with note was a check for $158.30, a percentage of the sale of the books sold that afternoon.

Under Old Business, Trautwein reviewed the City Finance Department’s year-end summary of the Library’s 2003-04 budget. He said that because of additional transfers of revenue into the budget ($72,000 county funds instead of $52,000 as budgeted) and a federal grant received, the Library was not as over-budget as he had thought. Actually, the “operational costs” were only 5% over and, when the additional revenues were factored into the total, the budget was actually at 96 % or 4% under budget!

On the topic of the bookmobile, Trautwein said Charlie Bahr and he met with Tom Martins and Joe Tooley, both County Board of Commissioners, earlier that day to discuss the quandary the Library Board finds itself in about ordering a new bookmobile. Anne Kinnison, the city’s Finance Officer, is concerned about the city ordering a new vehicle without any pledge by the county of future contracts. At an earlier Library Board meeting, she had expressed her desire for the Library Board to seek a 3 to 5 year contract or a “evergreen” type of contract that would renew from year to year. The Commissioners said that they would bring this topic up at the County Commissioners meeting on October 19th. Mr. Martins said that he would be in contact with the Library Director.

Under new business, the Library Board viewed the photo panels of the Villasur Skin Paintings. Trautwein had picked these up from the Lincoln photographer on Tuesday. He said that he is in the process of getting a brochure designed for the reception that is planned for the “unveiling” of the photo panels. Once the brochure is printed, he will have the panels hung and hold the reception.

A motion to adjourn was made by Jim Schaefer and seconded by Jerry Jirka. This motion passed by voice vote.