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Minutes of the Meeting
Of the Columbus Public Library Board
December 11, 2008
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Columbus Public Library Board was
called to order at 4:30 PM on Thursday, December 11, 2008 by the President,
Jim Schaefer. He read aloud and signed the “Certification of Compliance,”
regarding the “Open Meeting” law. Other Library Board members present
included Carol Keller, Sharon Raimondo, and Craig Neid. Karen Hake,
Bookmobile Librarian, Carol Rosendahl, of the Bookmobile Advisory Board,
Jill Owens, the Library Director, and Brad Hruska, Youth Services Librarian
were also in attendance. Notice of this meeting was given in advance with a
copy of the agenda posted at City Hall and in the Public Library. All
proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open
to the public.
The Minutes of the October and November Board meetings were reviewed
accepted with a revision to one sentence in the November minutes. After a
motion from Craig and a second from Carol, acceptance of the minutes passed
unanimously.
The Library Director distributed the Financial Reports for the Library
Foundation, the City Library, and the County Library Services. The large
bill to fix the electronics of the main air conditioner was pointed out. It
was clarified that the Ebsco bill was for periodicals not databases. The
database bill will be arriving in January or February.
After seeing the Bookmobile generator service bill, there was also
discussion about the Bookmobile generator breaking down so often, especially
since it is only a few years old and was selected for this type of vehicle.
Perhaps a different business should service it. Jill will ask who works on
the city’s trucks.
Jill showed the board a Foundation report of the money market and checking
accounts which showed transactions for the last quarter. It is hoped that
using Quicken will be an easier, more efficient means to compile Foundation
financial information. While discussing Foundation expenditures, it was
decided to ask a local supplier about the memorial plaques. Also under the
financial section of the agenda, Jill said that Cornerstone Bank is
requesting a list of the people who are able to handle the CDs. A motion was
made by Craig Neid and seconded by Sharon Raimando to accept the financial
reports as presented. This motion passed with a voice vote: Neid, aye;
Keller, aye, Raimondo, aye, and Schaefer, aye.
Carol Keller moved that we go out of agenda order because Karen Hake will be
late due to Bookmobile generator problems. Sharon seconded and this was
unanimously carried.
The Director’s Report was presented. It was pointed out that a third of our
check-outs came from patrons who live outside of city limits. The reference
section will soon have a converted OPAC computer up and running for people
who need to word process. Our present computer lab will not handle adding a
word processing program. It was decided that Jill will call Overhead Door
about our malfunctioning front door as Midwest Glass cannot do anything to
fix it. Publicity for our new hours was discussed. It has been in
Librarian’s Shelf, in the city information packet, put on bookmarks, and put
on the website -- and Jill is talking with the Telegram about making the new
hours a news story and having it run in other parts of the paper. Jill will
get the hours on the front of the building changed. The staff likes the
new-to-us copier upstairs, and the other new-to-us copier will be put in the
downstairs reference area soon. The downstairs copier will have front/back
copy capability and a new coin-op. The thoughts of the staff regarding the
new hours were briefly discussed. Jill will ask our newest staff member to
introduce himself to the board next month. Also during the director’s report
it was noted that our name tags have to be redone.
Karen Hake arrived and explained what was known so far about the
bookmobile’s generator. She explained that it isn’t a servicing problem, but
rather an electrical problem and who is looking at it now. She also gave her
report on the conference she attended this fall, including a session on
generators. She also requested some wristbands to be purchased for
bookmobile users. Jill is attending the County Board of Supervisors meeting
in January to introduce herself as the new library director. Bookmobile
expenses were briefly discussed. At this time materials are purchased with
the library’s materials. Bookmobile expenses such as the catalog, the bar
codes, the computer, the book covers …etc. are not separated from the
library’s. Library staff does all the cataloging, processing,
purchasing…etc. of all materials.
Sharon Raimondo excused herself.
There were no Committee Reports
There was one item of Correspondence. The Nebraska Library Commission mailed
a certificate and letter indicating that Columbus Public Library is
certified at the Enhanced level through September 30, 2011.
Old Business: The board approved the invitation for the guest tenants to
attend a board meeting. Platte Valley Literacy Association has been invited
for January and Columbus Area Arts Council has been invited for February.
The board president signed the letters. Jill will get them to the
organizations. No one present had any continuing education hours to submit.
The meeting to write the supporting statements for the mission statement has
been tentatively set for January 21st at 6:00 PM. This date will be firmed
up after the rest of the board is contacted. After Carol’s motion and
Craig’s second, the board voted unanimously to have the cappuccino machine
removed. The cost to the library in damage, expense, and staff time
outweighed any hoped-for benefits. The machine will be sold on the next city
auction.
In the New Business section of the agenda it was decided to table election
of officers until the full board is present. Craig moved that this item be
tabled with the current officers still in place until the January meeting.
Carol seconded. The voice vote followed: Keller, aye; Neid, aye, Schafer,
aye.
Under the next item of new business Craig moved to change the library’s
Saturday hours from 1:30 – 5:00 PM to 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. He included in his
motion that on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eves the library will
close at 5:00. All changes will be effective January 3, 2009. Carol seconded
and the policy change passed with no further discussion: Keller, aye; Neid,
aye, Schafer, aye.
Under announcements, it was noted that the Quality of Life Centers meeting
had been moved to 2:30 on the 16th.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Carol and
seconded by Craig. The “ayes” were unanimous. The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill Owens
Library Director |
