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Quarterly Meeting
of the
Columbus Public Library Board
and the
Platte County Library Advisory Board
June 12, 2008
The quarterly scheduled meeting of the Columbus Public Library Board and the
Platte County Library Advisory Board was called to order at 4:30 PM on
Thursday, June 12, 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 Joie Taylor, Carol Keller, and
Craig Neid. Members present from the Advisory Board were Carolyn Rohde and
Carol Rosendahl. Also present were Mike Oglevie from City Personnel, Robert
Trautwein the Library Director, Brad Hruska the Children’s Librarian, Karen
Hake the Bookmobile Librarian, and Jill Owens the Reference Librarian
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 May Board meeting were reviewed and allowed to stand as
presented with a motion from Craig Neid and a second from Carol Keller. The
motion passed by voice vote.
The Library Director distributed the June Financial Reports for the Library
Foundation, the City Library and the County Library Services. Trautwein
noted that June is the ninth month of the 2007-08 budget year and that
around 72% of the budgeted expenses have been spent. Regarding the
Bookmobile expenses, there was a discussion about the cost of diesel fuel.
Karen Hake said that the Board may want to consider longer days with fewer
stops for the vehicle. A motion was made by Craig Neid and seconded by Joie
Taylor to accept the financial reports as presented. This motion passed by
roll call vote: Schaefer-aye, Keller-Aye, Neid-Aye, and Taylor-Aye.
Karen Hake, the Bookmobile Librarian, reviewed her activities, especially as
related to the “Summer Reading” program. Currently there are 357 students
enrolled in the Bookmobile’s program. Mrs. Hake excused herself.
The Director’s Report was reviewed. He noted that checkout in all categories
was about the same as a year ago. Regarding the computer lab management
system, he said that the installation is running about two weeks behind. He
hopes it will be in operation sometime in late June. Joie Taylor asked about
school children and the on-line Accelerated Reader program. She was
concerned about promoting the Library’s AR testing ability for children in
the area schools. Craig Neid asked about the workman’s compensation issue---
is there a provision for hiring an extra employee if a budgeted employee
were absent for a long while? Mike Oglevie said that the Library could hire
a part-time person to relieve the staff. Such a hiring would cause the
Library’s budget to be higher than planned. Trautwein said that there is a
retired librarian III who would probably be willing to work on a temporary
basis, but she has been away from the Library for three years and would
require a lot of re-training. Mr. Neid asked about developing a contingency
plan for dealing with a personnel situation where the library continues to
be understaffed and no Library Director. Mr. Oglevie said he would work with
Trautwein on such a plan. When asked if a “body” were better than no “body”
Trautwein said that because of the amount of training required for a new
person, it would be better to tough out the situation rather than expend the
critically-needed staff time training a temporary person. Trautwein said
that the Library schedule could be changed to require an employee to work
two nights a week and every third weekend rather than every fourth weekend.
Carol Keller said that on the part of the Library Board, she would like to
express her thanks and gratitude to the staff for their extra effort.
Trautwein was asked about the visit and book signing by Senator Chuck Hagel.
He said that all is going well. He has decided to move the signing and talk
to the basement art gallery as that room can accommodate more people. He had
learned that the Legislative Committee of the Chamber of Commerce is also
promoting the event, so there may be more people at the event than he had
originally expected.
Under Correspondence., Trautwein discussed the current county contract for
library service and the escalator clause of 3.94 % for the fourth year of
the four-year contract. He said that personnel costs for the coming year has
not yet been determine. The members of the Platte County Advisory Board
excused themselves.
Under Old Business, a motion was made by Craig Neid and Seconded by Carol
Keller to move the Board into executive session to discuss the hiring of a
new Library Director. Mr. Oglevie stayed and the others—Owens, Hruska and
Trautwein---were excused.
The Board came out of executive session with a motion from Joie Taylor and a
second for Carol Keller. Mike Oglevie excused himself.
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Board member, Sharon (Farritor) Raimondo, joined the meeting.
Brad Hruska, the Children’s Librarian, reviewed the activities to be held
during the Summer Reading program at the Library. The theme is “Catch the
reading bug@ you public library.” Currently there are 685 children enrolled.
The program is tailored for children from pre-k to the 4th grade. Older
children can volunteer to help during the two-month program. This year’s
summer reading challenge is to read 125,000 pages. If the goal is reached,
Mr. Hruska will eat a worm.
Trauwein reviewed the budget calendar, he noted that on Monday, June 16th,
the Committee of the Whole will decide changes to the pay plan. On July 28th
and 29th, the individual department budgets will be reviewed by the
Committee of the Whole. The Department heads will be there to defend their
budgets. Prior to July 28th, Anne Kinnison and Joe Mangiamelli will review
the proposed budgets and cut what is indefensible.
Trautwein reviewed his proposal for two part-time library aids. He explained
how he would schedule the staff to expand service hours on Saturdays and
would add one additional employee on both Saturday and Sunday and each of
the four evenings the Library is open. The more experienced Library Aide
IIIs and II’s would be relived of some of their circulation desk duties so
that they can develop and initiate new programs of service to the elderly,
children and young adults. Joie Taylor said that currently, with one
full-time employee on leave, she is concerned that the staff is already
overextended and will eventually find themselves not even getting the
essentials done. Trautwein said that the staff is not at that point yet as
he has filled in the evening and weekend schedule. Miss Taylor suggested
that instead of asking for two part-time Library Aides, the Board should ask
for three part-time Aides. Sharon Raimondo noted the focus group summary as
well as the staff level comparison among other libraries in the state. Jim
Schaefer said that the addition of two part-time Library Aides is essential.
Following a discussion, a motion was made by Joie Taylor and seconded by
Carol Keller to budget for three part-time Library Aides—two for expanded
hours and one for expanded programming. This motion passed by voice vote.
Under New Business, Trautwein reviewed a draft of a grant application to the
Nebraska Library Commission for a continuing education opportunity for the
new library director, a member of the Library Board and a member of the
Friends of the Library. He said that if there were no objections, he would
discuss the application with the Friends of the Library and prepare a final
version of this application for the Library Board to act upon at its July
meeting. Joie Taylor expressed her enthusiasm for the way the grant
application is written and how it would be helpful for three Library-related
persons to attend the American Library Association conference in Chicago in
2009.
Regarding announcements, Carol Keller volunteered to attend the Friends of
the Library meeting on June 16th.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Joie Taylor
and second by Sharon Raimondo. The meeting was adjourned,
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Trautwein
Library Director
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