Minutes of the Joint Meeting
of the Columbus Public Library Board and the Bookmobile Advisory Board
September 4, 2009


The special meeting of the Columbus Public Library Board and the Bookmobile Advisory Board was called to order at 7:00 AM on Friday, September 4, 2009 by Library Board President Jim Schaefer. He read aloud and signed the “Certification of Compliance,” regarding the “Open Meeting” law.

Officials present included other Library Board members Carol Keller, Sharon Raimondo, Joie Taylor, and Craig Neid. Carol Rosendahl, Liz Young, and Sandy Wegener of the Bookmobile Advisory Board were also in attendance, as were Joe Mangiamelli, City Administrator, Anne Kinnison, City Finance Director, John Lohr, Columbus City Council President, Karen Hake, Bookmobile Librarian, and Jill Owens, Library Director.

Notice of this meeting was given in advance with a copy of the agenda posted at City Hall, the Platte County Courthouse and in the Public Library. A notice also appeared in the Columbus Telegram. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the public.

The agenda item read, “Discuss and possibly act upon the proposal of the Platte County Board of Supervisors regarding the bookmobile and/or any matters pertaining to Platte County Library Services.”

Mangiamelli listed three options on the chalkboard: the proposal from the County Board of Supervisors (attached), walk-in service only for that amount, or the idea of Supervisor Martens for $100,000 for both walk-in service, and 75 hours of bookmobile stop time. Mangiamelli said any new contract should tighten the language so the City is notified in advance if the County does not wish to continue the service to its constituents.

It was brought up that the Humphrey library gets an annual amount for county walk-in service. A question arose about whether there was money in an account that had been assessed for County Library Services. Kinnison said she had learned from County Clerk Pinger that there was over $40,000 in the account. It was pointed out that the Library had not received a payment since June. Another question was what happens to the difference between what is collected from the county patrons and what the City is paid for the service.

Neid said that even at the current rate of payment the City is still subsidizing the County patrons’ access. He said to keep in mind that any of the options required this subsidy, so it was just a matter of how much the City should do it, not whether it was done.

Schaefer said he was mostly concerned about access to books for children and the elderly who may not have a way to get to Columbus.

Taylor indicated that children need to be able to browse the books and take their time in their selections, and she was very concerned that with a reduced schedule they would need to jump on the bookmobile, grab something, and get off. She also noted that research takes time.

Owens agreed that people need browse time, but noted for specific research projects they can plan ahead and ask that certain things be brought to them via the bookmobile. Subscription databases are accessible at all schools and homes that have Internet for bookmobile card-holders, however everyone present understands that there are still many people who do not have computers and Internet. And contrary to myth, everything is not available on the Internet for free.

Raimondo asked about using a different schedule. It was replied that the bookmobile already does not go to every stop every week, and in the past a 3-week rotation was tried, but the teachers didn’t like it and asked to go back to a schedule of seeing the bookmobile at least every-other week. Another idea that came up during discussion was that if the walk-in service were retained the schools could request materials be gathered and then send someone to the library to pick them up. This option would not allow people to browse, though.

Hake and Owens said the shortest schedule they could come up with without cutting a stop was 76 ½ hours, and at some stops the children and other patrons would have to get on and off the bus quickly with that schedule. Wegener pointed out that the hours requested by Supervisor Martens are a minimum, and that no one would likely complain if the bookmobile went out more hours than the suggested minimum. Others had concerns that the reduced hours were the rationalization to cut County funding, and the Columbus taxpayers would have to do even deeper subsidizing to accept money for 70 hours but run the bookmobile more hours.

Owens offered that she thought the $100,000 was too much of a drop in funding for what was being provided to the County patrons. Mangiamelli said it was about the same percentage of a reduction as the reduction in hours. Raimondo also noted that we could be devaluing the service.

Schaefer noted the boards are not restricted to the options on the chalkboard but could consider other ideas such as $110,000 or $120,000 and 80 hours.

Raimondo asked whether the schools could contract directly with the bookmobile, but Schaefer said he thought the schools were already pressed for money and couldn’t afford it. Raimondo also had the idea that maybe the bookmobile could be used in the city for outreach to nursing homes and other places. Hake noted that Lincoln’s bookmobile is used both in the city and in the county.

Mangiamelli noted that whatever is decided at this meeting will be in front of the City Council Tuesday evening (September 8th).

City Council President Lohr said that he was privy to information germane to this discussion but was choosing not to share it. The Joint City-County Committee proceedings are not open to the public.

Taylor said after discussion that she was not comfortable supporting Supervisor Marten’s idea.

Neid said that he was concerned about setting a precedent of caving in and putting more on the City every time the County balked on paying for the service for their constituents.

The motion was made by Library Board member Joie Taylor and seconded by Library Board member Craig Neid, to retain the terms of the recently expired contract with Platte County at a CPI adjusted amount of $132,600, in order to maintain the current level of Library walk-in and Bookmobile services to residents of Platte County.

During the discussion, Keller asked what message this would send to the County? Are the boards being economical or stubborn?

After discussion about what was fair to the Columbus taxpayers, Mangiamelli said he thought it would send the message that the boards were concerned about continuing the level of library services to County residents.

Neid said that as a procedural matter he would like to see it come to a vote, and if it didn’t pass, then someone could offer another motion and there would be another discussion and vote. In this way a level would be found and consensus would eventually be reached.

Schaefer called for a roll call vote on the motion. The motion passed 6 – 2 with votes as follows: Taylor, aye; Raimondo, aye; Young, aye; Rosendahl, aye; Neid, aye; Wegener, aye; Schaefer, nay; Keller, nay.

Mangiamelli indicated that as many Library and Bookmobile Advisory Board members as possible should attend the City Council meeting Tuesday evening (8th). If the City Council says this retention of terms is not acceptable, maybe they will offer guidance as to what would be acceptable to the City. Lohr indicated that the City Council has respect for boards such as those present. It was noted that both boards are scheduled to meet the 10th at the Library Board’s regular monthly meeting. It was also noted that the next County Supervisor meeting is the 15th.

Schaefer thanked everyone for attending this meeting, and noted that some people had to drive some distance to participate.

Keller moved to adjourn, Raimondo seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.