Library Board Minutes 09-09-2014MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
5:30 p.m.
Members present: Library Services Coordinator Deb Luken, Sandra Lommel, Beth Metzger,
Ralph Olsen, Elaine Settergren, Patron Services Supervisor Brandi Canter.
Minutes of the last meeting approved.
Old Business: None
Patron Services Supervisor Report — Brandi Canter:
• Kirsty Smith is no longer Executive Director at GRRL. Karen Pundsack is the interim
director. No timeline at this time for search. Meetings concerning the hiring of a new
director will be held monthly and a job description will be approved in September.
• The Book -a- Librarian project has slowed down, the people involved are no longer
available. Other staff not sure how to make the librarian available to patrons, how to
request an appointment, how to efficiently arrange service.
• Ariel Kirst, new Patron Services Librarian, started her new position on September 15.
• Door counters are to be installed in all branches by November, with a test run in
December. In 2015 it is hoped that it will be possible to get accurate counts to prove
that all libraries are busy.
• Budget passed which will just take care of basic needs such as minimum wage, ACA and
PERA mandates, however it is too little to adequately staff all levels in all departments.
It is possible that hours will be cut. Other sources of revenue will be considered.
• Staffing Calculator 2010 needs to be updated and revised.
Library Report - Deb Luken:
• Circulation figures for June, July and August are slightly down from last year; an average
of 19,694 per month compared to 22,271 for last year. Of the 32 branches in the GRRL
system, 24 are showing a year to date circulation decrease from 2013. Monticello is
down 13.6% YTD. Circulation per hour averaged 107 as compared to 2013 figure of 120.
The express checkout is averaging 12.77% of checkouts. A new check -out terminal was
installed in September. E -Books and audio books increased 84% from last year.
• Summer reading program "Experiment with Reading" was a great success. The 3 — 12
program had 653 children participating. There were 76 teens and 79 babies
participating. The grand total was 808, slightly down from 822 in 2013.
• Volunteer hours for June, July and August were 678.75. The majority of hours were from
teen volunteers who assisted with the Summer Reading Program. These teens also
helped the library staff. The year around volunteers also did a tremendous job.
• Library Assistant, Sandy Welton -Wood attended Little Mountain Open House to
promote the library, library card signup month and the services we offer. Board
members, Elaine Settergren and Beth Metzger volunteered at Swan River Fall Open
House.
• Fall programming begins Wednesday, September 10th. A calendar and event booklet
was handed out to board members.
• Friends of the Library purchased 7 great, comfy chairs, a lamp and accessories for the
public areas of the library as well as pillows, a table, rug and spider web chairs for the
teen area.
• The Friends annual Book Sale will be Saturday, September 20 and Monday, September
22.
New Business:
Board members were encouraged to express concern at the "Meet the Candidates" forum or
contact candidates about the need for the city's continued support for the current library
programs.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Lommel, Secretary