Library Board Minutes 09-21-2010MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
5:30 P.M.
Members present: Branch Manager Debra Luken, Ralph Olsen, Beth Metzger, Janet Bridgland,
Sandra Lommel, City Council liaison Susie Wojchouski.
Minutes of the July meeting were either mailed or e-mailed to all Board Members therefore not
read, but approved.
Board Status: Because of the resignation of Judith Gomez-Duchac, Maribel Cruz-Longley was
introduced as a nominee to fill the vacancy. All members of the board agreed
to recommend to the City the appointment of Maribel to the Library Board.
Old Business: Ralph Olsen distributed copies of a letter he received from the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees regarding restructuring. The letter was in
response to a letter that appears to have been coauthored by branch manager s and the GRRL
Director Kirsty Smith. The branch managers did not coauthor the letter and may have been
pressured to sign it.
The contents of the letter included the following information: The proposal presented to
the Board of Trustees in March 2010 would eliminate 194 public service hours/week (branch
managers and branch assistants) in branches while increasing aide hours by 365 hours/week.
The Union believes that the overall effect of this restructure on the regional library system will
be a reduction in patron service levels. To summarize, the remainder of the letter stated that
the GRRL management admitted there would be little or no cost savings after implementation
and the Union believes the plan will be considerably more expensive. In the fall of 2009 ,
managers submitted suggestions amounting to thousands of dollars in savings, but the
suggestions were not considered by GRRL.
Library boards were encouraged to get involved with their libraries and let the Board of
Trustees know their thoughts.
After some discussion about the letter and the restructuring situation by the local
Board, it was decided that we could best help by sending letters expressing our opinion to Pat
Sawatzke, Wright County Commissioner, and other members of the GRRL Board of Trustees.
Susie commented that she would recommend that the Monticello City Council also send a letter
to the GRRL Board.
Information from City: Susie informed the Board that a new reader board is planned to
advertise the liquor store and notify the community of local events. The electronic message
center will be on Hwy 25 near the Hi-Way Liquor Store and will be managed by the Community
Center Staff.
Library Report – Debra Luken:
795 kids participated in the Summer Reading Program. Circulation statistics for July and
August increased 6.5% over last year.
Programs made available through the Legacy funding and the City of Monticello a re
Toddler Time and Baby Bounce offered September through December, three programs
for teens have been offered, two authors, Brian Freeman and Jonathan Freisen, and an
internet family history workshop.
New book drop, donated by Friends of the Monticello Library, has been installed near
the Patron entrance. The Rosetta Stone language lab is ready for patron use. ReQuest
Print Release software has been installed at all GRRL libraries. E-books are coming to
GRRL and OverDrive will allow patrons to download e-books into their I-Pads, Readers,
etc. beginning Oct. 1.
Deb Luken continues to work with the Diversity Committee in Monticello. A community
event is being planned for Spanish speaking families and she is working with the schools
to host legacy funding events in connection with Black History month.
Deb distributed copies of monthly circulation statistics for July and August 2010 from all
of the libraries in the GRRL system. Monticello was consistently the third highest in
number of items circulated. It is obvious that more staff is needed because of the high
circulation and also because of the increase in number of online orders.
GRRL Update:
Brandi Canter, Regional Supervisor was absent because of illness.
New Business: None.
The next meeting will be December 7 at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Lommel, Secretary