NORTHVILLE DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, August 27, 2009 – 7:30 p.m.
Northville District Library Carlo Meeting Room

1.    Chairperson Robert Sochacki called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 
1.1    Roll Call - Present:  Trustees Robert Sochacki, Jean Hansen, Alan Somershoe, Jim Morché, Judy Sherman, Joe Corriveau and Mike DeFrancesco.  Also present:  Julie Herrin, Director; Anne Mannisto, Assistant Director; Judith Williams, Administrative Assistant; and Paul Snyder, President of the NDL Friends.  In the audience wereLibrary staff members Denise LaMotte and Al Smitley (who arrived later in the meeting). 
Absent:  None 
1.2    Approval of the Agenda:  MOTION:  Jean Hansen made a motion to accept the agenda as presented. Jim Morché seconded the motion.  Motion passed.
1.3    Approval of the Regular Board Meeting Minutes for July 23, 2009:  MOTION:  Jean Hansen made a motion to correct the minutes, to clarify the reason for conducting another community survey.  Judy Sherman seconded the motion.  Motion passed.
1.4    Citizen Comments:  None 

2.    Correspondence:  None.

3.    Director’s Report:
Statistics:  Julie reported that for the month of July 2009 circulation was at an all-time high of 52,713.  This is 13% higher than last July, and last year was 13% higher than the previous year.  This reflects a total increase in circulation of 26% in 2 years. 
Youth Programming:  The Youth Summer Reading Program final count of participants was 1,045.  A total of 2,504 patrons attended the Summer Reading Program events. 
Adult Programming:  The Adult Summer Reading Program had 166 participants this year.  There were 29 attendees at the Canoeing Michigan Program and 22 attendees at the Foreign Film Program.  The Fantasy Baseball Award Party had 34 participants; they received prizes and t-shirts, enjoyed hot dogs and other ballpark themed refreshments, and watched a Tiger/Mariners Baseball Game.
Teen Programming:  A total of 210 teens participated in the 2009 Teen Summer Reading Program.  The Summer Reading Programs hosted 399 teens.  Twenty nine Teen Corps volunteers contributed a total of 458 hours during the Summer Program. 
Staff:  The Digital Services Librarian position has been filled by Allison Brueckner, who will join the staff after Labor Day.  Michael has hired 3 new Computer Pages:  Kenny Cha (who has worked as a computer tutor), Sean Hogan and Jonathan Landstrom.
Renovation:  Twelve staff members worked for 4 hours on Sunday, August 23, to remove all of the books from the shelves in the Youth area.  On Monday the crew took down all of the shelving and prepared for the painters, who arrived early Tuesday morning.  Tuesday also was the day that the old Kno-go security gates were removed.  The re-build began on Wednesday; the electricians relocated the wiring for the 3M security gates, the Information Desk, Youth Computers, and the OPAC Station.  Carpet tiles were replaced where needed and the new shelving was set in place.   During this time Michael and the Computer Pages updated all 80 computers in the Library with Office 2007 and Symantec security software, and added two new Youth Computers, while also changing game access for all of the Youth Computers.  The entire staff has worked very hard during the time that the Library has been closed for the Youth Area renovation.
Staff Development:  While the Library has been closed the staff has also attended a workshop on “Dealing with Challenging People”, an RFID presentation, and workshops on Michigan Electronic Library Databases (MeL).  The staff has also worked on weeding their assigned sections and shelf reading every section. 
Public Relations:  Julie requested that Board Secretary Judy Sherman read a Resolution to support the Library of Michigan and to support the full payment of $10 million in State Aid.  The Resolution (numbered 09-04) was read and discussed and the Board voted its unanimous support by a roll call vote.  Julie will forward this resolution to the appropriate officials.   Julie also reported that she had a visit from Jim Pletz, the new Director of The Library Network (TLN).  The Library will be displaying posters as part of the Picturing America Program.  Again this year, the Library will host the Victorian Festival Storytelling Program for Third Graders sponsored by the school system again this year.  The Library is hoping to participate in an Energy Audit with the Northville Public Schools. 

4.    Friends Report:  Friends President Paul Snyder noted that earlier this month he had the privilege to be a judge for the very exuberant Rock Band Competition for the Teens.  He stated that the Friends and the Library had donated shelving for a media center in a southwest Detroit public school.  He commented that the Friends were also submitting a Resolution to support the Library of Michigan.  He reported that the Friends were holding a Used Book Sale during the Victorian Festival at Mill Race Village.  He also reported that the Friends are underwriting the cost of printing the new Endowment brochure and are continuing to recycle books.  The Friends are participating in a seminar on helping libraries to “Go Green.”   The Friends Annual Meeting plans for next March include an Irish music performance.    

5.    Budget and Finance Review:
5.1    MOTION:  Treasurer Jean Hansen made a motion to approve payment of the Northville District Library List of Bills over $1,000 for August 2009 as presented to the Board.  Alan Somershoe seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

5.2    Jean distributed the Financial Report for July.  She noted that the Public Relations line contains some funding for the planned community survey. 

5.3    MOTION:  Jean Hansen made a motion to allow an electronic transfer of $47,500 from the Debt Fund to US Bank to pay the interest on the debt that will come due on September 30, 2009.  Jim Morché seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

5.4    MOTION:  Jean Hansen made a motion to approve the proposed 2010 Budget as discussed at the Public Hearing held prior to this Regular Board Meeting.  Judy Sherman seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

5.5    Resolution 09-3:  Secretary Judy Sherman read the Resolution, certifying the tax levies for the operating and debt millage and approving the budget; Jean Hansen made a motion for the passage of this Resolution.  Judy Sherman seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. 

6.    Other Business:  The proposal submitted by William Schroer for a community-wide survey to assess the results of the Library’s 5-year Strategic Plan, initiated in 2004, was discussed.  The Board would like Julie to review the questions with Mr. Schroer and submit them to the Board for review of any new or changed questions.   MOTION:  Mike DeFrancesco made a motion to accept the proposal from William Schroer to conduct a community wide survey, not to exceed a cost of $19,000.  Alan Somershoe seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

7.    Announcements and Comments:  The September Finance Committee Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, in the Carlo Meeting Room. 

The next Regular Board Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2009, in the Carlo Meeting Room. 

MOTION:  Jean Hansen made a motion to adjourn the Regular Board Meeting for August.  Alan Somershoe seconded the motion.  Motion passed.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Sherman
JW 7/28/09