NORTHVILLE DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 27, 2007 – 7:30 p.m.
Northville District Library Carlo Meeting Room
1. Chairperson Alan Somershoe called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
1.1 Roll Call - Present:
Trustees Alan Somershoe, Robert Sochacki, Deborah Stanifer, Peggy
Koppy, Jean Hansen, and Joe Corriveau. Also present: Julie
Herrin, Director; Anne Mannisto, Assistant Director; Judith Williams,
Administrative Assistant; and Jim Morché, President of the Friends;
Guests Paul Snyder, Friends Board Secretary; and Denise LaMotte,
library staff.
Absent: Trustee Judy Sherman.
1.2 Approval of the Agenda: MOTION:
Jean Hansen made a motion to accept the agenda as presented.
Robert Sochacki seconded the motion. Motion passed.
1.3
Approval of the Regular Board Meeting minutes of August 23, 2007:
Robert Sochacki made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 23rd
meeting as corrected. Peggy Koppy seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
1.4 Correspondence: None.
2. Citizens’ Comments: None.
3. Director’s Report:
Statistics:
The statistics for August 2007 show a slight decrease in most
areas due to the closure of the Library for 2 days while shelving was
being reoriented. There was, however, the highest increase in
remote catalog usage ever recorded.
Youth Programming:
Fall Story time registration is underway. There will be the
Little Me Storytime, for children under 3; Tot Storytime, for 3 & 4
year olds; Storytime for 4, 5 and K; Kid’s Club for 1, 2 and 3rd
graders; Junior Books, Chat & Chow, for 4th & 5th graders; and
Evening Storytimes for Families again this fall. The special
program, Wacky Science, had 64 attendees.
Adult Programming:
The American Musical Theater program had a total of 52 attendees.
The Movie had 29 viewers and the Book Discussion was also well
attended.
Staff: While the Library was closed for
shelving reorientation, the staff attended a workshop on organizing and
de-cluttering workspaces. The workshop was followed by some
hands-on activities. Annie Mannisto reported that Jeannie
Davidson continues her medical leave at home and is now receiving short
term disability benefits and donated sick time from co-workers as
allowed in the union contract. She is now able to access her
e-mail. Jeannine has been off for 16 weeks, using all of her
available sick time and vacation time. She has requested unpaid
leave time through December 1, which is given at the discretion of the
Director. Julie will contact the Library’s lawyer for guidance on
the next steps as this situation exceeds the 12 weeks of the Family
Medical Leave Act, which the Library follows. The new substitute
librarians are being trained and are assisting with coverage of the
staffing schedules. We now have 5 substitute librarians, who
worked a total of 70 hours during the past 2 week pay period.
This is in addition to 19 hours of extra time put in by our part-time
staff members. Substitute Librarian Martha Reed has accepted
responsibility for ordering Mystery and Science Fiction, and will
continue to assist in teaching Internet classes. Substitute
Librarian Kelly Wetschka is assisting with the Evening Storytimes and
Library tours for school children. Adult Librarian Patricia
Garavoglia was off for a week due to the loss of her mother this past
month and Technical Services Department Head Al Smitley was off for
surgery on his knee. Other staffing changes include two new
Computer Pages and shifting Computer Page Joe White to processing.
Facility:
The reorientation and addition of shelving to the Adult area has
increased book space by about 55%. Staff is now in the process of
weeding and spreading out the collection. At this time, we are
not expanding into the top-most shelves in this area. The Library
has replaced the patron copiers. The new machines offer features
that were not previously available on the old machines at no additional
charge to the patrons and an cost savings to the Library. The
Library was a recipient of a Northville Beautification Award, thanks to
being nominated by the Friends.
Collections:
Several of the Library’s Databases will be changing as of October
1st. The Library has subscribed to an additional collection of
downloadable audio. The Library will be offering Museum Adventure
Pass, a program that allows patrons to check out free admission passes
to various area museums. Rosetta Stone, one of the most popular
databases will not be offered to Library users after the end of this
year, as the company will no longer sell the online product to public
libraries.
Public Relations: Julie presented
information to the Board to support the request to close the Library on
the evening of Halloween. MOTION: Jean Hansen made a motion
to close the Library at 5:00 p.m. on Halloween. Robert Sochacki
seconded the motion. Motion passed. Julie reported that she
and Anne Mannisto would be attending the MLA Conference in Lansing in
November and inquired if any of the Board Members would be interested
in attending the Trustee Session on Wednesday, November 7. Judith
will submit registration forms and fees for any Trustee who would like
to attend.
Technology: As the Fiscal Year
is winding down, Michael is in the process of purchasing new public
computers, replacing the 3 ½ year old computers. He is also
purchasing spill-proof keyboards, in preparation for the Coffee Cart
that will become operational later this fall. The Library is also
researching the purchase of a digital microfilm reader/printer.
4. Friends Report:
Jim Morché reported he will not seek another term as President of the
Friend’s upon completing his 3rd term in that position. He also
stated that he will be spending January, February and part of March in
a warmer climate; he would like to remain active in programming for the
Friends and as part of the Friends Financial Committee. The
Friends Newsletter is now being edited by Sandy Walts. The Fall
Used Book Sale, held on September 20-23, grossed $1,918.27. The
Friends are looking at alternative ways to sell the used books that are
donated to the Library, due to the tremendous amount of labor required
to put on the seasonal book sales. The book carts and Book Cellar
will be enhanced to help generate additional revenue when books are
sold directly to dealers rather than Book Sales. The new
manager of the Friends Gift Shop, appointed at the September Friends
Meeting, is Anne Bourque. Jim reported that he will continue to
act as host for the Foreign Film Series through December, in Jeannine’s
absence.
5. Budget and Finance Review: Deborah Stanifer
5.1 MOTION:
Deborah Stanifer made a motion to approve payment of the Northville
District Library bills over $1,000 for September 2007 as presented to
the Board. Robert Sochacki seconded the motion. Motion
passed.
5.2 The Board was given copies of the Financial Reports for the Operating Fund for August.
Deborah reviewed the Financial Report, noting that 75% of the fiscal
year is reflected in this report. The expenditures to date are on
track.
5.3 MOTION: Deborah
Stanifer made a motion to transfer funds to cover the $63,000 Debt
payment, due on October 1, 2007. Jean Hansen seconded the
motion. Motion passed.
6. Committee Report: Facilities Committee.
The
Facilities Committee met at 6:00 p.m. this evening, prior to this
meeting, to discuss aspects of maintaining the appearance of the Carlo
Meeting Room. The Committee discussed the wear and tear that is
evident in the much used Meeting Room and ways to keep the room in a
good state of repair. The committee is considering the
installation of “crash board” wainscoting, as was installed in the work
areas of the Library, as a way of protecting the walls from
damage. There was expressed concern about creating an unsettling
or busy feel in the room. The committee has requested samples of
the crash board and paint color samples that will match the crash board
for the next Board meeting, before making a final decision on the
advisability of proceeding with this approach.
The Facilities
Committee discussed the condition of the carpeting in the Carlo Room
and suggested that vendors be contacted about replacing the carpeting
(cost and product samples) in the Carlo Meeting Room. Recent
attempts to clean the carpeting have not been successful. This
will be investigated and reported on at the next facilities
meeting.
The Facilities Committee also discussed the
issue of fencing around the myrtle bed on the west and north side of
the building. It was determined that the cost could not be
justified by the aesthetic or practical benefit that would be realized
by the installation of fencing (a two foot high replication of the
fencing installed around the garden on the south side of the
Library).
The Facilities Committee recommended that a
proposal be requested from Juliana Cerra for next spring that would
detail the scope of work and the cost involved to replace the ground
cover surrounding the Library Kiosk and flag pole, and the additional
maintenance of that area.
7. Announcements and Comments:
The
Board requested that Julie Herrin poll the staff to determine the
interest in the Board sponsored Holiday Luncheon. A tentative
date of December 12 is scheduled, if this event is to be continued this
year.
The Board Finance Committee Meeting will be held at 4:00
p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, in the Carlo Meeting Room. A Policy
Committee meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on October 25, prior to
the Regular Board Meeting.
The next regular meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2007, in the Carlo Meeting Room.
8. MOTION:
Alan Somershoe asked for a motion to adjourn. Deborah Stanifer
made a motion to adjourn. Jean Hansen seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Peggy Sherman
Acting Secretary
jw: 10/9/07