ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
AGENDA
4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008
Gegan Room
(If Board Members cannot attend, please notify the Library Office)
CALL TO ORDER:
PUBLIC COMMENT:
AUTHORIZATION OF BILLS:
1. List of bills for July 2008.
CONSENT BUSINESS (Motion to approve all unless separate consideration requested):
2. Minutes. Minutes of Board meeting June 19, 2008.
INFORMATION ITEMS/DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
3. Statistics.
4. Self-Check Machines.
5. Anniversary.
6. Green Scene & Heard.
7. Economic Contribution of Wisconsin Public Libraries.
8. 2009 Fox Cities Book Festival.
9. WilsWorld.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS:
10. Election of Officers.
11. Committee Formation.
12. Set 2009 Board Meeting Dates.
13. Winnefox Board.
14. Trustee Essentials #1.
15. ADJOURN
UPCOMING MEETINGS & ACTIVITIES
(Including requests for business items for future meetings)
• Library Board Meeting - August 21, 2008 at 4:30 pm.
• WilsWorld - July 23 & 24
Menasha aldermen may attend meetings of this body. A quorum of the Common Council, Board of Public Works, Administration Committee, or Personnel Committee may attend this meeting. No official action of any of those bodies will be taken.
ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY
DIRECTOR'S REPORT -- JULY 2008
1. Bills. REQUESTED ACTION: Approval of bills as presented for July 2008.
CONSENSUS ACTION ITEMS:
2. Minutes. Minutes of Board meeting June 19, 2008. REQUESTED ACTION: Approval.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
3. Statistics. Our staff is really moving to keep up with the increase in demand here at the library. In the last few months, we have seen daily circulation that breaks every previous record. Our lending per hour is an astounding 191.2 for the month of June. We are seeing an increase in adult circulation of 14.2% and for children 19.9%. That includes a 10.5% increase in books for adults and 34.5% increase in books for children. Our music CDs are up by 20% in both collections and our DVDs are up by 27% in adult and 11.9% in children's.
4. Self-Check Machines. Cate Brandt, Head of Circulation, and I will be meeting with 3M, the security vendor we use to investigate the cost and options in getting a self-check machine. Ideally, we should have two machines, but that will depend on the cost per machine. We hope to meet with 3M in August, and I will report back afterwards. With the incredible increase in circulation we are seeing, this is a necessary purchase. The machine would not be used to reduce our staffing, but will allow us to continue at this new level of use.
5. Anniversary. We have another employee reaching a milestone this summer! De Dalum, who works in both the Reference and Technical Services Departments has worked here for 30 years. Congratulations to De, and a huge thanks for your years of dedicated service.
6. Green Scene & Heard. We will be having an art show at the library featuring art made from found and recycled items. The opening reception for the show will be 5-8 pm on July 17th. Because this is directly following the board meeting, I am hoping that you will find the time to walk through the show. De Dalum, Julie Wing, Pattie Stanislawski and Marina Nelessen are to be applauded for their hard work on the art show and on other green projects being put in place throughout the library. We will be following this event with a green fair in September.
7. Economic Contribution of Wisconsin Public Libraries. In a newly released study that was commissioned by the Department of Public Instruction, we find out what we already really knew. Public libraries are worthy of support even when examined from an economic standpoint. For every dollar invested in a library, there is a return of $4.06. You will find the executive summary in your packets, or you can visit the website.
8. 2009 Fox Cities Book Festival. The Book Festival Board has elected me President of the 2009 Festival. I will be a public face for the festival as well as running the meetings and handling the basic organization.
9. WilsWorld. I will be attending a day of the WilsWorld conference in Madison this month. The July 23rd programs include two of the top thinkers in modern library science technology, Roy Tennant and John Blyberg. WilsWorld is a conference with a technology focus.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS:
10. Election of Officers. In July, the Board elects officers. The Nominating Committee met directly after the June board meeting and has a slate of recommended officers. Nominations from the floor will also be welcome. REQUESTED ACTION: Elect Board President, Vice-President and Secretary.
11. Committee Formation. The Board has four standing committees. In July, the committees are formed. The committees are Finance, Policies & Personnel, Building & Grounds, and Investment. Each board member must serve on at least one committee and each committee has a chair. REQUESTED ACTION: Form committees.
12. Set 2009 Board Meeting Dates. Each year at this time, the Board looks at what time/day of the month would work best to meet. We currently meet the third Thursday of the month at 4:30 pm. REQUESTED ACTION: Set 2009 Board Meeting dates and time.
13. Winnefox Board. At the last board meeting, it was requested that the relationship between the Winnefox Board and our library board be more fully explored. I am including in your packet, the bylaws of the Winnefox Board, where you will find that the board is appointed by the county executives in each county. In the bylaws, there is no tie from the Winnefox Board to the boards of the individual libraries.
14. Trustee Essentials #1. As I have mentioned at earlier board meetings, our board is going to start working through the Trustee Essentials manual. This first Essential is a job description for library trustees. It covers a variety of areas that you should be aware of and tasks that you should be involved in as a trustee. We will discuss this at the meeting.
