July 17, 2008 Library Board Minutes

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
ELISHA D. SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
July 17, 2008

Introduction of New Members
Liz Derouin and John Nebel were welcomed as new members to the Library Board.

Call to order at 4:33 p.m. by President Fuchs
Present: Derouin, Eckstein, Eisen, Enos, Fuchs, Nebel, Stanke
Absent: Werley
Also present: Director Saecker, J. Bongers (Head of Adult & Technical Services), C. Brandt (Head of Circulation Services), M. Loch-Wouters, (Head of Children's Services), K. Seefeldt (Administrative Assistant)

Authorization of Bills
1. Motion to authorize payment of the July list of bills from the 2008 budget by Eisen, seconded by Enos and carried unanimously.

Consent Business
2. Approve minutes from the Library Board meeting of June 19, 2008.
Motion
Motion to approve the minutes from the Library Board meeting of June 19, 2008 by Eisen, seconded by Nebel, and carried unanimously.

Director's Report/Information Items
3. Statistics. Circulation statistics continue to break all previous records. June lending was up 19.9% overall from last year, averaging an incredible 191 items per hour. Adult circulation increased 14.2% overall from June 2007, while Children's rose 25.2%. Book lending for Adults went up 10.5%, while Children's rose 34.5%.
4. Self-Check Machines. Director Saecker and Cate Brandt, Head of Circulation Services, plan to meet with vendors in August to explore options for purchasing one or two self-check machines. The machines have become a necessity due to the steady increase in circulation.
5. Anniversary. Director Saecker congratulated De Dalum for her 30 years of service to the library. De works in the Reference and Technical Services departments.
6. Green Scene & Heard. Board members were encouraged to attend the opening reception for the art show immediately following the Board meeting. Art made from found and recycled items would be featured. Library staff members De Dalum, Pattie Stanislawski, Marina Nelessen, Julie Wing and volunteers John Nebel and Lynn Ann Sauby coordinated the event. The library will also be sponsoring a green fair in September.
7. Economic Contribution of WI Public Libraries. Board members received copies of The Economic Contribution of WI Public Libraries to the Economy of Wisconsin. The recent study, commissioned by the WI Department of Public Instruction, concluded that Wisconsin's public libraries do contribute to the state's economy and are of growing importance to its citizens.
8. 2009 Fox Cities Book Festival. Director Saecker has been elected President of the 2009 Fox Cities Book Festival.
9. WilsWorld. Director Saecker will be attending the WilsWorld technology conference later in July.

Discussion/Action Items
10. Election of Officers. Stanke presented the following slate of officers on behalf of the Nominations Committee: Keith Fuchs, president, Jill Enos, vice-president, and Paul Eisen, secretary. There were no nominations from the floor.
Motion
Motion to approve the slate of officers for 2008-2009 as presented by Nebel, seconded by Derouin and carried unanimously.
11. Committee Appointments. Director Saecker clarified the responsibilities of the standing committees for the new board members. President Fuchs made the following appointments:
Finance Committee: Enos (ch), Eckstein, Nebel
Policies & Personnel: Fuchs (ch), Stanke, Werley
Buildings & Grounds: Eisen (ch), Derouin, Enos
Investment: Stanke (ch), Fuchs, Director Saecker
County Library Liaison: Eisen
12. Set 2009 Board Meeting Dates. Board members discussed their preferences for the dates and times of future library board meetings.
Motion
Motion to approve maintaining library board meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m. for 2008-2009 by Eisen, seconded by Stanke, and carried unanimously.
Loch-Wouters left the meeting at 5:08 p.m.
13. Winnefox Board. For the benefit of the new board members, Director Saecker explained our Board's position that individual libraries within the Winnefox Library System would be better served if the dual position of Director of WLS and Oshkosh Public Library were split. Discussion ensued. There was a consensus that we should explore whether other library boards in the system support this change. In response to Eisen's recent request for an explanation of the working relationship between our Library Board and the Winnefox Library System Board, Director Saecker stated according to the Winnefox Board's by-laws there is no tie from that board to the boards of the individual libraries within the system.
Bongers left the meeting at 5:11 p.m.
14. Trustee Essentials #1. Board members were asked to read Chapter 1 of the Trustee Essentials, which outlines the job description for library trustees. Eisen noted the benefits for trustees who participate in library related seminars, workshops and conferences. Chapter 2 "Who Runs the Library?" will be discussed at next month's board meeting.
Brandt left the meeting at 5:18 p.m.
15. Fines Revenues. Eisen noted on the library's monthly financial report fines revenues through May, 2008 appear to be lower than anticipated. Director Saecker stated that the recent change in fines limits from $5.00 to $10.00 may have had an impact on that. She also noted that the $25,000 listed as the anticipated amount we would collect in fines in 2008 was an estimate. Nebel noted the impact of the 3-day computer alert for items coming due as well.

Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:21 p.m. by Enos, seconded by Nebel, and carried unanimously.