August 2009 - Board Minutes
Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of August 18, 2009
The regular monthly meeting of the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:30 by President Russ Dunn-Foster. Also present were Jill Holmes, Don Overlie, Renée Lowery, Mary Kay Feltes and Gail Plathe. Ross Leuning and Angela Sager were absent.
The July minutes were approved on a motion by Don, seconded by Jill. All board members present voting aye, the motion was passed.
The July financial report was reviewed. The 2009 budget was decreased by $55,000.00. Mary Kay noted a 2010 budget planning session with city council will be held in October. Board members are invited to attend.
Renée presented the July report on activities in Children’s Services. The month began with LEGO Mania on July 1st. Over 170 people attended. Adventure Club led by Tracy Ignaszewski of the University of Minnesota Extension Service was held three Wednesdays. The programs were attended by 38 to 42 people. Storytime continued throughout the month, averaging 52 people per session. Darla made two visits to Migrant Head Start and read stories to over sixty children, teachers and parents on both occasions. Patty visited Kids’ Korner, read stories to a group of 56 people and talked about the library. One summer reading program featured ventriloquist Shari Ellingson of “Gator Alley and Company”. Over two hundred fifty people were entertained. The last program in July was the RADZOO (Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo). A crowd of 150 enjoyed the snakes, turtles, frogs and an alligator. The second book fair of the summer was held on July 23rd. Many books were given away as rewards for achieving reading goals. From 9am to 7pm 1019 people had come through the doors of Children’s Services.
People numbers and check-outs showed a decrease over the same month in 2008. Two factors directly affected the numbers: two book delivery programs, one to homebound library patrons and the other to children in daycares were cancelled. Additionally, fewer programs were scheduled for the summer reading program. At Blooming Prairie Branch Library people count and check-outs increased in July. DVD use has increased. The number of loans to and from other libraries has increased as well. Bookmobile numbers as well as internet use increased when compared to July of 2008. We registered 175 new borrowers and 3,239 library patrons used their card in July.
Owatonna Public Library’s SELCO (Southeast Libraries Cooperating) representative Don Overlie reported on progress with Aquabrowser, SELCO’s new front-end for the online catalog. SELCO expects the release will occur in about two months. SELCO staff and teams of librarians and tech staff are working to identify and resolve conflicts in Aquabrowser, slowing the program’s release. SELCO members are concerned about the lack of generator back-up in the Rochester office that would provide power in the event of a power failure. Costs are high to all members when the system is down.
In other business Mary Kay informed board members Ted Boosalis of Costas’ will provide coffee and treats in the library’s reading room during the month of September. This will coincide with the library’s campaign for new card holders during library card sign up month
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Plathe