August 2010 - Board Minutes
Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of August 17, 2010
The regular monthly meeting of the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by President Don Overlie. Also present were Angela Sager, Russ Dunn-Foster, Jill Holmes, Renée Lowery and Gail Plathe.
Library Board member Ross Leuning is on assignment in Iraq. Eric Mattison will be appointed to serve the remainder of his term on the library board.
The July minutes were approved on a motion by Russ, seconded by Jill. All aye.
The July financial report was reviewed. Renée noted the Owatonna Public Library bookmobile was retired on August 5, 2010 after approximately five years of service. There was some discussion about the house at 240 E Broadway. There has been encouragement to find a renter but the house is in need of repair and upkeep to make it rentable. Mary Kay talked with Dave Strand about the house at 239 East Vine which is across the alley from 240 East Broadway. That house on East Vine will be taken down in the fall as part of a storm water project. Board members enquired whether the property at 240 E Broadway could be torn down at the same time, saving the additional cost of tearing it down at another time. This will be pursued with the city manager. Jill asked about the parking lots now under construction across Broadway at the corner of Grove and Broadway, wondering how all that concrete will affect the run-off/drainage issues that plague this neighborhood. Storm water manager Matt Durand is in conversation with Federated Insurance about these concerns.
Renée presented Darla’s report on Children’s Services for July. Please see attached report. Highlights include Darla’s two visits to Migrant Head Start in July. She read stories to over 100 people. Adventure Club is held in cooperation with University of Minnesota Extension Service each Wednesday in June and July. ‘Slippery Science,” LEGO™Mania, and the first of two book fairs were well attended. Two July programs were funded in part or in whole with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage. These programs were: Underwater Adventures and the concert by Hans Mayer. The community garden is a popular place on Thursday afternoons when children can weed, water and pick vegetables and flowers. Two weekly storytimes continue throughout the summer. "Make a Splash …Read!" is sponsored by Federated Insurance.
Library use report. Comparing July, 2009, to July, 2010, the number of check-outs at Owatonna Public Library was almost even. Blooming Prairie Branch Library circulation decreased about 10%. In July one hundred sixty new borrowers registered for library cards at Owatonna Public Library, and Blooming Prairie Branch Library had ten new borrowers.
Renée was asked about eBooks, or downloadable books. At a recent SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating) meeting it was announced that eBooks will be available in January at the earliest. OverDrive is the brand name under which eBooks and eAudiobooks will be distributed through SELCO. Library patrons will be able to download at home or in the library. Not every device is compatible with OverDrive however. On the website Renée updates information in that regard on a regular basis at www.owatonna.info, click on “What about eBooks?” Nook, the device available at Barnes & Noble Books, and the Sony Reader are two compatible devices
Don asked if issues with Aquabrowser have been resolved. Searching continues to be a problem. In addition, it is necessary for people to log in for each book they reserve which is redundant and cumbersome. Don also noted that an upgrade of the Horizon automation system will require three days of down time. Pharos will be operational but all check-outs will have to be recorded on paper.
With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 4:55pm.
The library board will meet Tuesday, September 21st at 4:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Plathe
September 9, 2010