December 2009 - Board Minutes

Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of December 15, 2009

The regular monthly meeting of the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:30 PM by President Russ Dunn-Foster. Also present were Jill Holmes, Ross Leuning, Angela Sager Renée Lowery, Mary Kay Feltes and Gail Plathe. Don Overlie was absent.

The November minutes were approved on a motion by Ross, seconded by Angie.  All board members present voting aye, the motion was passed.

The November financial report was reviewed.

Renée presented the Children’s Services’ report on November activities.  An average of 50 children attended storytime each week during the month. Bedtime Tales a family program held in cooperation with Early Childhood Family Education, entertained 61 children. Darla had lunch with the Lions at the Eagles Club. She talked about children’s services at the library and read stories. Patty and Joan took part in Family Reading Night at Wilson Elementary School. They talked to 190 parents and children about the library and featured non-fiction books. They read stories to a group of 19 younger children.

Darla visited five Parents of 2s classes at Roosevelt School. She talked to parents about the importance of reading and brought examples of age appropriate books. Attendance in the groups ranged from five to twelve parents. Semcac Headstart visited the library in November. Darla read shark stories to 43 children and teachers in children’s services while parents met in the Gainey Room. Staff expects December will be a very busy month with first graders from all local schools visiting the library to hear The Polar Express.

Library use reports: Check-outs were down slightly at Owatonna Public Library when compared to the same month in 2008, and circulation was down about 9% at Blooming Prairie Branch Library.  However, if the 1360 items formerly circulated each month through two “Books to Go!” programs, now cut as a budget-reducing measure, were included in the month’s circulation numbers, the total circulation numbers would have shown an increase of 3%.

Almost 3000 people used their library cards at Owatonna Public Library in November and 353 at Blooming Prairie Branch Library. New borrowers at Owatonna Public Library were 159 compared to 136 in 2008. At Blooming Prairie Branch Library, ten new borrowers in November were added in November, compared to five last year.  Even on a day when a blizzard raged outdoors and local schools closed, over 200 people visited the library.

Other Business

The library now has 175 fans on FaceBook. A video of the Owatonna High School Carolers’ visit to the library can be viewed on YouTube. The library will serve as a holiday lights recycling collection point. A program teaching children Jewish holiday traditions will be held in December. Tonia Paley and children and Jennifer, Josie and Russ Dunn-Foster will present the program.

Mary Kay thanked the board members for their service. Their efforts are much appreciated. The library board will meet On Tuesday January 19th at 4:30.

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 5:05PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Gail Plathe