January 2010 - Board Minutes

Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of January 19, 2010

The regular monthly meeting of the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:32 PM by President Russ Dunn-Foster. Also present were Jill Holmes, Ross Leuning, Angela Sager, Renée Lowery, Don Overlie, Mary Kay Feltes, and Gail Plathe. Several students were present to fulfill the requirement for their Student Community Involvement Project (S.C.I.P.).

Board members were introduced and then explained their responsibilities as community representatives on the Library Board of Trustees. This includes making recommendations and serving as sounding board for library administration

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

The December financial report was reviewed. The library finished 2009 in the black. Jill explained the program budget to the students. Mary Kay indicated she requested some student workers in the 2010 budget request. Replacement of some public computers is also in the 2010 budget.

Renée presented the December Children’s Services’ report.  December in Children’s Services is all about class visits. First graders from all local schools including Medford, St. Mary’s and Owatonna Christian School visited the library in December. Students toured the library and listened to The Polar Express, they received a library card (if they didn’t have one) and checked out books. A total of 11 classes visited the library and Polar Express was read to 504 students and teachers. Storytimes continued three times each week through December, ending on Family Fun Night. Stories by Candlelight, held in cooperation with Early Childhood Family Education (E.C.F.E.), delighted 61 children and adults. E.C.F.E. provided crafts, the sensory table and craft dough.

Use report. Approximately 21,000 people use the library each month. There are people who use wifi with their laptop computers while in their cars during the day when the library is open, and during the night when the library is closed. People numbers for December were down slightly at Owatonna Public Library and down about 15 % at Blooming Prairie Branch Library. Owatonna Public Library check-outs decreased about 4% in December and about 13% in Blooming Prairie Branch Library. Bookmobile check-outs were down as well. Owatonna Public library added 164 new borrowers in the month and Blooming Prairie added one.

Other Business
Mary Kay talked about a painting that was donated to the library a number of years ago by an Owatonna resident, Ken Kaplan. Silvan Durban of Owatonna Arts Center directed library staff in the search for information regarding an appraisal. There was some discussion about restoration and insurance on the piece. Minneapolis Institute of Arts (M.I.A.) staff can do an ‘examination’ of the painting to see if repair is needed for a flat fee of $100. Restoration can be done by an independent restorer on the M.I.A campus if repairs are needed. Professional art movers would be hired to transport the painting.

Factoids from Renée:   The library now has 183 fans on FaceBook. Library staff use the website as yet another way to communicate with customers and friends. On Saturday January 16th the number of check-outs per hour equaled 134. On an average day, check-outs per hour equal about 100.

The library board will meet on Tuesday February 16th at 4:30.

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 5:15PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Gail Plathe