July 2009 - Board Minutes

Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of July 21, 2009

The regular monthly meeting of the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:50 by President Russ Dunn-Foster. Also present were Jill Holmes, Angela Sager, Renee Lowery, and Mary Kay Feltes. Absent were Ross Leuning, Gail Plathe and Don Overlie. Angela Sager took Gail’s position as recorder of the meeting.

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

The June financial report was reviewed. A projected increased use of memorial funds is expected in reaction to the budget cuts.

Children’s Services
Renée reported on June happenings in Children’s Services. June was a very busy and successful month with many activities provided. June started with “Shout Outs” at the elementary schools to get kids excited about reading over the summer. Over 2000 people were present at the “Shout Outs”. The kick off for the Summer Reading Program, Be Creative at your Library, was held Friday, June 5th, from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Positive comments were expressed in regard to the time change to the afternoon of the last day of school. Mister Billy sang, tattoos and ice cream, and pool passes were distributed to the 1325 who attended.

On the Tuesday of the following week a group from the Steele County 4-H led by Mary Schroeder, brought their farm animal friends. In all, 583 people interacted with pigs, a calf, ducks and kittens. Other highlights follow.

June 10: Darla, Patty and Joan spoke to a group of 25 people about new books, then took the program on the road to Blooming Prairie Branch Library.
June 15: Story time began at 9:30 and 10:30 am. From 95 to 146 people heard stories at various story time sessions.
June 17: Darla visited Migrant Head Start and read stories to 27 children and teachers.
June 18: Norm the Prairie Magician mystified a group of 186.
June 24: Children were invited to explore the Village of Yesteryear and participate in a program honoring We the People Bookshelf: Picturing America.
June 25: Five to six hundred children came to claim the book they earned through the summer reading program. Jan Lewison was the volunteer coordinator. She and her group of volunteers helped the children select books. The next book fairs are July 23rd and Aug. 27th. The term “book fair” may be reconsidered as it caused some confusion among the patrons.
Adventure Club, a program run by the University of Minnesota Extension, was held at the library on Wednesday afternoons throughout June and July. Topics including bugs, outdoor cooking and fishing were discussed among the 151 people who attended the three sessions.
The Master Gardeners of Owatonna with the University Extension Service host a junior Master Gardeners program on Thursday afternoons. The children are invited to learn about gardening, pick vegetables and flowers as well as do related crafts. Snacks are provided. The four programs in June were attended by 62 people.
Club Girl, the library’s Girl Scout Troop, met three weeks in June. An average of 8 girls was present at these meetings.
Mary Kay discussed the new method of ordering books with the jackets on them. The cost is about $1.00 per book and saves staff labor time and expenses. She is currently working out the “bugs” in the system.

Circulation showed an increase of 9.4 % measured against the same time last year. People coming through the doors increased 7.6% and Blooming Prairie showed an increase of 1.9%. Juvenile fiction showed a decrease as the program that delivers books to children in daycares was eliminated. Other categories have shown increases: mystery use up 19%; DVD use up 44%; juvenile DVD use up 45%; magazine use up 42%. Popular magazine subscriptions such as Oprah, People and Real Simple have been doubled.

The preliminary budget for 2010 was distributed and discussed briefly with Mary Kay soliciting input from board members. Capital improvement requests combined both 2009 and 2010 needs. Two computers have failed recently.

Infectious disease control methods such as using sanitary wipes, gels, and holding stations for recently returned books were discussed. One recent change was to replace the locks to the children’s bathrooms so they are more easily accessed.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Angela Sager