March 2009 - Board Minutes

Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of March 24, 2009

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

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

The February financial report was reviewed. Budget cuts for 2009 include $49,000 in personnel, $3000 in supplies and $1500 in other services. These cuts are not reflected in the current report. They will be implemented April 15th. Mary Kay reiterated the cuts already made: The community garden program, after school activities, Books to Go! deliveries (both to children in day cares and to homebound library patrons), film programs, book talks and author visits, and Family History Forums. A number of cuts have been made to the summer reading program, including the discontinuation of the summer teen volunteer program and all student assistants’ positions. Plans are being made to replace staff telephone calls to customers informing of materials to be picked up with postcards and e-mail notices. Other changes include serve yourself pick-up for reserved materials and the use of reusable book bags (no plastic). It is possible that self-check machines will be purchased to balance the presence of fewer staff at the check-out desks.

Renée presented the Children’s Services report for February. Dr Seuss on the Loose, February’s Family Fun Night, a collaboration with Early Childhood Family Education, (ECFE) was held on a snowy evening. When Owatonna schools closed early due to weather, ECFE was not available to help. But the show must go on so a storytime preview was quickly created, filmed and loaded onto YouTube. In spite of the weather, 43 hearty kids and grown-ups came for the Dr. Seuss program. On another occasion Kiwanis Club and local ‘celebrity’ readers took part in “Read Around the World”.  Celebrity readers included Mary Kay, Children’s Librarian Darla Lager, Captain Chuck Walerius of the Owatonna Police Department, State Representative Kory Kath and Fire Chief Mike Johnson. February is I Love to Read Month, a popular time for elementary and preschool classes to visit the library. In addition, Darla and Patty read stories to students at Lincoln Elementary School, Good Shepherd Preschool, and Washington Elementary School. During the month, over 400 students and teachers visited the library or were visited by staff from children’s services.

February use report indicated the number of people using the library facility increased about 4% at the Owatonna Public Library. Use at Blooming Prairie Branch Library decreased slightly. The number of books and materials checked out at Owatonna Public Library increased by 2.5% and Blooming Prairie Branch decreased a bit. Checkouts on the bookmobile increased. Use of the Internet and public-access computers increased as well.

Mary Kay noted that the budget charts Renée created for a recent city council meeting are now posted in the lobby area near the elevator.

In other business, Steele County Extension Service, with 4-H and the Master Gardeners will rent the community garden for a nominal payment. Organic methods will be used. Gege Abraham, a Girl Scout professional from Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, will take charge of ClubGirl, the library’s Girl Scout troop. A professional from the Gamehaven Boy Scout Council will run the Owatonna Titans, the library’s Boy Scout troop. Two local businessmen have expressed interest in supporting the Scout troops. Both believe the culturally diverse troops are important to the community’s youth development.

The board issued the following statements:

FIRST

The Library Board of Trustees recommends continuing the operation of the Owatonna Public Library’s bookmobile, a county service partially funded by Steele County and used by county residents, for the remainder of 2009. At the end of the year, bookmobile service will be re-evaluated.

SECOND

The Library Board of Trustees is concerned and disturbed by the possibility of cutting library service hours for a four-hour period every week. This service is used by people of all ages from every socio-economic class, reflecting all cultures in the community. The closure will limit access not only to city residents but to county residents as well. The board noted the depressed economy and the resulting increased use of the library, in addition to the increased numbers of materials checked out in recent months.

The Board declares that free and ready access to books, materials, information, and the world of ideas is integral to the development and maintenance of a healthy community. The Board affirms the necessity of providing a community source that allows our residents to connect to the world.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Gail Plathe