March 2010 - Board Minutes

Owatonna Public Library Board Minutes of March 16, 2010

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, Angela Sager, Renée Lowery, Don Overlie, Mary Kay Feltes and Gail Plathe. Ross Leuning and Don Overlie were absent, although Overlie attended the meeting electronically. Numerous Owatonna High School students were present to fulfill the requirement for their Student Community Involvement Project (S.C.I.P.).  No meeting was held in February due to the lack of a quorum.

For the benefit of the students, board members were introduced, then explained their responsibilities as community representatives on the Library Board of Trustees, appointed by the Mayor. These duties include making recommendations and serving as sounding board for library administration in regard to budgets, staffing and services. Library staff was introduced.

During the call for comments, several students recalled attending story time as children and are current library users.

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

The February financial report was reviewed. It was noted that the library budget is 6% of the city budget.

Mary Kay reported she met with Representatives Kory Kath and Patty Fritz and Senator Mike Parry on Library Legislative Day in February. All three legislators agreed the library is a core service.

Renée presented Children’s Services’ reports from January and February.  After a brief hiatus in December, storytimes began in mid-January. About 70 people attended each week on Tuesdays. Thursday evenings averaged about 14 people. Family Fun Night, which is held in cooperation with Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is very well attended. Seventy-five people listened to “Cozy Stories for Cold Nights”. ECFE staff brought a craft and supplies for other activities. Late in the month Darla took part in Project Community Connect, held at the Elks Club. The program was an effort to connect homeless people with agencies that could help. Darla made library cards for thirteen new patrons during the four hour program.

In February story times continued. February’s Family Fun Night, “Dr. Seuss on the Loose” was attended by sixty-one people. ECFE again brought crafts and manipulative learning aids. Also in February, several groups of students came to the library for tours, stories, and to check out books. Twenty-five students and teachers from St. Isidore School in Litomysl, thirty kindergarten students and teachers from St. Mary’s School, and three groups of 3-year olds from Trinity Preschool (a total of 42) visited children’s services during the month.

Use report for February. Numbers of check-outs at Owatonna Public Library decreased about 9%.  Check-outs at Blooming Prairie Branch Library decreased about 4% and check-outs on the bookmobile decreased. The reduction in check-outs is directly related to a program cut in 2009: Books to Go! delivered books to children in over 40 daycares and, for adults, to numerous homebound library patrons. Factoring in the program cuts, the circulation numbers have in fact increased. The number of items formerly checked out to patrons in the Books to Go! program was constant each month.

People numbers for February were down slightly at Owatonna Public Library, and down about 10% at Blooming Prairie Branch. Transacting borrowers (OPL over 2800, BP 300, BKM 28) New borrowers OPL 153, BP 4, BKM 2

On days when snowstorms were closing schools, the library still had over 200 people coming in for library service. During the night when the building is closed, library customers use the ‘midnight library’ (the wireless service) while in their cars. The online library is open 24/7.

Grants: Minnesota's Legacy Amendment of 2008 raises revenue for Clean Water, Outdoor Heritage, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. Libraries are beneficiaries of a portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage funding. Mary Gontarek, audiovisual librarian at Owatonna Public Library, applied for and received a Library Legacy Grant administered by Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO), the regional library system. The library’s grant partners are the Owatonna Human Rights Commission and Owatonna SeniorPlace. The program, World Film Series, directed by Mary Gontarek, will feature foreign films, independent films, cultural films and other movies not generally released to local theatres. The grant includes funding for staff and printing costs. In other Legacy grant applications Owatonna Public Library partnered with Medford Public School for a visiting artist. The library also partnered with Blooming Prairie Branch Library to present an author visit to the community.

In response to various questions about the library Renée created a fact sheet. Some of the 2009 library facts are listed below:

Registered borrowers: 26,819
Average monthly Internet use by adults: 3,713; teens: 444
Average monthly Internet use by teens: 444
Average monthly checkouts: 27,014
Average monthly attendance at children’s programs: 1,429
On an average day, check-outs per hour equal about 100.

Also it was noted that everyone does not have Internet service at home. The Center for Rural Policy and Development’s 2007 Minnesota Internet Survey verified that more than 30% of rural Minnesota households do not have Internet access. Nearly half of rural Minnesota households do not have broadband access. The most recent Pew Research Center study, Internet & American Life Project, based on data collected in late 2009, determined that, in rural communities, 70% of adults used the Internet, but only 47% have a home broadband connection. Both represent a drop from the spring, 2009 study. The need for technology access in libraries and for print materials is real.

The Board discussed budget cuts for 2010. Serving 20,000 library customers each month will be difficult with budget cuts of over $100,000. The needs of the community include current reading materials and access to technological resources. With current economical conditions, Owatonna residents expect increased library service. The city is also required by law to meet maintenance of effort. This number is calculated by formula by the state. Drastic consequences result if the city does not maintain its commitment to providing adequate library service to its residents. As an example, the Owatonna Public Library would be required to withdraw from SELCO, and would not be allowed to share the integrated regional library system. A stand-alone system would need to be purchased, and a manager to oversee that system would be needed. SELCO would request payment for removing Owatonna Public Library’s materials from the current shared system. Owatonna Public Library patrons would not be allowed to use their cards outside the Owatonna Public Library.

These are costly ramifications if commitments are not met. The library board expressed grave concern over the budget cuts for 2010. After much discussion a resolution was put forth. Please see attached.

All members present voted aye, supporting the Resolution to Adequately Fund the Owatonna Public Library.

The library board will meet on Tuesday April 20th at 4:30.

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 6:10PM.

Respectfully submitted,    
Gail Plathe

April 20, 2010

Resolution to Adequately Fund the Owatonna Public Library

Whereas, it is the responsibility of the Library Board of Trustees to do all things necessary for the efficient operation and management of a public library facility in the City of Owatonna; and

Whereas, the people of Owatonna, by their continuous and regular use of their public library,demonstrate their belief in the library as a core service; and

Whereas, the great majority of people in Owatonna, by owning a library card, demonstrate their belief in the library as an essential service; and

Whereas, the library is “Free to All,” and is a portal to free access to information and a first step in the quest for knowledge, information, and wisdom; and

Whereas, an educated and informed community is a successful community; and

Whereas, the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees, represents the community of Owatonna and affirms these beliefs;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees respectfully requests the City of Owatonna adequately fund the Owatonna Public Library at a level ensuring its efficient operation and management; and let it be further

RESOLVED, the Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees respectfully requests the City of Owatonna fund the Owatonna Public library sufficiently to meet the needs of the community.

April 20, 2010  

_____________________________________  
Russ Dunn-Foster, President

_____________________________________  
Jill Holmes

_____________________________________  
Ross Leuning

_____________________________________  
Don Overlie

_____________________________________  
Angela Sager