September 2010 - Board Minutes

The Owatonna Public Library Board of Trustees convened their monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010. 

While people gathered for the meeting, Mary Kay showed a video of the library parking lot in flood stage during the recent thunderstorms on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010. The storm water issue has become more troublesome in recent years. It was noted that the newly redesigned alley, with the experimental pervious material dispersed the storm water quickly as it was designed to do. Mary Kay explained that the design of the parking lot drainage system simply cannot handle the amount of storm water that accumulates in such a short period of time. This is something the city will explore.

The meeting was called to order at 4:40PM by Vice President Angela Sager. Also present were Russ Dunn-Foster, Jill Holmes, Eric Mattison, Renée Lowery, Mary Kay Feltes and Gail Plathe. Don Overlie was absent. Members of the public attended, including a group of OHS students fulfilling their SCIP (Student Community Involvement Project) requirement for their social studies class.

Newly appointed Library Board member Eric Mattison was welcomed and introduced. Eric has lived in Owatonna for more than 25 years and is an avid library user. He will serve until July 2011; the remainder of Ross Leuning’s term on the library board while Ross is on assignment in Iraq.

The August minutes were approved on a motion by Jill, seconded by Russ. All aye.

The August financial report was reviewed. Mary Kay explained the program budget format. The budget is divided into these areas: administration, circulation, site, information services and off-site. Expenditures fall into one of these programs. During these difficult budget times, cuts have had to be made. The goal is to maintain services as much as possible, while making cuts in other areas. As a result, bookmobile service was cut. In answer to a question about building repair expenses, Mary Kay noted the alarm panels needed to be replaced which was an approved but unplanned expenditure. The book budget is mostly spent.

Renée presented Darla’s report on Children’s Services for August. Highlights include a Library Legacy Grant program: Corrugation; Build, Live, Discover, a workshop by Wil Natzel, Master of Architecture.  The Gainey Conference Center of the University of St. Thomas partnered with Owatonna Public Library on this project. The workshop was inspired by the works of architect Frank Gehry, who built furniture out of cardboard. As part of the grant, the Corrugation cardboard discs are available to teachers and groups who wish to explore uncommon building materials, and team-building exercises. This project was funded in part or in whole with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage. Teams of volunteers from sorority Delta Kappa Gama organized the book give-aways for the summer reading program, as they had done last year. Total numbers are not available as yet. Please see the attached report for more information on children’s services.

Library use report. Comparing August, 2009, to August, 2010, the number of check-outs at Owatonna Public Library increased over 1.5%.  Blooming Prairie Branch Library circulation increased about 1%. People count was up over 1% at Owatonna Public Library and about the same at Blooming Prairie Branch Library. In August, 138 new borrowers registered for library cards at Owatonna Public Library, and Blooming Prairie Branch Library had 14 new borrowers.

There was some discussion about the house at 240 E Broadway. Mary Kay explained it had been purchased for future expansion of the library.  The house across the alley at 239 East Vine will be torn down this fall. The price of tearing down the house at 240 East Broadway is about $8000. It is expected that money will be found in the city budget for this expenditure.

New Business

Parking Lot Storm Water Retention
The video of the flood of September 15th was sent to the city manager and the city engineer, who said it was helpful to see how the flooding took place. There are many concerns over the issue of flood water in the lot. It is used 12 hours on most days and is too small to use as a retention pond. Parking lot reconstruction has been requested in the capital improvements plan for several years but was never funded. Jill asked about the parking lots now under construction across Broadway at the corner of Grove and Broadway, and asked how the expanse of concrete will affect the run-off/drainage issues that plague this neighborhood. Storm water manager Matt Durand reminded library staff that every applicant for a building permit must submit a storm water management plan. Durand will come to the next board meeting to answer questions.

Bookmobile
Since bookmobile service has been eliminated, the bookmobile has been retired. After some discussion Russ made a motion to declare the bookmobile surplus property and authorize Mary Kay to sell the bookmobile online or by whatever means possible. Jill seconded the motion. More discussion included Mary Kay’s reporting that letters had been sent notifying all bookmobile users and all Steele County commissioners in addition to the City Council. Members of American Library Association electronic listserv recommended Specialty Vehicle Services, a company that consults and helps design vehicles such as food trucks, mobile medical units, and bookmobiles. Specialty Vehicle Services will broker the sale of the bookmobile.  There being no further discussion, the motion passed. Jill added that it is sad to see it end as it was an outreach program of the library. Mary Kay had cut it from the budget in 2009 but was encouraged to continue providing bookmobile service for another year.

Other
In other business, Mary Kay told the group that five swastikas were found chalked onto the outside of the library building yesterday. The person who did the vandalizing was identified on surveillance video as an Owatonna High School student and frequent visitor to the library. The liaison officer at OHS discussed the swastika with the student who knows what the symbol means. He is no longer welcome at the library. This vandalism does not qualify as a bias crime since it was not directed at an individual. Calls were placed informing the police, the Human Rights Commission and the Steele County Prosecutor’s Office. This symbol is very offensive to citizens. The library doesn’t want this negative symbol associated with this public building. 

Finally, Darla who is in charge of children’s services applied for and received a grant from Target Corporation. The grant of $2000 will be used for a program by author Derek Anderson who illustrates the Little Quack series of children’s books.

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 5:10pm on a motion by Russ, seconded by Jill.

The library board will meet Tuesday, October 19th at 4:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,    
Gail Plathe

October 8, 2010