Grace
A. Dow Memorial Library
Library Board
Minutes
Wednesday, November 19,
2008, 7 p.m.
I.
Roll Call
Kinnish called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Melissa Barnard, Maxine Brink, Sarah Galt, Tami Johnson,
Kathleen Kinnish, William Snover
ABSENT: Norm Neher, Marilyn
Soules
ALSO PRESENT: Wendy Shields, Technical Secretary; John Palen, Midland Issues
II.
Acceptance of October 15, 2008 Meeting Minutes
Minutes approved as
submitted.
III.
Additions or Changes to the Agenda
None
IV.
Public Comments
None
V.
Director’s Report
Barnard directed the Board’s
attention to the newspaper article section of the packet. The Library placed an ad on the Kroger
pharmacy bag. A copy of the ad was
included in this section.
Barnard announced that the
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library has obtained the Essential level of certification
on the Library of Michigan Quality Services Audit Checklist. Beyond essential, libraries can receive
certification for enhanced and excellent.
Kinnish inquired about the
Disability Network Mentoring Day.
Barnard responded that a student selected the Library and was scheduled
for a tour and hands-on experiences.
This was the first time that the Library participated in this program.
Kinnish asked about the
Heart Healthy Holiday Cooking program.
Barnard explained that a chef and dietician presented the program. There was a full house and it was a very
successful evening. This program was
co-sponsored by the Mid-Michigan Health Regional Medical Center. Adult Services Librarian Sudi Kotecha
organized the event.
Kinnish also mentioned teen
author, Pete Hautman, and his presentation at local schools. The Friends of the Library sponsored his
visit.
Galt noted that adult
material circulation did not increase.
However, she did visit the library on a beautiful fall day and it was
packed. Barnard commented that it is
hard to explain the variance in the statistics.
VI.
Patron Compliments and Concerns
SIGNED COMMENTS:
1. I think that because the computers are so slow in transitioning from screen to screen, you should allow an additional 15-30 minutes on the allotted time. I have accounts in Yahoo, My Space, and other sites I need to visit but to change sites takes forever. Also, the warnings that pop up at the end breaks one’s train of thought. Once would be sufficient.
Response time is slower in the
afternoon during peak use. Laptops are
available for in-house use. The warnings
are needed to ensure that all users are aware that their time is ending.
2. The internet is very slow sometimes. It is bad when you wait twenty minutes out of a one hour period. Also, you could close at 5 p.m. on Friday and close all day on Sunday to save money. Try Charter, Mercury or AT&T for internet service.
The library uses Charter as their
Internet Service Provider.
3. I like that you offer e-audiobooks. The problem is that I am unable to use the service because I use an i-pod for my listening device and the files are not compatible. There are other libraries that allow the use of an i-pod, I wish we did also.
Apple is beginning to allow iPod
use with downloadable products other than with their own. The vendors currently offering iPod
compatibility have a very limited number of titles available. The library is waiting to see what the
various vendors offer before making a decision to change vendors.
4. Place date stamps on the counter past the check out counter. That way we could stamp the dates on our books if we have forgotten to stamp before leaving.
The area cannot accommodate this
added activity without causing congestion.
The dates can be hand written on the sticker using the receipt to verify
the dates.
5. We would be very interested in a “Ready, Set, Read” class in the evenings. Perhaps around 6:30 or 7:00 p.m.
These were scheduled in the
evenings during 2007 and attendance was very low.
6. Your library is very neat and employees are very courteous.
UNSIGNED COMMENTS:
1. $1.00 per page is too much to charge for printing from computers!
Color printing is $1.00 per page, black and
white printing is $ .10 per page after the first free page.
2. I think that the computer time should be allowed to be lengthened or that it should be able to be used later in the day again, instead of once per day, based on how busy the computers are.
Laptops are available for check out and use in the library.
3. The e-mail reminders of books coming due (and renewability) are very helpful for those of us who take out a lot of books. Thank you.
VII.
Old Business
a. Board/Community
Communications
Brink offered to contribute the Library Board – Sharing
Favorites section in the March/April issue of the Library Connection.
b. Library Board Goals
Committee Reports
Kinnish called
upon board members to report on the activities of their committees.
Goal 1: Advise library staff and evaluate processes
and procedures related to technology use and instruction at the library.
Board members
assigned: Neher, Galt, Johnson
Galt reported
that they began discussion on this goal and will report at the January meeting.
Goal 2: Participate in the review of the Library’s
Mission Statement and development of a strategic plan.
Board members
assigned: Galt, Soules, Kinnish
Barnard
indicated that McKane and she met with a possible facilitator and that he will
be submitting a proposal. The staff
hopes to begin work on the Mission Statement and Strategic Plan in January.
Goal 3: Participate in the City of Midland Community
Roundtable discussions regarding city services, including the services of the
library, to provide input in identifying city budget priorities for fiscal year
2009-2010.
This goal was
completed in October 2008.
Goal 4: Suggest innovative marketing strategies to
communicate library services and programs to the community.
Board members
assigned: Kinnish, Soules, Snover
Kinnish reported
that Soules has been attempting to contact a Northwood Marketing instructor to
discuss the involvement of a Marketing class in achieving this goal.
In addressing
Goal 4, Snover commented that he saw advertisements on television promoting the
Bay County Library System. He wondered
if the Library would consider this form of advertisement. He wasn’t sure if this would be cost
prohibitive. The public access channel
was suggested and Snover mentioned that people can be trained at MCTV to possibly
produce segments that would promote the Library. Barnard commented that we currently use the
government channel to advertise Library programs. Johnson said that there is a cost in using
the public access station; the government channel is free of charge to the
Library.
VIII.
New Business
No new business.
IX.
Board Announcements
Galt mentioned that a patron
told her about a chess club that they had at a previous library. She thought that the role of bringing
together groups with similar interests might be a good fit for the
Library. It would bring cultural
enrichment to the community. Barnard commented
that chess and checkerboard games are set up in the Teen Spot and that there
are Teen Game Nights where various games are played. Johnson commented that Crafty Readers does
fulfill a cultural enrichment component.
She also often sees displays at the Library which does this as well.
Barnard remarked that the Library
has not received requests for this type of service. Patrons do ask about book groups but, since most
local book groups are private, the library does not make referrals. Books and Bites began as a result of the need
for a public book discussion group.
Johnson commented on the
great Battle of the Books display in the glass cabinets on the lower
level. She said that the graph
demonstrating participation and books read was very interesting, and encouraged
people to view it. This display was made
in celebration of the Battle of the Books 30th year. Barnard mentioned that the Battle of the
Books kick-off was Saturday. Children’s
author Betty Birney was the speaker and over 500 people attended. Kinnish recalled that the Books and Bites
group read Battle books in the past. She
would like to have that done again. The
deadline for forming teams and other information is on the Library’s website.
Kinnish attended the Middle
East Lecture series that the Library presented.
She appreciated the opportunity to attend this very informative program.
X.
Adjournment
Brink moved to adjourn. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at
7:37 p.m.