LA CROSSE COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

July 11, 2007

West Salem Library Meeting Room

201 Neshonoc Road, West Salem, WI  54669

4:48 PM

CALL TO ORDER:

President Loren Caulum called the meeting to order at 4:48 pm.

ROLL CALL:

Board members, Loren Caulum, Fred Marini, Andrea Richmond, Mary Bach Filla and Barbara Manthei were present.  Glenn Seager was excused.  George Varnum was excused.

APPROVAL OF THE MEETING AGENDA:

Motion by Andrea Richmond/Mary Bach Filla to approve the meeting agenda as presented.  MOTION carried unanimously, with two excused, Glenn Seager and George Varnum.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

Motion by Barbara Manthei/Andrea Richmond to approve the June 6, 2007 minutes as published.  MOTION carried unanimously, with two excused, Glenn Seager and George Varnum.

JULY 2007 EXPENDITURES:

Motion by Fred Marini/Andrea Richmond to approve July 2007 expenditures.  MOTION carried unanimously, with two excused, Glenn Seager and George Varnum.

ACCOUNT ADJUSTMENTS:

Insurance to cover Employee Bonding for 2007 in the amount of $107 was added to the Library’s Liability Insurance Account #72005.  Mileage rates for out-of-town performers for the Summer Reading Program have increased with the continuing rise in gas prices, leaving the Non-employee Mileage Account # 69075 short by $260.

Account # 75060 Office and Facility Rent was budgeted to cover rental space for Youth Services, which they didn’t use.  $367 will be transferred to cover the shortages in the mileage and liability accounts.

Motion by Mary Bach Filla/Andrea Richmond to approve the account adjustments.  MOTION carried unanimously, with two excused, Glenn Seager and George Varnum.

2008 BUDGET UPDATE:  

A new revenue source in 2008 will be reimbursement from neighboring counties who don’t levy for library facilities for all their residents who then use our libraries.

Revenue Account #59030 Cash Contributions has little activity.  It may be discontinued in 2008.  Most donations are directed toward a specific goal and are deposited in other accounts.

The Friends of the Library of the various branches are now handling the annual book sale.  The Onalaska Library no longer has a continuous book sale, leaving only the Holmen Library with an on-site book sale. 

Onalaska needs a new staff copy machine.  The current one is owned by the city of Onalaska, but the library will very likely lease the new one.

Motion by Mary Bach Filla/Andrea Richmond to approve the updates.  MOTION carried unanimously, with two excused, Glenn Seager and George Varnum.

SEPTEMBER AWARDS RECEPTION:

Chris would like have a reception, either as part of a library board meeting or a separate event, recognizing volunteers, summer reading participation, staff and Friends groups.  September would be a good time as that is the month the County recognizes the library at their board meeting, and it is National Library Card Month.

AUGUST MEETING LOCATION:

The library board has appreciated their visits to other facilities and will hold the August meeting in Bangor.  The September meeting will be back in Onalaska.

MINDORO/FARMINGTON UPDATE:

Mindoro Friends Group did not schedule meetings for July and August.

Fred Marini has applied for a Lunda Grant of $50,000.  Although Lunda Construction is located in Jackson County, Fred is hoping that since Mindoro is just over the county line, perhaps they would consider it.

Steve O’Malley asked Christ to write a letter to Mike Hesse, Chairman of the Town of Farmington Board, stating that the La Crosse County Executive Committee is supportive of a new facility in Mindoro, but there will be no budget activity in 2008 as it will take a while for the process to reach that stage.

WRLS UPDATE:

WRLS had no meeting in June.  An emergency executive meeting was held to purchase a new delivery vehicle.

WRLS delivery to West Salem comes at 4:30-5:00 p.m. on Fridays, but West Salem closes at 5:00 so no sorting can be done that evening.  Patrons are usually looking for requested material early on Saturday morning.

FACILITY AND COMMUNITY UPDATES:

Onalaska’s remodeling and addition project will be ready to go out for bids in November.  Construction is scheduled to start in January of 2008.  The project will add 7,600 square feet for public use and 600 square feet of mechanical area.  The addition will add a meeting room and a Storytime space, but there will not be much additional shelving for the adult collection.  There is no decision yet on whether or when the Historical Society will move.

The Friends of the Onalaska Library will pay to have a gas fireplace installed in the Popular Materials area.

The Friends of the Onalaska Library are participating in a city-wide rummage sale by having a table of their own books on the grounds of the Onalaska Library.

The Friends of the Holmen Library are still trying to gather support for the St. Elizabeth project.  Village of Holmen President John Chapman is interested in the library project and may bring the Village into a more active role.

The County Library will not have a booth at the La Crosse County Fair this year.  The cost is $150-200, and La Crosse Public Library was not interested in helping staff the booth this year.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: 

WRLS update.

Awards Ceremony update.

Computer Instruction.

ADJOURNMENT: 

Meeting was adjourned at 6:07 pm.

RECORDED BY: 

Judy Jamesson.  Minutes may be amended or changed at the next meeting.