LA CROSSE COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

December 5, 2007

Meeting Room, Onalaska Public Library

741 Oak Street, South

4:45 PM

CALL TO ORDER:

President Loren Caulum called the meeting to order at 4:45 pm.

ROLL CALL:

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

APPROVAL OF THE MEETING AGENDA:

Motion by Fred Marini/Barbara Manthei to approve the agenda as written.  MOTION carried unanimously with one excused, Andrea Richmond.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

Motion by Glenn Seager/Mary Bach Filla to approve the November 7, 2007 minutes as printed.  MOTION carried unanimously with one excused, Andrea Richmond.

PUBLIC INPUT:  None.

DECEMBER 2007 EXPENDITURES:

Motion by Barbara Manthei/Fred Marini to approve December 2007 expenditures.  MOTION carried unanimously with one excused, Andrea Richmond.

ACCOUNT ADJUSTMENTS:

Chris asked the board to approve increasing the Revenue Account #53025 Grant Revenue and Expense Account #84050 Grant Expense by $131.55 to allow her to spend the money given by Festival Foods.

Chris asked the board to approve increasing the Revenue Account #56078 Book Sale and Expense Account #61520 Books by $680.03 to allow that money to be used before the end of the year.

Motion by Glenn Seager/Barbara Manthei to approve both account adjustments.  MOTION carried unanimously with one excused, Andrea Richmond.

2008 CALENDAR

In 2008 Martin Luther King’s Birthday will be a paid holiday for County employees instead of President’s Day.

POLICY AND PRACTICE REVIEW:

Chris has polled other libraries in the WRLS consortium to determine their policy of allowing check-out and computer use with outstanding fines on the patron’s account.  All libraries in WRLS, except La Crosse County Library, allow patrons to check out materials with existing fines on their accounts, though the amount of the outstanding fine allowed differs from library to library.  The Mauston library has suggested that the libraries in WRLS standardize the amount of the fine.  Barbara Manthei suggested that La Crosse County Library should set a maximum fine of $5 to check out material as that seemed to be the most common amount found in the survey.  La Crosse County Library also requires that a patron have a balance below $2 to use a computer.  La Crosse Public Library allows patrons with fines to purchase an hour of computer time for $3.

Barbara suggested that the receipt given at check-out should print a fine balance, if any.  Chris said she would check into the possibility.

Motion by Barbara Manthei/Mary Bach Filla to adopt a maximum of $5 accumulated fines to check out material.  MOTION carried unanimously with one excused, Andrea Richmond.

UNMANAGED PRINT DEVICES:

The 18 receipt printers used in the 5 county library facilities were purchased by the library before IT began managing the library’s electronic devices.  The printers use thermal paper and do not require ink and so have minimal cost to use.  The library purchases the paper directly, not through IT. Under the Balanced Deployment policy each of these printers would cost the library $5 per month to have the IT department manage them and replace them when necessary.  The cost over the 5 year life of a printer is equal to the cost of a new printer so there is no financial advantage to going through IT.  IT will maintain the printers without charge.

Motion by Fred Marini/Loren Caulum for the library to retain management of the receipt printers which includes replacement when necessary.  MOTION carried unanimously with one excused, Andrea Richmond.

GENRE LABELING ASSESSMENT:

Chris prepared a patron survey to gain the public’s opinion on genre labeling and to ask for input on unmet needs.  The survey will also ask for frequency of use, types of use and general comments.  Chris took suggestions from the board and will also ask her management team for suggestions before beginning the survey.  Board members will be contacted by email with a final edition to approve.

FRIENDS’ GROUPS:

Chris asked the library staff for input on ways the Friends’ groups could assist the libraries in the future.  Library staff are very appreciative of their groups but did not give Chris quite the feedback she was looking for.  She will ask them again and be more specific.

Mary left at 6:15.

Chris would like the Friends’ groups to provide advocacy for the libraries: when the legislature proposes action that impacts the library; when the County board needs input at budget hearings; etc.  Loren suggested giving the Friends’ groups lists of things they can do to help: library advocacy, running the book sale, fundraising, purchasing magazine subscriptions, etc.

JANUARY EVALUATION OF DIRECTOR:

Chris distributed employee evaluation forms to the board members for her annual evaluation.  Each board member will return his/her form to Board President Loren Caulum for compilation.  The board will discuss the evaluation in a closed session at the January meeting before sharing the results with Chris.

WRLS BOARD MEETING:

The bi-monthly meeting was held on November 21.  There is a seat open on the board for a La Crosse County resident.  Upcoming events are Library Legislative Day on January 22, 2008; and the WPL meeting at the end of April.

The Tomah Public Library is without a certified Grade 1 Director and the person hired for the job is enrolling in on-line classes for her Master’s degree in Library Science.  She will finish by the end of 2008.  The fine to the Tomah library for non-compliance is one quarter of their WRLS Grant for 2008 ($2,000) which is half of the normal fine.

MINDORO/FARMINGTON UPDATE:

The Friends of the Mindoro Library met with a professional fundraiser on November 19, 2007.

The Friends group attended the township Smart-Growth planning meeting.  A library survey was included with the town’s survey. Mike Hess, the town chairman, will follow up on information on grants and loans.

When Mindoro celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the Mindoro Cut next summer the Friends’ group will participate and help raise awareness of the need for a local library.

The Mindoro Friends’ Group has discussed hosting a meeting of Friends’ groups from other La Crosse County Libraries, perhaps in the spring.

FACILITY AND COMMUNITY UPDATES:

Pre-planned visits of students to the Onalaska & Holmen libraries have increased the number of new borrowers. 

The wireless router is now activated in Onalaska and is working.  West Salem will be activated next week and Holmen after that.  Passwords may be introduced to control access.  The frequency of changing the passwords is still being discussed.

Balanced deployment is completed in West Salem without major issues.  Holmen will be next. 

As part of the balanced deployment plan Campbell now has a color laser printer.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:  

Election of officers.

Evaluation of Director.

ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 6:52 pm.

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