Minutes - 2006 - Eagle Public Library - 09/11/2006 - Regular EAGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
MINUTES
September 11, 2006
Community Room
The Eagle Public Library Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by
President Nancy Marshall. Present were Board President Nancy Marshall; Board
Members Jane Mans and Christine Edwards Allred; Library Liaison Stan Bastian;
Friends of the Library representative Julia Gleed; and Library Director Ron Baker.
Board Member Jane Mans made a motion that the Agenda be approved and Board
Member Christine Edwards Allred seconded the motion. The Agenda was unanimously
approved.
Board Member Christine Edwards Allred made a motion that the amended Minutes be
approved and Board Member Jane Mans seconded the motion. The amended Minutes
were unanimously approved.
Board Member Jane Mans made a motion to pay the bills and Board Member Christine
Edwards Allred seconded the motion. The motion to pay the bills was unanimously
approved.
Friends of the Library Report
Secretary Julia Gleed gave the Friends of the Library Report.
The Friends will hold their annual book sale on October 14 and 15.
The Friends hosted their Eagle group meeting on Wednesday with Ron Baker who
presented a list of requests for the next fiscal year. The Friends approved the following
items: a paperback tower for the children's library to house the basic accelerated reading
program, two computer tables, and a ten volume copy of the Dictionary of American
History for a total of$3,781. The Friends will consider other requests as the year
progresses and other obligations have been met.
The Friends are thrilled to have the new everyday book sale room. The new shelving will
be installed on September 21 and will match the shelving in the rest of the library.
Director's Report
Director Ron Baker gave the Director's Report.
ILS Migration: Progress Report, Closure
Technologically, the migration is moving forward smoothly. EPL has discovered that
they have the only 3M workstations of all the consortium libraries, but the 3M service
provider was on site for several days to ensure that the migration would occur smoothly
through that equipment. The library has announced the necessary closure for September
12 to complete the ILS Migration. The library is currently unable to check books in, but
hopes to be able to provide that service again as of September 13. Ron hopes that the
library will be up and running again on Wednesday, September 13 and that the catalogue
will be on line by Thursday, September 14.
Although the SirsiDynix product is a good product, the implementation has been
worrisome. In fact, the system migration has been fraught with difficulties which the
EPL staff and other library staff members have done their best to handle successfully.
Some of these difficulties may have been the result of the recent SirsiDynix merger.
Much of the preparatory staff training wasn't as productive as it might have been because
the training database was insufficient—it simply didn't support all necessary functions.
There were also inconsistencies between the handbooks staff received and the
information provided on the web. Additionally, the project manager, who was under
prepared and uninformed, was fired midstream. The library consortium had expected that
this project manager would be familiar with both Dynix, the old, text-based system, and
Horizon, the new, web-based system, but this was not the case. As a result, there was a
good deal of discontinuity. Other difficulties were unrelated to SirsiDynix. In the middle
of the migration training, the Boise Library IT staff was told that they would be moved to
Boise City Hall. This is of real concern for the EPL, which relies on the Boise Library IT
staff The head of circulation and automation services at Boise has borne the brunt of all
difficulties and has done a very fine job. Still, the EPL staff will require some additional
training.
Budget for FY 2006/07 passed; Orders for new telephone system placed
The City Council passed the FY 2006/07 budget for the library two weeks ago.
Ron Baker has already ordered the new telephone system—the NEC system—which will
be installed the second week in November. Although it will be installed as a stand-alone
system, it will be possible to integrate this system with the City Hall system.
Recruitment for Board Vacancy;Election of Board Officers
There is a notice of a Board Vacancy as of October 1 posted in the library and on the
library webpage. The notice requests that letters of interest be submitted by September
22. Terry has spoken with a neighbor of his and a branch manager at Washington
Federal, Barb McDermitt, who is a regular library patron and who intends to submit a
letter of interest.
We should elect board officers at the next meeting.
Accelerated Reader Collection
Julia mentioned the fact that the Friends have given money both for shelving and a basic
collection of paperback books for the accelerated reader titles requested by Eagle and
Eagle Hills Elementary. The library will focus, first, on titles that both schools have
requested. The collection will not include every title for every school, but there should
be something for everyone who comes through the door.
Childrens' Room Remodel
On September 21, the last of the children's room shelving will be installed. The Friends
have agreed to fund two custom-made computer cabinets for the public catalogue in the
children's room. The room has been painted in preparation for an additional mural which
will be financed by Meadow Gold. The library had $2700 in the budget for the painting,
but because the staff has been doing the painting, the library has only incurred the
expenses of paint supplies and staff time.
Stan believes that the mayor and city council should be educated regarding the need for a
children's wing in the library and suggests that Ron present that idea at a city council
meeting.
Book Vandalism Incidents
The library has experienced a series of vandalism incidents since May involving Russian
literature. The library has conducted a survey of their Russian literature collection and,
happily, the collection has not been decimated. The library has also spoken with other
area libraries to learn if their Russian literature collections are being vandalized. The
library has spoken with the police who recommend the installation of a dummy camera
for approximately $50 that might prevent such incidents. Ron Baker feels real
reservations about installing such a system because of the discomfort it may cause
readers. The library once looked into a digital surveillance system that, at that time,
would have cost roughly $21,000. The board decided, then, that it was prohibitively
expensive.
Second Copier
Ron has been in contact with Icon, the company that maintains the copy machine in the
staff room that is currently 9and '/z years old. Icon no longer maintains parts to service
this machine. The copier can only copy flat copies—no copies from books or magazines.
In the six weeks of the childrens' summer reading program, the staff made over 29,000
copies on this machine. Ron asked Icon to offer a suggestion for leasing a machine for a
year. The library does not have money budgeted to buy another copier. Ron will present
more information regarding a second copier at our next meeting.
Library Liaison/City Hall Report
Councilman Stan Bastian gave the Library Liaison/City Hall Report.
Much of the development in the city is planned for the foothills. Land is changing hands
and being assembled by investors interested in developing various areas. The
development to the West is continuing. Legacy is progressing. Over the last five years,
the city has grown at over 10%. That growth rate continues. As a result, we will have a
greater need for library services to the west and to the north. The city anticipates an
addition of between one and three high schools to the city and greater numbers of middle
and elementary schools. Infrastructure needs will increase apace.
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
Extending Book Station Coverage
Ron met with the Senior Center and has done some statistical analysis of the use of the
book station. This use has been affected by the fact that the Senior Center has been in the
midst of substantial physical improvements to the building since it took over space
previously occupied by the city. Still, their hope is that the library will increase that
collection by 50%. Ron approached the Friends' with the request for another mobile
bookcase. The Friends have delayed a decision on that request until November when
they see how well the October book sale goes. The library has been gathering books for
the Senior Center collection.
Ron Baker's hope is that there will be a circulating collection among the senior living
facilities in Eagle connected by van service. The board delayed enacting this service
earlier in hopes of having more book money. The library now has additional book money
and Ron wonders about the possibility of enriching this senior collection with volumes
that are senior specific—trade paperbacks that aren't as heavy, large print volumes, etc.
To date, the library has culled volumes out of donated materials. Ron Baker would like
to investigate the possibility of placing a collection in Eagle Manor, the high rise across
from Albertson's, which is an active borrowing community. The Eagle Manor is a
privately owned, but federally subsidized, senior living center. It is for profit, but the
inhabitants are on very limited incomes. Many of the inhabitants are not very mobile.
Ron proposes that the EPL approach either the Sisters' Villa or Eagle Manor, both
subsidized housing centers, and begin the program in one of these places as a pilot project
for a year. This program would not replace the home delivery service.
The board encouraged Ron to conduct research on the possibility of implementing such a
pilot program. Ron will report back to the board.
Additional Items or Public Comment
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (Personnel Issues)
Board Member Jane Mans made a motion to go into executive session. Board Member
Christine Edwards Allred seconded the motion. The board went into executive session at
8:43 to discuss personnel issues.
Board Member Jane Marrs made a motion to go out of executive session. Board Member
Christine Edwards Allred seconded the motion. The board came out of executive session
at 9:10. Personnel Issues were covered in the executive session.
Selection of Next Meeting Date
The next meeting will take place on October 9 at 7 p.m.
Adjournment
Board Member Jane Marrs made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Board Member
Christine Edwards Allred seconded the motion. The motion to adjourn the meeting was
unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.