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Home My WebLink About2001-11-01 EULESS LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES ®ISTRIBE ED November 1, 2001 eC la o1 Chairman Mike McGehee called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT SPECIAL GUESTS Betty Fuller JoAnn Rogers Rick Herold Mike McGehee Kerry McGeath Maria Cameron Kathy Grove LuAnn Portugal Alex Horton Kate Lyon Marcia Brown STAFF GUEST OF THE BOARD: Kerry McGeath spoke to the Board about the plans the Library has to market the Library better and to provide better customer service. When Kerry joined the Library Staff, his private sector service matched up well with JoAnn's plans. One of the first things they did was to decentralize buying books. There are now 10 people buying books, and they are operating with different budgets based upon the demand for their subject matter. Since this process started, the circulation average is up 18%, and last month it was up 30%. Another marketing strategy implemented since Kerry's arrival is the Library's newsletter now goes to every Department in the City, and newsletters are even placed in meeting rooms. Additionally, the Library is working on refining procedures for 12 to 15 customer service areas which include the Reference Desk, Study Room, and Interlibrary Loans. Before any new procedures are implemented, though, a draft will be done first as this will be a very deliberate process. However, once changes are made, they will be detailed and put into writing so the Library Staff and Public will not be surprised. DISPOSITION OF THE MINUTES: The Chairman asked for a motion to be made to accept the minutes as corrected regarding the Loan Star Libraries Direct Aid to Libraries and the recommendation to City Council the non-resident fee be eliminated. Alex Horton made the motion to accept the minutes as corrected, and Betty Fuller seconded the motion. The motion was passed, and the minutes were approved as corrected. REPORTS FROM THE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATOR: October, 2001 GENERAL REPORT • Items Circulated 31560 • Library Accounts 37668 • Visits to the Library 20484 • Reference Assistance o Reference 2251 o Directional 173 o Computer Related 591 • Total 3015 • Computer Usage o Word Processing • Users 1014 Hours Used 761 o Internet/Database • Users 7418 Hours Used 2790 • Program Attendance o Adult 497 o Youth 806 • Total 1303 • Library Holdings 91592 Additional Comments from JoAnn Rogers: Vicki Stone and Maria Cameron will be starting at the Library on November 12. Vicki Stone will be a Reference Librarian. As she used to be a Librarian at D/FW Airport, Vicki has a good business background, is very computer savvy, and is everything the Library wants in a Reference Librarian. Maria Cameron will be in charge of Adult Services where she will manage as well as work the desk. As Maria has been the Chairman of the Southlake Library Board for the past 21/2 to 3 years, she knows the Library needs to be responsive to the community. As Kerry mentioned earlier, the Study Room use is being re-evaluated. One idea the Library has is to make the Study Room available to 4 individuals at time in 2 hour increments which will be monitored by the Library Staff. While the Conference Room has different restrictions (the City has meetings there), it will also be used as a Study Room for 4 people in 2 hour increments when it is available. Another idea the Library has is to make the Study Room available for groups with the following stipulations: reservations will be required; reservations may be made a week in advance; groups can only come once a week and are limited to a maximum of 10 people; and the tables must be put back where they were found. There will also be Study Room etiquette such as no music allowed without headphones, no cell phones, pagers set on vibrate with calls returned in the lobby, no excessive entering/exiting, no disruptive behavior, and blinds open. Once these guidelines go into effect, there will be consequences if they are violated with the offender being asked to vacate the Study Room, or being denied the use of Study Room a week or 1 month, or being asked to leave the Library if there is continued disruptive behavior. Mike McGehee and JoAnn will respond to Dan Clark's letter to the Library Board regarding the use of the Study Room. In the future, JoAnn asked any member of the Library Board who gets a complaint or a compliment to let her know so she can offer information regarding current library policy. Please remember, any responses to patrons from a Board Member must be done as a Board Member and not as an individual. JoAnn pointed out the Library cannot work on the Study Room/Proctoring Room issues quickly because these issues overlap. However, any new changes could be ready in 3 to 4 weeks after the new Staff start on November 12. It needs to be noted the Board was surprised to learn the Library is asked to proctor tests 4 to 5 times a week. The Library Staff will have monthly meetings now, and other Staff Members will be trained on the Reference Interview so there will be a base line of knowledge at the Reference Desk. Noise is still a problem. The Library will be allowing youngsters in the Program Room, when security cameras are purchased. There is a lot of diversity in the Library in all age categories. Initially new patrons are drawn to the Library for Internet use, but once they are here, the Library baits them with marketing displays of DVDs,books, and so on. To provide better customer service, the Library wants to collaborate with other Libraries in collecting Spanish literature. Currently, the Grapevine Library has children's literature, and the Euless Library has non-fiction adult literature which is in the book castle. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: JoAnn took attendance for the Boards and Commissions Appreciation Dinner on November 12, and Karan Jasper will R.S.V. P. for us on November 2. JoAnn encouraged the Board Members to read the Public Library Advisory Board Handbook especially the section in the back of the handbook regarding access issues. If anyone has any questions,please ask JoAnn. JoAnn is offering an opportunity to have a Board Orientation to cover such topics as where the funding comes from, what the Library does, and how we as Board Members can better serve the Library. The Board Orientation will be after the Library closes on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 for a couple of hours. As the Library Board traditionally does not meet in December,we shall have the Board Orientation instead. The recommendation to eliminate the non-resident's fee will go to the City Council on November 13. JoAnn was asked to follow up on the chillers for the water fountains. Don't forget Casino Night! It is this coming Saturday,November 3 at 6:30 at the Texas Star Conference Center. Board Member Barney Snitz was missed again as he finishes the very first Citizens of the Fire Department Class. We look forward to welcoming him back in January. . NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: VSA Arts of Texas will have an art show with refreshments in the Meeting Room on November 4 from 2:30 to 4:30. Check the newsletter for more programs and events throughout November. JoAnn nominated the Euless Public Library Foundation for an award for all their years of support. CITIZEN INPUT: None. ADJOURNMENT: The Chairman asked for a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Alex Horton and seconded by LuAnn Portugal. The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Grove Euless Library Board Secretary •