Escanaba Public Library Board of Trustees
Minutes for the Meeting of October 10, 2010
ROLL CALL: Jim Jankowski, Nancy Pearson, Jim Soderberg, Jane Cook, Carolyn Stacey, Library Director. Absent: Leo Evans
CALL TO ORDER: at 5:00 p.m. by Jim Soderberg
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
MINUTES of the May 24, 2010 meeting were accepted and placed on file. There were no minutes for June – September, as there was no quorum for those meetings.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
1) Monthly Statistics
2) Financials
3) Administration: The library is the recipient of a “BTOP” grant: Federal stimulus dollars intended to increase the connectivity of communities. The funds will purchase laptops for public circulation and improve wireless capability. The library will also be partnering with the Civic Center to create after-school homework stations with grant funding. The director attended a workshop on library millage options, presented by Anne Seurynck, a Grand Rapids attorney specializing in library law. Copies of her presentation, entitled Library Millages: The Basics of Drafting Proposals and Conducting Elections are available on request. A “2%” grant has been submitted to the Hannahville Indian Community, via the City, for purchase of a digital microfilm reader. The library plans to implement automated calling on a trial basis to notify patrons who have items on hold. The director will be attending the Michigan Library Association Conference in November.
4) Library Programs / Services: The library discontinued the afternoon movie matinee, due to lack of interest. 14 people attended an author talk by Leon Hank on September 15th. Sue Robishaw will present a program called, “Building a Sustainable Lifestyle,” on November 16th at 6:30. The program is sponsored by the Friends. The adult services librarian is creating a series of computer classes for seniors that will be offered this winter. The library will co-sponsor the Delta County Historical Society winter lecture series, with dates in January, February and March. The director is serving on a regional committee for the Michigan Humanities Council’s “Great Michigan Read” program.
5) Friends of the Library:
National Friends of the Library Week is Oct 18 – 23. The Friends will be offering special promotions in the book sale room during the week. A bulletin board encouraging Friends membership is up in the library. The annual book sale has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 18th and Saturday, March 19th
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A) Officer Elections
Officer elections did not take place in June, due to lack of a quorum. By motion of J. Cook, second by J. Soderberg, Jim Jankowski was unanimously elected Chair. By motion of J. Soderberg, second by J. Cook, Nancy Pearson was unanimously elected Vice-Chair.
There was additional discussion regarding the attendance requirements for the City Council Liaison to the board.
NEW BUSINESS:
A) Library Funding Models
The director presented information from a recent workshop on library millages and reviewed the current structure, governance and funding of the library.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Monday, November 22nd at 5:00 p.m.
The December meeting has been re-scheduled to Monday, December 20th at 5:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT: 5:40 p.m. on consensus.
Respectfully submitted, Approved
Carolyn Stacey James Soderberg
Director Acting Chair