Loading...
09/15/1989 '+ .' . ' '.' .' . . . , , ~.~ ,..;:1, " J. . .}.... TT,. ',~ . , , ' '.: " .0 .:>, '. ';..:. )'.~~'~ ," .. . . . >' '" ... . LIBRARY BOARD ' MINUTES DATE 5y-f~~,e. ISj Il:J,f .:{- Ie L/6 ~, ~ CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting SEPTEMBER 15, 1989 Clearwater Public Library 9:30 a.m. - .10:30 a.m. PRESENT: ABSENT: Mr. William Donovan. Chair Mrs. Katherine Merriam Mrs. Carol Nielsen Mr. Bernard Panush Mr. Theudore Serri11 Mrs. Virginia Watson Mr. Jack Wilson Mrs. Linda Mielke, ex-officio Dr. David C. Berry, excused Mr. Fredcrick Dunn, excused Mr. C. Pate Hutchens, excused Mrs. Susan Hyman, excused GUESTS: Mr. Shirley Hunt, Greater Clw. Public Library Foundation, Inc. Chairman William Donovan called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. The 'minutes of the May 19, 1989, Board meeting were approved as submitted. '\ Mrs. Mielke discussed the status of the Library Dcpartment's budget for FY 1989/90. The Book and Materials budget has been increased $80,000 (from $312,000 to $392,000). The increase in this area would help with the Clearwater Countryside Library collection. Mrs. Nielsen noted that the Library Board interfaces with the community and that the City Commission built the edifice, an asset, but it is structural and lacking the thing it is supposed to serve-- books. The Board hears the repercussion from citizens concerning the lack of books. Hr. Panush moved tha.t the amount of increase is inadequate and requests that City Administration reconsider and double the $80;000 amount in order to supply an adequate amount of books for the 50,000 citizens in the Countryside Library service area. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Mrs. Mielke noted that Sunday hours were presented as an enhancement package in the Library budget, but this package was not approved. Hours of operation for the Library System were not changed. One Library Assistant I' position was abolished and no new positions were requested. Mrs. Mielke reportee that new carpeting for Main Library is in the Central Services budget. More information will be reported on this project later. Although the Library Board approved submitting an annual report to the City Commission when reviewing the wording for a new Ordinance; the final recommended wording does not include a required annual report, since no other Board is required to do so. Mrs. Mielke reviewed the Annual Report already prepared and distributed to the Board prior to the September meeting. Discussion of the long range plan followed. The Board requested that a statement be added to Board Highlights in the Annual Report to say that the Board initiated a long range plan. ~lr. Serrill moved that the Annual Report be approved with the addition and that it be attached to the minutes of this meeting which are sent to the City Commission. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. 1., CLEARWATER punLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Neeting September 15, 1989 Page 2 Mrs. Mielke discussed the future of interfacing the area library databases. Tarpon Springs and Clearwater are the only automated systems in Pinellas County. Clearwater is looking for a larger, more comprehensive database such as Tampa- Hillsborough County Library System and Tampa Bay Library Consortium with which to interface. At the request of City Commissioner Don \~inner, Hrs. Nielke reported that Circulation records wi-ll be purged for inactive cardholders and notices will be mailed asking if they would like to continue library privileges. Board discussed the heavy use the Clearwater Public Library System receives. Mrs. Merriam noted that her Sarasota guest found information at the Clearwater Public Library System that Sarasota's library system does not ha~e. ~frs. Mielke commented that the Reference Department has more than twice the use of other area libraries' reference departments, as reported by the State Library. Mrs. Mielke and Mr. Serrill complimented the materials and staff of the Reference Department. ' Mr. Wilson asked if special needs of the Reference collection could be met if the Board sought funds from the business community. Mrs. Nielke asked ~fr. Shirley Hunt to explain the fundraising role of the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation. ~fr. Hunt stated the Foundation will be using Mrs. Mielke's wish list as a basis for contacting the community. The wish list can be discussed at next month's meeting. The Board discussed the subject of cooperation with other public libraries and school libraries. Mrs. Mielke noted the need for a central research center in Pinellas County. Mr. Panush suggested a special Board meeting be set to discuss automation in Pinellas County with the school system and Junior College. Mrs. Mielke will ask Mrs. Linda Lange, Division Manager, to discuss this issue. There was discussion of the status of the Library Cooperative which is projected to start October 1, 1990. Mrs. Mielke commented that in the Legislature this year a rider was placed on State Aid to Libraries appropriations bill that said counties who take in State Aid need to open up their doors to everybody in that county. This is not reciprocal; therefore~ Clearwater can use other libraries receiving State Aid in Pinellas County, but others cannot use Clearwater. Due to Mrs. Mielke's absence in October, Mr. Serril1 moved that the October Board meeting date be changed to October 13. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Mrs. Mielke attended a Project Librarians' Conference in Tallahassee, September 13-14, 1989, emphasizing children's programming. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Susan Doel, Seely.