04/06/19931
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LIBRARY BOARD
MINUTES
DATE
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3.
Present:
Tony Bacon, Chair
Dr. David Berry
Douglas Cowley
Jack Wilson
Joanne Laurenti
Herbert Wickersham
Dr. Arlita Hallam,
Lorraine Bickell,
CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
LIBRARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE
Meeting of April 6, 1993
7:00 p.m. -- 8:45 p.m.
ex-officio
guest
Absent:
Chair Tony Bacon called the meeting to order. The minutes of
the March 23rd meeting were approved.
Library Reports:
Doug Cowley - Mr. Cowley visited with Largo librarian, Barbara
Murphey. Ms. Murphey said to watch for cuts in the operating
budget, as it had happen@d to Largo. Their capital increased
showed general budget up, but, in actuality, operating budget was
down. , Circulation is over 700,000 per year; reference also
increased. There is a 50/50 split between growth in patrons--mare
residents and non-residents increased. Ms. Murphey is a Clearwater
resident and thought Clearwater should join. She felt we needed to
do public relations outreach if we joined the Coop.
Jack Wilson -- Mr. Wilson visited with Nancy Mellican, Oldsmar.
She believed the impact would be positive for everyone--that no
library could have everything. Mr. Wilson has changed his mind
completely about the Coop membership--he feels we should be a
member. Oldsmar had no cuts in their budget from joining the Coop.
They've used funds to upgrade everything.
Tony Bacon - Mr. Bacon met with Liz O'Brien, Tarpon Springs.
Ms. O'Brien lives in Clearwater. Tarpon Springs has many
unincorporated areas--only 15% of those non-residents use their
library. Most Coop money has gone for staff. 60% of Coop money is
used for staff; 30% for materials; 10% for other. They've had a
300% increase in business. She feels Clearwater should join the
Coop. There have been no budget cuts in local funds. Tarpon
Springs keeps two separate accounts: one for Coop grant funds; one
for City funds. They have a job information center in the library
loft. Tarpon's biggest problem is people who don't want the
library expanded because of its location on the bayou.
Dave Bern - Dr. Berry met with Julia Noah of Dunedin. Coop
membership had a positive impact: circulation up from 259,078 in
1990 to 283,174 in 1992 for books; non-print from 66,223 to 85,446
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in 1992. They've received $1,266,906.27. They've added seven
staff. Dunedin keeps a separate account for Coop Funds. Ms. Noah
felt Clearwater's membership would impact their use--some people
live closer to Dunedin than to our libraries. Dunedin used funds
to buy furniture, equipment, to automate, paint buildings, acquire
a huge video collection, etc. The City has increased support from
$739,983 in 90/91 to $743,981 in 91/92. Dunedin has benefitted
greatly. Dr. Berry feels very strongly that we should join.
Herb Wickersham - Mr. Wickersham met with Barbara Ponce of
Pinellas ark. She reports no down side. Pinellas Park has
increased staff from 13 to 25. They could not get anywhere near
what the Coop has offered without it. They have purchased
computers. The local budget increased two years; then last year
all departments were cut across the board. (see attached table)
Karen Wilcox - Mr. Bacon submitted comments from Karen Wilcox,
Tarpon- Springs media specialist, on the Coop. (see attached)
Lorraine Bi.ckell - Mrs. Bickell is a USF student. in
researching her paper on the Coop, she stated her opinions have
changed. She is now more interested in serving people--felt she
was more selfish before. No one library can have everything. She
sees that other member libraries have really improved--that there
won't be a financial drain for Clearwater. Lorraine only heard a
few negatives: 1) St. Petersburg tried to cut local funds; board
and supporters wouldn't let it happen; 2) St. Petersburg only gets
one vote, yet it is large; 3) Palm Harbor's director is saving
local funds from operating budget for capital project (building)',
which impacts the per capita figures they report to the Coop. No
other libraries save money from their operating budgets for capital
projects.
The Board discussed putting Coop funds in the program budget.
The Committee is ready to report that we have a consensus. Tony
Bacon will draft the position paper to be presented to the Board.
Dr. Hallam will meet with the Mayor on April 21 to discuss Coop
membership.
Board members agreed that the change is that surrounding libraries
have improved. The fears are gone. There are major advantages to
joining the Coop. No more meetings will be necessary.
Submitted,
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Comments froln Modifa Snecalist Karen Wilcox
On a County-Wide Library Cooperative
This system Provides state funds for books to those .libraric.!s
in the program. Since Tarpon Springs (ex,•imple) has been in
the prograrn, their <:ollection has-grown tremendously,
necessitating one exparision, with plans for Another.
Computerized Card Catalog - This is a wonderful Opportunity
to locate titles that are available thrOUgilolrt the cour7ty.
Titles available at the site you are using are highlighted,
and availability is indicated.
When 'a title you want. is available only at another site an
inter--library loan request is initiated and the response time
is immediate.
This tYPe Of Count,>'. system was already in P147ce over 20 Years
ago in 11illsborough county. Pinellas is truly behind the
ti rues . Patrons are disapt?,ol nted when they discover- they canrrot
use Clearwater public Library.
Each of the libraries on the !'inellas system have some area of
specialization, which is very valuable for patrons. and allows,
selection of materials to be better.
Note, Karen Wilcox is the media specialist with Sunset Hills
Elementary School in Tarpon Springs. She has been a
media, specialist for over 20 years and is a lifetime
resident of Pinellas County.
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PINELLAS PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
COMPARATIVE DATA
1988 - 1992
The Pinellas Park Public Library joined the Pinellas County
Library cooperative in 1989. The following figures reflect
changes in their budget and service after coop membership:
M • . .
Illy"
1988/89 1990/91 1991/92
Librarians 4 5 5
Total FTE 13.75 21.25 21.25
City funds $446,270 $447,842 $623,835
County funds 0 $170,224 $181,638
State funds 0 $ 81,471 $ 74,310
Book budget $ 38,232 $ 87,874 $ 91,282
Operating
expenses $453,863 $739,667 $847,772
Registered
borrowers 14,116 18,643 21,060
Residents 13,867 18,642 21,057
Non--residents 249 1 3
Circulation 196,345 213,728 244,613
Reference
questions 49,465 60,432 66,983
DATE: 4/8/93
TO: Tony Bacon and Library Cooperative Committee
FROMt Herb Wickersham
RE: Interview with Barbara Ponce, Director Pinellas Park Library
. ,1
I met with Barbara Ponce on Friday, April 2 to discuss her
impressions of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative and how
membership in the Cooperative had affected the Pinellas Park
Library.
Barbara said that after joining the Cooperative, Library usage
increased slowly from approximately 14,000 to 22,000 borrowers.
Her staff subsequently increased from 14 to 25. She now has 12
full--time staff, with the rest being part-time.
Barbara pointed out that a small city like Pinellas Park could
never hope to get the operating budget that they enjoy from the
Cooperative. She said that her book budget alone rose from
approximately $40,000 to $100,000. This increase has enabled her
to buy books she could only hope for in the past.
Barbara recognized that her Library would lose money if Clearwater
joined the Cooperative. However, she felt that the dollars lost
would be more than offset by the opportunity for Cooperative
members to use the Clearwater Library. Before the Pinellas Park
Library joined the Cooperative, they turned away as many as 100
people per day who wanted library cards but lived outside of their
City boundaries.
Barbara gave me a tour of the Library and pointed out the many
items they had purchased with Cooperative money. She said that
since they joined the Cooperative, her budget was reduced in only
one year. In that same year the Fire and Police Departments were
also reduced. She felt that the Library reduction had nothing to
do with the Cooperative money she had received.
Barbara does not feel there is a down-side to her Library's
membership in the Cooperative. She was very enthusiastic about the
Clearwater Library Board reviewing possible membership in the
Cooperative.
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PINELLAS tlernidetleSlorck
Library Administrillor
PUBLIC 12345 Slnrkey Road
S the L
LIBRARY 1.r11-t:il. 171, 34(01-2(,I I
COOPEIZATI VIs (8t:1) S.17,-7179
(813) 531-5071 FA X
March 26, 1993
Dr. Arlita Hallnm, Director
Clearwater Public Library
100 North Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 34615
Dear Arlita,
We are delighted that you are considering Clearwater Public Library's membership in the
Cooperative. It will be an excellent service to both Clearwater's patrons who will now have free
access to 17 other libraries and to those outside Clearwater who belong to the Cooperative
service and who will now be able to utilize Clearwater's system.
As you know, a letter of agreement must be in place by March 30th for us to consider Clearwater
for funding beginning with the October 1st new fiscal year. This letter irzust include the basic
criteria of the Interlocal Agreement signed by the original members as well as those policies and
procedures adopted by the PPLC Board for all member libraries.
The Interlocal Agreement is in effect as originally written with the exception of the funds
distribution percentages. Per that agreement the Board realigned the percentages at the close of
the second year of business. At present the local funds are allotted as follows: 5% to
Administration, 2% to the Talking Book Library, 8% to the Reserves account and the balance -
85% to member libraries. That 85% is distributed per the original schedule - a maximum of
20%, a inininsum of 5% (unlesci the library's local suppui t Bills below that amount in which case
the library receives an even match to its local funds). 't'he remaining libraries receive
proportionate shares of the balance.
The State Aid portion of the Interlocal is invalid. The State rirandntes that State Aid be centrally
administered and we must begin to move tip to that requirement over the next three years.
't'herefore, in FY 93-94 - 113 of all Slate Aid will be expended through this office, 2/3 will be
designated for member libraries which must submit invoices to us for payment based on their
allotted shares. In FY 94-95 that goes to 2/3 here, 1/3 allotted and in FY 95-96 the total must
be centrally expended. We will no doubt fund many shared services out of State Aid, such as
the courier, support for the 't'alking Book Library and the Administrative office and services,
possibly the Answer Center if it is to be continued, printing of cards, registration forms, etc.,
much yet to be determined.
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As far as C:Ut11IT1o1t poIMCS and procedures are concerned the following are in effect:
1) Non-resident fee is $100 per household per year.
2) Common due dales for circulation.
3) Common charges for overdues.
4) Specific identification requirements for new patrons.
5) Each library sets its own policy for non-print materials (videos, CD-Rom, etc.).
6) The Cooperative adopted policy re Unattended Children is an option for each library to
adopt.
7) The County ordinance re Overdue Materials may be used though each city having its own
ordinance may use it by choice.
The Library Directors review these policies and the PPLC Board adopts them. '111cre are several
committees at work on various aspects of the Cooperative member libraries goals, objectives,
long-range plans, etc.
On a business note - perhaps the most important dale is the deadline for audits, March 31. We
must receive them promptly in order to meet the County budget deadlines to be Included in the
funding for the subsequent year. The County is our major source of funds. There are two small
cities in the Cooperative (without libraries so they pay an annual per capita membership fee) and
we hope others will .join. Our State Aid allocation is based on local operations support so the
amount each city and the County provides for operations is a very important figure.
I am sure there are many other details to be discussed. We will meet frequently once
Clearwater's decision is made. I hope this information helps to clear the way and I certainly look
forward to having you among our group. If I may be of further information please call. Let's
hope 1994 will be your starting date.
Best wishes,
Bernadette Storck
Administrator
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