Library Advisory Board Minutes - 09/20/2011LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
September 20, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Amy Bobrowitz
Jennifer Andrews
Arthur Bea Williams
Jean Hall
Donna Jane McGough
Peggy Browning
Andy Austin
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Julie Carter
Carrie Ann Taylor
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:
Annetta Pope, Council Liaison
Jack Murphy, Director of Parks & Recreation
Jenny Bechtold, President Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library
Lesley Daly, Library Administrator
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A quorum was present and the meeting was called to order at 4:15 pm. Introductions were made around the table, and two new board
members welcomed.
Librarian's report:
Staff Update: Ms. Daly reported that the library is currently fully staffed with 17 fulltime employees (10 degreed librarians, 6 library
assistants, 1 para - professional) and 3 part-time employees who are limited to no more than 20 paid hours per week as library pages. In
addition to the core group of Friends' volunteers who man the bookstore, the library also has a small but dedicated group of volunteers
who have helped library staff maintain shelving standards, have cleaned and repaired damaged materials, and have assisted with
inventory tasks.
Summer Readine: Another successful Summer Reading program has concluded. Attached is a table detailing past years' themes,
prizes awarded, and the number of participants. It is a little difficult to compare this year to others with regard to youth participation
because we changed our requirements from 5, 10 and 15 hours' read to 10, 20 and 30 hours. However, we received no complaints
regarding the increase, and the vast majority of children appeared to be very satisfied with their buckets and spades and books. The
local Target department store generously provided the bucket and spade sets, and thanks to the encouragement of the community
relations officer, we applied for and received a literacy grant in the amount of $2,000 from the Target Store Grant Program which will
help us fund next year's activities.
The library paid a total of $2,535 for 1 I paid performances (2 of which included double performances), with a total attendance at these
programs of 2,912. This is an expenditure of 87c per person per program, which is great value for money! Ms. Daly did point out
that these figures were skewed somewhat by the magnanimous Dan Gibson who traveled from the Metroplex area and charged just
$25.00 for his performance, refusing to take any money for gas mileage. In reality, the average cost of booking a show is between
$350 -$400.
The most popular paid performances with regard to attendance were Snake Encounters and the magic show put on by Steve Mills, a
local of Wichita Falls. Also extremely popular was the squid dissection: youngsters who attended dubbed it the `coolest' program.
Arno Leer: With the Arno Leer grant from the Priddy Trust, the library hosted a month's worth of bilingual programming in May and
established some valuable connections with local educators. During the summer, the library has worked closely with Project BOW
(Bilingual /ESL Opportunites Window) from MSU to continue and expand the Arno Leer project. Project BOW is a collaborative
teacher training program aimed at recruiting, training and retaining qualified bilingual /ESL teachers for the WFISD. Members of
Project BOW wanted to establish a Family Literacy Night (hopefully annual), and, under the umbrella of the Zavala Cultural Iniative,
they successfully applied to the Priddy Foundation for funding. The event took place on September 13, with over 250 people in
attendance. Various activities were available for all ages both downstairs in the Activity Room as well as upstairs in the various
meeting rooms. The library was able to contribute bilingual books for attendees as well as other small incentives, handed out Spanish
library card applications, and has since had a presence at the Jamaica festivities and will be at the upcoming Calle Ocho celebrations.
Budget update: The budget for the upcoming 2012 Fiscal Year has been approved and the library has three major projects to
undertake. The Pharos system that allows patrons to handle their printing needs from library computers will be replaced: the current
hardware is now almost ten years old and has long surpassed its original warranty. Also, eight out of sixteen security cameras around
the library need replacing. Finally, the library will purchase and install software to allow patrons to pay fines and fees using debit
and /or credit cards. Patrons will be able to complete card payments from home or at the library — Ms. Daly shared some statistics
regarding banking fees and charges, and there was general Board consensus that a $1 service charge would be an acceptable fee to
levy.
Friends Report: Jenny Bechtold reviewed recent Friends' activities including the purchase of banners, under - counter book carts, area
rugs, book easels and supplies for the upcoming Teen writing contest. The Friends hosted a very successful Alice in Wonderland tea
party on August 6. Board members who attended mentioned they'd heard nothing but positive feedback and that the decorations in
particular were outstanding. The silent auction of `Alice' memorabilia raised over $500, with 39 of the 42 items having been paid for.
The Friends also sold over 650 books at the various Summer Reading programs, and received $75 from local author Julie Coley, who
donated a percentage of her book sales following a Friends' sponsored book - signing. The group is sponsoring another book - signing
on September 24 with Jeff Gregg, a local CPA who has written Before the game: a pregame guide to Texas restaurants. The Friends
of the Library Bookstore is currently running a promotion where 2 lucky customers can each win a Kindle. News and events and
photos are posted on the Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library Facebook page.
Old Business: Effective Saturday, October 1, the library will extend opening hours by one hour to be open from 10:00 am until 2:30
pm on Saturdays, and from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm on Thursdays. This will have no budget impact in terms of personnel, and will
cause minimum disruption to current staff schedules and to current service standards. This will also restore the library from
`probationary' to `good- standing' status with the Texas State Library (see attached letter).
Ms. Daly provided board members with an update on regional library services. The Texas State Library System is scheduled for
elimination at the close of Fiscal Year 2012. The local regional office based in Fort Worth (the North Texas Regional Library
System/NTRLS) has been proactive in anticipating this and is now doing business as NTLP (North Texas Library Partners) and is
operating as a 501c3 corporation. In order to survive, the group is going to be requiring that partner libraries pay annual membership
dues, with WFPL being asked to pay $6,000. Ms. Daly explained that a major benefit of joining NTLP will be the continuation of
Overdrive for WFPL, and the opportunity to join any future consortia that the corporation might be able to broker.
New Business: Amy Bobrowitz was thanked for her service as past Chair, and having been reassured of the relative 'stressless ness' of
the position, Jane McGough agreed to serve as Chair of the Library Advisory Board for the upcoming year.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm.
Next meeting: October 18, 2011, 4:15 pm
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Donna Jane McGough, hair
Adults /Teens
Theme
Prize
# of
# of
Year
2002
Read Across
Texas
Adults
Teens
2002
Read Across
Hot Pad / CD Case
36
12
244
Texas
10
2004
Color Your World
2003
Mission Possible
Black Tote / Lighted Key ring
71
21
2004
Color Your
Book Light / CD Case &
35
18
2006
World
Markers
213
176
2005
Go Wild
Travel Mug Candy
36
32
2006
Sports
Black Tote / Drawing for Gift
38
19
212
156
Cards
2009
Reading Safari
2007
Sail Away With
Magic Bean & Gift Baskets /
82
18
Catch the Reading
Express
Books
Gift Cards
235
30
2008
Get Your Game
Deck of Cards /Key chain &
163
50
On
Prize Baskets / Gift Cards
2009
Re -Use Recycle
Green tote & gift baskets / Flash
144
36
Re- Read /Go
Drive
Wild
2010
Catch the
Black Tote /Drawing for 3 $25
93
48
Reading Express
gift cards/ Teen drawstring
back ack
2011
Dig Up a Good
Garden tool, pot, seeds
75
56
Book
Kids
Year
Theme
5 hours
read
10 hours
read
15 hours
read
+ 15
hours
2002
Read Across
Texas
265
189
147
11
2003
Mission Possible
340
244
150
10
2004
Color Your World
265
172
136
4
2005
Go Wild
341
244
193
10
2006
Sports
303
213
176
18
2007
Sail Away With
Books
407
288
223
47
2008
Get Your Game
On
347
212
156
18
2009
Reading Safari
423
294
206
21
2010
Catch the Reading
Express
487
310
235
30
2011
Dig Up a Good
Book
319 10 hours
179 20 hours
117 30 hours
Bank Fees for Debit /Credit Card payments at the Wichita Falls Public Library
COMPRISE /ALA MERCHANT ACCOUNT PROGRAM
$5 Monthly service fee
$75 Annual PCI
Rates of 2.07% for Debit Cards
2.28% for Credit Cards
Only $0.21 per Transaction!
Application /Setup fee is only $50.
Convenience fee maximum $3.95
Account Bank
Balance Fee
$10
0.43
$20
0.65
$30
0.87
$35
0.98
$40
1.09
$50
1.31
$60
1.53
$70
1.75
$80
1.97
$90
2.19
$100
2.41
9777 patrons have account balances. The average account balance is $29.75. Bank Fee $.87
7605 patrons owe less than $40.00. The average account balance is $15.46. Bank Fee $.55
1409 patrons owe between $40.00 and $100.00. The average account balance is $69.70. Bank Fee $.1.75
769 patrons owe more than $100.00. The average account balance is $221.07. Bank Fee $.5.07
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