Library Advisory Board Minutes - 03/23/2004LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
March 23, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Andrea Williams, Chair
Ruth Jones
Dr. James Sernoe
Dr. Philip Voegel
Irene Lambert
Patsy Klein
Gracie Gregg
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:
Arthur Bea Williams, City Council Liaison
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date '� _6
By Time
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Linda Donart
Ms. Andrea Williams called the meeting to order at 4:20 P.M. A quorum was present. The
minutes of the January 27, 2004 meeting were approved as submitted.
In the Librarian's Report, Ms. Hughes said that she and Collection Development Manager, Lesley Daly, had
attended the Texas Library Association Conference in San Antonio. Ms. Daly serves on the Bluebonnet
Award Committee and Ms. Hughes is Chair elect of the Administration Round Table, a division of TLA.
Ms. Hughes reported that the hot topic this year was the State Library and TLA standards for public
libraries, which are currently in draft stage. If adopted by the Legislature as an amendment to the Texas
Library Systems Act, the standards would affect the amount of money a public library received from both
State funds and federal funds. Ms. Hughes is a member of the State Library Committee drafting the new
standards for System membership. The professional staff of the library will be looking at the proposed
standards and deciding how they may best be incorporated in a strategic plan for the future of library service
in Wichita Falls. Ms. Hughes said that the Library had requested a mini grant from the North Texas
Regional Library System for a consultant to look at the present configuration of the Youth Services area and
determine if there would be a cost effective method of incorporating a Teen Center. In conclusion, Ms.
Hughes announced that Assistant Administrator Jeannine Humphris would be retiring at the end of June.
Senior staff will be reviewing the current staff configuration and workflow to determine if duties/tasks
should be shifted.
Ms. Williams said that she also attended the TLA Conference and went to two work sessions on
the One Book, One Community projects, including one by Nancy Perl of the Seattle Public Library, who
originated the program idea. Ms. Perl covered the reasons to host such events, the criteria to use in
selecting the books, and strategies for success with a program that grows gradually according to availability
of funds, volunteers, and community interest. Ms. William then said that she felt it was important to make
the project official with a vote to proceed. She also asked for assurance from those approaching term limit
that they would continue to work on the project assignments even if they left the Board. Ms. Gregg queried
the personal time involved. Ms. Williams replied that she understood that the sub committees would meet
frequently in the beginning three months, but less often as the project neared completion. All of the experts
tend to recommend that the project planning time be one year. Ms. Jones said that the ALA guide to the
program had a suggested timeline, suggested committees, logos, etc. She offered to email copies of the
material to those who had not been able to access it yet. Councilor William recommended that the Board
concentrate on preparatory work and begin the actual timeline in September when the Board reconvenes
after its summer hiatus. Then next summer the members could continue to work, meeting as necessary to
finalize preparations.
Some of the Board Members asked if they could serve beyond their current term to see the project
to completion. Councilor William said she would bring the matter up in a Council Executive Session if the
three members whose terms are expiring wished her to do so. Ms. Williams said that she had received a
letter in the mail from Board Member Shirley Harris indicating her need to resign from the Library
Advisory Board. Ms. Hughes said that if Ms. Williams would send her a copy of the letter, she would
forward it to the City Clerk's office.
Ms. Williams asked the Board Members to write down possible mission statements for the project.
She wants to have the mission and goals, a list of possible funding entities, and possible committee
members by the time the Board recessed in May. Members should be considering a name for the project
and a possible logo. Then each member making contacts or writing grants would be presenting consistent
information. Ms. Williams then asked for the official vote committing the Library Advisory Board to the
One Community, One Book Project. Vote was unanimous in favor of commitment.
Ms. Gregg reported that the Book Store is suffering from a lack of volunteers to man it. Ms.
Gregg is asking all Board Members and Friends to help her find volunteers to keep the store open at least its
regular hours.
Ms Williams announced that the next meeting of the Library Advisory Board would be May 25 at
4:15 in the Conference Room The meeting adjourned at 5:30 PM.
Minutes recorded by Linda Hughes, Library Administrator.
Minutes approved, April 23, 2004
Andrea Williams, Chair