Library Advisory Board Minutes - 01/23/2001LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
January 23, 2001
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dr. James Snowden, Chair
Irene Lambert
Andrea Williams
Gracie Gregg
Dr. James Semoe
Shirley Harris
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
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ABSENT:
Patsy Klein
Ruth Jones
James Brackett
Dr. Snowden called the meeting to order at 4:30 P.M.
Dr. Snowden declared a quorum to be present. The minutes of the October 2000 meeting were
approved. Dr. Snowden called on Ms. Hughes for the Librarian's report.
Ms. Hughes reported that she and Robert Powers met with Jan Stricklin, Director of
Administrative Services, which includes Building Maintenance. After a thorough inspection of the Library,
Ms. Stricklin offered several suggestions to improve the appearance of the Library. Building Maintenance
has since hired Ms. Brenda Lundy to work 20 hours per week in the mornings cleaning the library. Ms.
Lundy has been very efficient in stripping away the accumulated grime and is maintaining the equipment
and furnishings in pristine condition. Building Maintenance was also addressing the issue of the carpet.
Ms. Hughes said that there has been a noticeable improvement in the carpet's condition. Building
Maintenance will continue to address the problem. Ms. Hughes also reported that the automatic door
openers for handicap access have been installed.
Ms. Andrea Williams asked if the Library was receiving requests for the TexShare cards. Ms.
Hughes said that although they had given out several of the cards, there had been no concerted efforts to
push the card until recently. Ms. Williams said that she believes Moffat Library will begin really promoting
use of the cards in the near future, so the public library should expect requests for them to increase.
Under Old Business, the Board reviewed the results of the survey that appeared in Falls Focus.
Ms. Hughes asked what the Board recommended at this point. There is the option of contacting Dr. Martin
at MSU about a telephone survey, and the newspaper has indicated willingness to publish the survey. The
Board recommended pursuing publication of the survey in the newspaper as the next step. Further under
Old Business, the Board commended the excellence of Brenda Lundy's work in bringing the Library's
appearance back to a admirable level, and thanked Mr. Powers and Ms. Stricklin for their quick response to
the Board's concern.
Under New Business, Ms. Hughes directed the Board's attention to the Library's new on -line book
club. It has been very successful so far, with many patrons signing up to receive the five chapters of a book
each week. Ms. Hughes said that both fiction and non - fiction books are chosen and that the Library has a
copy of most of those selected, or will order one as titles are announced. She said that it is an excellent way
to preview a book, find new authors, and dip into a variety of subjects and writing styles.
In the absence of David Sinclair, Friends of the Library liaison, Ms. Gregg presented the report.
The Friends voted to underwrite some of the costs for prizes for the summer reading clubs. They also voted
a $500 grant to Richard Guinn to enable him to finish his MLS degree. The Friends provided a second
2000 envelopes for the library cards. They have already been dispersed and more are being requested. The
Friends of the Library Bookstore has generated over $2000 in funds that were placed in the Library's
donation account. The remaining funds are used to provide support for library services, such as the reading
clubs and for guest speakers.
Dr. Snowden announced the next meeting to be Tuesday, February 27, at 4:15 P.M in the Library
Conference Room. He adjourned the meeting at 5:07 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator