Library Advisory Board Minutes - 04/25/2000LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
April 25, 2000
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jim Snowden, Chair
Jim Bracket
Andrea Williams
Irene Lambert
Valda Jones
Shirley Harris
Jim Sernce
Patsy Klein
Ruth Jones
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:
Arthur Bea Williams, Council Liaison
Robert Powers, Assistant City Manager
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator
Joan Jones, Friends of the Library Liaison
WE .� ; .� ►
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date
By R— Time 9: �
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Ms. Valda Jones called the meeting to order at 4:17 P.M. Ms. Hughes introduced DeAnn York,
Library Assistant. Ms. York said that her principal duty was Youth Services; however, she also works in
Circulation and the Computer Lab. She helps patrons locate materials in Youth Services and pulls
materials for teacher collections on request. She works with the Youth Services Librarian to design and
produce promotional items such as bookmarks, posters, masks, hats, and buttons as well as the special
items for the summer reading program. Ms. York is responsible for developing reading list handouts on a
variety of subjects and grade levels and creating the bookmark handouts with the lists on them. She said
one of the favorite reading lists is the Kids' Pick. Children can select a favorite book they have read, write
it on a cut out and hang it on the Reading Tree behind the Youth Services Desk. Ms York takes all of the
picks at the end of the month and creates a bookmark list. In the absence of the Youth Services Librarian,
Ms. York conducts story time. She explained the plans for this summer's youth reading club and
displayed the handouts. She is responsible for logging the reading hours for each participant and creating
the letters to principals of the various schools to report participation of their students. She helps with the
crafts that children do during the summer. Ms. York said that she produces a monthly calendar of events
for the Youth Services Department that is available to all interested patrons.
Dr. Snowden declared a quorum to be present. The minutes of the March 2000 meeting were
approved. He called on Ms. Hughes for the Librarian's report.
Ms. Hughes said that the statistics for March were skewed due to some computer problems. In
Ms. Britain's absence three other staff members have been running reports and bringing the system up on
Mondays. A glitch went unnoticed for several days. It was fixed once noticed, but a period was lost and
not available on the backup. Those who wished to sign a petition skewed patron registration figures by
causing last year's high demand for cards. Most of those cards were never used and are now expiring and
being deleted from active status. This translates in the report as a major drop in cardholders. Ms. Hughes
said that she had decided to slightly change the focus of the open Librarian I position. This position will
still serve as reference in Genealogy, but will also take on the duties of adult programmer and volunteer
coordinator. This will make the position more attractive to applicants, better serve the needs of the
community, and will relieve the overload stress on the other Librarians. Ms. Hughes said that the Library
offered some Internet classes during National Library Week and the response was overwhelming. It
clearly demonstrated that the public wants more classes and programs on the adult level, especially in the
area of computer training.
Under New Business, Ms Andrea Williams reported that in a reference meeting at MSU Library,
the subject of TEXShare cards had been raised. Under the TEXShare agreements, cardholders of any
member may request a TEXShare card which in turn may be used at any other TEXShare library, i.e., a
cardholder from Wichita Falls Public Library could request a TEXShare card and could then use MSU's
library. She asked if any such requests had been received. Ms. Hughes replied that a few requests had
been received, but to date, Wichita Falls Public Library had received no instructions from the Texas State
Library and Archives Commission as to the procedures for issuing TEXShare cards or any supply of the
cards. Ms. Hughes said that she understood that all of the reciprocal agreements had yet to be worked out.
She had heard that actual implementation of the TEXShare card program could be as much as two years
away.
Also under New Business, Dr. Snowden said that he felt that the Library Advisory Board might
like to make some expression of appreciation in memory of Ms. Beverly Kouri, the late President of the
Friends. He asked if the members would care to make a donation to the memorial fund of the Friends of
the Wichita Falls Public Library in Ms. Kouri's honor. The members agreed that it was a fitting tribute
to Ms. Kouri. Ms. Joan Jones, Vice President of the Friends, agreed to accept the donations and give them
to the treasurer.
Under Old Business, the Board considered the revisions to the Library Mission Statement and
Goals document. After discussion on some of the goals, the Board voted to recommend adoption of the
current revision by City Administration.
The Board then considered the revised draft survey. Councilperson Williams mentioned that the
new city publication, Falls Focus, might be a way of distributing the survey if the Board waited for the fall
issue. The newsletter is sent to everyone who receives a water bill. The survey could then be tested in-
house this summer and the wording refined as necessary. Ms. Ruth Jones asked that some question be
added concerning ease of access to the building for the physically impaired. She believes that the weight
of the doors makes entrance extremely difficult for those in wheelchairs, as there is no automatic door
opener. Ms. Ruth Jones asked if such an item could be included in the new budget process. Mr. Powers
said that it could be included as an above line request.
Ms. Joan Jones reported that the Friends had hosted Trish Skillman in a Meet the Author
program. She said that she is adjusting to her new role as the leader of the Friends.
Dr. Snowden announced the next meeting to be Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at 4:15 P.M in the
Library Conference Room. He adjourned the meeting at 5:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator