Library Advisory Board Minutes - 09/21/2010LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
SVtembet 21, 2010
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Cari Guidry
Jennifer Andrews
Amy Bobrowitz
Carrie Ann Taylor
Arthur Bea Williams
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:
Lesley Daly, Library Administrator
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Jean Hall
Jeff Tillman
Donna Jane McGough -
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A quorum was present and the meeting was called to order at 4:15 pm.
Librarian's report:
Summer Reading: Ms. Daly shared statistics from this year's summer reading program (attached) and the board was
able to compare 2010 to earlier years going back to 2002. The library met its objective of having more children
participate in the reading portion of the program this year, with a record number of youngsters turning in 5 hour reading
logs. There was extremely positive feedback regarding the incentives — books were awarded, as were t- shirts. The
books came from Scholastic and were made possible by the Loan Star Library Grant: the t -shirts came from a
collaborative partnership with United Way. The library is hopeful that both sources can be used for years to come!
Programming: A total of 43 programs was offered during the Summer Reading timeframe that included storytimes,
crafts, paid performers, Reading Tails, book discussions, movies etc. Total attendance at all programs was 5,160, or an
average of 120 people per program.
Paid performances still attracted the largest crowds: the library had 9 paid programs this year that were attended by a
total of 3,327 people (average of 369 per event). The average cost of each program was $450, with the library spending
approximately $1.25 per person per performance.
Ms. Daly noted that at some point, the relative success of library programming is going to be limited by the amount of
available space - - staff are already discussing the logistics of having one performer for 2 shows in a day in order to try
and thin the crowds a little and alleviate the cramped conditions. Room temperature and safety are also important
considerations, and negotiations are underway with Building Maintenance to create another exit from the largest
meeting room upstairs, Room 205.
General Library Use: Ms. Daly shared the latest door count figures with the board (attached). It was noted that even
though the library reduced operating hours at the end of November 2009, door counts in May and June 2010 still
exceeded those from 2009, and that even though it appears that figures trend down, the library is actually busier than
ever. Saturday operating hours have been discussed recently: at this point, there are no plans to increase hours on
Saturdays unless more staff can be hired. Staff currently work 5 hours for a Saturday shift: if hours were extended,
more personnel would be required to cover mandatory lunch breaks — since the library also lost a total of 4 positions last
year, this would over - burden current staff levels. Ms. Daly also noted that (anecdotally) even though Saturday totals
still reflect an average of 100 people through the doors in an hour, staff report that although the computers are usually
all occupied by 10:15am, the `rush' of people still does not seem to occur until after 11:OOam. General consensus is that
doubling Saturday hours would not necessarily double the number of patrons.
Council Update: In an effort to increase revenue, the Council approved a raise in library fines and fees. Effective
October 1, overdue fines on all materials will go from l0c to 15c per day, and annual non - resident fees will go from $5
to $25. The library is making an effort to contact current non - resident cardholders to remind them of the upcoming
changes, and expects to see a brief increase in the numbers of non - resident cards renewed in the next couple of weeks.
New Business: Wichita Falls is hosting the biannual North Texas Regional Library System Assembly at the Forum on
Thursday, September 23. Peggy Rudd, the State Librarian for Texas is going to be the keynote speaker, and there are
several `table -top' sessions slated in order to give attendees the opportunity to discuss current library issues.
Meeting adjourned 4:57pm
Amy I�okodvitz, Chair
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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
backpack
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