Library Advisory Board Minutes - 01/25/1999LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
January 25, 1999
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
1) O
Date
By PC, Time 3b
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Jim Snowden, Chair Patsy Klein
Jim Bracket
Jim Sernoe
Ruth Jones
Andrea Williams
Shirley Harris
Irene Lambert
Valda Jones
EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:
Arthur Bea Williams, Council Liaison
Robert Powers, Assistant City Manager
Beverly Kouri, President of Friends of the Library
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator
Dr. Snowden called the meeting to order at 4:17 P.M. Ms. Hughes introduced Jennifer Barrera,
Inter Library Loan Librarian. Ms. Barrera explained that her job was to find books and articles needed by
Library users that are not available in the city's library collection. She arranges for the user to borrow
from other libraries. Although most materials are still borrowed from other Texas libraries, as a full
member of OCLC, an international consortium of libraries, Wichita Falls may extend its search for needed
items globally. She reported that inter library loan is increasing rapidly. As full participants in OCLC,
the library also lends materials to other libraries. She said that currently Wichita Falls Public Library is
lending more than it is borrowing which results in a credit at the State Library against future services,
workshops, and fees. Ms. Barrera is required to keep detailed reports of items borrowed, loaned, turn-
around times for both incoming and out -going loans, and any fees charged by either party. Local
cardholders are required to pay one -way postage on books. The State Library pays the other half of the
postage charges. Patrons may receive up to 50 pages of copies free. Ms. Barrera is responsible for
maintaining copyright integrity of materials requested or loaned. During the last session, the State
Legislature passed a bill allowing public libraries to become part of TEXSHARE, a state funded resource -
sharing program formerly limited to university libraries and ten designated regional public libraries.
Since that time, use of the City's inter library loan program has dramatically increased. Ms. Hughes
reported that Ms. Barrera has consistently received commendations from the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission for meritorious service.
Dr. Snowden declared a quorum to be present. The minutes of the December 1999 meeting were
approved as submitted. He then called on Ms. Hughes for the Librarian's report.
Ms. Hughes said that the staff had been hit by the flu causing a rather high rate of absenteeism,
which meant the remaining healthy staff was working long hours to cover the holes in the schedule.
Business has increased enormously since school resumed. She reported that January P, the hours of the
computer lab were extended from two half days and one full day to three full days and one half day. The
lab is now open all day Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 8 and Saturday from 1 to 5. The
response has been tremendous in terms of patron service and satisfaction. Ms. Hughes said that with the
aid of two reference librarians and two administrative librarians, the cataloging backlog has been cut from
over 6000 books waiting to be cataloged to approximately 3000. The librarians will continue to put aside
one day per week to catalog until the backlog drops below 1000. She said that the staff is also getting
ready to begin a long -range planning process.
Under New Business Ms. Hughes directed the Board's attention to a work form copied from
Planning for Results published by the American Library Association. The work form breaks the long
range planning process into steps. The staff will be following the steps and Ms. Hughes asked the Board
to be involved in the planning process representing citizen input. Ms. Hughes said that she would ask to
borrow copies of library surveys from the State Library and North Texas Regional Library System. Dr.
Snowden asked if the library had done a Patron Satisfaction Survey recently. Ms. Hughes said the last one
was in the 1980's. Dr. Snowden felt that might be an appropriate focus for the Board, since the new
facility has been open for a year and a half now.
Under Old Business, the Board reviewed the recommended revisions to the Library Mission
Statement. Mr. Powers reminded the Board that final approval of the mission and goals of any city
department was the province of the City Manager. After discussion, the Board asked Ms. Hughes to send
the recommended Mission Statement, goals, and objectives to City Administration for review.
Ms. Kouri reported from the Friends of the Library. The Friends are in a solid financial position
at present and continue to be responsive to the program and service needs of the Library. David Sinclair,
Program Chair, has received commitments from several local authors to present programs. No dates have
been set at present due to the renovation near the meeting rooms and some conflicts in schedules. The
next regular meeting of the Friends will be February 17th. As usual, Ms. Kouri encouraged the Board
Members to attend the Friends meetings and shop in the bookstore. She said that the Friends had just
received a donation of several recent best sellers in mint condition.
Dr. Snowden announced the next meeting to be Tuesday, February 22, 2000, at 4:15 P.M in the
Library Conference Room. He adjourned the meeting at 6:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator