Library Advisory Board Minutes - 01/26/1999—R
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
January 26, 1999
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dr. Jim Snowden, Chair
Jim Bracket
Dr. Richard Day
Ruth Jones
Valda Jones
Patsy Klein
Irene Lambert
Al Sutko
Andrea Williams
ALSO PRESENT:
Bud Beaty, Councilor
Angus Thompson, Councilor
Tommy Pipes, Friend's President
Jeannine Humphris, Asst. Library
Admin. - Operations
OTHER GUESTS:
Kenneth Kramer
Le Templar, TIMES RECORD NEWS
The meeting was called to order at 4:16 P.M. by Dr. Snowden. Ms. Humphris was the "Meet the Staff'
employee this month, and briefly explained her duties as Assistant Library Administrator - Operations.
Her responsibilities include supervising the Circulation department personnel, Collection Development
Manager, Technical Services Manager, Automated Systems Manager, monitoring budgetary expenditures, and
various other activities.
Following her remarks, Dr. Snowden announced a quorum. The minutes of the December meeting were
approved as submitted. Dr. Snowden then called on Ms. Humphris for the Librarian's report.
Ms. Humphris, in presenting Ms. Hughes' report, said business continues to grow as evidenced by the
December statistics, a month which is traditionally the slowest month. The areas of Reference / Information
service and Youth department tours and story time have dramatically increased over a year ago. The staff
continues to work on a procedures and policy manual, but progress has been slowed due to the book controversy
and the time needed to catch up on other important areas such as selection and weeding. The library is currently
at full staff, except for the Genealogy Librarian, who is still on Workman's Comp leave. Because we are such a
small staff for a population this size and the volume of business we handle, it is difficult to cover open positions
and keep up with our own regularly assigned duties. Ms. Hughes also states that Telecirc has been working well
with only a few glitches which is to be expected with any new service or program. It is too early to tell if it will
significantly reduce the number of overdue reserve notices being held, and reserve books are being picked up
more rapidly. A recent blackout killed the motherboard of the Self Check Unit, and it was off line for about four
days. The motherboard has been replaced through the warranty, and the unit is working again.
Under New Business, Dr. Snowden introduced Kenneth Kramer, who had contacted him yesterday regarding a
proposal for establishing a restricted use arrangement in the Youth Department area. Although the Library
Board had been left out of the loop, so to speak, Dr. Snowden invited Mr. Kramer to share his ideas and
thoughts on the matter. Mr. Kramer passed out a four -page proposal which is included with the minutes.
Following his presentation, Board members responded with questions and concerns both pro and con. The
Library Board expressed appreciation to Mr. Kramer for his interest , but since the Board was not asked to
formally comment or make a recommendation on the book proposal before the City Council, no motion was
made on Mr. Kramer's proposal.
Valda Jones and Dr. Day suggested that the Board might consider a written guide for future guest speakers in
regard to making the contents of their printed proposals available to the Board for study ahead of the meeting,
and to limiting the time a speaker could make a presentation. The suggestion was made to discuss, at the next
meeting, a set of guidelines relating to guest speakers.
Mr. Bracket inquired about the feasibility of taping two grade appropriate video presentations highlighting
the services of our new library and making the tapes available to elementary and junior high students. He
wondered if the City Public Communication Department could assist or the library, in cooperation with Hirschi
High School, might enlist its technical center in a joint video project.
Under Old Business, Ms. Humphris presented a draft of the revised circulation policies for Board study and
comment at the next meeting. She explained that Telecirc has resulted in an adjustment to overdue notice
procedures. Patrons with overdue materials are contacted by a computer generated message when items are
seven days overdue. If the call cannot be completed, a printed notice is mailed. If library items still are not
returned, a 2nd printed notice is sent when items are 22 days overdue, and a printed final notice sent afterthirty-
seven days.
Dr. Snowden called on Mr. Pipes for the Friends of the Library report. The Friends sponsored Book
Discussion Group had its first meeting Jan. 21" with seven people attending. The group will be meeting the 4d'
Thursday of each month at 6:45 P.M. in the Library Conference Room. All interested library patrons are invited
to read the selected books and join in the lively discussions.
Mr. Pipes also expressed interest in having Dr. Ludwig Otto from the North Texas Regional Library System
present a program to the Friends of the Library membership on how to organize a Library Foundation.
Dr. Snowden announced the next meeting will be Tuesday, February 23, 1999 at 4:15 P.M. in the Library
Conference Room. The meeting was adjourned at 5:07 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
:Jeannine Humphris, Assistant Library
J Administrator - Operations
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date
Rv Time kaaf
--- —