Library Advisory Board Minutes - 06/23/1998LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD AMENDED NIINUTES
June 23, 1998
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jesse Stewart, Chairperson
Gloria Taylor
Jim Snowden
Jim Bracket
Martha Allensworth
Dr. Richard Day
Valda Jones
Patsy Klein
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Al Sutko
ALSO PRESENT:
Bill Altman, City Council Liaison
Robert Powers, Assistant City Manager
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator
Irene Lambert, Friends of the Library Liaison
Mary Jo Scott and Gracie Gregg, Friends of the Library Presentation
The meeting was called to order at 4:15 P.M. by Ms. Stewart. A quorum was present. Ms.
Stewart said that the Library Advisory Board would allot 15 minutes for public comment and had
provided a sign -up sheet. She would call on the individuals in the order in which they had signed in.
Comments were to be limited to no more than two minutes to give as many as possible a chance to speak.
She reminded everyone that the Library Board was an advisory board with no governing powers. Once
the 15 minute period ended, the Board would continue its regular meeting. Following the period of
commentary, Ms. Stewart thanked the visitors for their interest and announced that the regular meeting
would resume. Dr. Jeffress interrupted to request an explanation of how the meeting was going to be
conducted. Ms. Stewart explained again. The minutes of the May meeting were approved as printed.
Ms. Stewart called on Ms. Hughes for the Librarian's report.
Ms. Hughes reported than on opening day 2010 persons entered the new library. Over 5000
items were checked in and more than 4000 items were checked out. Several hundred reference questions
were answered. The summer reading programs for various ages already are shaping up to be major
successes. Ms. Doan has arranged numerous activities for youth this summer.
Ms Stewart announced that the Library Board would not meet during July and August. Under
Old Business Ms. Stewart presented the Professional Reconsideration Committee report. Based on the
findings of their research of review literature and opinions from the education, psychology, and sociology
professionals, the Committee recommended that Daddy's Roommate remain in the Children's Picture
Book section and that Heather Has Two Mommies should be moved to the Juvenile Non - Fiction. The
Chair directed the members to mark their ballots and pass them to her to be tallied. Ms. Stewart called on
Ms. Lambert for the Friends report. She announced the Dedication Ceremony would include speakers,
music, authors, tours and refreshments. Ms. Gregg introduced Ms. Scott who displayed the Library
memorabilia for sale in the bookstore. She asked for volunteers to help expand the hours of the store
operations.
Ms. Stewart announced the results of the Board ballots on the challenged materials. In the case
of Daddy's Roommate by Michael Wilhouite, the majority of the Board voted to maintain the item as
presently classified in Children's Picture Books. In the case of Heather has Two Mommies by Leslea
Newman, the Board split evenly between moving it to Juvenile Non - Fiction, Adult Non - Fiction, and
leaving it as classified. Reverend Jeffress again interrupted the meeting to request that the Board
Members identify themselves and announce how they voted. Ms. Stewart said that it was up to the
individual members as to whether they wished to make their vote public. She announced how she voted,
followed by Ms. Taylor. The other members of the Board graciously agreed to announce their vote and
did so in a round table manner. The liaison members signified that they did not vote. Ms. Stewart said
that this was her last meting and that she, Ms. Taylor, and Ms. Allensworth would be rotating off the
Board as of the end of June, having served the maximum consecutive terms allowed by ordinance. She
wished the staff and next Board all the best as they developed services and programs for the new Wichita
Falls Public Library and looked forward to helping the staff in any way she could in the future.
Ms. Stewart announced that the next scheduled meeting of the Library Advisory Board will be
September 22, 1998, in the Library Conference Room. The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
4-t-'? �4A
Linda Hughes, Library Administrator