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Library Advisory Board Minutes - 02/19/2013 LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES February 19,2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Jennifer Andrews Donna Jane McGough Carrie Ann Taylor Arthur Bea Williams IN Peggy Browning RECEIVEDJean Hall Amy BobrowitzI C�-E 6 EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Annetta Pope-Dotson,Council Liaison rlqo_r� E'. Jack Murphy,Director Parks&Recreation Alan Martin,Friends Liaison A quorum was present and the meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm. Librarian's report: The library submitted a successful Texas State Library grant application to enhance presence. The library its mobile technology website is already mobile device friendly(ie it displays pretty well on smart phones and tablets)—and we decided to apply for the mobile technology grant to help our catalog attain the same transparency. We have already contracted with Boopsie,a multi-platform mobile solution that will integrate with our current ILS(Horizon), so that patrons will be able to search for books,put items on hold, check their accounts etc from their phones and/or tablets. We are also hoping to be able to produce our very own customized app that can be downloaded for easy access. The advertised new public catalog is in its final stages of completion. We're currently enjoying the down side of being remotely hosted in that we are now having to rely on someone else's timetable and priorities—we can request changes and suggest improvements,but have little to no control as to actual implementation. The Public computers are beginning to show their age—we've been unable to provide 100%service on all machines with any degree of consistency for some time now, and are quickly running out of ideas. We're working closely with IS to produce solutions,but will most likely look for a third party service in the new budget year. A possible replacement for our 24 individual public machines is to contract with Userful, a green technology company that has pioneered the use of thin clients—using their software,one pc can be made to act as a mini server,handling up to 10 monitors and keyboards at a time. This would obviously save on both electricity and maintenance time in that only 3 pcs are drawing power compared to 24,and that rather than having to touch each of the 24 pcs in order to install updates,only 3 would need such attention. Elsewhere, Erin Warzala,the Youth Services Librarian has just concluded a very successful Babygarten session. We've had some very positive responses to this program, including a working mom who says that her husband has been bringing the baby to the library and has `learned a lot'! Erin is also taking a short break from the toddler storytime: toddlers and their caregivers are still more than welcome on Wednesday mornings to use the Activity room as a meeting place. We now have a second exit from Room 205 uspstairs that we hope will alleviate congestion during summer reading programs. We're also planning to remove the non-functioning security gates at the main entrance to 205,which should also give the impression of more room to move in. Kay Story was appointed by Council this morning to replace Julie Carter on the Advisory Board. Friends' report: The Dr. Seuss program will be held on Saturday March 2 from 10-2 The annual Friends Volunteer Appreciation Dinner will be held on April 2 at China Star The next book sale will be May 2 through May 4 Next meeting March 19,2013 There being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 pm. Next meeting November 20,2012,4:15 pm Donna Jane McGough,Chair LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES February 19,2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Jennifer Andrews Donna Jane McGough Arthur Bea Williams Carrie Ann Taylor Jean Hall Peggy Browning Amy Bobrowitz EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: Annetta Pope-Dotson, Council Liaison Jack Murphy, Director Parks& Recreation Alan Martin, Friends Liaison A quorum was present and the meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm. Librarian's report: The library submitted a successful Texas State Library grant application to enhance its mobile technology presence. The library website is already mobile device friendly(ie it displays pretty well on smart phones and tablets)—and we decided to apply for the mobile technology grant to help our catalog attain the same transparency. We have already contracted with Boopsie,a multi-platform mobile solution that will integrate with our current ILS(Horizon),so that patrons will be able to search for books,put items on hold, check their accounts etc from their phones and/or tablets. We are also hoping to be able to produce our very own customized app that can be downloaded for easy access. The advertised new public catalog is in its final stages of completion. We're currently enjoying the down side of being remotely hosted in that we are now having to rely on someone else's timetable and priorities—we can request changes and suggest improvements,but have little to no control as to actual implementation. The Public computers are beginning to show their age—we've been unable to provide 100%service on all machines with any degree of consistency for some time now,and are quickly running out of ideas. We're working closely with IS to produce solutions,but will most likely look for a third party service in the new budget year. A possible replacement for our 24 individual public machines is to contract with Userful,a green technology company that has pioneered the use of thin clients—using their software,one pc can be made to act as a mini server,handling up to 10 monitors and keyboards at a time. This would obviously save on both electricity and maintenance time in that only 3 pcs are drawing power compared to 24, and that rather than having to touch each of the 24 pcs in order to install updates,only 3 would need such attention. Elsewhere, Erin Warzala,the Youth Services Librarian has just concluded a very successful Babygarten session. We've had some very positive responses to this program, including a working mom who says that her husband has been bringing the baby to the library and has `learned a lot'! Erin is also taking a short break from the toddler storytime: toddlers and their caregivers are still more than welcome on Wednesday mornings to use the Activity room as a meeting place. We now have a second exit from Room 205 uspstairs that we hope will alleviate congestion during summer reading programs. We're also planning to remove the non-functioning security gates at the main entrance to 205,which should also give the impression of more room to move in. Kay Story was appointed by Council this morning to replace Julie Carter on the Advisory Board. Friends' report: The Dr. Seuss program will be held on Saturday March 2 from 10-1 The annual Friends Volunteer Appreciation Dinner will be held on April 2 at China Star The next book sale will be May 2 through May 4 Next meeting March 19,2013 There being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 pm. Next meeting November 20,2012,4:15 pm RECEIVED IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE (;onntajJane Mc ough,Chair B _ TIME; �,