Library Advisory Board Minutes - 02/21/2017LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
February 21, 2017
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Jim Sernoe James Ball
Carolyn Watt‐Sutherland Kym Acuna
Roylene Quintero Amy Bobrowitz
Kimberley Latham Emily Reeves
Kay Story
Ex‐Officio Members Present:
Cllr Romeo Montez III
Alan Martin, President Friends of the Library
Lesley Daly, Library Administrator
Librarian’s report:
Ms. Daly introduced board members to Kathy Vossler, the Head of Information Services. Ms. Vossler described her
responsibilities with regard to daily library operations and her supervisory role over both Adult and Youth services.
February
Ms. Daly bought the proposed Senate Bill 902 to the Board’s attention, noting that this issue has provoked a lot of
discussion in the Texas library community. The Bill has been proposed by Brian Birdwell from Hood County and its
premise is to prohibit the adoption of certain library standards by the Texas State Library and Archive Commission
(TSLAC), effectively removing most criteria for public library accreditation. Accreditation from TSLAC currently ensures
that libraries can participate in the Texshare database program, receive Interlibrary loan reimbursements, be eligible for
both competitive and non‐competitive grants from TSLAC etc. The most recent report from TSLAC suggests that WFPL
saved over $200,983 in the Texshare Database program (we paid approx. $3,200 for database access that would have
cost us $204,250 had we pursued them on our own). During fiscal year 2016, we were also fortunate enough to receive
the non‐competitive Family Place grant that has allowed us to develop our youth programming. With WFPL being a city
department and dependent on local funding, the possible loss of TSLAC’s enforcement of standards may well not have
any immediate impact: however, Ms. Daly pointed out that there are many public libraries that use state accreditation
for budget leverage for any number of reasons.
Upcoming events include:
Adult Services staff have hosted a Seed Swap already, and are hoping to continue to offer a monthly swap on the last
Saturday of the month throughout the Spring. Youth activities for the remainder of February are tied to Nature in
theme with Make Your Own Bird Feeder slated for this Saturday, Feb 25.
Planned Spring Break activities will focus on DIY crafts – participants will be making their own slime, their own dinosaur
eggs and dinoscapes, as well as their own ice‐cream March 13‐16.
The Library and Recreation Department have been working with the Health Department to make the building a smoke‐
free campus. There is a proposed ordinance in the works that will (hopefully) become effective May 1, 2017.
The proposed upgrade to the Library system, Horizon, has been postponed for at least another quarter. However, Ms.
Daly was able to demonstrate the new public catalog called Enterprise that is scheduled to be unveiled March 20, 2017.
There have been increasing numbers of (apparently homeless) young men loitering in both the north and south foyers of
the building before and after operating hours. While in the library, these patrons are generally well‐behaved and well‐
mannered: however, their behavior outside has led staff to call for community policing over the next couple of months,
and patrons have clearly been intimidated by their presence. Kay Story suggested that staff might contact the Helen
Farabee Center for help in dealing with such patrons.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 pm
Next meeting is March 21, 2017 at 5:00 pm
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