Burlington Public Library Meeting Room

Minutes of the Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees

The Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 in the Burlington Public Library meeting room. Present were Yvonne Braunschweig, Penny Torhorst, Ken Jaeger, Jim Beardsley, Kay Pockat, and Barb Beere. Excused were: Scott Johnson and Pat Hoffman. Also present were Gayle Falk, and Linda Berndt.

Torhorst called the meeting to order at 4:00.

Minutes of the December 13, 2005 meeting were approved. Braunschweig moved and Jaeger seconded. Motion passed.

The January General Fund Bills, Prepaids, Reimbursements, and December General Fund Deposits were approved. Jaeger moved and Braunschweig seconded. Motion passed. The Janaury Trust Fund Bills and the December Trust Fund Deposits were discussed and approved. Jaeger moved and Braunschweig seconded. Motion passed.

Committee Reports: There were none.

Federated Libraries Report:

Falk reported that the Lakeshores Library System bill for Sirsi Annual maintenance in the amount of $9,443.27 was paid in two installments. $8,500.00 was paid in December 2005 and $943.27 was paid in January 2006.

Old Business:

Video circulation considerations: Falk discussed our policies for purchasing and circulating videos and DVDs.

New Business:

Falk has been gathering information and figures to be used on the Annual Report. Although the annual report forms have not yet been issued, Falk used last year’s form to put together the information that should be requested. Trends of data were discussed. Statement of effectiveness of the library system was discussed and approved. To meet the deadline imposed by the Lakeshores Library System, Falk will contact Board President Penny Torhorst to review and sign the completed report once the new forms are available. The report will be formally presented at the next board meeting. If any changes are necessary, Falk will file an amended report.

LSTA Grant:

We just received notification today that we can start our Senior’s Grant. We have received a grant in the amount of $10,400.00 to better serve seniors in our area. This would help pay for large print books, books on cassette and disc, and also programs at area senior housing locations and the library.

Strategic Planning:

Hoffman, Torhorst and Falk met with Esther Letvin to discuss strategic planning. Falk and Torhorst distributed a diagram of Letvin’s planning model, and discussed her proposal to conduct a three hour planning session with board members, as well as several staff members and community members.

Braunschweig moved that the Board meet with Esther Letvin for a three hour time period to start the strategic planning for the future of the library. Pockat seconded and the motion passed. There was discussion on the best time and date to have this meeting and the available dates that were decided upon were in March on Thursday, March 2^nd, Wednesday, March 8^th, Thursday, March 9^th, and Thursday, March 16^th. Falk will contact the people missing from tonight’s meeting and then decide on the best date and contact Esther Letvin.

Falk handed out the list of Board meeting dates for 2006 and also a list of the holidays for 2006.

Directors Report:

Checkpoint Security System:

Falk discussed problems with out current security system, which works with the 60,000 items in our collection. Numerous recent service calls have left us with the option of updating our system, which is from 1986, or replacing it. After discussing the cost of each option, it was decided to use money from the equipment repair budget to update the system.

Falk will be attending the Historic Preservation Committee meeting on Thursday, January 26^th to discuss our application to have the railings and pillars on the ramp entrance repaired and painted.

We will be having an Amish Program by Richard Dawley on Thursday, February 16^th at 7:00 p.m. He will be talking about the Amish ways of life. He has also written some books and he would like to be able to sell them at that program. Jaeger moved and Pockat seconded the motion to let Dawley sell his books at the program. He can only make a small presentation on the sale of the books and not have a big advertisement beforehand. Motion passed.

The Board discussed posting posters for event. Due to our limited display space, we have limited postings to non-profit groups and public service events.

Falk asked the Board if trust money could be used to purchase coffee disks for the new coffee maker to be used at Department Head meetings, Board meetings, and Lakeshore meetings that are held here in the library. The Board directed Falk to purchase the needed supplies.

Torhorst asked Falk why libraries don’t charge any fees for any services. Falk explained that Wisconsin state law does not allow us to charge fees for services. Falk will get more information on the subject for the next meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 4:55. Jaeger moved and Braunschweig seconded. Motion passed.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 28^th at 4:00 PM at the Burlington Public Library.

Respectfully submitted,

Yvonne Braunschweig
Secretary