JOHNSTON LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes
January 20, 2011

The Johnston Public Library Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting at 5:30 pm on Thursday January 20, 2011 in the East Meeting Room. Present were Shirley Weuve, Dennis Schuessler, Heather Schmitz, Alex Johnston, Taena Fowler, Director Willona Goers and Assistant Director Maurine Myers.

Approve Agenda

Heather Schmitz moved approval of the agenda.  The motion was seconded by Dennis Schuessler and unanimously approved.

Citizen Comments

Thank you notes were received from Johnston Community Education for the Library’s participation in Project Share, from Dan Wardell / IPTV on behalf of Friends of IPTV for use of the meeting room and from an attendee of the Mary Kramer author event.

Meeting Minutes as amended

Heather Schmitz moved approval of the minutes as amended.  The motion was seconded by Alex Johnston and unanimously approved.

Approve bills

Library claims for the month total $27,237.86 with city back charges of $10,667.04.   Heather Schmitz moved approval of the bills.  The motion was seconded by Dennis Schuessler and unanimously approved.

 Budget and Finance

• As of December 31, 2010, total expenditure was $520,965.80.  Spending represented 48.13% of the operating budget with 50% of the year having passed.
• As of December 31, 2010, assets in the Library Trust totaled $24,495.46.
• A check for Open Access and ILL reimbursement was received in the amount of $21,580.97.
• Willona reported on the status of the City’s budget discussion regarding decision packages.

Monthly Statistics

• December circulation totaled 21,670 which was a 3% increase over last year.
• 149 downloadable audios and 63 eBooks were checked out in December.

Board Evaluation Process

As a result of their self-evaluation discussion, Board members agreed to begin active dialogues with local and state elected officials.  Willona will provide a couple of talking points to help launch these discussions.

Strategic Planning Discussion for 2011-2014 Plan

• Thanks to Shirley Weuve for preparing the Zoomerang survey which is now available on the Library’s website.
• Willona presented items for the Strategic Planning process: a ‘Goals Grid’ for analysis, revised calendar, a preliminary draft version of the Strategic Plan, trends in libraries document, previous five years’ Library statistics and a link to the Johnston 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
• Board members completed the ‘Goals Grid’ exercise.

 Director’s Report

Building & Grounds:

• Energy-efficient ballasts have been installed in the workroom; 50% of the replacement cost will be covered by a MidAmerican rebate.   Systematic replacement of further ballasts will continue as budget permits.
• CSS, our HVAC support service, is scheduled to perform some efficiency testing on the building.

Programs:

• The movie ‘Owls of Ga’hoole’ was the featured presentation at a School-Age Special on January 14.
• Mary Kramer, retired ambassador to the Seven Nations of the Eastern Caribbean, presented an author talk on January 15.
• AARP tax assistance will begin February 1.   Volunteers will be here three days/week until April 15.
• The Library will collaborate with IPTV for World Read Aloud Day on March 9, 2011.   Live streaming video will be done from the Library 7:00-8:00 pm that day.

Marketing Public Relations and Networking:

• Willona submitted her resignation from the Partnership for a Healthy Community Board.
• The Matt Thacker family, winners of the ‘Behind the scenes’ library tour prize drawing during ‘Holidays in Johnston’, enjoyed a complete library tour on January 10.
• Willona and Maurine met with Katherine Manion and Trish Dimond from the Urbandale Public Library

Technology, Telecommunications, Networking:

• Alliance Technology’s final preventative maintenance visit was conducted in December.
• Mark Kacmarynski worked with Dreama, Willona and Maurine on January 17 and successfully upgraded the Symantec software.   We are awaiting a response from Alliance Technologies about a firewall issue before we consider the project 100% completed.

Staff & Training Update:

• Maurine Myers renewed her state certification at Level VI.

Foundation Report

• The Foundation Board met January 5.  Jijun Zou and Justin Frerichs are new Foundation Board members.
• The Friends group met January 10 to discuss fundraising and planning for the annual meeting scheduled for March 30 at 6:30 pm.

There being no further Trustee Comments or Other Business, Heather Schmitz moved for adjournment.   The motion was seconded by Dennis Schuessler, unanimously approved and the meeting adjourned at 7:42 pm.

Dennis Schuessler, Secretary

Last updated: February 18, 2011