JOHNSTON LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

  MINUTES

      October 20, 2011

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

Approve Agenda

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

Citizen Comments

• Comments in the suggestion box included requests for faster computers, a 3-hole punch by the printer and a $.10/page cost for printing.
• A thank you was received from the Pioneer Breakfast Club for the library presentation and tour given at their September meeting.
• A thank you was also received from the Webelos Scouts for their recent visit and tour.

Meeting Minutes 

Dennis Schuessler moved approval of the minutes.   The motion was seconded by Shirley Weuve and unanimously approved.

Urbandale ILS Agreement

Dennis Schuessler moved to approve the ILS agreement with the Urbandale Public Library for FY12/13 at a cost of $46,274.00.   Shirley Weuve seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.

Approve bills

Library claims for the month total $30,440.90 with city back charges of $10,352.75 (back charges included two month’s utility bills).  Dennis Schuessler moved approval of the bills.   The motion was seconded by Shirley Weuve and unanimously approved.

Special Budget meeting

Dennis Schuessler moved that a special budget meeting be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday November 9, 2011 for review of the FY12/13 budget proposal.   Shirley Weuve seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Approval of Holidays and Library Closings for 2012

Dennis Schuessler moved approval of the recommended list of upcoming Holiday and Library Closings for 2012.   The motion was seconded by Shirley Weuve and unanimously approved.

Approval of Space Planning Assessment

The Board reviewed the Space Planning Assessment document that was completed for the upcoming accreditation process.  Dennis Schuessler moved to accept the Space Planning Assessment.   The motion was seconded by Shirley Weuve and unanimously approved.

Budget and Finance

• As of September 30, 2011, total expenditure was $277,974.81.   Spending represented 24.11% of the operating budget with 25% of the year having passed.
• As of September 30, 2011, assets in the Library Trust total $43,938.13.
• A check for Enrich Iowa & Direct State Aid was received from the State of Iowa in the amount of $3,227.25.   As predicted, this payment was 25% less than the previous year.

Monthly Statistics

• September circulation was up 1% over last September; however, door count was down approximately 60 visits/day.
• 179 eBooks and 183 downloadable audio books were checked out in September.  A total of 362 virtual checkouts as compared to 148 virtual checkouts last September.

ILS Report

Willona presented the history of the 28E agreement with the Urbandale Public Library which provides for the shared ILS system.

Director’s Report

Building & Grounds:

• CSS, the Library’s HVAC provider, is updating the building management software.
• Staff members from the Public Works and Parks departments are preparing the building and grounds for winter.
• Construction has begun on the Veterans memorial in Johnston Commons.
• A staff committee has prepared a proposal to make the “Commons” (formerly known as the Vending Area) more welcoming.
• In cooperation with the Parks & Recreation Director, Willona is investigating a shade structure for the west patio area.

Programs:

• Johnston Police officers and Johnston firefighters were special guests at some Storytime sessions.
• A DART bus will be here the morning of October 26 for the children’s programs to help celebrate DART’s 5th birthday.
• Teen Read Week is October 16-22 and will culminate with a Percy Jackson program on October 21.
• The annual Pumpkin Patch Party will be Monday, October 24.
• Adult programs for the month of November will include Identity Theft, Gift Jars, Book Club, an Iowa Author visit with Ty Smedes and the monthly Family Movie @ the Library.

Marketing Public Relations and Networking:

• Planning is underway for Holidays in Johnston which will be celebrated at the Library on December 3 from 2:30-4:30 pm.   The event is a joint collaboration of the Johnston schools, Community Education, Johnston Chamber of Commerce, Johnston Women’s Social Connection and Johnston City departments.
• Beth Stevens, Public Services Librarian, will be contributing to a weekly blog on the new Johnston online news source the ‘Johnston Patch’.
• We celebrated the 10th anniversary in this building by distributing cookies on October 5.   A display with scrapbooks documenting the construction, move and the grand opening will remain up through October.
• Willona attended the Johnston Community School Board meeting on October 10 in recognition of Character Counts Week and a proclamation was presented at the City Council meeting on October 17.

Technology, Telecommunications, Networking:

• Three new PCs have been ordered which will replace outdated machines.
• Willona and Maurine will work with the technology consultants in November on various technology upgrades.
• Testing of response times in the online catalog continues as we attempt to determine if the slow response time can be corrected or is related to a bandwidth issue beyond our control.

Staff & Training Update:

• Willona and Rita Samuelson attended the Iowa Library Association annual conference in Council Bluffs.
• The revised work schedule for Circulation staff began October 9.
• The ‘When to Work’ scheduling tool is now being utilized for staff scheduling.

Foundation

• The Foundation officers met to discuss development of the 2012 annual budget.
• Willona and Friends of JPL President Lisa Cooper met to review ‘Art in the Barn’.  A tentative September date has been reserved for the 2012 event.
• Friends of JPL officers will meet on November 10 to discuss possible Friend’s participation in Holidays in Johnston.

Other Business

Reminder that the special budget meeting will be Wednesday November 9 at 7:00 pm.   There being no further Trustee Comments, Dennis Schuessler moved for adjournment.   The motion was seconded by Shirley Weuve, unanimously approved and the meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm.

Last update: November 17, 2011