North Liberty Community Library
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
January 18, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Board members present:

President:   Melissa Murphy
Vice President:  Cindy Diouf
Secretary:  Margaret Logan
Members:  Shalome Tonelli, Lesly Huffman

Library Director: Dee Crowner

President Melissa Murphy called the meeting to order at the North Liberty City Council Chambers, 25 W. Cherry Street.

Approval of Agenda:
Melissa Murphy made a change to the agenda.   The Board of Trustees has a new member.   Lesly Huffman introduced herself to the Board.

Public Comment:
None.

Approval of Minutes:
December 21, 2009

A correction to the minutes:   Shalome Tonelli was present at the meeting.  A motion was made to approve the minutes with the addition of Ms. Tonelli to the members present by Cindy Diouff.  Shalome Tonelli seconded the motion.
 
The minutes were unanimously approved.

Reports:

Budget – The budget is on track with expenditures for 2009-2010. We’re five percent under the 50 percent that was projected.

Youth and Teen Services – Andrew Frisbie:
Andrew Frisbie submitted his “Youth and Teen Services” report. 

The toddler program will be having a Valentine’s making February 5, 10am – 11am, in Meeting Room B of the Rec Center.  This is for ages up to 5.

Grade school age children (K-6th grade) will have a Cookie Decorating program on February 11, 2:30p-4p in Meeting Room B in the Rec Center. 

Friday, February 19 will be another family movie night at 6pm.  Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian will be the featured film.

The After School Program will be starting January 28 and continuing on the second and fourth Thursday afternoons.  Melanie and my self, along with library staff who have volunteered will conduct the program.  This will be held at Penn Elementary. 

I was recently approached by some students from Penn Elementary about forming a book club for students after school beginning February 4.  We will be reading genres and not necessarily the same book.  At the first meeting we will figure out how often we want to meet, what we’re reading and other possibilities. 

Discussion of a kids’ book group sparked interest in a teen group.  Starting February 8, we will meet to discuss when we will be meeting and other possibilities. 

There will be publicity to come on the two different book clubs.

Adult Services – Elaine Reitz:

January 18 is Martin Luther King Day of Service and President Obama is encouraging everyone to make that a day of service.  We will be taking the food that has accumulated from Food for Fines as well as general donations to the North Liberty Food Pantry.  Fine Amnesty Month goes until the end of January and we will be making another trip to the Food Pantry at the beginning of February. 

Last Tuesday of the Month Book Club will meet on January 26 at 6:30 in the library study room.   We are reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

February 13 from 10:30a-11:30a in the library there will be a family cookie decorating program with Greta Reynolds.  Cost for the class is $10 per person decorating cookies.  Registration is required. 

We’re hoping to do a “Spa Day” for adults in February or March.  A patron donated a craft book that has quite a few ideas for making things like homemade teas, lip balms, potpourri and other things.  Our plan is to do a craft hour for adults during the day when they can come in and make a variety of things to take home.  A date will be announced.

The Big Read begins in February.  The Iowa City Public Library received a grant from the NEA and they are partnering with all the libraries in Johnson County for this.  The book is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.   I will be hosting a movie night on Friday, February 5 at 6pm and showing the movie.  On Tuesday, February 9 at 6:30pm will be the book discussion.

I am talking with Sarah Uthoff about doing a one-room schoolhouse program sometime in February or March.  Sarah has done several Laura Ingalls Wilder programs for the library and she also has a program about one-room schoolhouses.   In addition to Sarah presenting her program, those in attendance will be encouraged to share their stories about attending one-room schoolhouses.  

Assistant Director – Jennie Garner:

Jennie Garner submitted her reported. 

Dee asked each of us that attended ILA to come back with an idea.  My idea was to have each staff person attend at least one Library Board meeting a year to talk about their position in the library and summarize their work.  This will begin in February with me.
I will send out my position description prior to the February meeting so you have an opportunity to read it and see if you have any questions for me.  I think this would be a great way for the Board Members to get to know the Library Staff and learn about what they do, and for staff members to learn more about the Board.

The Library did not get the grant from Bank of the West for the Career Station but I was encouraged to write another grant.

February 24 at 10am the Director and Assistant Director of the Dual Career Network for the University of Iowa will provide a resume and cover letter writing workshop.  I will have a sign up sheet for this workshop to ensure there will be an audience for them.  Stop in the Library if interested.

Director – Dee Crowner:
Dee reported that Department Heads will meet with Ryan Heiar starting January 18 about our budget requests for Fiscal Year 2010/2011.

On January 29 the Johnson County Board of Supervisors will discuss the requirement of counties to fund libraries at a minimum level of six and three quarter cents per $1000 of valuation.  

Staff members from the Rec Center and me will be developing a Bad Weather Policy for the entire building.  This will include not only winter weather but storms, tornados, etc.

Friends of the Library will pay $700 of the cost of our two new databases; Home Improvement and Hobbies and Crafts.

Library staff, including myself, has upcoming activities speaking to clubs & organizations informing them about the library expansion plans.

Friends
It was decided pre-paid orders will be accepted at next year’s Pointsettia sale.  Membership fliers will go out to patrons and businesses the first of February.       

Policy Review:
Mission Statement – This policy was reviewed.  A motion made to accept the revised statement by Margaret Logan.  Cindy Diouf seconded the motion.  It was unanimously approved. 

Commitment to Excellence – This policy was reviewed.  A motion was made to accept the revised Commitment to Excellence by Cindy Diouf.  Margaret Logan seconded the motion.  It was unanimously approved.     

Volunteer Policy –This policy was reviewed.   A motion was made to accept the revised policy by Margaret Logan.   Shalome Tonelli seconded the motion.  It was unanimously approved.     

Old Business:
FY 2010/2011 budget is still being reviewed. (tabled)

New Business:
Board Training DVD

There are now Board Training DVDs available for review.  The Board reviewed “Board Membership”. 

Other Business:
Cindy Diouf inquired about the Library logo she heard about.   Dee explained with the Library expansion nearing that a logo for the Library would be appropriate.  People may submit ideas for this new logo.   Submissions will be accepted at the Library by February 10 at 8pm.

Adjournment:
There was a motion by Cindy Diouf to adjourn.   Margaret Logan seconded.   The motion was unanimously approved at 8pm.