MUSSER PUBLIC LIBRARY

LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM

PRESENT:

Johnston, Koehrsen, Martin, Nus, Stelzner, Ward.

STAFF:

P.Collins, Derbin, Warschauer.

ABSENT:

Drake, Durbin, Lande.

M I N U T E S

I.

CALL TO ORDER:

Vice President Stelzner called the meeting to order at

4:35 p.m.

II.

APPROVE AGENDA:

The agenda was approved as printed.

III.

APPROVE MINUTES:

Koehrsen suggested a wording change and moved to

approve the 7/16/08 minutes with that change. Second by Nus. All ayes.

Motion carried.

IV.

BILLS FOR PAYMENT:

Ward moved to approve the bills as follows:

8/05/08 for $21,864.67

8/19/08 for $5,890.85

9/02/08 for $13,573.46

Second by Martin. All ayes. Motion carried.

V.

CITIZENS SPEAK:

None present.

VI.

COMMUNICATIONS:

a.

Staff Liaison:

Derbin reported that notification of holds by email is very

popular with patrons as well as staff. Eventually overdue reminders will

also be emailed. The new filtering software works very well and parents

are happy with it.

b.

Director’s Report:

A written report was received. Collins added that

recent improvements are showing success: Holds are requiring less staff

time now, and also all the patron computers now look alike and run the

same software. A lot of shifting has taken place since the last meeting: YA

and Manga are upstairs where the Oversize books used to be. Oversize is

being integrated into the adult Nonfiction. The Spanish collection is now

located around the elevator where YA used to be. We are heavily weeding

the children’s collection to the extent that we’d like to cut off the tall

shelves and make them more kid friendly. As we weed the LT, the east

wall will become the browsing area for new materials. New materials will

not be allowed to go out on PALS for six months, giving our browsing

patrons first pick. Fiedler and Collins have been working on the new

website and will have the template ready in about two months. Trustees

discussed the new reading media, rocket books, downloadable books, etc.

available to readers today and in the future. The library has recently begun

working with Central Middle School in an innovative silent reading

program. Collins reported that Musser Library is not affiliated with

Libraries Together due to some organizational issues.

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VII. COMMITTEES:

a.

Long Range Planning

– The LRP joint committee is examining different

approaches apart from the Pearl Pavilion concept, such as a separate

addition to the Art Center building and a large-scale library remodeling.

With different space needs, new usage habits, and various partnering

options, trustees discussed forming a committee to move forward. Nus

moved to appoint a committee (name to be determined) for the purpose of

exploring options for using the current space more effectively and into the

future. Second by Johnston. All ayes. Motion carried. Four trustees

volunteered --- Durham, Ward, Koehrsen and Johnston, and three library

staff members were appointed --- Fiedler, P.Collins, and B.Collins.

Community representatives will be added. This committee will eventually

meet with a consultant to plan how to move ahead. Warschauer will take

minutes at committee meetings.

b.

Appointment of Committees

– Tabled to next meeting.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS:

a.

Contracts with Fruitland and Buffalo Prairie

– Because one area is in

Illinois and the other is in Iowa, these contract negotiations need to be

handled differently.

i.

Buffalo Prairie

is refusing to pay the full contract amount for the

third year in a row. A letter can be sent by the City Attorney from

the Board of Trustees asking for the rest of the money or the

contract will be terminated. Those Illinois citizens have the option

of buying a family card at Andalusia or Aledo for $54 and we could

offer them the same. Nus moved to send the rejection letter and

give them eight weeks from the date of the letter to pay the total

amount before cancelling their contract. Second by Johnston. All

ayes. Motion carried.

ii. If

Fruitland

does not pay its full contract amount, those patrons

may still visit the library and attend programs but will not have

borrowing privileges. If they choose to get a Letts card they may

not use it here or at other Iowa libraries, according to Open Access

rules. Nus moved to have the City Attorney send a letter from the

Trustees, signed by the President, giving Fruitland eight weeks to

pay the total amount or face cancellation of the contract. Second by

Martin. All ayes. Motion carried.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS:

a.

Friends of MPL

– A letter from the consultant working with the Friends

was distributed. Due to concerns about the Friends the consultant

recommended the Board take a stronger role in effort to revitalize the

group. Today the Friends meeting coincided with this board meeting, so it

was decided to withhold any action and give them time to fix their

problems. There will be further discussion of the Friends at the next

meeting.

b.

Requests for Community Funding

– tabled.

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c.

Using Enrich Iowa Money for Staff Development

– Collins requested

funding for Fiedler to attend a gaming conference in Chicago costing $850

for three days. Koehrsen moved to approve using Enrich Iowa money for

this purpose. Second by Johnston. All ayes. Motion carried.

P.Collins, B.Collins and Miksch would like to attend a one-day Young

Adult conference in Chicago costing $535 ($95 per person plus travel).

Nus moved to approve payment from Enrich Iowa for this event. Second

by Martin. All ayes. Motion carried.

X.

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is

scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008.

Respectfully submitted,

Eugene Johnston, Secretary

/iw