Fargo Public Library Board – May 15, 2018 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Board Members Present: Rachael Steenholdt, Jan Ulferts Stewart, Mary Dickson, Carrie Peterson
Board Members Absent: Carlos Hawley Jr., Scott Beaulier, Mary Batcheller
Staff: Tim Dirks, Betsy Dauer, Lauren Johnson
Others Present:
President, Rachael Steenholdt called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM, and a quorum was declared.
Order of Agenda
A motion was made by Mary Dickson to approve the Order of the Agenda. Jan Ulferts Stewart seconded the motion; motion carried.
Minutes of April 17, 2018 Regular Meeting
Jan Ulferts Stewart moved to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2018 meeting. Mary Dickson seconded the motion; motion carried.
Staff Report
Staff updates and Staff development activities:
• Branch Library Associate I Kelsey Schmidt has put in her notice. Kelsey had worked at the branch libraries for 7 years. Circulation is currently accepting applications for her part-time position.
• The City Finance Committee approved the Library’s request for contract security and two Full-Time Library Associate II positions. Circulation is currently accepting applications for these two positions.
• Officer Jesseca White stopped by the library on Apr. 27th to speak with library staff about incident reports and communicating with dispatch. We learned how to communicate more efficiently with dispatch, including ways to be a better witness. We also took a field trip over to the Municipal Court House.
• This is my (Lauren Johnson) last month as the Library Board staff liaison. My two year term is up and we are looking for a replacement.
Programming:
Upcoming events (a partial and incomplete list):
• The 4-part Spring Gardening series of informational and hands-on gardening sessions at the library continues this May. These 60-minute workshops will be held at the downtown Main Library. Workshop dates: Gardening with Eric Baker of Baker’s Nursery and Gifts Tuesday, May 15 – Main Library at 7 p.m. The Blossom Barter on Tuesday, May 22 – Main Library at 7 p.m. – where patrons have an opportunity to share their love of gardening. Participants are asked to bring healthy divided or sprouted bedding plants to exchange.
• The newly released book, 1957 Fargo Tornado, contains over 200 images from the Cal Olson Photograph Collection and other photograph collections held at the NDSU Archives. Authors Trista Raezer-Stursa, John Hallberg, and Lisa Eggebraaten will share the story of the tornado and the process of using archival documents to create this book. Books will be available for purchase. Monday, May 21 – Main Library at 7 p.m.
• The Summer Reading Program :
The 2018 Summer Reading Program theme is Libraries Rock! With the theme focusing on music. The Children’s program beings June 4th and runs through August 4th. Kids can earn a prize for every 10 hours they read, and earn a free book if they read 40hr. We have lots of great programs happening this summer, including a week of LIVE music performances in July. We are also having the Fargo History Hunt again this summer with all new buildings to discover. We want to say thank you to the Friends for funding the purchase the books we give out as prizes, the History Hunt, and the LIVE music performances.
Notable Past events & programs (again, a partial list):
Children’s Programming:
• The Children’s Department participated in many outreach visits this last month. We were at School’s Alive at the Rustad Recreation Center in West Fargo, Family Fun Night at Agazzi, Diversity Day at Ed Clapp Elementary, an Earth Day Storytime at Natural Grocers, and Bingo Night at Jefferson Elementary. At these events we offered crafts for kids, we made library cards, checked out books to patrons, and spoke to the community about the Summer Reading Program.
The Summer Reading Program video was shown for the Board.
President, Rachael Steenholdt opened the floor for comments. The Board expressed their thanks to Lauren Johnson for her time as the staff liaison.
Director’s Report
Director Tim Dirks referred the Board to his written report in the Board Packet focusing on a meeting with City Finance. The Finance Committee unanimously agreed to approve the request for 2 additional LA2’s and security coverage. The next step will be to have the City Commission approve the same.
President, Rachael Steenholdt opened the floor for comments. No comments.
Statistical Reports
Usage
The library had 38,796 registered patrons for the month of April. Attendance was up 1% year to date. Program attendance was up 9% year to date. Volunteer hours were down 11% year to date due to being down a shelving volunteer. Internet signups were up 3% year to date. Print circulation was up 2.06% year to date. Nonprint circulation was up 0.48% year to date. Total circulation year to date is 325,668 circulations.
Financials
There was no incoming donations. Expenditures of donations totaled $92,612 which included the first part of the Dusek donation transfer to the FM Area Foundation. The year is 33% lapsed while the budget is 33.78% expended. Revenue is approximately where it was anticipated to be at $28,056.66.
President, Rachael Steenholdt opened the floor for comments. President, Rachael Steenholdt asked if there was construction planned around any library branches that we know of. Director Dirks was not aware of any construction that will impact library operations.
Friends of the Library Report
There was no Friends report.
Old Business
No old business.
New Business
2019 Budget Proposal
Director Dirks referred the Board to the 2019 Budget Proposal in the Board Packet. Director Dirks is requesting an aggregate net increase of $145,229 for fiscal year 2019.
After Board discussion a motion was made by Jan Ulferts Stewart to approve the 2019 Budget Proposal as presented. Mary Dickson seconded the motion; motion carried.
Statewide Database Agreement
Director Dirks referred the Board to the Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) Participation Agreement in the Board Packet. Director Dirks explained the Fargo Public Library’s participation in this agreement offers pricing for electronic library services that would not be available otherwise. A final price is not defined in the agreement rather a formula for statewide database costs shared with other entities that will be determined after MINITEX bills ODIN. This agreement is from July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019. Fargo Public Library will be billed semi-annually, half in August 2018 and half in January 2019.
After Board discussion a motion was made by Jan Ulferts Stewart to approve the Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) Participation Agreement – Statewide Databases as presented. Mary Dickson seconded the motion; motion carried.
City Governing Body Representative Designee
Director Dirks explained that to qualify for financial aid from the State of North Dakota the Board needs a representative designee on the Board.
After Board discussion a motion was made by Mary Dickson to add language to the Board Bylaws that the Board President would automatically be the representative designee. Carry Peterson seconded the motion; motion carried.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Next Board Meeting
The next regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19, 2018.