04/09/2009 - Minutes TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD MINUTES
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Call to Order: 7:02 p.m.
Roll Call
Present at the meeting: David Burke, Chair, Board members Richard Heath, Jan
Thenell, Jennifer Vasicek and Alternate Linda Monahan; Library Director Margaret
Barnes and Executive Assistant Alison Grimes. Cecilia Nguyen and Karen Levear were
excused.
Minutes
The March 12, 2009 Board meeting minutes were reviewed and, there being no
additions or corrections, the minutes were approved as read.
Motion — Heath Second — Thenell
Burke — Aye Nguyen — Excused
Heath — Aye Thenell — Aye
Levear - Excused Vasicek - Aye
Agenda Additions and Deletions
Added under Other Business:
• May Board meeting
• Volunteer Recognition Dinner
• Board Recruitment
• Anniversary Celebration
Call to the Public
Erik Carter, Adult Services Librarian, was the guest staff member. A librarian at TPL for
the last 15 years, some of Carter's duties include organizing the yearly income tax
seminars and appointments and ordering the necessary forms for patrons (TPL is one
of the few libraries who offer this service), finding speakers for the Information for
Seniors programs, setting up the World War II display, teaching some of the computer
classes and provides collection development in languages, travel and history, his
favorite area. Carter also assists with the annual Summer Reading program, does Book
Talks and leads an occasional Book Group. He also spoke about this year's Summer
Reading program and answered several questions from the Board.
Library Operations
The Board reviewed Library statistics for March, several of which were record-breakers.
Average daily circulation for March was 3,964 (3,058 for March 2008) and took in over
$11,000 in fees and fines. Programs continue to be popular. Tigard Library now offers
Skype, an Internet telephone and videophone service to patrons and, as the library is
one of, if not the first, library to provide this service, we have received media attention.
A press release from The Tigard-Tualatin Times was a part of the agenda packet and a
web link to a Skype interview with Len Anderson and Ning Wang was forwarded to
Board members for their review the next day. The Library did not receive the ICMA
grant recently applied for (Pendleton did), but a LSTA grant was submitted. If awarded,
the funds will be used for increasing technology awareness in the community.
Annual Survey
Barnes read several comments from the 2009 Annual Library Survey and reviewed
survey stats that were presented to staff at their recent All-Staff meeting. Statistics
showed the library continues to serve the public's needs and the level of satisfaction is
high. Frequent comments were noted concerning Library2Go. Survey responses will
be put on the Library's web site once the spelling is cleaned up.
Joint Meeting with City Council
The Board sketched out a rough outline of their presentation and discussed talking
points. Topics and accompanying visuals include:
0 Skype demonstration — two laptops required. Vasicek asked to be a part of the
demo. A practice run will be held during May meeting.
0 Outreach/assistance to community during troubled economic times.
0 Big poster-sized library card for a visual. Possibly hand out library cards to
Council members.
0 Libraries invested in communities; stress connection to community; library as hub
of community, library is gateway.
0 Assignments: Vasicek — Skype, Heath — Skype talk, Thenell — downloading
books; Monahan — library card distribution, Burke — wrap-up. Levear and
Nguyen's topics to be addressed at May 7 meeting.
Relevant economic-related survey responses will be displayed on a large poster as will
something concerning the Library's 5t" Anniversary Celebration.
WCCLS Update
After attending several WCCLS-sponsored meeting to consider the future of libraries,
Barnes is of the opinion that there was not a lot of interest in looking at creating a district
for libraries and that libraries will remain in local control at this time. She and others felt
it was more important to focus on the operational levy that will be on the 2010 ballot.
Other Business
• Volunteer Recognition event — Board members invited to attend the event,
scheduled for Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m.
• Board recruitment— Monahan will be appointed to assume the remaining term of
Brian Kelly leaving the Alternate's spot open. Burke, Nguyen and Thenell's
terms expire June 30, 2009; Burke and Nguyen will need to re-apply but Thenell
has already served two terms and cannot re-apply until June 2010. A
recruitment notice will be posted on the Library's web site and in May's
Cityscape.
• May Board meeting —At Barnes' request, rescheduled to May 7.
• Anniversary Celebration — the Library celebrates its 5th birthday in August and
festivities, scheduled for August 22 are in the planning stages.
Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
The next Library Board meeting is re-scheduled for Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
in the Conference Room at the Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd.