(Approved March 15, 2007)
02-15-2007
7:45 a.m.
Paseo Verde Library
Call to Order
Chair, Colleen Bell, called the meeting to order at 7:54 a.m.
Roll Call
Board Members Present:
Colleen Bell, Robyn Carr, Richard Derrick, Todd Hauge, Herb Hunter, John Simmons and Jacob SnowBoard Members Absent:
NoneStaff Present:
Carolyn Easterby, Debbie Englund, Tom Fay, Orin Fielding, George Greicar, Florica Hagendorn, Sean Hill, Gayle Hornaday, Janet Mastalir, Michelle Mazzanti, Lynn Miller, Laurie Orton, Viveca Rehman, Joy St. John and Joan Vaughan Staff Present via videoconference: Mae Giaimo, Kevin ScanlonApproval of Agenda
John Simmons made a motion to approve the agenda as written. Herb Hunter seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Approval of Minutes
Herb Hunter made a motion to approve the January 2007 minutes as written. Richard Derrick seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Review of Paid Invoices
The invoices were accepted without comment.
Director's Report
Tom Fay thanked the Board and staff for supporting the MDA fundraiser that raised $3,300 to send children with Muscular Dystrophy to camp.
Kristy Price gave a summary of the recent visit of Newbury award-winning author, Avi. Two school assemblies at Coronado High School hosted 1,000 fourth grade students. Avi then spoke to journalism and marketing students and met with a resource English class, inspiring students with the story of how he overcame his learning disabilities. Sixty educators attended the Educator’s Reception at Paseo Verde Library on Friday night. The Carr Chat was held on Saturday with over 500 people in attendance.
Mae Giaimo summarized the downloadable audio grant. The product, by Overdrive, includes downloadable books, video and music. The material can be downloaded onto MP3 players which can then be checked out to patrons. Complete books can be downloaded at one time. This will be very useful with the Homebound Program.
Mae Giaimo introduced new Gibson Library Reference Librarian, Kevin Scanlon.
Sean Hill introduced HDPL’s new website, mypubliclibrary.com, that will go live on March 1st. The system will allow all staff to have the ability to update website information. The biggest change is that all calendar items have an “end date”. When the event or promotion expires it updates the information on the website immediately, in lieu of waiting for a webmaster to update the information. The Boutique will allow patrons to purchase materials, with HDPL receiving a portion of the proceeds. Robyn Carr said she has added the link to her website so purchases made by her fans will benefit Henderson Libraries. Tom Fay thanked Joan Vaughan and Joy St. John for making the change with their new jobs a seamless transition.
Self check units are in production and should be in the field soon. Malcolm Library and Pittman Library are scheduled to be first to test out self check. Toward the end of March all libraries should be up and running with self check.
Tom Fay said the only security issue was another broken window in the HDPL van.
The Henderson Library Foundation Board met, approved by-laws and elected officers. Fundraising strategies will be discussed in March.
New Business
Discussion and possible Board action regarding annual review of the Executive Director.
Colleen Bell said the process will remain the same as last year: Form a committee to review evaluations and discuss the results with the Executive Director. It was decided this year’s committee will consist of Colleen Bell, Robyn Carr and John Simmons. The committee will meet by March 8th and present recommendations to the Board at the March 15th Board meeting. All Board Members were asked to complete their form and send electronically to Colleen Bell by March 5th.
Discussion regarding FY08 budget timeline.
Tom Fay said an electronic version of the working budget will be sent to all Board Members by April 1st. The State’s distribution numbers will change again in March and should be more reliable by April 1st. This should eliminate some of the confusion of previous years when the State’s numbers change after the budgeting process begins. A 2-3% loss in consolidated tax is may be likely due to economic trends. Richard Derrick asked if property tax was above projection. Tom Fay responded yes, 2-3% higher than projected.
Discussion regarding the coffee shop at Paseo Verde Library.
Tom Fay said the coffee shop owners, Malcolm and Maggie Baker, have been trying to obtain an E-2 Visa, which would allow them to stay in the country to operate the coffee shop. In December, the Bakers were unable to extend their regular Visas and have not been able to obtain the E-2 Visas. There have been closures of the shop due to staffing issues. Currently the staffing issues have been addressed. Tom Fay said he is hopeful the Visa situation will be resolved soon.
The coffee shop’s financial report is due to the Board next month and the Bakers’ CPA is preparing the report.
Richard Derrick asked if HDPL receives feedback from the customers about the bookstore. Tom Fay responded that library staff definitely receives feedback when the coffee shop is closed. The bookstore, located in the coffee shop, is always in high demand. The bookstore is going to be moved out into the library by the middle of March, which will allow the Friends better access and accountability.
Robyn Carr asked if there is concern the Visas won’t be issued. Tom Fay responded that is always a possibility. Jacob Snow asked if the lease allows for assignment to someone else, with Board approval. Tom Fay said the lease allows the Board a lot of latitude. If the current owners decide to sell, however, they would need to follow the process. Richard Derrick asked if the patrons are ever surveyed about the coffee shop. Tom Fay said plans are being made to utilize an online product to address this and other survey needs, however surveys have not been done heretofore. Tom Fay added that complaints are received if there are food issues, closures, or limited access to the Friend’s bookstore. Robyn Carr said the coffee shop is always busy and creates a sense of community in the library. Tom Fay said the coffee shop is an ongoing management issue for the library; coffee shop operations reflect on HDPL. John Simmons asked if the finance reports are a requirement of the lease and if it can be determined if the coffee shop has had more income than last year. Tom Fay responded the report is due next month and comparisons can be made. Jacob Snow would like to know what the options are if the Visas don’t come through, is there a list of parties interested in leasing the space? Tom Fay responded that the sale of the coffee shop was handled previously through a broker. HDPL will be active in the process in the future. No inquiries about leasing the coffee shop have been received. Robyn Carr asked if the Friends could run it. Tom Fay said a volunteer organization may have problems running an operation of that size and workers would be required to obtain health permits. The Friends would have to lay out the money to purchase the business.
Old Business
Discussion regarding the 2007 Legislative Session.
Tom Fay attended the first Senate Finance Committee Meeting the first week of the legislative session at which Nevada State Library and Archives Budget was addressed. The Governor placed the collection/development money as “one shot” money. The technical difference is that previously when placed in “one shot” it wasn’t included in the budget as it is now. HDPL is hopeful that collection/development money will be placed in the base budget of the Nevada State Library and Archives. If collection/development money doesn’t get into the base, it will turn into a bill with all that is associated with passing legislative bills – a several month process. If it is placed in base it will be set up with a small incremental increase over time.
Database money has been $500,000/year. Placed in the base budget of education, Ed Tech committee, and once approved the money will be distributed throughout the state by Nevada State Library and Archives. The allotted money has been stagnant for the last decade while database costs increase. The database funds will have to be augmented with federal and local money to continue to offer the same database access. Tom Fay said at least the database money is in the base budget and we likely won’t have to worry about passing a bill.
The City of North Las Vegas is trying to get consolidated tax for their library district. No one knows the requested amount. No details have been released. The formulation of the consolidated tax is complex. Most entities are opposed to the consolidated tax formula being changed. There is also a bill calling for a moratorium on consolidated tax changes. The North Las Vegas Library District has been on HDPL’s library system (computer and courier), at a very low, subsidized rate. The North Las Vegas Library District has been asked to prepare to move off our system by July 2008. This cutoff date was discussed with the North Las Vegas Library in August, 2006. The North Las Vegas Library District is growing and building additional branches. HDPL is growing also and must be responsible to its taxpayers with latitude to make changes to the computer system that allow efficiencies and service enhancements for HDPL patrons. It is Tom Fay’s understanding that the North Las Vegas City Manager has told the North Las Vegas Library District to go back to LV-CCLD and ask to be on their system. The North Las Vegas Library District does not have collection size of HDPL or LV-CCLD, which may be why they are asking for consolidated tax to finance a larger collection and more staff at future branches. There could potentially be contentious debate about this issue.
Discussion regarding Library Legislative Day, March 22, 2007.
Tom Fay reminded the Board that Nevada Library Association is hosting Library Legislative Day on March 22nd. Colleen Bell will attend and Tom Fay asked if any other Board Members were interested. Jacob Snow said he will be attending and will make his own arrangements. Any other Board Members wishing to attend should let Tom Fay know today so that flight and seating arrangements can be made.
Announcements
The Friends of the Library will present a check to the Board next month at the March 15th Board Meeting at the Paseo Verde Library. Tom Fay said the check will be presented at the end of the meeting and refreshments will be served after the meeting. Tom Fay requested the Board stay a few moments to show appreciation to the Friends’ members.
Public Comment
Note: Pursuant to Nevada’s Open Meeting Law, action may not be taken on matters presented during this period until included on a future agenda as an action item.
Adjournment
Chair, Colleen Bell, adjourned the meeting at 8:49 a.m.
Pursuant to NRS 241.020, written notice of the meeting of Henderson District Public Libraries’ Board of Trustees was posted by Friday, February 9, 2007, at least three (3) business days before the meeting, including in the notice the time, place, location and agenda of the meeting. Details of the agenda may be obtained by calling 492-6584.
Posted at Paseo Verde Library, James I. Gibson Library, Lydia Malcolm Library, Pittman Library, City of Henderson-City Clerk’s Office, and the HDPL website.