City of Pendleton Public Library
Library Board
Minutes
Library Meeting Room
January 13, 2015
There was no public comment.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 PM by Will Perkinson, Board Vice-Chair. In attendance were Kathy Aney, Brianna Earlley, Cheryl Pearce, Jordan McDonald, and Will Perkinson. Staff: Mary Finney, Interim Director
Review Minutes: Cheryl Pearce moved and Jordan McDonald seconded to approve the December minutes as written.
Modifications to agenda: Jordan McDonald asked that we add Food Policies to the New Business.
REPORTS
Board Chair report: Kathy Aney indicated that she was required to be at another meeting and had requested that Perkinson chair the meeting. She also reported that she and Jennifer Furuyama, Interim Assistant Director, were working together to plan and host a fun run during the summer to get the library out into the community and as a fund raiser for the Pendleton Friends of the Library Foundation (PFOL). They are working with a local gentleman who helps organizations in setting up and running this type of event.
She will keep the board posted on their progress.
Interim Director’s report: Mary Finney presented the Director’s Report which shows a marked increase in circulation over the November figures. It was still 1% down from 2014 stats.
Finney reported that the staff had a fun time at the annual Christmas party which was held at Abby’s Pizza. Abby’s has a party program where organizations can receive credit from sales which the patron asks to be put toward the organization’s pizza party fund. The library has such a fund. There was sufficient credit accrued to use for the staff party. Other uses of the party will be for teen pizza parties. The board was encouraged to request their dinner be credited to the library account the next time they eat at Abby’s.
Furuyama and the teen group raised just over $90 in sales of library jewelry during December. This is a fundraiser for PFOL. Furuyama had created 4 story time events for the Ready2Learn program. They include instructions for doing a literature related craft to go along with the theme of the event. These are programs she has prepared for our own story times.
Katie Shurts has finished weeding the oversized collection and is now weeding large print. The shelves look very nice. There is a point where a shelf is too full and is less inviting for patrons to peruse. There needs to be a balance between too full and too empty. Weeding is not a fun job for a librarian, but it is very necessary to a pleasing and relevant collection.
Two new volunteers are on board helping with shelving. We are close to filling the open library aide position. Library Assistant 1, Ben Byrd-Jolly has submitted his resignation effective January 27th. Ben will be sorely missed as he has been a joy to work with. It was suggested by Human Resources to open another library aide position, leaving the library assistant position unfilled. In a couple of months, we will open the LA1 position for an internal recruitment.
Finney also reported that she attended the Umatilla County Special Library District’s(UCSLD) Director’s Meeting in Weston on Monday, January 12th. Finney and a staff member from Hermiston volunteered to make a comparison of Rosetta Stone and Mango. The District currently contracts for all the libraries to have Rosetta Stone. They are raising their rates enough that the District is wanting to make sure they are the best for the amount being paid. It was no surprise that the SAGE and Library2Go databases would be raising their rates. The SAGE rate will increase 7.7% while Library2Go is increasing by 25%. Although these are substantial increases, the District will pay for those services this year. Next year, the libraries may have to help carry the cost increases. The District Coordinator announced that the 2015 Historical Materials Grant for each library was $194.00. Use is restricted to library books not to include supplies or archival supplies. There were 2 applicants for the district coordinator’s position. The board is going to be very selective of the person they hire.
Finney received a call from the director of the Harney County Library. Harney County and Lake County Librarians asked if Pendleton would be willing to take part in a Million Page Challenge. Finney agreed to the challenge. Readers from Pendleton will be pitted against the readers in Harney and Lake Counties. Given the populations served, it was a fair challenge.
OLD BUSINESS
Retreat Committee Report: Finney reported that while she understood Shari’s was to be the site for the retreat, they in fact were booked that day. She is checking with the Red Lion, Sundown Grill, and Roosters as possible retreat locations and will report back to the board when the location is finalized. Perkinson stated that he thought the retreat was January 31, not February 7th. Cheryl Pearce had the retreat in her calendar as February 7th. Finney will set a meeting using Outlook inviting everyone to the retreat.
2015 Survey: Finney presented the draft survey to the board. They read each portion, added, and corrected. Finney will make the changes and send the draft out to the full board. If there are no changes, the survey will be submitted as submitted. The board had agreed via email to allow the back of
the survey to announce the Pendleton Solar Information Seminar. There will be a note that the survey is on the reverse side.
Board member recruitment: Finney reported that it was her understanding that Mayor Houk was going to appoint McKennon McDonald to the library board. He has yet to do so formally. When she is appointed, Jordan McDonald is prepared to resign from the board. Jordan asked Finney to check to be sure he would have to resign. She will do so. Until it is determined that he will need to resign, there are no openings on the board. Everyone should be looking for potential board members.
NEW BUSINESS
UCSLD Agreement: Finney reported that she and Robb Corbett, City Manager, had received notice from the UCSLD Coordinator that the District was giving notice of the termination of the current Agreement for Library Services. That document was dated July 1, 2005. Review of this agreement has led the District Board to feel that amending or remodeling was not sufficient, and therefore a complete new agreement was needed. Board members were curious as to why the termination was necessary. Finney assured them that as soon as the document was submitted to her that she would make it available to the board members.
February Board Meeting: Because the retreat is being held in February, it was decided that the regular February meeting would be cancelled.
Food Policies: McDonald reported that a city staff member had spoken with him regarding eating in the library. He is a custodian and finds a lot of food on the tables and floor. He thought the library should not allow food or beverages in the library or should have an uncarpeted area where people could eat. Finney got copies of the library’s behavior rules. Eating in the library falls under group II. Persons violating these rules will be given up to two warnings at the discretion of library staff. Finney stated that the staff does not check bags and backpacks coming into the library, so knowing that a person has food is not always possible. Also, there are several areas of the library which are not viewable by staff. Although the reference person is to do a walkthrough once every two hours, they often do not catch persons who are eating. Because this is at the staff’s discretion, if the person is being careful with a light snack, they will not be warned. McDonald suggested that it would be wise to put signs on the door to let people know before they come in that food is not allowed in the library. Discussion then followed as to wording of signage so it was not seen as punitive or rude. Finney will have staff work on signs.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
Next meeting: March 17@ 6:00 PM in the Library Meeting Room.
Adjourn: 7:30 PM
Submitted by Mary Finney, Interim Director
Secretary to the Board
Library Board
Minutes
Library Meeting Room
January 13, 2015
There was no public comment.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 PM by Will Perkinson, Board Vice-Chair. In attendance were Kathy Aney, Brianna Earlley, Cheryl Pearce, Jordan McDonald, and Will Perkinson. Staff: Mary Finney, Interim Director
Review Minutes: Cheryl Pearce moved and Jordan McDonald seconded to approve the December minutes as written.
Modifications to agenda: Jordan McDonald asked that we add Food Policies to the New Business.
REPORTS
Board Chair report: Kathy Aney indicated that she was required to be at another meeting and had requested that Perkinson chair the meeting. She also reported that she and Jennifer Furuyama, Interim Assistant Director, were working together to plan and host a fun run during the summer to get the library out into the community and as a fund raiser for the Pendleton Friends of the Library Foundation (PFOL). They are working with a local gentleman who helps organizations in setting up and running this type of event.
She will keep the board posted on their progress.
Interim Director’s report: Mary Finney presented the Director’s Report which shows a marked increase in circulation over the November figures. It was still 1% down from 2014 stats.
Finney reported that the staff had a fun time at the annual Christmas party which was held at Abby’s Pizza. Abby’s has a party program where organizations can receive credit from sales which the patron asks to be put toward the organization’s pizza party fund. The library has such a fund. There was sufficient credit accrued to use for the staff party. Other uses of the party will be for teen pizza parties. The board was encouraged to request their dinner be credited to the library account the next time they eat at Abby’s.
Furuyama and the teen group raised just over $90 in sales of library jewelry during December. This is a fundraiser for PFOL. Furuyama had created 4 story time events for the Ready2Learn program. They include instructions for doing a literature related craft to go along with the theme of the event. These are programs she has prepared for our own story times.
Katie Shurts has finished weeding the oversized collection and is now weeding large print. The shelves look very nice. There is a point where a shelf is too full and is less inviting for patrons to peruse. There needs to be a balance between too full and too empty. Weeding is not a fun job for a librarian, but it is very necessary to a pleasing and relevant collection.
Two new volunteers are on board helping with shelving. We are close to filling the open library aide position. Library Assistant 1, Ben Byrd-Jolly has submitted his resignation effective January 27th. Ben will be sorely missed as he has been a joy to work with. It was suggested by Human Resources to open another library aide position, leaving the library assistant position unfilled. In a couple of months, we will open the LA1 position for an internal recruitment.
Finney also reported that she attended the Umatilla County Special Library District’s(UCSLD) Director’s Meeting in Weston on Monday, January 12th. Finney and a staff member from Hermiston volunteered to make a comparison of Rosetta Stone and Mango. The District currently contracts for all the libraries to have Rosetta Stone. They are raising their rates enough that the District is wanting to make sure they are the best for the amount being paid. It was no surprise that the SAGE and Library2Go databases would be raising their rates. The SAGE rate will increase 7.7% while Library2Go is increasing by 25%. Although these are substantial increases, the District will pay for those services this year. Next year, the libraries may have to help carry the cost increases. The District Coordinator announced that the 2015 Historical Materials Grant for each library was $194.00. Use is restricted to library books not to include supplies or archival supplies. There were 2 applicants for the district coordinator’s position. The board is going to be very selective of the person they hire.
Finney received a call from the director of the Harney County Library. Harney County and Lake County Librarians asked if Pendleton would be willing to take part in a Million Page Challenge. Finney agreed to the challenge. Readers from Pendleton will be pitted against the readers in Harney and Lake Counties. Given the populations served, it was a fair challenge.
OLD BUSINESS
Retreat Committee Report: Finney reported that while she understood Shari’s was to be the site for the retreat, they in fact were booked that day. She is checking with the Red Lion, Sundown Grill, and Roosters as possible retreat locations and will report back to the board when the location is finalized. Perkinson stated that he thought the retreat was January 31, not February 7th. Cheryl Pearce had the retreat in her calendar as February 7th. Finney will set a meeting using Outlook inviting everyone to the retreat.
2015 Survey: Finney presented the draft survey to the board. They read each portion, added, and corrected. Finney will make the changes and send the draft out to the full board. If there are no changes, the survey will be submitted as submitted. The board had agreed via email to allow the back of
the survey to announce the Pendleton Solar Information Seminar. There will be a note that the survey is on the reverse side.
Board member recruitment: Finney reported that it was her understanding that Mayor Houk was going to appoint McKennon McDonald to the library board. He has yet to do so formally. When she is appointed, Jordan McDonald is prepared to resign from the board. Jordan asked Finney to check to be sure he would have to resign. She will do so. Until it is determined that he will need to resign, there are no openings on the board. Everyone should be looking for potential board members.
NEW BUSINESS
UCSLD Agreement: Finney reported that she and Robb Corbett, City Manager, had received notice from the UCSLD Coordinator that the District was giving notice of the termination of the current Agreement for Library Services. That document was dated July 1, 2005. Review of this agreement has led the District Board to feel that amending or remodeling was not sufficient, and therefore a complete new agreement was needed. Board members were curious as to why the termination was necessary. Finney assured them that as soon as the document was submitted to her that she would make it available to the board members.
February Board Meeting: Because the retreat is being held in February, it was decided that the regular February meeting would be cancelled.
Food Policies: McDonald reported that a city staff member had spoken with him regarding eating in the library. He is a custodian and finds a lot of food on the tables and floor. He thought the library should not allow food or beverages in the library or should have an uncarpeted area where people could eat. Finney got copies of the library’s behavior rules. Eating in the library falls under group II. Persons violating these rules will be given up to two warnings at the discretion of library staff. Finney stated that the staff does not check bags and backpacks coming into the library, so knowing that a person has food is not always possible. Also, there are several areas of the library which are not viewable by staff. Although the reference person is to do a walkthrough once every two hours, they often do not catch persons who are eating. Because this is at the staff’s discretion, if the person is being careful with a light snack, they will not be warned. McDonald suggested that it would be wise to put signs on the door to let people know before they come in that food is not allowed in the library. Discussion then followed as to wording of signage so it was not seen as punitive or rude. Finney will have staff work on signs.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
Next meeting: March 17@ 6:00 PM in the Library Meeting Room.
Adjourn: 7:30 PM
Submitted by Mary Finney, Interim Director
Secretary to the Board