HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-05-2017 minutes
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3939 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, April 5th, 2017
Approved
5/3/2017
The meeting was called to order in the Community Room by Chair, Patricia Sowada, at 5:32pm. Members present were:
Patricia Sowada, Catherine Vesley, Stephen D. Smith, and Bobby Williams. Also present was Library Director Renee
Dougherty, and Recording Secretary Nick Olberding.
• The Minutes of the March 1st, 2016 Board Meeting were approved.
• The Bill List dated March 1st, 2017 was reviewed. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the bills be paid.
• The Bill List dated March 15th, 2017 was reviewed. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the bills be paid.
• The Bill List dated March 29th, 2017 was reviewed. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the bills be paid.
• The Accounting Sheet as of April was reviewed, and approved.
• Questions and discussions from Bills and Accounting:
o Cengage = Large Print Books. There is a strong demand for large print; mostly for memoirs and popular titles.
Most lesser known books are not released in a Large Print Edition
o Midwest Tape/Blackstone = Audio Books. These are quite popular, especially with travelers.
o New York Times. We just get the Sunday Edition. Every day delivery would cost too much.
o Copiers/Printers Overage: Costs should be recouped by public printing fees.
o Orkin: No problems so far, but we do have regular inspections as part of a contract for all city owned buildings.
o Electric: From February 6-March 8th we received a credit for energy generated by the solar panels. Overall they
should generate 60-80% of our energy consumption.
o Gas: Should be low during upcoming months. Not much boiler or fireplace usage in summer months. Over winter
the fireplace was on regularly, but mostly by request during the spring.
o Build/Maint Burden = Custodial costs
o Credit Card Fees: Put in the budget for the possibility of future credit card processing.
Old Business: N/A
New Business:
• Staffing Update: On March 6th Barb Kondrick announced her retirement; effective April 7th. A posting has already
been released, and has garnered 30 Applications, which Human Resources will evaluate and narrow the selection
down to around 8 candidates to interview (Kelli Bourgeois does a very nice job of structuring the hiring process
and making it a comfortable process for both the department and the applicant). Estimated start date of new
librarian will be the beginning of June.
• Art Display Policy: CHPL already has an Art Policy for acquiring artwork (adopted in 2016), but this new policy
lays out the process for person’s/entity’s requests to exhibit artwork in the library. Included is an Application to
Exhibit, and an Exhibit Space Contract (based on similar documents adopted by ACL, HCL, and United Theological
Seminary). The need for this Policy is because of interest by the Columbia Heights School District to display
student artwork, and the Master Water Steward’s Water Art Competition that is being hosted at the library.
o Approved: Motioned by Catherine Vesley, and seconded by Stephen Smith.
• State Annual Report: Has been signed off by Pat Sowada, and submitted to the state.
• Change to Procedure for Handling Damaged Items: Prompted by a complaint by a patron who attempted to pay
for a damaged Columbia Heights item at an ACL branch.
Items from the Floor:
• MN Trustee Handbook: There is a new state Trustee Handbook that has been published. Renee will send each
member a PDF copy of the document.
• Renee will soon have her Annual Performance Review with Walt Fehst.
• At the April 10th Council Meeting there will be a proclamation for National Library Week…this year’s theme
“Libraries Transform”; Catherine Velsey will be in attendance on behalf of the Board and the Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30pm by Patricia Sowada, and seconded.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas P. Olberding
Recording Secretary, Library Board of Trustees
The City of Columbia Heights does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or
employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with
disabilities to participate in all City of Columbia Heights services, programs, and activities.