HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-2019 minutes
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3939 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019
Approved
3/6/2019
The meeting was called to order in the History Room by Chair, Patricia Sowada, at 5:30pm. Members present: Patricia
Sowada, Catherine Vesley, Stephen Smith, Tricia Conway, and new City Council Liaison, Connie Buesgens (Absent: Nancy
Hoium has now resigned, leaving a Board vacancy). Also in attendance: Renee Dougherty (Library Director), and Nick
Olberding (Recording Secretary).
The Minutes of the December 5th, 2018 Board Meeting were approved.
Bill Lists dated December 5th, 19th, and 26th, 2018, were reviewed. Each was moved, seconded, and approved.
Accounting Sheet as of January was reviewed, and approved (88% spent, excluding December utilities/wages). Accounting has not
been closed out for 2018 yet (should be ready by the February meeting).
• Questions and discussions based on Bills and Accounting:
• Cole Directory: Reverse Phone Book (multi-volume set), for finding phone number by street address.
• Replaced Sensor Switch: Minor Repair, out-of-warranty.
• Advertising/Other (3430): Over-budget, but not a concern. Purchased a larger advertisement in the CH Jamboree
booklet for the Library’s 90th Anniversary.
• Repair/Maint (4000): TechLogic Preventative Maintenance, $6610. This is an ongoing system support contract for
the Automatic Materials Handler (AMH). The current payment covers maintenance for 2019, so the expense may
be transferred to the 2019 budget (as was done last year).
• Building Maintenance (4020): Looking good, still under-budget.
• Garage/Labor Burden (4050): This line item is for Public Works to charge us back for various service (e.g. back-up
generator maintenance and monthly testing).
• AMH Stats: Would we be able to get stats on the number of patrons using outdoor book return? Not precisely.
The system tracks the items returned through it, but that includes items returned directly, as well as items sent
through from the indoor bookdrop, and delivery 3/week. It doesn’t track the number of times the door opens,
but that wouldn’t be accurate either (a single patron can activate the door multiple times, kids walking by tend to
activate the door for fun, snowflakes can activate the door, and the sun at certain angles can trigger it over and
over for periods of time). Also of note, there have been several incidences of children feeding woodchips from
the landscaping through the return, or an occasional snowball.
Old Business: N/A
New Business:
• Library Board Group Photo: Ben Sandell was planning to take a group photo tonight, but did not make it.
• Request for Adult Read-Down in February: In collaboration with Winter Reads and Anoka County, we would like to
allow adults to read-down their fines (same rules that apply to the youth read-down; $1/15 minutes of in-library
reading—late fees only, not lost/damaged fines or DVD rental fees) during the month of February. Motion: Authorize
the CHPL to participate in the February Adult Read-Down…Vesley moved, Smith seconded, all in favor—approved.
• Staff Update: On January 24th we will hold an all-staff meeting for training. We will review policies, procedures,
technology, meeting rooms, library cards, homelessness issues, and other relevant knowledge. Also, Bri Belanger
(Youth Librarian) is expecting with a due date in early July, and will be taking maternity leave for up to 12 weeks.
Some summer programming could be affected, but we will be looking into possible vendors who could host
programs, and 3-day/week summer lunch (with Youthprise) will likely not occur this summer due to staffing
constraints. Renee will be meeting with Kelli Bourgeois to determine if there is any possibility of summer internships
or supplemental staffing during Bri’s absence.
• Foundation Update: The CHPL Foundation has gifted the Library $35,000 for programs and services, with no strings
attached. The funding could go towards some citizenship classes in collaboration with the Adult Learning Center, as
well as some replacement furniture, and expanding our collection.
Items from the Floor:
• Public Art RFP: Catherine Vesley has done some research into other local installations and the cost could be more
than initially thought (for example, the bronze firefighter statue at public works came out to around $50,000, and one
at the NE Minneapolis 2nd Precinct was around $65,000). We would need to raise between 50-100 thousand, and
should not float an RFP until a base portion of the funding is secured.
o The architects planned 5 key areas of the property for potential permanent art installations: the grassy
mound outside the east entrance (1st), raised planting bed outside west entrance, interior wall above private
study rooms, interior wall above main entrance, and the blue wall in the teen area (additionally the interior
wall above the Fantasy section has beams spanning the wall, but shouldn’t be excluded).
o General Steps: Raise base funding, float Request for Proposal, review proposals, pick several for further
consideration, allow public comment, select winning proposal (alter if necessary), build, install, publicly
unveil, pay artist, and enjoy. The entire process could take several years.
o Former Mayor, Gary Peterson, is willing to help out with the process since he has experience with at least 4
other public art installations in the city.
• Toastmasters: Will host an event in the Community Room on January 28th, and is open to the public. Stephen Smith
would like to post a flyer on the Library’s bulletin board to promote the groups regular events at Murzyn Hall.
• Pat Sowada would like to officially welcome Connie Buesgens as the Board’s new Council Liaison. Before the
meeting we had no knowledge of the change, so it was a happy surprise. It’ll be good to rotate our Liaison every few
years to get some different perspectives from within the City Council).
• The Board would like to express how happy they are with the attendance of the weekly Storytime sessions. Bri has
even added an evening option on Mondays, and an extra Thursday morning session due to the popularity.
• Photo Contest Takedown Party: Margo (Northeaster) suggested we host a small party for the photographers at the
conclusion of the exhibition on Tuesday, January 22nd from 6:45-7:30pm. Artists will be invited in for some cookies
and refreshments, and will then be able to take their photo print home with them.
• City Services Expo: March 2nd, 11am-2pm. Each city department will be represented, and have staff on hand to speak
with the public about their questions and/or concerns; there may be some presentations by some departments.
There is also the hope that some of the City’s Commissioners and Board Members could be available to network and
relay to the public what their value to the community is.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made at 6:27pm 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.