FONDULAC DISTRICT LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

March 27, 2006

 

 

            Members of the Fondulac District Library Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, March 27, 2006.  President Mingus called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

            On roll call the following members were present: Mr. Brimberry, Mrs. Cole, Mr. Goff, Mr. Lasswell and Mr. Mingus.  Also present were Ms. Falasz-Peterson, Director, Miss McKeever, Assistant Director and Mrs. Geier, Administrative Assistant.  Eleanor Flinn, a local parliamentarian, was also in attendance.  Mrs. Herring and Mr. Johnston were absent.

 

            M/S/P (Cole/Brimberry) to accept the minutes of the February meeting of the Board of Trustees.

 

            The library statistical report showed receipts of $2,460.27 for March.  There was an increase in circulation for February.

 

            Mr. Johnston, the treasurer, was not yet in attendance; therefore the Treasurer’s Report was moved to the end of the agenda.

 

            Eleanor Flinn gave a presentation during board development on parliamentary procedures and pointers on running an efficient meeting.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson handed out business cards to each board member.  This is something she thought about while at legislative day with Mr. Johnston and Mrs. Herring. 

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that we have received two grants.  The first grant is a Community Foundation of Central Illinois Grant.  This will be living history interpretations and will be presented next school year on days school is not in session.  The second grant is a National Endowment for the Humanities “We the People Book Shelf” grant.  We will receive 15 books on becoming American.  I will tie into with the living history program.  We are participating in Alliance Library System’s Health Info Central Illinois grant, which was just presented a $10,000 award.  Now system can apply for the national award, which is for the U.S. National Commission of Library and Information Science.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson informed the board that the items purchased with funds from the Nancy M. Gillfillan award have arrived. 

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson handed out the five minute library survey.  This is part of the marketing plan.  We will be handing them out to the public until April 14th. 

 

            National Library Week is the week of April 2-8.  The theme this year is Change Your World @ Your Library.  It’s patron appreciation week.  We will be offering refreshments during some high traffic times during the week.  The Illinois Youth Symphony will be playing on Sunday, April 2nd from 2:00-3:00.  On Monday, April 3rd and Thursday, April 6th, we will be giving small gifts to those customers that check out an item.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson and Miss McKeever will be mingling all week to talk to patrons about the library, the Friends Group and other programming.

 

            Miss McKeever stated that she has some questions regarding the newsletter.  Currently, we mail to every residence in our district, 8,588 homes.  The list we use has a number of repeat addresses on it.  The cost of the newsletters is $6,738 per year including postage.  Because we have three months of information per newsletter, Ms. Falasz-Peterson and Miss McKeever wondered, as an idea to market our services better, if the board was still committed to mailing to every household in our district.  Or, could we look at other avenues for possibly paring down the content and mailing it more frequently to fewer households.  Miss McKeever also stated that our mailing list is not updated, as we have not received a listing of new subdivisions.  There was discussion on this topic.  Mr. Lasswell feels it’s important to target the people who do not use the library.  Mr. Brimberry suggested that we possibly have a detailed newsletter at the main desks and mail information on special programs.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that the building model has arrived and is in her office.  She has received word from Brett Pudik, our architect, that we are not obligated to pay the extra $6,500 it cost PSA to build it.  We have a letter from PSA dated July 12, 2005 stipulating we agreed to pay $11,000 for the model.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that the model is exactly what the letter stated it would be. 

 

After discussing an unveiling at last month’s meeting, Ms. Falasz-Peterson and Miss McKeever discussed it further and felt it best to wait to have an unveiling event when there is a more specific breakdown of costs our patrons will incur.  Mr. Mingus commended Ms. Falasz-Peterson on her handling of this issue.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that the model is very large and customers have walked past her office and stopped in to see it, and although 2007 is a year away, she wanted to make sure that the whole board is 100% behind the project.  She stated she and Miss McKeever are committed to the project and wanted to make sure they have a full commitment from the board.  Mrs. Cole stated that they do. 

 

Mr. Brimberry stated that he had no reservations about building what the model shows, but he would be in favor of spending some time looking at alternative locations.  Mr. Brimberry reported that both the school districts would like to see a new library built on their campuses.  Mr. Mingus asked if that idea had come up in the past as part of a community center.  Mr. Lasswell stated that it had and from everything he has heard from conventions he has attended, libraries on school campuses is not a good idea.  He stated that there were a number of safety issues.  Mr. Goff pointed out that the library’s current location creates a “destination” in a downtown sense.  Mr. Lasswell stated that he is not necessarily opposed building in a different location, but he stated that he really doesn’t want us to delay any longer than we have to as building costs are rising every day.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that we are a public entity and anyone can come in to use our facility, where there are restrictions on who can enter a school.  Mr. Brimberry stated that he was thinking the collaboration and joint uses would be great, but he agrees with Mr. Goff that where the library is currently located is a destination.  He does feel that the board should be ready with answers if the public would ask why we won’t relocate to either school district’s campuses.  Mr. Lasswell stated that we do have responses as there has been discussion on this topic in the past.  He stated that before meeting with the architects, the board discussed the pros and cons of staying in the downtown area.  Mr. Lasswell feels that this issue should have been revisited before spending money on the feasibility study, etc.  He feels it would be a waste of taxpayer money to start the process all over.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that the board will receive talking points for when we unveil our model and really start talking about the project outside of the library.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that both the board and the finance committee have discussed whether or not a financial planner would be helpful to the board.  She offered to contact Randy Gibson from PSA and ask him to attend our next board meeting to discuss some of the services PSA offers as referendum consultants.  The board asked Ms. Falasz-Peterson to contact Mr. Gibson.

 

            Mr. Lasswell presented the bills for payment.

 

            M/S/P (Lasswell/Cole) to accept the Treasurer’s Report and payment of bills subject to audit.

 

            Treasurer’s Report:

GENERAL FUND CHECKING

02/27/06  Balance                                                                                              1,182.38

02/28/06  Interest 3066700474                                                                                 2.54

03/03/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                  622.89

03/06/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                  21,000.00

03/09/06  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                  (21,444.05)

03/09/06  Check issued – Dental insurance                                                         (142.55)

03/09/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                  386.25

03/17/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                               1,024.10

03/20/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                  20,000.00

03/23/06  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                  (21,270.72)

03/23/06  Checks issued – Credit card                                                                  (60.28)

03/24/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                  427.03

03/27/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                  42,000.00

03/27/06  Checks issued – Bills                                                                      (42,446.23)

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                              1,281.36

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL FUND SAVINGS

02/27/06  Balance                                                                                              3,497.92

02/28/06  Interest 3619307057                                                                                   .40

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                              3,498.32      

 

GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT

02/27/06  Balance                                                                                          410,165.19

02/28/06  Interest 7139120393                                                                          1,513.96

03/06/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                 (21,000.00)

03/07/06  Deposit – Replacement Taxes                                                            5,243.24

03/20/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                 (20,000.00)

03/27/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                 (42,000.00)

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                          333,922.39

 

WORKING CASH FUND

02/27/06  Balance                                                                                          261,241.69

02/28/06  Interest 7139120401                                                                             873.90

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                          262,115.59

 

RESERVE FUND

02/27/06  Balance                                                                                       1,291,284.87

02/28/06  Interest                                                                                               4,319.58

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                       1,295,604.45

 

ENTERPRISE FUND

02/27/06  Balance                                                                                            26,866.97

02/28/06  Interest 6900342215                                                                                 4.67

03/03/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                      420.00

03/24/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                      250.00

03/27/06  Checks issued – Bills                                                                           (216.20)

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                            27,325.44

 

            Mrs. Geier made two authorized transfers.  The first on the 6th was for $21,000 and the second was on the 28th for $42,000.  Susan Sullivan made one authorized transfer on the 20th for $20,000.  All transfers were from the Investment Fund to the Checking Account.                                                                         

 

            Mr. Mingus adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.