MINUTES OF
HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
OF FEBRUARY 27, 2002


The Hennepin County Library Board met on Wednesday, February 27, 2002, at the Ridgedale Area Library.

Present: President Carol Walsh, John Gibbs, Gerda Haas, Dawn Harris, Patricia Izek, David Pratt, Cynthia Steinke.
Library Staff Attending: C.Brown, D.Cramer, C.DeGraff, J.Leick, J.Morgan, N.Perron, S.Louis, V.DeFord, P.Jones, C.Ahrens, & B.Berg.
Guests: Abe Schwartz, Marilyn Jackson.

Call to Order/Welcome/Public Comment
The meeting was called to order by President Carol Walsh with a welcome to guests and staff. The first item of business was a resolution in recognition of Marilyn Jackson's service on the Library Board for 6 years.

WHEREAS, Marilyn Jackson, having been appointed to the Hennepin County Library Board February 6, 1996, and reappointed in March 1999, has contributed significantly to the goals and objectives of the Hennepin County Library System; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Jackson has been a faithful and effective Board member who among her many contributions has held the offices of Secretary in 1996 and 1999, Vice President in 1998, and President in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Marilyn Jackson was instrumental in establishing the Library Board Ethics Policy in 1998, and she was a dedicated advocate for accessibility issues; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Jackson has been actively involved with the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) by serving as a member of the ULC Library Staff Development Series Trustee Advisory Committee, she was elected to the ULC Executive Board in 1997 and re-elected in 1999 and 2001, has served on the ULC Executive Board Finance Committee and Awards Committee, has been an active member and Board Liaison of the Urban Libraries/Urban Assets Strategy Group, and was a member of the Central Libraries in a Digital Age Conference Advisory Committee; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Library Board by this resolution extends to Marilyn Jackson its commendation and the gratitude of the people of Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Motion to approve the resolution was made by C. Walsh, seconded by J. Gibbs, motion passed; Library Board members thanked Marilyn Jackson for her contributions.

President Walsh welcomed Ms. Gerda Haas, St. Louis Park, as the newly appointed member of the Library Board.

APPROVAL A motion was made to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2002, meeting was made by J. Gibbs, seconded by D. Harris; motion passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Policy Committee: P. Izek reported that the policy on Services to Groups and Individuals with Restricted Library Access had been laid over to this meeting. J. Morgan addressed some of the questions from the January meeting; P. Jones addressed some specific Board questions. J. Gibbs moved approval of the policy as presented, C.Walsh seconded; motion passed.

PROGRAM:

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Library Board Training: Discussion lead by Charles Brown and Victoria DeFord. A draft retreat agenda had been included in the Board mail packets; discussion of options. Agreement on the proposed retreat agenda, with the last 15 minutes spent on discussing next steps. Date for the retreat: approval to use the scheduled March 20 meeting date for the retreat.

Operating Budget 2002: C. Brown reviewed the 3% reduction proposed by the Library.

NEW BUSINESS

Undesignated Gift Fund: Charles Brown had sent the Library Board a memo with two requests for the use of the 2002 Library Board Undesignated Gift Fund: $500 to cover Library Board meeting refreshments; $1,500 for expenses associated with the HCL celebration for Paraprofessional of the Year on April 11. C. Walsh moved approval of the two requests, C. Steinke seconded; motion passed.

2002 Library Board Conference & Travel Budget: Discussion of the budget allocations for the current year. C. Walsh asked Board members for their travel plans: ALA/Atlanta--P.Izek, C.Steinke, C.Walsh, D.Harris, G.Haas [since this meeting Haas has changed plans to attend National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C.].

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Charles Brown shared an e-mail he sent to the County Board as a response to questions raised about the Staff Development Day presentation on April 25. Director Brown requested input from the Library Board on development of the 2003 budget. Library staff will check on MELSA libraries and holiday closings to compare with HCL. J. Gibbs noted the high quality of library staff at HCL; C.Steinke definitely agreed with his comments on staff excellence. D. Harris recommended that V.DeFord work with Tim Wise to develop 4-5 questions for staff thought prior to the presentation on April 25. Brown attended a multicultural job fair in Milwaukee for one day in February. Board asked about status of Mall of America plans: staff met with Wheeler and the library will develop a business plan. Staff is visiting a new possible Maple Grove library site this week.

MEMBER REPORTS
Carol Walsh: reported that she met with Jeff Scherer, Foundation President, and Chris DeGraff. Art Initiative: Hopkins needs a trustee to serve on that committee; Edina is done except for the reception (P. Izek volunteered to assist); Eden Prairie--Steinke reported that the project is on hold due to the building project delay. Reminder of National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. in May. Walsh reported on her MLA Legislative Day activities and she encouraged more HCL participation, including Friends and volunteers.
Cynthia Steinke: The Rebecca Walker, Emerging Voices, presentation was great!

OTHER
Motion to approve the gifts was made by P. Izek & seconded by C. Steinke; motion passed.
$156.32 Friends of the Augsburg Park Library to the Augsburg Park Library for 500 library card "wallets" to be given to children who are receiving new library cards.
225.00 Friends of the Augsburg Park Library to the Augsburg Park Library for nine multilingual storytimes.
167.00 Friends of the Augsburg Park Library to the Augsburg Park Library for Hobknob for children's use at the circulation desk.
30.60 Abe Franck to the Augsburg Park Library for sign frames, cards, and magnetic clips for paperback racks.
587.41 Friends of the Brooklyn Park Library to the Brooklyn Park Library for 2001 Melsa materials and birdseed.
452.50 Friends of the Edina Library to the Edina Library for an Edina Chamber Membership and the Bill Saltzman Memory tree.
555.35 Friends of the Edina Library to the Edina Library for the summer reader's raffle books, CD player for storytime, and bead toy for toddlers.
835.80 Friends of the Edina Library to the Edina Library for Dream Fund brochures and bookmark printing.
100.00 Hennessy Travel to the Excelsior Library for travel voucher to be used as door prizes during the Ex Romantic Reflections program.
75.00 Excelsior Bay Spa to the Excelsior Library for a gift certificate to be used as door prizes during the Ex Romantic Reflections program.
625.00 Friends of the Hopkins Library to the Hopkins Library for performers: Splatter Sisters and Frankenstein Creations, for the Grand Closing Day Festivities.
361.00 Friends of the Long Lake Library to the Long Lake Library for a moderately sized refrigerator for the library work room.


ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by P. Izek, seconded by C. Steinke; meeting was adjourned.

 

 

_____________________________
Patricia Izek, Secretary