Chambana Sun

The Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees met Sept. 13 to give a presentation on the Summer Reading Program.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:

The Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees

Minutes of a Regular Meeting

Held on Tuesday, September 13, 2016

CALL TO ORDER

The Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees met in the Lewis Auditorium of The Urbana Free

Library on September 13, 2016. The meeting was called to order by the president, Chris Scherer, at

7:00 p.m.

OATH OF OFFICE: Beth Scheid administered the Oath of Office to Barbara Jones. Barbara is

beginning a three year term on the Board.

ATTENDANCE

Present: Geoff Bant, Bill Brown, Barbara Jones, Anna Merritt, Mark Netter, Beth Scheid, Chris

Scherer, Michael Weissman, and Jane Williams

Staff present: Elaine Bearden, Becky Brown, Dawn Cassady, Celeste Choate, Anke Voss, and

Kathy Wicks

Also present: Shauri Gonzalez and Simon Rosenzweig

ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, MODIFICATIONS OF THE AGENDA

None.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

It was moved by Michael Weissman, seconded by Mark Netter, and passed unanimously to

approve the agenda as presented.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

PRESENTATIONS

Elaine Bearden gave a presentation on the Summer Reading Program, which ran from May 21

to August 31. There were reading programs for all ages, and registration included children in

pre-schools, teens at the juvenile detention center, and seniors living at Clark Lindsey. Larry

and Margaret Jobe sponsored the Summer Reading Kick-Off program. Bob and Peggy Podlasek

sponsored Comic Con. The Friends of the Library provided the funds to hand out 1,194 book

prizes. It was a full summer with 195 programs in the 110 days.

Celeste Choate gave the Board the annual report for FY 2016. Circulation was up by 5%. Book

checkout was up by 13%. The educational DVD circulation increased 11% since their move

from behind circulation out onto shelves on the second floor. Trends over the past couple of

years: An increase in renewals, checkouts of downloadable items, and self-checkouts. Patroninitiated

transactions are increasing and have surpassed staff-initiated transactions.

Board of Trustees of The Urbana Free Library – Minutes for the meeting of September 13, 2016 – Page 2

In FY’16, 31,801 people attend library programs – a 6% increase.

During FY’16, the Library’s infrastructure has been strengthened in a variety of ways. The

Board has passed a number of policies which strengthen the Library’s infrastructure. After a

year of work, the staff handbook has been updated for the first time since 1998.

The Library continues to reach out into the community. 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten has

been a cooperative outreach to individuals and to pre-schools. The Teen Open Lab just

celebrated the 10,000th participant, passing 9,000 students during FY’16.

Anke Voss represented TUFL on a “preservation self-assessment program” committee led by

the University of Illinois Library using Institute of Museum & Library Services funds. Anke

also represented TUFL in an Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities Research Cluster

on public history and student research, which received a grant. TUFL benefited from three

Urbana Arts Grants; and the new circulating hands-on math literacy kits came from the Ready

to Learn Initiative grant from PBS/WILL.

The Chanute Air Force Museum selected the Champaign County Historical Archives as the new

home of its archival holdings, which include blueprints and maps for Chanute Air Force Base,

base publications, oral histories, aerial photographs of the base, subject files, photographs,

scrapbooks, over 200 videotapes, and extensive archival donations from personnel connected to

Chanute. The collection will be cataloged and made available to the community later.

Next for the Library: Facilities needs, such as the HVAC system, the windows, the porch, and

the roof. The Library is beginning to offer new and exciting collections: vinyl LPs, record

players, hands-on literacy kits and math kits. Guitars, telescopes, microscopes, VHS to DVD

converters, and other interesting items are in process. Programming will continue to grow as

the Library offers past favorites and explores new ideas. The Library is starting the process of

hiring a development person.

Kathy Wicks gave a presentation on National Library Card Sign-Up Month. The Library has a

goal to increase the number of cardholders. One way is to get the message out about all the

things that can be done with a library card. Graphics created a wonderful logo, which will be

used in a variety of ways, including on a banner on the outside of the building by the front

door. Staff are working together with the community to get the word out about the wonderful

Library programs and new special collections.

ACTION ITEMS (CONSENT AGENDA)

It was moved by Anna Merritt, seconded by Jane Williams, and passed unanimously to approve

the consent agenda as presented.

ACTION ITEMS (INDIVIDUAL)

It was moved by Beth Scheid, seconded by Michael Weissman, and passed unanimously to

approve the FY17 Budget Amendment.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Board of Trustees of The Urbana Free Library – Minutes for the meeting of September 13, 2016 – Page 3

Kathy Wicks reported to the Board about facilities updates. The porch proposal came back

higher than originally proposed, with changes partly due to exploring the price to replace the

porch rather than just repair it. The higher proposal will necessitate the need to go out to bid

for the work. There was discussion about the need to keep the historic look and City

requirements.

After last month’s meeting, Kathy, Celeste, and Vince Gustafson, from the City, had a

conference call with Paul Boland and Nathan Alderman from Henneman Construction. The

discussion touched on different ways to revise the draft report; controls and set-backs; the

Cleaver Brooks boiler efficiency; and Archives options. The draft proposal still needs cost

estimates and clarification is some areas. Michael Weissman proposed doing what is necessary

for now to keep the system running and look to changing the system when the air handling

system needs to be replaced 10 to 12 years from now or when the building is expanded.

Bill Brown spoke to the Board on Advocacy from the Trustee Facts File. It is recommended that

whenever people talk to a legislator or government official that they give the official a one page

paper explaining what they are advocating and then email it to them later. It is good to

cultivate relationships beforehand so that when an issue comes up there is already a connection.

Advocacy involves more than just public officials. It helps the Library to have relationships

with the school district and park district. He also touched on a couple of things not to do, such

as deluge an official with a lot of automated notices or be too wordy and unfocused. Try and

find a common goal or relate a story that helps to illustrate the point being made. ILA is

sponsoring another Meet the Legislator luncheon in Bloomington on March 3, 2017. This will

provide an opportunity to put some of these ideas into practice. Anna Merritt advised that

people keep things positive when they advocate and not threaten.

REPORTS OF LIAISON OFFICERS

Friends of the Library

The Friends book sale was successful, bringing in over $7,700. The November sale will start

November 17.

The Urbana Free Library Foundation

The Foundation will meet again on September 28.

Illinois Heartland Library System

Geoff Bant reported that he is on several committees, and that IHLS still has concerns about

future funding.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Celeste Choate reported on a couple of questions that the Board had asked last month. The first

being that the Library raised just under $300 at the Harry Potter event. It was a great outreach

opportunity. Second, it was about $60 to $80 that was taken from the café register.

BOARD PRESIDENT REPORT

None.

Board of Trustees of The Urbana Free Library – Minutes for the meeting of September 13, 2016 – Page 4

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Kathy Wicks took pictures of Board members with their library cards in honor of National

Library Card Sign-Up Month.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m.

________________________________________

Becky Brown, Recorder

________________________________________

Elizabeth Scheid, Secretary

Date Approved:__________________________

This meeting was taped for later broadcast on cable television.

Supplementary information is available in the Board packet of July 12, 2016.