Champaign library board establishes teen after school programs

By Philip Gonzales

Dec 4, 2016

The Champaign Public Library Board of Trustees met Aug. 17 to establish after school programs for teens.

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

"The Champaign Public Library was established in 1876. The Library is governed by the Board of Trustees of the Champaign Public Library, comprised of nine residents of Champaign, one of whom is a current member of the City Council. The trustees are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council for staggered terms of three years. The Board of Trustees establishes policy for the Library and appoints the Library Director, who serves as the Library’s chief executive officer."

Agenda Item #4 (a) Library Board of Trustees Minutes of Meeting 3rd Floor Conference Room, Main Library August 17, 2016

1. The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. by President Wolske.

2. Members Present: Mark Ballard, Katie Blakeman, Deb Busey, Trisha Crowley, Michael La Due, Charles Lansford, Minnie Pearson, Orlando Thomas, and Martin Wolske

Members Absent: None

Library Staff Present: Donna Pittman, Amy Al-Shabibi, Jill Bouvet, Brent Colclasure, Larry Damski, Debbie Keith, Kristina Hoerner, Michael Rogalla, Evelyn Shapiro, and Laura Weis

Visitors Present: Natalie Frankenberg, League of Women Voters and Barb Bell, Boneyard Coffee and Tea

3. Approve the Agenda:

• MOTION by Lansford to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by La Due. All: Aye.

4. Approve the Minutes:

a. Regular Meeting Minutes, July 20, 2016 b. Closed Session Minutes, July 20, 2016 c. Special Meeting Minutes, July 29, 2016

• MOTION by Busey to approve all sets of minutes as presented; seconded by Pearson. All: Aye.

5. Director’s Report:

• Pittman distributed her report and announced that because the Development Director position is now vacant, the Assistant Director position can be filled with the search taking place this fall. Pittman will continue to manage the fundraising program for the coming year. The search for a Children’s Services Manager will take place after the hiring of the Assistant Director. Pittman reported that Keith may be able to hire a temporary accounting assistant with funding from the City through the CORE project. We expect this to be a 25 hours per week position to help Keith with the financial software project and other duties over the next 18 months or so.

Thomas arrived at 5:37 p.m.

• Pittman reported we will be offering after school programs for teens four days per week instead of two to help keep them constructively engaged while visiting the library.

• Pittman will provide an update at a future City Council Study Session probably in November to give an update on the Library.

• Michael Rogalla, Interim Children’s Services Manager, shared his department’s plans with community engagement, early literacy, diversity, and facts about how early reading to children promotes lifelong readers. Rogalla noted volunteers help with story times and practicum students receive training from our staff which helps prepare them for future placement in libraries throughout the country.

• Wolske commented he received a glowing report from the City’s Executive Management Team about how excited they are to have Pittman as the new Library Director.

6. New Website Preview by Evelyn Shapiro, Promotions Manager:

• Shapiro presented a first look at the new mobile-friendly website scheduled to go live in September. The new site provides easy access to reading recommendations, library events, eBooks, and cool tools like Lynda.com, Consumer Reports, and resources for investors.

7. Library Café:

• Pittman informed the Board that the current Café licensees would like to end their agreement with the Library. This provides an opportunity for us to keep the Café operating and perhaps bring in greater revenues. The Library would obtain a permit from CU Public Health Department for the Library to operate the Café, prepare a letter of separation for the current owners, and settle with the owners on the purchase of the café equipment minus money owed to the Library. Pittman recommends the Library take over operations of the Café and create a temporary position for a full- time Café Operator to run the day to day operations and use part-time Page positions to help staff the Café. Making the Café Operator position temporary will allow us to evaluate the Café operation after one year.

• Pittman introduced Barb Bell who is currently serving as the Café Manager for Boneyard Coffee & Tea here at the Library. Bell stated her background is in retail sales and marketing. She has previous experience at Vevande Coffee Shop located in the U of I Mechanical Engineer Building where the sales and catering increased. Bell identified ways to increase the Library Café’s revenue in the future.

• MOTION by Lansford to approve a one-year trial of the Library operating the Café as presented; seconded by Pearson. All: Aye.

8. Financial Reports:

a. Approve “Check Register” and “Handwritten Checks” for July 2016:

• MOTION by La Due to file the check register, handwritten checks and check summary for July 2016 in the amount of $592,343.32 as presented; seconded by Blakeman. All: Aye.

a. 2016-2017 Financial Statements:

• MOTION by La Due to accept the financial statements for July 2016 as presented; seconded by Pearson. All: Aye.

9. IPLAR (Illinois Public Library Annual Report) 2016-17:

• MOTION by Blakeman to approve the IPLAR as presented; seconded by Ballard. All: Aye.10. Personnel Committee-of-the-Whole: Director Goals:

• MOTION by Crowley to go into a Committee of the Whole for the Personnel Committee; seconded by La Due. All: Aye.

• Crowley directed attention to the goals Pittman provided. Crowley suggested a written quarterly report be prepared and shared at Library Board meetings to keep Board members up to date on the progress and timelines.

• MOTION by Crowley to adopt the Director’s goals as presented as official goals and have a report in writing with timelines presented quarterly as discussed; seconded by Ballard. All: Aye.

• MOTION by Ballard to rise and report to the full Board; seconded by Pearson: All: Aye.

• MOTION approved as presented by Committee. All: Aye.

11. Correspondence and Communications:

• Article from The News-Gazette written by Kelly Strom, Collection Development Manager, entitled: “Suspense Abounds” and “Ringing Endorsement” (July, 2016 and August 7, 2016).

• Article from The News-Gazette entitled “What’s in a name?” explaining CPL’s naming of Clara Lane and the Robeson Pavilion area.

• Article from The News-Gazette entitled “She’ll hit the stacks running” announcing the Library Board’s approval of Pittman’s new contract as Director.

• Letter to the Editor from The News-Gazette entitled “Library has space for group meetings” from Pittman sharing the good news of the library providing meeting rooms at no charge once again for nonprofit groups.

12. Committee and Liaison Reports:

a. Champaign Public Library Foundation:

• No report.

b. Friends of the Champaign Public Library:

• No report.

13. Comments from the Audience:

• None.

14. Comments from the Board:

• Blakeman shared that the Food Truck rally was well attended and a lot of fun.

15. Next Meetings or Events:

• Regular Meeting, Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 5:30 p.m., 3rd Floor Conf. Room, Main Library

• Regular Meeting, Wednesday, October 19, 2016, 5:30 p.m., Douglass Branch Library, Large Room