Appleton Public Library

Board of Trustees Minutes

March 10, 2004

 

Present:                Bergman, Bloedow, Chandler, de Young, Ducklow, Dunlap, Eng, Moua

Excused:              Bergen

Others present:   Attorney Behrens, Dawson, Kelly, Shriver, Wiltzius

 

 

President Bergman called the meeting to order at 12:01 PM.  Bergman welcomed and introduced new Board member Sue Moua, and distributed a new board list. 

 

Minutes and Bill Registers

Eng moved and Dunlap seconded approval of the February 11, 2004 minutes.  Motion passed unanimously.  Ducklow moved and Eng seconded approval of the February 2004 Bill Register.    Motion passed unanimously.

 

Scholarship Committee report

The committee (Ducklow, Dunlap, Bloedow) met with Wiltzius on February 18th.  They recommended that $1,200 in scholarship assistance be awarded to two applicants: Amanda Moss of Prairie du Sac, studying at UW Madison for an MLS with a children’s librarianship emphasis, and Florian Kardoskee, an  Appleton resident starting this fall at UW Madison.  The recommended that Amanda receive her scholarship immediately, and Florian in August.  The committee recommended that staff put scholarship information onto the library’s website earlier in the year, and that the process be completed earlier so that funds will be available to students prior to the beginning of the spring semester.  Wiltzius will work on a revision of the annual timeline and will bring ideas back in summer.  Dunlap moved to accept the committee recommendations and award the scholarships; Bloedow seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

 

Personnel Committee report

de Young reported on the February 19th meeting, calling attention to the summary of Director Dawson’s goals that were distributed with the board packet.  Dawson reported later meeting with Mayor Hanna who was also comfortable with the goals as established.  Committee recommended approval of the goals for 2004, Dunlap seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

Donations

Dawson reported on two donations:  one of $100 from ThedaCare, on behalf of their employee Quinn Martinson, and $500 from FOAL designated for the FP Young fund.  Dunlap moved, and Eng seconded the motion to accept both donations and to put the $100 into the memorial fund.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

There were questions about matching funds.  Eng suggested that staff develop a list of local companies who match donations for possible inclusion in the FOAL newsletter.

 

 

State annual report

Dawson presented the State Annual Report.  Signatures of the Director and Board President are required, certifying that the Library complies with state law, and that the Board believes that OWLS has provided effective leadership and adequately met the library needs.  Bloedow moved and Chandler seconded to approve the report.  Eng moved, and Chandler seconded that the system effectiveness statement be approved.  Both motions were unanimously approved.

 

FOCOL agreement

Dawson presented a service agreement with Fox Cities Online, outlining the relationship between the library and the non-profit organization.  The agreement has been slightly revised to reflect current practice, but is very similar to the one that has been in existence for several years.   de Young moved and Bloedow seconded approval.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Community Task Force for Restoring Library Hours

de Young reported that the City Council Finance Committee will consider a request to carry over $26,050 from 2003 budget to allow us to restore library hours as of September 4th, and resume the old Sunday schedule in April.  Bergman suggested that Dawson communicate the result of tonight’s meeting and ask each board member to call their own alderperson.

 

Director’s Report

This Friday morning monthly staff meeting will be an opportunity for staff to “meet the board.”  Dawson noted he would like to have as many board members there as possible be there.

 

A staff planning day was held on Feb 16th.  The Library was closed for the day and then re-opened in the evening.  The planning session was facilitated by Rick Krumwiede and Greta Thompson of OWLS.  Dawson will distribute a summary report to members of the planning committee, and will arrange a time for them to meet to continue the planning process.

 

Dawson distributed an annual report for the City Finance Department, based on the budget structure.  Bergman noted the very high patron satisfaction rates and also inquired about the decline in number of children attending programs.  

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:12 PM.