HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_05.19.2014Minutes of the Meeting of the
Library Advisory Board
of the City of Georgetown
May 19, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. 8th In the Staff conference room, Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8 Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Linda Nix, Stephanie Blanck, Lois Case, and Margaret Thompson.
Regular Session began at 6:30 p.m.
A. There were no citizens wishing to address the Board.
B. Consideration of minutes of the March 17, 2014 meeting. — Stephanie Blanck made the
motion to accept the minutes of the April 2014 Library Advisory Board Meeting and Lois
Case seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
C. Consideration of Library Director's repo — Eric Lashley — Director Lashley reported April
was a strange month in terms of attendance and circulation. Attendance was slightly up over
the previous year, but circulation was slightly down. Lashley had expected the visitations to
be much higher due to the popularity of the Anne Frank exhibit.
OverDrive circulation was also slightly down with 1,213 ebooks and 316 audiobooks being
checked out. Bookmobile checkouts for April were steady at 2,695.
The library hosted a volunteer luncheon on May 14, 2014 and over 80 volunteers
participated. Since October 2013, the beginning of our fiscal year, the library has had more
than 5,714 volunteer service hours performed. Mary Beth Huba was in attendance and she
has volunteered for 30 years at the library.
Lashley noted a $1,000 donation from the Sun City Kiwanis and a $1,000 donation from the
Congregation Havurah Shalom in Sun City. He also reported the previous donation from
Bonnie Stump came from her unspent campaign contributions and did not have any
designated purpose.
Lashley announced that more than 250 people participated in the May the 4th Star Wars
event that was held at the Community Center in San Gabriel Park. The event was well
received.
On May 13, 2014 City Council approved a lease agreement with Williamson County for a
parking lot at the corner of MILK Jr. and 8th Street. This parking lot will help with the overflow
parking for our library events.
Lashley reported the Friends' Hill Country author series featuring James Magnuson was very
successful with approximately 90 in attendance.
The director reported that the library will have a new database called Zinio. Zinio allows
patrons to electronically download magazines to computers, tablets and other electronic
devices. These magazines do not have a due date and you will be able to subscribe to the
magazines in the future.
Director Lashley noted Summer Reading will be kicked off on June 5, 2014. The theme of
the program is Fizz, Boom, Read.
Lashley announce the library will be offering notary services to the public and the library is
looking into becoming a passport office for Georgetown.
Lashley reported the library needed to update our strategic plan and he is looking at ways to
incorporate surveys and focus groups to help gain community input on the process.
The director read the patron comments.
D. Consideration of library's policies regarding reconsideration of materials — Eric Lashley —
Lashley reviewed the procedures for requesting that materials to be removed from the
collection. He read portions of the Library Bill of Rights to emphasize that the library will
have books and resources that are provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment
of all people of the community the library serves.
E. Consideration and possible action regarding the City Center Plan that will be presented to
City Council on Maw — Eric Lashley — Director Lashley noted that he had hoped to have
an update on the council workshop since it was originally scheduled for May 13, but was
moved to May 27. He noted he would be meeting with an architect hired to give more
detailed renderings on Thursday, May 22. He noted that the council did approve the lease
for the parking lot in Phase 1 of the City Center Plan and that any plan requires additional
parking.
F. Report on the meeting of chairs of the Arts and Culture Board, the Convention and Visitors
Bureau Advisory Board, the Main Street Advisory Board, and the Library Advisory Board on
April 30, 2014. — Linda Nix, Eric Lashley — Chair Nix reported that there was a meeting of the
board chairs on April 30 at the new Art Center. She noted a big change will come to
Georgetown when the new convention center is opened. The group discussed ways to get
the visitors to the convention center to visit downtown. There was a brief discussion about
how a new City Center around the library could help draw people to the downtown. There
was a general consensus that a regular meeting of the board chairs would be nice to keep
the lines of communication open among the different boards.
G. Consideration of dates of future Board meetings — Eric Lashley — No accommodations
needed to be made to move the June board meeting.
Chair Linda Nix adjourned the meeting at 7:37 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Linda Nix, Chair