HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_11.09.2015Minutes of the Meeting of the
Library Advisory Board
City of Georgetown
November 9, 2015
The Library Advisory Board met on Monday, November 9, 2015 at 10:00
0:00 a.m. in the Staff Conference Room of
the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street
MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Baldwin, Lois Case, Tom Hagen, Tom Milburn, Linda Nix, and Pete Rose.
STAFF PRESENT: Eric Lashley- Library Director, Sally Bernier- Technical Services Librarian and Laura
Helpert- Cataloging Librarian
Regular Session
A. Citizens wishing to address the Board. — None were present.
B. Consideration of minutes of the October 12, 2015 meeting. — Tom Hagen made the motion to accept the
minutes of the October 2015 Library Advisory Board Meeting. Pete Rose seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously.
C. Consideration of the Library Director's Report. — Eric Lashley. Lashley reported that visits to the library
were slightly down in October, compared to the previous year while circulation was slightly higher. Lashley
reviewed October's statistics with the board, as provided in the agenda packet.
Lashley announced that the library hired Jamie Gould as a new Library Assistant for Children's Services.
He also mentioned that Suzette Davidson was doing well after surgery and will be returning to work in early
December.
The library received two large monetary donations of $627.85 from the Central Texas Authors and $500.00
from Merl and Laurie Schwenk. Following the Best of Georgetown public voting, the library won a silver
level award for Best Place to View Art. The library will once again be a collection agency for Blue Santa
donations. Lashley reported that Matt Graves will perform in the Live Music at the Library Series on
November 15, 2015. Lashley read the patron comments from the library's suggestion box.
D. Introduction of library staff member. — Eric Lashley. Lashley introduced the board to Toni Nietfeld- Library
Assistant, and Bethni King- Children's Services Librarian. Both staff members explained their job duties to
the board. Toni is currently attending graduate school to become a professional librarian. Bethni has
worked in libraries in Minnesota, California, Nevada, and Texas. The children's staff will be introducing a
new program called Bots and Books which will teach children to make robots and use computers to send
instructions to the robots. The board and staff members discussed issues regarding behavioral issues with
children at the library.
E. Report on reconfiguration of library collections and shelving — Eric Lashley. Lashley informed the board that
the books on CD collection has been moved to the second floor. The young adult/teen collection will move
into the vacant space that once housed the books on CD. The Spanish collection, graphic novels,
magazines and newspapers will also be relocated on the first floor.
F. Report on the quarterly board chair meeting of the various departments within the City's Downtown and
Community Service Division. — Linda Nix, Eric Lashley. Nix reported that the meeting was attended by
representatives from the Parks and Recreation department, Main Street, Convention and Visitor's Bureau,
Williamson Museum, Palace Theatre, Historic Architectural Review Commission, Arts and Culture Board as
well as Georgetown Art Center. Each group gave a short presentation on what their organization had
accomplished recently and what was planned for the future. The end of the meeting was spend discussing
the renovations to Founder Park, located on the corner of 9th and Church Street.
G. Consideration of the Volunteer Report — Tom Milburn. Milburn reported that there were complaints about
the size of the aisle located at the beginning of the books on CD collection. Lashley said he would try to
move the shelves an additional 4 inches to give more aisle space. Milburn noted that there would be a
volunteer lunch on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
K Report on the Bookmobile floating collection. —Eric Lashley. Lashley reported that the library has changed
the way materials are presented in the library's catalog. In the past, WOW materials were reserved only for
bookmobile use. Patrons had to make special arrangements to get books from the WOW collection. In
early October, the library changed to a floating collection. The WOW and MAIN designations now refer to
the location of that item, instead of designating separate collections. Items on the Bookmobile are listed as
WOW, items in the library are listed as MAIN. Reserves can now be placed on all materials, regardless of
location. Reserve pull lists will be run every day to extract materials from the WOW collection.
I. Report on parking lot construction on 8th Street. —Eric Lashley. Lashley reported that construction was
going smoothly and the parking lot should be completed by the first week of December. The curb at the
library has been cut to create a new handicap accessible entrance onto the library's sidewalk. The new lot
will contain 149 spaces.
Report on new AV and video recording system in the Friends and Hewlett meeting rooms. — Eric Lashley.
Lashley reported that the City had installed new sound equipment, projectors and video cameras in both
the Friends and Hewlett meeting rooms. The AV equipment allows video and sound to work through one
system. Video cameras can record and broadcast through the City's webpage or through the Suddenlink
cable Channel 10. The video equipment allows more City meeting to be recorded and broadcast to the
public.
K. Report on 50th Anniversary monthly activities and gala planning. — Eric Lashley. Lashley reported that the
next 50th anniversary event will be a miniature golf event in the library in January. The date for the gala has
been moved to March 5, 2016 since the previous dates was the evening before Easter.
L. Consideration of dates of future board meetings. The next Library Advisory Board meeting will be Monday,
December 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
Chair Linda Nix adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Hagen, Secretary
Linda Nix, Chair