HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_07.06.1983GEORGETOWN LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
The Georgetown Library Board met July 6, 1983, at 10:00 a. m .
President Harry Gold called the meeting to order.
Members present were: Gold, Philpot, Seever, Elliott, Weir, Winters,
Williams, and Wood.
The City Manager, Leo Wood, met with the Library Board to assure the
members that he personally was in agreement with the Board decision to build
a new Library building on the City Park at 16th Street and Austin Avenue, rather
than go to the difficult., , and expensive adding on a second story to the current
Library building in downtown Georgetown. Mr. Wood suggested that Board
Members talk with Kathy Corbett - Heart of Georgetown Organization about the
lot chosen for the new Library at Austin Avenue & 16th Street. There is play
ground equipment on that lot.
Mrs. Merle Weir said that we, as a Board, would like to sit down with
Mr. David Voelter, the arthitect, and discuss what we need in the new building.
Mrs. Barbara Seever said that the present Library building is ideally located
for City Offices, and Mr. Wood said the space was really needed. Mr.
Everett Williams said that we as a Board need to know where we stand with
the City Council before we spend any money. He expressed his feelings of
deep embarassment after reading the article about the Library Board in the
Williamson County Sun newspaper.
As quickly as the City Council gives consent for the new Library and
the decision appears in the newspaper, then we shall start our drive toward
the $500 , 000.00 fund.
Mrs. Lillian Winters read the Financial Report.
Mrs . Vern Philpot reported 11, 047 circulation this past month - the
largest ever.
Library employees are now getting health insurance.
Mr. Gold will attend the next City Council meeting to represent the
Library Board and make the request.
No further business -the meeting was adjourned.
y, July, 14,10$3 '7** 1, Austin=American=StatesmanfNeighbor, u; g .''Mrs. Irene Elliott,
lY�zecretary
to..
'fit it . i' 7 •
Georgetown's 'Publlc Library is f
growing and getting better, accord
ing to figures released at the June `° ' x
� r� rr,00!frftt. f fr,+„fatfe}r at the li• G►eor`` etb.*n
i
braxy tn June�of lest year was 8,965
volumes.,That number has grown to
11,047 this June. Circulation inWay ,•s Y:
was 6,744." The Jibrary • has received ff
' $1,115.05 ingifts and inemortals this stay late. "'Of
year.
The library has : a ; branch at the
4ayen', Center that !also serves
m metown. , ..
In addition td ,books and perlodi•
Gals, you can now*,check out•one of, ;
'our new Polarold Land Cameras.
,y Z, 640 at the library. The cameras
have a built-in electronic flash that
will au0matically: supply the addi.
tlonal llg4t needed. to' produce a
pleasing photagraph..
r
E
Members of Library Boards
The attached was sent to members of the City Council,
the Mayprt and the City Manager, as per your instructions
by vote on April 6. Those attending the May meeting and
the special meeting on June 6 approved the contents.
Committee: B. Seever, M. Weir, J. Jacobs
NEXT MEETING IS JULY 6. at 10:00 a.m.
1.
Georgetown Public Library
P.Q. Box 428
Georgetown, Texas 78626
June 13, 1983
T0; Members of Georgetown City Council, Mayor, City Manager
More than one year ago it was recognized that the Georgetown
Public Library was facing a crisis situation because of lack
of space for critically needed expansion. At that time, the
City Council commissioned a feasibility study relative to the
addition of a second floor to the present library building.
We assume that reports have been made to the City Council as
to the progress of that study.
In the time that has elapsed since that study was initiated
the space problem has continued to grow. The Library Board
most earnestly requests serious and swift consideration to
resolve the problem which is seriously restricting the service
the library is able to render to the community. This communica-
tion is being furnished individually to Council members, the
Mayor, and the City Manager with the hope that the attached
data will be studied, further investigation be instigated, and
early discussion and action be taken.
Information which has come to the Library Board indicates
considerable difficulty in the proposed construction of a second
floor, with the possibility of less than double the present
floor space resulting. The floor load necessary in a library
is between 150 and 300 lbs per square foot, second only to that
required. by heavy industry. We have some question as to the
suitability of the type of construction suggested, given that
floor load requirement. And, as we look at the projected growth
in population of the area., ;there'.is a.lso-..a question as to the
prudence of a considerable expenditure which would not result
in adequate additional space for future needs.
After careful study and consideration of the data available
to us, the.Library Board respectfully recommends consideration
of the construction of a new library building in the park located
on Austin Avenue and 16th Street, such park to be shared with
the historic and recreational facilities now in place. This
would free the present library building for other use by the-biity
in close proximity to other city offices.
Grants are becoming available from the State of Texas for
library construction if requirements can be met in time. The
Library Board is investigating the possibility of applying for
such a grant. In addition, proposals are being prepared for
various charitable foundations, and a public fund drive is an-
ticipated. However, no funds can be successfully solicited
until we have clear knowledge of what such funds would be used
for. We would anticipate, of course, that revenue sharing and
Z.
bond issue funds would become available. We would call
attention to the fact that the library has not benefited from
such votes (bond issue) as have similar services to the
ublic, and that the library has been funded at less than
40,000 per year from municipal funds. Please give attention
to the attached data on librazry•.service/funding in comparing
with funding of other similar city services.
The attached data should help demonstrate conclusively that
the Georgetown Public Library is a valuable asset to the
community, that it is being used by a large section of the
population, that it plays an important part in maintaining
the quality of life of which Georgetown is justifiably proud,
and that the Library has reached a point at which it must be
expanded considerably if it is to continue its valuable
service to the community now and in the future.
Please request any additional information we may furnish
and notify us of a time at which we may discuss this request.
GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
Information Committee:
Mrs. Barbara R. Seever
Mrs. Merle Weir
Mrs. Gene Jacobs
e
3.
Georgetown Public Library
P.O. Box 428
Georgetown, Texas 78626
LIBRARY HOLDINGS (Accessioned volumes, exclusive of .magazines,
newspapers, etc.)
1970 --- 11,000
1973 --- 19,000
1980 --- 35,760 During the past two/three years it has
1983 --- 37:031 been necessary to withdraw books from
shelves to make room for new volumes.
There is no space for further shelving.
CIRCULATION
(Books checked out
for use outside library. Does
not include
usage
of books in library)
1970 ---
23:590
1978
--- 600998
1971 ---
34,502
1979
--- 66,420
1972 ---
38*530
1980
--- 75,870
1973 ---
41,218
1981
--- 81,651
1974 ---
41,221
1982
--- 85,357
1975 ---
44 009
6 --- 5,63 1983: Jan. --- 7,316 Apr. --- 6,018
19707
197--- 5,763 Feb. --- 6,501 May --- 6,744
Mar. --- 8,741
NOTE: Summer is a heavy circulation period. The
first day of school summer vacation, more
than 800 books were checked out this year.
TRRFFIC (A tally has been kept beginning May 1 of this year of
actual traffic into the library. On Saturdays, open 4 hours.)
May 2
May ' 3
May 4
May 5
May 6
May -7
May 9
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
May 14
--- 155
--- 156
--- 158
--- 207
--- 116
--- 468
--- 120
--- 142
--- 126
--- 117
--- 100
--- 97
June
1 ---
278
June
2 ---
350
June
3 ---
167
June
4 ---
86
June
6 ---
170
May 16
11,ay 17
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 31
157
145
145
140
118
142
115
150
122
175
133
83
285
May Total: 3,972
4.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Story Hour. S-,tory hour is held weekly, the programs
being presented by volunteers. During the
school year, students from Southwestern hold
the sessions for pre-schoolers. Summer story
hour is for both school age and pre-school
children.
Last summer (1982) two story hours were offered,
drawing approximately 100 children per week.
The first. story hour. this,_summerfi{1983) drew more
than 100 children, more than can be accommodated
in the one room available, Which.'.is appro:kim;.tely
13 x 16 feet. Sixty-five attended the second summer
story hour.
During the school year, the,: -average:- attendance at
story hour is 25 per week.
Reading Program.
Each summer the Library offers a summer reading
program for children. Each child who enrolls
receives a certificate of achievement after partic�-
pation at the level the child selects at the
outset of the program. In 1982 more than 450
children participated. This summer (1983) almost
500 have already signed up.
Meeting room. The meeting room at the Library, open to use
by the public,is used by an average of twelve (12)
groups a month. There are many additional requests,
but the size of the room precludes use by groups
of more than 20 to 25 people.
STAFFING:
The library is staffed by three full-time and two part-time
employees, plus a part-time cleaning person.
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