HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_11.09.1993GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD
November 9, 1993 12:00 p.m.
Library Board Room
Present: Morton King, Tresa Long, Martin Beeman, Robert Horick,
Tomi Spence, Mary Beth Huba, Mary Pat McLaughlin, John Duer (CTLS Lay
Representative), Hartley Sappington
Absent: Rhonda McCollough, Pat Ball, Jean Marie Mendez (at tax
seminar)
Called to order at 12:03
1. Martin Beeman moved to approve the minutes as circulated,
seconded by Morton King and passed unanimously.
2. Dennis Keller addressed the Board concerning his Request for
Reconsideration of book/material, specifically the Nov. 11 issue of
Rolling Stone Magazine. Mr. Keller said that he is not a proponent of
censorship, but feels that the values of the library should be in
keeping with the values of the majority of the people within its
community. After Mr. Keller filed his Re ' quest for Reconsideration on
October 28, the Library staff made a decision to place all adult
magazines in the display area under opaque covers. Mr. Keller
commended the staff for this action, and commented that Ms. McLaughlin
and Mr. Sappington had been cordial, professional and very
understanding in dealing with his complaint.
John B. Elder came to the Board with a complaint concerning
the opaque covers on the magazines. Mr. Elder feels that masking the
magazines results in inaccessibility of information, as the patron
must remove the magazine from its opaque cover in order to obtain
information about the contents of the magazine, normally available at
a glance of the magazine's own cover. He believes that this will
discourage patrons from using the Library magazines.
Bob Huba addressed the Board to request that the Library
staff return the magazines to the display shelves without the opaque
covers. He further requested that the Board not institute a display
policy stricter than any currently in use anywhere in the community.
Mr. Huba suggested that the periodicals should be reviewed
occasionally to ensure that they still fit within the guidelines of
the Materials Selection Policy.
Hartley Sappington urged the Board not to put the Library
staff in the position of being judge and Jury as concerns deciding
which magazine covers may be acceptable, and which may not.
Mary Beth Huba read a letter to the Board from Georgetown
resident Mary Eby. Ms. Eby also objected to masking the covers of the
magazines on display, saying that this is "information and visual
censorship". Like Mr. Elder, Ms. Eby believes that scanning the
covers is the best way to preview the information contained within the
magazine.
page 2 of 2
3. The specific issue of Rolling Stone Magazine about which Mr.
Keller filed his Request for Reconsideration is out of date and no
longer on display. For this reason, and because the handling of the
problem in lieu of Board action satisfied the complaint, the Board
took no action on this particular request.
4. It was noted that the Library has no formal Display Policy.
Norton King moved that the Chair appoint a three person committee
consisting of the Director and two Board members to consider a Display
Policy and return the information to the Board at the next meeting.
The motion was seconded by Robert Horick and passed unanimously. it
is suggested that the committee consult with the city staff, city
attorney, library staff and concerned citizens in compiling its
recommendations for a formal policy. The committee will consist of
Mary Pat McLaughlin, Mary Beth Huba and Tomi Spence.
5. Hartley Sappington pointed out that the Material Selection
Policy currently in use was adopted when the Library was still
privately controlled, and has never been approved by the City Council.
Robert Horick, Tresa Long and Mary Beth Huba will serve as a committee
to study the current policy and report to the Board at the January
meeting. Library staff members will be invited to participate in the
committee discussions.
6. There were no specific recommendations for adjustments to the
Long Range Plan at this time.
7. Mary Pat reported on a $200.00 gift from the Optimist Club
to be used for programs during the National Children's Book Week.
Martin Beeman moved to approve this expenditure, seconded by Robert
Horick and passed unanimously.
8. Norton King suggested that the Library Director's Report be
amended slightly to clarify that the funds provided for recovering the
couches in the Children's Room were supplied by the 501(c)(3) Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m. on a motion by Robert
Horick, seconded by Tresa Long and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
j!L' \�"'
Tomi Spence
Secretary
MONTHLY REPORT
LIBRARY SERVICES DIRECTOR
NOVEMBER 1993
ADMINISTRATION
Lee Sparks and Mary Pat McLaughlin attended a workshop on
Confidentiality of Library Materials sponsored by the Texas State
Library.
Board committees are meeting to review the Material Selection
Policy and write a Display policy.
Mary Pat McLaughlin attended the CTLS Regional Meeting in Salado.
PERSONNEL
Maureen Harrill joined the staff as temporary replacement for Karen
Breslin. Maureen has just completed her MLS at UT.
PROGRAMMING
The Goergetown Optimist Club sponsored National Children's Book
Week programming for the third year. Programs included puppeteer
Mary Shaver, host of Pipe's Magin TnIe_s, on Austin television, and
Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party.
McGruff and friend Sgt. Pearson also visited with the children.
•ff WMETCEWPI ff 0 in I OPUT-N."n
The Friends of the Library will suspend meetings until after the
holiday season. New officers will be elected in the spring.
GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY CIRCULATION STATISTICS
Oct 93 Nov 93 Year to Date
PATRON VISITS
Current Month
5356
9211
14567
1992-1993
5204
5354
10558
1991-1992
5226
4501
9727
1990-1991
5488
5140
10628
CIRCULATION
Current Month
14205
13607
27812
1992-1993
12437
11562
23999
1991-1992
11985
10862
22847
1990-1991.
10813.
9929
20742
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
Attendance
332
215
547
Programs
3
2
5
Story Hour
10
12
22
Tours
0
2
2
Movies
0
0
0
ILL ordered
41
26
67
ILL filled
49
15
64
Literacy sessions
17
16
33
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Adult
88.75
91.5
180.25
Teen
24
10
34
Community Service
28
16.5
44.5
Total Volunteer Hou
140.75
118
258.75
REGISTRATIONS
City residents
102
100
202
Non-residents
50
43
93
Reciprocal
0
-2
2
Total new
152
141
293
Renewals
43
31
74
CASH RECEIPTS
Fines, Room Rentals
$812.20
$1,064.52
$1,876.72
Non -Resident fees
$1,250.00
$1,175.00
$2,425.00
Donations
$237.10
$41.59
$278.69
COLLECTION
Books
145
266
Purchased
122
92
214
Donated
267
358
625
Total added
0
Books on Cassette
Purchased
0
0
0
Donated
0
0
0
Total added
0
0
0
REGISTRATION
(For per .�,,;(jns who wish to address .the
Library Board)
Date of meeting
Telephone number
If speaking,for an organization,
Name : of Organization
and,
Speaker's Official Capacity
Subject on which person wishes to speak:
ry
FsA,
Library Beard Chair will recognized you
when it is your turn to address the Board.
If you have written notes or printed
material that you wish to present to the
Mayor and Council, please furnish an extra_
copy for the Board Secretary.
Each speaker; is limited to a three (3)
minutes on any one item. A brief and non -
repetitive µyresent.ation is generally the
most effective. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Georgetown Public Library
REGISTRATION
(For persons who wish to address the
Library Board)
Date of meeting
Name
Address
Telephone number (q
If speaking for an organization,
Name of Organization
and,
Speaker's Official Capacity
Subject on which person wishes to speak:
kc,,P�,m. jo Utbyayml
' 11
- Library Board Chair will recognized you
when it is your turn to address the Board.
If you have written notes or printed
material that you wish to present to the
Mayor and Council, please furnish an extra
copy for the Board Secretary.
Each speaker is limited to a three (3)
minutes on any one item. A brief and non -
repetitive presentation is generally the
most effective. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Georgetown Public Library
REGISTRATION
(For persons who wish to address the
Library Board)
Date of meeting Iq Z.?
Name 1* IJ C- 20 k R
Address
Telephone number - � 6 3 - -7 SS3
If speaking for an organization,
Name of Organization
and,
Speaker's Official Capacity
Subject on which person wishes to speak:
N - k �
Library Board Chair will recognized you
when it is your turn to address the Board.
If you have written notes or printed
material that you wish to present to the
Mayor and Council, please furnish an extra
copy for the Board Secretary.
Each speaker is limited to a three (3)
minutes on any one item. A brief and non -
repetitive presentation is generally the
most effective. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Georgetown Public Library
CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF A BOOK/MATERIAL
Author:
x
Publisher (if known):
Person malting request:
Address:
C°,
Telephone:
This request is being made on behalf of.
Person making request A Family Member
Group or organization (please designate)
PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW
l . How did you become aware of this book?, .
Did you read the entire book?
3. What do you believe is the theme of the book?
4. To what in the work do you object? (please be specific.)
ate' a,=. s`t,� .wj ��r„. �•; -, `�.
. What is ,good about tie book?
. What reviews have you read or heard on the book?
7. What book of equal literary duality would you recommend that would convey as valuable a picture and
perspective of the subject treated?
8. What would you like the library to do about this work? s
t . � .�?'� ' < ' �` r ?. ^ �' • ',;, rya ^+, 'f ' �.;'"�""`� #•l `�:�. " ' :. .' L' �" ?..- w. �r� �' ..
�fter the completed request form is received, the Librarian will review the reasons for the request and the
aterial in question and will attempt to answer the complaint to the patron's satisfaction. if the patron is not
satisfied with the Librarian's action, a request may be made for the material to be reviewed by the Library
:Beard. The decision of the Library_ Board shall be final.
Ms. Mc Laughlin
11/8/93
My children and I are weekly patrons of the Georgetown Library. We
value the educational opportunities the library presents and the
services provided by the library staff. I will not be able to
attend the meeting on 11/9/93 yet would like you to have the
benefit of hearing of my opposition to your decision to mask all
magazine covers.
I was raised to look out to the wide world, seek valuable
information and embrace that which is meaningful to my growth as a
intelligent, caring and socially responsible individual. A magazine
cover, a billboard, or a painting not to my liking is there for me
to view, if I happen to, and then disregard. If I decide that it is
sufficiently offensive that I don't want my children to view it, I
should try to make sure that the opportunity to view it doesn't
happen, (by taking my children to the children's area of the
library, not driving down the street with the billboard, or
avoiding the painting.) If I feel there is a possibility, based on
past experience, that a magazine, or billboard, or painting will be
objectional - I should conduct a preview and then act according to
our family values.
While I commend you for not removing the Rolling Stone issue, or
masking only this issue I do not think that masking all the covers
reflects well for our library or community. To mask all covers is
information and visual consorship. You are censoring all based on
one person's perspective. Scanning the covers is a way we can
preview information within magazines that may be of interest.
Covers of fine arts, literary, and nature magazines are often
artistic. It is usual and customary to view covers, to not be able
to view covers in the customary way communicates an unusual
perspective and/or bias. Is it not a possibility that the next
person will request that covers of books be masked because they
find one that is offensive to them or their children? If a cover is
pornographic then appropriate legal actions should be taken. Nudity
is not pornography. Is there not an issue to address here about how
local masking infringes on a magazine's rights of display within a
public environment?
Children learn values by viewing the world and interpreting the
world with their parents, not by having their world censored. By
learning constitutional freedoms and tolerance while they are
young, our children will grow up to be thoughtful and responsible
adults.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my letter.
cc: Library Advisory Board
Williamson County Sun,�� ��!
GEORGETOWR AREA LIBRARY BOARD 501(c)(3)
November 9, 1993 following Advisory Board meeting
Library Board Room
Present: Morton King, Tresa Long, Martin Beeman, Robert Horick,
Tomi Spence, Mary Beth Huba, Mary Pat McLaughlin
Absent: Pat Ball, Rhonda McCollough, Jean Marie Mendez (at tax
seminar)
Called to order at 12:45 p.m.
1. Tresa Long moved the minutes be approved as circulated,
seconded by Martin Beeman and passed unanimously.
2. Robert Horick moved to approve the Treasurer's Report as
submitted, seconded by Martin Beeman and passed unanimously.
3. Robert Horick reported on his research into the Chubb bill
for equipment repair. Bob believes that our only option at this time
is to pay the bill, and send Chubb a written request that no repair
work be done in the future at a cost exceeding $250.00 without advance
notification. The motion was made by Bob Horick that the bill be paid
and such a letter sent to Chubb, seconded by Morton King and passed
unanimously. In conjunction with this issue, Bob was appointed a
committee of one to gather and present to the Board information on an
uninterruptible power supply, with an eye to avoiding future repair
bills because of damage caused by power fluctuations.
Bob and Mary Pat will write to other security companies in
the area seeking bids on replacing Chubb as our security provider.
4. The Board does not feel it has enough information on the
computers to make a decision at this time.
5. Morton King moved to spend $60.00, plus tax or postage if
necessary, to purchase decorative lapel pins from the ALA for Library
staff members. Martin Beeman seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Morton King moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:05 p.m., seconded
by Tresa Long and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Tomi Spence
Secretary