HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_09.08.2003Georgetown Public Library Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2003
In Attendance: Judy Parks, Jackie Cuozzo, Zora Evans, Ema Fielder, Judy Griffith,
Georgene Richaud, Nancy Varlien Eric Lashley, library director, was also present.
Chairperson Judy Parks called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
Approval of Minutes: Georgene Richaud moved and Jackie seconded a motion to
approve the minutes of the last meeting as distributed. The motion passed unanimously.
Director's Report:
Eric Lashley reported a very successful children's summer reading program. The
final event was a Hawaiian luau at San Gabriel Park Local merchants donated all the
refreshments, and the event was very well attended.
The Dell Foundation Grant has been very successful. Internet use at the library
has been exceptionally heavy during the summer (approximately 75% increase in usage.)
The library will have held about 150 computer classes this year. The library is also part
of the "Around Georgetown" program, which also holds computer classes. Evaluations
of this program have been very favorable.
The library has two job openings: Assistant Director and Cataloger. Interviews
are currently going on.
This is National Library Card Sign-up Month. Publicity is ongoing. The library
is sponsoring an essay contest for kindergarten through fifth graders entitled, "Why I
Love My Library Card "
Book statistics are down slightly for the year, probably due to changes in due date
policy and due to the extra days the library had to be closed during the year. But still
total circulation of books was over 300,000. Computer usage was way up for the year.
There was a Friends of the Library Meeting last week. The group is planning the
annual Book Sale Fund Raiser for May 13-15 at the Community Center at San Gabriel
Park. They have already started collecting books. The Friends will also sponsor a "Walk
Around the Courthouse" walkathon for preschoolers to raise money and awareness for
the library. The event will be on Oct. 18.
Gerald Carson was instrumental in bringing in over $300 for the library through
the authors' tables at the recent `Old Time Fiddlers Fair."
Old official City Council and other records from as far back as the 1870's have
been donated to the library historical collection. Eric passed around one of the restored
record books. These will be housed in the Histoncal Reference Section of the library
along with genealogy records and other historical documents. A library volunteer is
indexing these records and the indexes will be on CDs.
There will be a Central Texas Library System meeting this week in Round Top,
Texas. Eric Lashley and Judy Parks will attend.
There will be a City Council workshop about planning for City facilities on
September 22. At this time the Council will consider setting a date for a bond election
for a new library. They will also discuss establishing a potential library site. At this time
the site being considered is along 8th Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rock
Street, on city -owned property.
Eric passed out a printed copy of a patron complaint about disruptive behavior of
children in the library. The complaint was anonymous. Enc explained that the library
does address disruptive behavior when it occurs which is not frequent. Disruptive
children are asked to leave and if necessary, police are called. This has happened twice
this summer. The library does take care of any problems with behavior in the library.
Possible Dates for Library Retreat: Eric will try to set up November 8, from 8 — 10:00
AM as a possible time for a meeting with the Mayor, City Council, City Manager,
Library Advisory Board, Library Foundation, Friends of the Library, library staff and
other interested patrons, to discuss progress and plans for our library's future.
Workshop with City Council: October 27, 4:00 PM, is the designated time for the City
Council to hold a workshop with the Advisory Board about the library. It will be held at
the newly renovated City Hall Building on the Square. This is the opportunity for our
Advisory Board to make known our desires and hopes for a new library and for expanded
library hours and services.
Budget: Eric reported that the budget process went well for the library. A new library is
on the priority list for facilities and for a bond election. Thanks to patron input and
inquiries from two City Council members, Sunday library hours will be added mid -year
(hopefully in April or May), subject to availability of budget funds at that time. Part of
this increase in funding would be to change some part-time staff to full-time.
Book Promotion with Local Bookstores: The City Manager has approved the idea of
promoting library donations through an agreement with local bookstores to offer
discounts on future purchases for each new book purchased and subsequently donated to
the library The Hill Country Bookstore has agreed to the idea, and it will also be offered
to every other bookseller in the City.
The next meeting will be on October 13th, at 6:30 PM.
Zora Evans made and Ema Fielder seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed
unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Griffith, Secretary