HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_04.12.2004Georgetown Public Library Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
April 12, 2004
In Attendance: Judy Parks, Georgene Richard, Zyg Kasner, Marsha McGuire, Jerry Sensabaugh, and
Jackie Cuozzo. Eric Lashley, library director was also present.
Chairperson Judy Parks called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
Approval of Minutes: Jackie Cuozzo moved and Jerry Sensabaugh seconded a motion to approve the
minutes of the last meeting as distributed with the following typographical changes:
In the "Report from CTLS" paragraph on page 2 the fifth line, first new sentence should read: Our library
already has a long range plan in place.
Marsha McGuire volunteered to take the meeting minutes in Judy's absence. She suggested sending out
the meeting minutes soon after each meeting rather than waiting until right before the next month's
meeting so that the details of discussions would be fresh in everyone's minds.
Director's Report
• Pictures of the Spring Break Tea Party were circulated. There was an article written for the
Williamson County Sun on the event which over 90 people attended, including parents Live
music was provided.
• Computer usage was up again in March. On March 17 there were 213 users, a new daily record.
• The new telephone system is getting better. The staff is working to iron out the problems in the
system set-up
• Tax season help has been used to a great extent. Jerry Sensabaugh volunteers his time to help
patrons with tax questions. This service is bringing in new patrons
Report on Library Bond Election Campaign:
• Eric spoke at the Georgetown Independent School District on March 27.
• The Friends and Foundation bond meeting was held on April 1, 2004.
• The schedule of bond forum meetings includes one on September 20 at the St. Johns Methodist
Fellowship Hall at 7 pm in the evening. There will also be a forum held at Sun City in September
or October and an event with the Kiwanis Club on September 21.
• The Foundation is looking for a public relations firm to direct the bond informational campaign.
• Eric spoke to the Williamson County Art Guild on April 6 in support of the library.
• Attorney Carol Polumbo is working on a playbook to explain what can and cannot be done in
support of the bond issue by the various interested parties.
Report on Library Activities:
• Eric announced that the library's position in the City's organization had changed.
The library is now a part of the Community Services group and Eric reports to Randy Morrow, the
Director of the division who is also the director of Parks and Recreation.
• The Friends of the Library annual book sale is May 14 & 15.
• The City Council will vote on April 13 to allow GISD to transfer the ownership of the laptop
computers to the library
• The Dell Foundation grant will expire in December. The library will reapply for the grant. Eric
requested that the advisory board write a letter in support of the grant request
• Wednesday April 21, 2004 is the annual volunteer breakfast.
• The Online Book Club has been started on the library web site. The Friends of the Library will
pay for the service and staff is testing the concept to see how it is received.
Discussion and idea exchange of .proposed library building.:
• Judy Parks reported that patron Kendall Young had requested solar panels be put on the library
building to cut electricity usage.
• Eric presented an aerial view of the proposed new library location behind the police department.
The main library entrance, by Georgetown building code, would face 8th Street. The library
would consist of two floors, each with about 23,000 square feet. The first floor would house the
children's room, new materials space, circulation desk, and staff offices and cubicle space. The
second floor would hold the main book stacks and two large meeting rooms. Eric reported that
some changes would have to be made; constructing another entrance for those parking in the
parking lots, moving the restrooms, and setting up the elevator so that meetings could be held in
the evenings without allowing access to the library. The facade would be stone, the elevation
would show antique style windows and possible a false front mirroring the style of buildings
around the square.
• Eric will present to the Citizens Bond Commission meeting on May 5 on the question of one new
library versus branch libraries. Eric will report on the matter and show that there would be 70%
more operating expense with branches than with one central library location. He cited statistics
that only 3 public libraries in Texas with populations below 100,000 have branch libraries.
• Discussion followed among the board members and Eric about possible arrangements for the
interior of the library to meet the needs of the space No conclusions were drawn from the
discussion.
Discussion of Extended Hours/Sunday Hours for Library:
• Extended and Sunday hours were stressed as important in the City budget meetings. The
Library Advisory Board listed it as the most important item in their letter to the City Council. The
City Manager has listed it as number two on his list. Eric is hopeful that it will be in the October
budget. He does not think it will be in the mid -year budget.
Amazon Wish List for Library:
• The librarians would create the wish list on the Amazon.com site. Patrons could purchase books
for the library through this site. The books would be shipped directly to the Library. Patrons
would be reminded of the wish list when they shopped the site if they were from Georgetown.
Jerry noted that the same type of service is offered by Nolo Press, who publishes legal materials
for lay people. Eric said he would check on the Nolo Press offering. Georgene Richaud offered
and Jerry Sensabaugh seconded a motion that Eric look into creating the wish list on Amazon.
The motion was carried by acclamation.
The next Library Board meeting will be May 10, 2004 at 6:30 PM.
Adjournment: Jerry Sensabaugh moved and Jackie Cuozzo seconded a motion that the meeting be
adjourned. The motion passed unanimously. Judy Parks adjourned the meeting at 7 40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha McGuire