Hennepin County Library - Board Meeting Minutes 6-27-01

MINUTES OF
HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
OF JUNE 27, 2001

The Hennepin County Library Board met on Wednesday, June 27, 2001, at the Edina Community Library.

Present: President Carol Walsh, John Gibbs, Dawn Harris, Patricia Izek, Marilyn Jackson, David Pratt, Cynthia Steinke.
Library Staff Attending: C.Brown, D.Cramer, N.Perron, M.Gillespie, A.Eccles, S.Louis, H.Malby, M.Ranum, M.Wattson, M.Turner, A.Melrose, C.Ahrens, & B.Berg.
Guests: Mayor Dennis Maetzold, Gordon Hughes (Edina City Manager), Hattie Jackson (OBF), Alanna Tyler (County Administration).

Welcome & Public Comment
President Walsh called the meeting to order and welcomed the guests.

Edina Library: Marcia Wattson reported on community collaborations, the Edina Art Committee activities, and grand opening committee plans. Question raised about the large outdoor sculpture and possibility of moving; Wattson reported that the art was donated to Edina when library was built and City & County are both working to confirm ownership of the piece prior to making any plans for the art piece.

APPROVAL
A motion to approve the minutes of the May 23, 2001, meeting was made by M. Jackson, seconded; motion passed.

PROGRAM:
The Edina Library/Community Project was presented by Mayor Dennis Maetzold and City Manager Gordon Hughes.

The Online Summer Reading Program was demonstrated by Marilyn Turner and Ann Melrose.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Policy Committee: P. Izek and C. Steinke presented the Draft Programming Policy for discussion. M. Jackson moved to send the policy back to Committee for revision based on the discussion, seconded by Patricia Izek, motion passed. Programming Policy will be on the July Library Board agenda.

M. Jackson recommended two additional new policies based on her Edina Art Committee experience: 1) adapt the current Gift Policy or write a new policy regarding loaned art works; 2) develop policy on naming rights/opportunities for areas in libraries. C. Brown and Library staff will look into both of these suggested policies.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
2002 Operating Budget: C. Brown reported that the county is very interested in legislative activities related to the County's 2002 budget, e.g. levy limits. D. Cramer reviewed the budget spreadsheet, reductions and addback lists. M. Jackson expressed her concerns: explore an increase in HCL millage rate, erosion of the collection dollars, cost of Foundation to the Library. C.Brown responded (with input/questions from other Board members): collection budget has not kept pace with inflation, however any additional/surplus dollars have gone into collection budget annually; Foundation has established a committee to look into becoming self-sustaining and plan to prepare an evaluation; Hattie Jackson will look into the millage issue. Questions (including collection budget concerns) from other Board members were discussed/reviewed. Discussion of Library Board scheduling another breakfast with County Board in the fall, based on the County Board budget presentation schedule, but no decision was made. Motion to accept the Library Board and submit to the County Board was made by David Pratt, seconded by Patricia Izek; motion passed.

2002 Capital Budget: M. Jackson raised concern over the Edina Art initiative budget and availability of funds; C. Brown reported that he plans to discuss this concern with Richard Johnson this week. M. Jackson stated a need in July to spend more time on the art initiative and the process. Marcia Wattson reported on the action to date, and the issue is being handled.

Construction Projects Update - C. Brown
Wayzata - got approval from Attorney General to proceed with use of TIF funds.
Long Lake - proposed new site.
St. Louis Park - currently closed and work has begun.

NEW BUSINESS
Nothing.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Charles hopes to have a narrative report for July; he reported on some of his ALA activities.

MEMBER REPORTS
Carol Walsh: review of Events list -- Edina Library groundbreaking on July 9 [Marilyn Jackson is planning to attend; it is a City of Edina event; M.Jackson hopes to use as a springboard for future art fundraising]. July 24 Glen Holt presentation at Ridgedale.
ALA Reports:
Dawn Harris: distributed printed copies of her report.
Marilyn Jackson: was re-elected for her 3rd term on the Executive Board of the Urban Libraries Council; attended ULC meetings; May 3-4, 2002 ULC conference in Boston about partnering on urban youth; other ALA programs she attended.
Patricia Izek: attended Foundation Board meeting the past month; next meeting is July 18 at Golden Valley Library.
David Pratt: attended the Library Foundation Emeritus meeting as a former Foundation Board member.
Marilyn Jackson: Art Initiative -- hopes to have as an agenda item next time for procedural decision Lib Bd needs to make because there is no Board meeting in August, and the Library Board must approve the project that Committee selects with these capital monies from the County Resolution, & need to work out a way to make that happen. She is wondering, since Committee is creating this process as we go, wondering if Lib Bd could approve any of the three finalists projects that the committee brings forth, after reviewing them, if that would be sufficient versus trying to get a Board vote in August (with no meeting scheduled). Library Board needs to formally approve the gift or the transfer of the art to Library once installed after Edina re-opens. When asked what she recommended, Marilyn stated she recommended that she bring to Library Board the three finalists with information about them, slides, and other materials; have an advisory committee with an artist, community representatives, Friends representatives, Marcia, art consultant; and would think that any of the three would be acceptable; if not, could re-think the process at that point. Cynthia and Carol verbally agreed with Marilyn's recommendation (no vote taken). Need to document and build into a process for other library art projects.

OTHER
Motion to approve the gifts was made by Carol Walsh, seconded by Marilyn Jackson; motion passed.

$187.39	Friends of the Eden Prairie Library to the Eden Prairie Library for a short story contest reception, refreshments, door prizes, and book group treats.
1336.42	Friends of the Hopkins Library to the Hopkins Library for summer reading program, end of summer party - face paintings, Norm Barhardt school-age workshop, MELSA materials, scholastic books.
60.00	Friends of the Minnetonka Library to the Minnetonka Library for gift certificates for Barnes and Noble to be used as prizes for weekly drawing.
90.00	Friends of the Minnetonka Library to the Minnetonka Library for gift certificates for Barnes and Noble to be used as prizes for kite decorating contest.

David Pratt expressed concern over the access to Ridgedale Drive from the Ridgedale Library; David Cramer will respond to Mr. Pratt.

ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned.

_____________________________
Patricia Izek, Secretary

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