HomeMy WebLinkAboutLIB 1995-09-21 Minutes
CITY OF NORTH RICH LAND HILLS
LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
September 21, 1995
BOARD PRESENT: Polly Brinkley, Joyce Moody, Glenn Smith, Avis Crisp, Kay
Schmidt and Mary Shilcutt (Absent: Lynn Waller, Shirley
Goolsby)
STAFF PRESENT: Mark Gretchen, Library Director; Betty Russell, Assistant
Library Director; Brenda Lewis, Secretary
CALLED TO ORDER: Vice Chair Kay Schmidt at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of May 18,1995 were approved as written.
Mark Gretchen introduced and welcomed new library board members Joyce Moody and
Glenn Smith. Mr. Smith is an attorney with a metroplex firm and active with the YMCA
Board and a graduate of Leadership Northeast. Ms. Moody is a nurse with many
community volunteer activities.
REPORT OF LIBRARY DIRECTOR: Mark Gretchen
An overall increase in statistics is expected for the fiscal year which ends on
September 30.
Board members were taken on a brief tour of the main section of the library to see the
recent lighting improvements. As the project came in under budget, additional updates
may be planned.
The HVAC project which will begin in October is scheduled for completion in
December.
Following a recent workshop on marketing, a committee of library staff has been
appointed to create a marketing plan for the library. Among the issues are library
automation, identifying hidden markets, enhancing and promoting the business
collection, and methods of obtaining feedback from library customers. Mr. Gretchen
thanked Avis Crisp for participating in the workshop and stated that he would update
the Board as the plan is drafted.
The review of the summer reading club program was postponed until next month.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) will begin one-on-one counseling to
small business concerns and entrepreneurs in the library one evening a week in
October through December.
REPORT OF ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR: Betty Russell
A staff committee has been working to establish new procedures involving safety and
security issues.
Staff will begin ordering interlibrary loan requests directly instead of going through
FWPL. This process is expected to reduce the length of time necessary to receive
ILL items to half.
CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
September 21, 1995
2
Mark Gretchen related that the City council adopted the 1995/96 budget on
September 11. Included in the $898,000 library budget was a materials increase from
$119,250 to $134,589. No decision package items were approved.
Council and city administration would like to update the local history book that was
originated in 1985. He asked that any member with an interest in this project or any
ideas to please call him.
Following nomination and the consensus of all board members present, Kay Schmidt
was elected Board Chair and Lynn Waller was elected Vice Chair for 1995/96. Avis
Crisp expressed a willingness to serve and was elected by consensus as the lay
representative to the North Texas Regional Library System for 1995-97. All other
board members will serve as alternate lay representatives.
Mark Gretchen discussed with the board his interest in establishing a library foundation
which would allow the library to receive money or bequests directly. The funds would
be invested and managed by a foundation board. The procedure would entail applying
for tax exempt status, drafting bylaws, and appointing a board of directors. Board
members expressed support for this idea and charged Mark with exploring the
feasibility of this group with city administration and researching foundations in place at
other libraries.
In response to a question by Glenn Smith on the status of the Friends of the Library
group, discussion followed on plans for moving the existing group forward or forming a
new group. No person present could speak to the status of the current organization or
its financial standing. Mark Gretchen stated that the library is no longer selling
merchandise for the Friends; book sale receipts are being deposited to the library
donation account. Mr. Smith volunteered to gather information and bring ideas on this
subject to the next board meeting.
Next meeting was scheduled for October 19, 1995. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Brenda Lewis
Approved:
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