HomeMy WebLinkAboutLIB 2000-04-27 Minutes
CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
April 27, 2000
Meeting rescheduled
from April 20.
BOARD PRESENT:
Polly Brinkley, Janet Ball, Mary Shilcutt, Carol Benoit, Avis Crisp,
Lynn Waller, Eva Pereira and William Merrill
Steve Brown, Library Director
Brenda Lewis, Administrative Secretary
Chairman Lynn Waller at 7 p.m.
Minutes of March 16, 2000, were approved as written.
STAFF PRESENT:
CALLED TO ORDER:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
REPORT OF LIBRARY DIRECTOR STEVE BROWN
The March circulation number was very positive, with over 39,500 loans compared to 36,316 last year. Strong
use appears to be carrying over into April, averaging over 1,500 loans per day so far.
With the recent addition of a technical services supervisor and a new reference librarian, the only staff position
to be filled is a 19-hour children's librarian.
The mayor and council convened in the library for their pre-council meeting on April 24. A demonstration of
the automation system and the new self-check system brought a good response from members.
In response to a complaint from a library patron who sent copies of the letter to the mayor and council, Mr.
Brown will prepare an informal report to council. The patron was concerned because while using the
Library's Internet connection recently, he had inadvertently visited a web site that he found
objectionable. Mr. Brown spoke with the patron and explained the Library's Internet Policy. He feels
that his response was satisfactory to the patron.
The April 10 "Check-It-Out Yourself Day" was a fun and successful day with clowns teaching patrons the new
system, an artist painting, prizes, face painting, popcorn and surprises. It was an enjoyable day for
both staff and customers.
Children's Supervisor Liz Brockman applied for and was awarded a Texas Book Festival $2,500 grant. The
funds will be used to purchase Caldecott honor books for the children's library.
Board members were invited to participate in the Spring Library Book Sale on Saturday, May 6, from 9 - 5.
SPACE ALLOCATION IN A NEW LIBRARY
Extensive discussion followed on the space allocations for a new library. Among the space areas considered
were a distance learning classroom, children's program room, public meeting room, local history room,
conference/board room, a library store, a library cafe, and the addition of a quiet room. Possible locations in a
two-story building of public areas and semi-public/staff areas were discussed. According to the Providence
Associates projected space report, a building of approximately 57,000 square feet is needed to house a library
collection of 225,000 materials in 18-20 years. Mr. Brown will write a building plan by late fall.
DEMONSTRATION AND REPORT ON PATRON SELF-CHECK
Board members accompanied Mr. Brown to the library circulation department for a demonstration of the
Library's new 3M Self-Check System. Library card holders may check out their own materials by positioning
their library card, pausing for the system to recognize their barcode number, aligning the material to allow the
label to be scanned, removing the library card to let the system know that the transaction is complete and
waiting for system to print a date due slip. More patrons each day are using this new easy and quick system.
Next meeting was scheduled for May 18, 2000. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Brenda Lewis
Approved:
Date: $- / ~ - ()O
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Board GReiF.
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