DEARBORN DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES

LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING

Dec. 14, 2007

1. ATTENDANCE

In attendance were: MR. MARCEL PULTORAK, Chairperson; MRS. NANCY ZAKAR, Secretary-Treasurer. MRS. CANDYCE ABBATT, MR. DAVID SCHLAFF and

MR. ROBERT TAUB, Commissioners. MRS. MARYANNE BARTLES, Library Director;

MRS. JULIE SCHAEFER, Deputy Library Director; MS. TARA GNAU, MR. STEVE SMITH, Administrative Librarians. EXCUSED:  Dr. Alex Shami, Vice-Chairperson.

 

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the November Library Commission meeting were approved as submitted.

 

3. FOUNDATION UPDATE

Mrs. Bartles reported that the Library Foundation was starting to get a few donations. The Foundation members have donated as well as Commissioner Abbatt.  The Foundation asked Mrs. Bartles to design a letterhead for the Library Foundation to use so that they may acknowledge the donations that they receive. Mrs. Bartles did not have a lot of time to work on it but she did develop a temporary letterhead until she can devote more time to work on it.  Mrs. Bartles also stated that the Library Foundation has been working on their web page development.  They do have a web designer but he is not able to move forward without the text that should appear on the web page.  Mrs. Bartles has been working with the Library Foundation on the web page.  She distributed to the Commission information that she compiled that has been given to the web designer.  Mrs. Bartles stated that she is also working on a tri-fold type brochure about the Library Foundation that they can hand out. 

Mrs. Schaefer reported that in meeting with Chris DeBear on the children’s upgrade project he has advised that he will only need about a month of in-house work at the library.  Hopefully the project will be done by the summer. Mrs. Bartles reported that the Fire Marshall has said that the material used in the children’s renovations must be fire rated so that will add about $6000 to the project.   

 

4. BUDGET UPDATE

Mrs. Bartles reported that the operating budget, personnel budget and one time purchases budget were due to Finance today for next fiscal year.  The capital budget will be submitted next week. Mrs. Bartles stated that the City has presented a retirement incentive package to encourage people to retire.  This could impact the libraries as we have several people who would be eligible for the package. 

5. INFORMATION ITEMS       

1.   Word Processing-Branches:  Steve Smith reported that he had not talked to the Library Systems Manager regarding word processing at the branches but he did not think that it had moved forward beyond HFCL and the Bryant Branch at this point his attention was focused on installing word processing on the ADA computer at HFCL after a patron complaint was received.

2.   New Commissioners: Mrs. Bartles reported that she had not heard anything further on the Library Commission vacancies though she did speak to the Mayor about it and he is aware of the issue.  There are other City commissions with vacancies as well.  Mr. Pultorak stated that people who have given their names and were willing to serve on the Library Commission may no longer be willing to do so because of the inaction.

3.   Non-Resident Usage of the Internet-Expanded Chart:  Mrs. Bartles explained that the chart she distributed at the last Library Commission meeting was for non-resident Internet usage from 2005 until November of 2007.  The current chart distributed to the Commissioners show Internet usage from Jan. 1, 2007 until Dec. 10, 2007.  Resident Internet usage for that time period is 68% of all Internet usage.  Non-Resident users account for 14% of Internet users and purchasers of the daily Internet pass (LIP) account for 18% of all Internet users.  Mrs. Bartles stated that the number of PC’s per building and information on Internet session length and wait time were also added to the chart. 

4.   Motor Cities Signage Program:  Mrs. Bartles stated that she wanted to give the Commission a heads up about this program.  The City Council has agreed to allow the Motor Cities Signage Program to put up signs through out the City.  They will be wayfaring signs.  Mrs. Bartles told Kurt Gross, the Director of the Dearborn Historical Museum, that we would like signage to state that this building was dedicated to Henry Ford. 

 

6. ACTION ITEMS

1.   Teacher’s Card: Mr. Pultorak stated that the Commissioners received this information in their meeting email and should have had time to read it over already.  He asked if there was any discussion related to the elimination of the teacher card and there was not.  Mrs. Zakar motioned to eliminate the teacher’s library card, seconded by Mr. Taub, all approved.

2.   Maximum overdue charge on DVD’s: Mr. Pultorak stated the Commissioners had also received information about this change ahead of time and asked if there was any discussion about this change.  There was not.  Mrs. Zakar motioned to change the maximum overdue rate on DVD’s from $14.00 to ½ the price of the DVD, seconded by Mr. Schlaff, all approved. 

 

 7. COMMENTS

Mrs. Zakar stated that the articles in the newspaper were nice especially since we no longer have a newsletter.  Mrs. Bartles stated we are working on an online newsletter. 

 

Mrs. Bartles stated the library will be closed Dec. 22, 23, 24 and 25th but will be open the weekend before New Years, Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, though we will be closed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

 

Congratulations to Tara Gnau who is getting married on Dec. 22, 2007.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45pm.