DEARBORN DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES

LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING

April 11, 2008

1. ATTENDANCE

In attendance were: Mr. Marcel Pultorak, Chairperson, Dr. Alex Shami,

Vice-Chairperson, Mrs. Nancy Zakar, Secretary-Treasurer. Mrs. Candyce Abbatt,

Mr. Robert Taub and Mr. David Schlaff, Commissioners. Mrs. Maryanne Bartles, Library Director; Mrs. Julie Schaefer, Deputy Library Director;

Mr. Steve Smith, Administrative Librarian.

 

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the February and March Library Commission meetings were approved as submitted.

 

3. FOUNDATION UPDATE

Mrs. Bartles apologized for not sending the Commissioners the approved minutes of the Library Foundation’s March meeting.  Mrs. Bartles reported that the Foundation continues to work on their website.  Carolyn Hook has agreed to help them with this task.  The Foundation would like to have the website up and running by the end of May. The Foundation is also planning a wine and cheese party to celebrate the opening of the renovated children’s area.  The party will take place on a Friday evening after closing time.  Some dates being considered are May 30th and June 13th. The guest list will include prominent members of the community and elected officials. Mrs. Zakar offered the idea of putting up a board listing the things that still need to be done on the project and putting envelopes next them if party guest wish to contribute to those projects. Mrs. Bartles stated that there were several areas of the project such as carpeting around the new children’s desk and computer tables that had not been funded yet.  The library will also have an open house type celebration to introduce the community to the new children’s area. Mrs. Zakar asked if the vacancy on the Foundation had been filled.  Mrs. Bartles stated that Steve Schroder was a new addition to the Foundation but that there was still one vacancy from the original nine members.  Allison Fishwick has a possible person in mind to fill that vacancy though the Foundation may want to add more members than the original nine. 

 

4. BUDGET UPDATE

Mrs. Bartles stated that the Mayor has to present the budget to the City Council by April 15th.

 

5. INFORMATION ITEMS       

A.   Children’s Upgrade-April 2008

1.   Project Plan- Mrs. Schaefer explained that today was moving day in the children’s area at HFCL.  All the books had to be moved off the shelves temporarily.  The move went really well.  The books were moved to the mezzanine area at HFCL, where they are organized well.  We will retrieve books from the mezzanine area for patrons when possible.  Children’s staff will help out on the adult reference desk while the children’s area is closed.  A company will come in on Monday to remove all the existing shelving in the children’s area.  That work will take three to four days to complete.  The following week the design fabricators will deliver and begin installing the large feature elements.  The electrical for the new children’s reference desk will also be installed the second week.  Mr. Pultorak asked if the tentative completion day was still in about three weeks. Mrs. Schaefer said that it was.  Mrs. Schaefer stated that they were planning a public grand opening for the children’s area as well as the Library Foundation’s celebration.  CDTV is filming the renovation.

2.   Foundation Celebration Party- This was discussed in the Foundation update above.

 

B.  Library Commission appointments: Mrs. Bartles reported that at a CDI meeting a week ago it was discussed that the Mayor wanted to get appointments for vacancies on commissions to the City Council by the next meeting and they mentioned the Library Commission as one of the Commissions that was critical.  Mrs. Bartles emailed the Mayor’s secretary to confirm that she had the information on our four candidates and that they were aware that the Library Commissioners are not approved by City Council. Mr. Pultorak stated that we should begin working on an orientation packet for the new Commissioners.  Mrs. Bartles stated that as part of our certification, new Commissioners must attend a Library of Michigan orientation.  What is disappointing is that they are often held in Petoskey, MI and some Commissioners may not be able to get there.  Mr. Pultorak stated we should write a letter to the Library of Michigan asking them to offer an orientation session at another closer location and he would be willing to write the letter.  Mrs. Bartles stated she would get him the information. 

 

6. ACTION ITEMS

A.   Wireless Connectivity-Mrs. Bartles reported that the City is moving forward with getting us wireless access.  We are the only City location that will be offering wireless connectivity to the public.  If we want to offer wireless Internet service under the same rules that we offer regular Internet service, which means that if you are a Dearborn resident you have to log on with your library card and pin number and if you are not a Dearborn resident you have purchase a Internet user card or day pass, we will have to purchase a computer program called Blue Socket.  This software is recommended by Sirsi/Dynix and will authenticate to our patron database. Mark Hancock spoke to some other Sirsi/Dynix libraries that are using Blue Socket and they are pleased with it. Mr. Pultorak asked what the software costs and Mrs. Bartles advised around $12, 0000 to $13,000.  MIS will pay for this software and it is cheaper that what MIS was planning to use. Any wireless Internet service that we offer will also have to be filtered and go through the firewall. Mr. Pultorak asked if the Blue Socket software could restrict users if bandwidth becomes an issue.  Mrs. Bartles stated she would check with Mark Hancock but she believes that he hopes to use one of the two cable connections that we have for the wireless Internet so that our T1 lines would not be affected. Mr. Taub asked where in the library wireless Internet would be available.  Mrs. Bartles stated on the second and third floors at HFCL as well as some limited areas like the Auditorium on the first floor. A motion was made to follow the same policies for wireless Internet connectivity as we follow for regular Internet, except for time limits on the length of use, was made by Mr. Schlaff, seconded by Mr. Taub, all approved. 

 

 

 7. COMMENTS

Mrs. Bartles reported that the problem in viewing the guiding statements pyramid on our webpage was due to a problem with the browser Mozilla.  Mark Hancock has corrected the problem. 

 

Mrs. Bartles reported that the Commissioners were given Internet log-on statistics along with the regular circulation statistics this month.  The software we use for recording webpage statistics has been upgraded. Next month we will give the Commissioners the webpage statistics which will include more in-depth information.

 

Mrs. Bartles reported that the Mayor’s buzz session will be held on April 22.  This is a yearly meeting that the Mayor holds for City employees at the Performing Arts Center. Each department is asked if they want to have a table there.  We will have a table with information on our webpage and have a PowerPoint presentation about the library.  We will also use the display on take your child to work day which is Thursday, April 24th and again for the Community Expo and Big Open House event on Sunday, April 27th.

 

Mrs. Bartles reported that Tara Gnau is retiring.  Her last day will be Monday, May 12th.  We are planning a retirement party for her the evening of Friday, May 9th and an open house from 2-4pm on that day.  We will send out an invitation before the event.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45pm.