DEARBORN DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES

LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING

05-08-09

1.  ATTENDANCE

In attendance were:  Mr. Marcel Pultorak, Chairperson; Mr. Robert Taub, Mrs. Jihan Jawad,

Mrs. Candyce Abbatt and Mr. David Schlaff, Commissioners; Mrs. Maryanne Bartles, Library Director; Mr. Steve Smith, Administrative Librarian.  Excused:  Mrs. Nancy Zakar, Secretary-Treasurer,

Absent: Dr. Alex Shami, Vice-Chairperson.

 

2.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the April 2009 Library Commission Meeting were approved as submitted.

 

3.  FOUNDATION UPDATE

Mrs. Bartles reported the next Library Foundation meeting is Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6pm.  They have received donations from the brochure that was sent out in the mail which total somewhere between $2000 to $2500 though we have not gotten a final accounting yet. Mrs. Bartles reported that the Foundation is losing members so if the Commissioners know of anyone interested in joining the Foundation to let her know.  They only have five members who are not resigning. They have contacted some community members about joining the board.

 

4.  BUDGET UPDATE

Mrs. Bartles reported that the City Council has the budget and hopes to approve it somewhere around May 18th.  They are still having budget meetings at this point though we were not called to attend any of the budget meetings.  After the all the departments submitted their budgets we were asked to go back and make additional cuts which we did by cutting things Mrs. Bartles thought could be delayed, which totaled about $60,000.  Our budget was cut by an additional $118,000 of which $100,000 was from our materials budget. It will be difficult to compare this coming year’s budget with previous years as we have moved to a more direct costing allocation where costs such as utilities, insurance, and the cost for building services and services received from MIS will be added to our budget.  Our materials budget will be about $550,000.  Mrs. Abbatt asked if the library would receive any stimulus money and Mrs. Bartles stated that there may be some stimulus funds for broadband Internet costs.  Mrs. Bartles is attending a summit on this at the Library of Michigan on May 20th with Doug Feldkamp from the MIS Department.  Mr. Pultorak stated he is attending a meeting next week, sponsored by the Center for Michigan, with Jim O’Connor, City Finance Director.  Their web site is www.centerformichigan.net is the web site to check out.  They are trying to foster bipartisan discussion regarding restructuring government in Michigan.  Mr. Pultorak is also meeting with the Mayor on May 19th. Mrs. Bartles mentioned that the Mayor is planning to form a blue ribbon committee to prioritize City services. 

 

5.  INFORMATION ITEMS-

A.     Volunteer Orientation Session- The next volunteer orientation is going to be held on May 13, 2009 from 7-8pm at HFCL.  Mrs. Abbatt asked who was coordinating the volunteers now.  Mrs. Bartles stated that there is a volunteer committee made up of four staff members, Denise Dorantes, Bob Rea, Jennifer Erard and Linda Oleszkowicz. The volunteer luncheon will be held in June at Park Place.

B.     Commissioners whose term expires in June 2009- Commissioners Mr. Taub, Mrs. Abbatt and Dr. Shami’s terms expire in June 2009 and we currently have two vacancies on the Commission.   Mrs. Bartles was told by the Mayor’s secretary that the reappointments would be decided on by June 15th.  She also asked Mrs. Bartles if she had additional names, besides the two who were already submitted, to fill the vacancies on the Library Commission.  If the Library Commissioners know of someone they would like to recommend for the Library Commission please let her know.  Mr. Pultorak stated that he spoke with Mike Kirk at a function for the Mayor and he is still interested in serving on the Commission. 

C.    Painting-Mrs. Bartles stated that the City painters retired a few years ago and were not replaced.  Mrs. Bartles was able to budget to hire a painting company.  They did a significant amount of painting at Esper, Snow and HFCL.  Bryant had some work done as well. 

D.    Esper Branch Carpeting- Mrs. Bartles reported that new carpeting has been installed at the Esper Branch. Mrs. Abbatt stated that we should think about having meetings at the branch locations again as we have done in the past. Mrs. Bartles stated they could discuss it at the June meeting. 

 

6.  ACTION ITEMS- None

 

7.  COMMENTS- Mr. Schlaff asked how the work on the Welcome Center in the lower level of Bryant is coming along.  Mrs. Bartles stated that the contractor is working very quickly though they have encountered some difficulties with electric conduit, removing the boiler and duct work.   Mrs. Bartles had put in a request to have the bathrooms on the second floor at Bryant converted to one unisex bathroom that will be ADA compliant.  Tom Delage says that Building Services can do the work which will save money but we need to do the work as soon as possible in order to avoid complications with the duct removal and reinstallation downstairs. 

 

Mrs. Bartles stated that over the summer we may make some changes to the statistics report as it is not always clear what is being measured on the current report.

 

Mrs. Bartles stated that she gave a presentation to the Dearborn Rotary Club about the library.  Her goal for the year is to get out and meet with community groups about the library. 

 

The bookmark contest award ceremony will be held at HFCL on May 17th at 3pm.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 PM.