HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/20/2006 Library
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MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY BOARD
OF THE
CITY OF THE COLONY
April 20, 2006
A REGULAR SESSION of the Library Board of the City of The Colony, Texas, was called
to order by Chair Bullard at 7:04 p.m.
Present:
Sandi Gehrke
Diana Kruzich
James Althaus
Lorraine Clark
Jayme Skelton
Wayne Bullard
Sue Parks
Joan Sveinsson
Jo Chantrill
Place 1
Place 2
Place 3
Place 4
Place 5
Place 6
Place 7
Library Director
Library Secretary
1. Citizens Input.
None.
2. Minutes.
Consideration and approval of minutes of the board meeting held March 23rd, 2006.
The minutes were approved as presented.
3. Discussion and consideration of revisions to the Respect for the Rights of Others --
Conduct in the Library policy to
a. Raise the minimum age that a youth is allowed to be in the Library unsupervised
from age 7 to age 9.
Director Sveinsson explained that a parent had proposed that this minimum age be
raised after an incident involving two second grade students who were caught at
school showing to other students printouts of explicit images which had been
accessed and printed from the Library's public access computers. Director
Sveinsson met with the Assistant Principal, who provided her with the confiscated
printouts; a check of the Library's printer logs verified that the printouts came from
two different computers at the same time. The Assistant Principal had also
contacted the parents of the two students, as well as parents of other students to
whom the printouts had been shown. One of the latter parents met with Director
Sveinsson and made the suggestion of raising the minimum age. Reference
Librarian Margolis had also met with the parent of a student who had confessed to
making the printouts.
The Board discussed the proposal. Director Sveinsson explained the current
procedures for dealing with problem behavior. Generally, warnings are given to
ensure that the rules are understood; further infractions result in loss of library
privileges for the day. If a youth has three recorded violations, or in a case of a
severe violation, the youth is banned from the Library premises for the rest of the
semester or summer. Due to the number of repeat offenders, reinstatement of
privileges at that point requires a meeting with the youth, one of the youth's parents,
and the Library Director. The purpose of that meeting is to ensure that the youth
and the parent are clearly informed and aware of the consequences of any further I
behavior that is in violation of the Library's rules.
Member Gehrke moved to raise the minimum age that a youth is allowed to be in
the Library unsupervised from age 7 to age 9. Member Clark seconded the motion,
the motion passed unanimously.
b. Raise the minimum age requirement for the individual responsible for
accompanying and supervising youth under that age from 12 to 14.
Director Sveinsson initiated this agenda item to allow the Board the opportunity to
review this requirement. She noted that many youth start babysitting at age 12 and
that the Library is a positive place for babysitters to visit with their charges. It was
also noted that, while not all 12 year olds are able to adequately supervise younger
children, some are better able than to do so than some older teens.
Member Clark moved to leave the minimum age at 12; Member Kruzich seconded
the motion. The motion passed; the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Bullard, Clark, Skelton, Althaus, Gerhke, Kruzich
Noes: Parks
1. Library Director's Report:
a. Status report re: operations.
The queuing and print management software, CASSIE, has been installed on I
the public access computer network and is working very well. Users must
have a TCPL borrower's card to login on a public access computer. For the
first month, staff will assist users without cards via a guest card, informing
them that their library card will be needed for all future use. After that time,
the guest cards will be limited to the initial visit of a user who does not have
the necessary documentation to apply for a card and to visitors who are
passing through the community. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes if there
is a waiting list, with automatic extensions if no one is waiting, up to a
maximum usage of 90 minutes per day per cardholder. CASSIE has had a
noticeably positive impact on the behavior of computer users and has limited
loitering in the computer area.
Some loitering problems are still occurring in the lobby and parking lot. Staff
is being strict in addressing behavioral problems in those areas, calling upon
the police department for assistance as needed.
The new integrated library automation system, EOS.Web, is working well;
staff is still exploring the many new features.
Director Sveinsson and Little Elm Community Library Director Tina Hager are
teaming up to staff a promotional booth at the garage sale to be hosted by
the L1SD Adult & Community Education Advisory Council on Saturday, April
22, 2006. They will sell used books and promote public library services, I
including the Live Homework Help service.
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Director Sveinsson attended a meeting of the L1SD Adult & Community
Education Advisory Council and has been asked to serve as a member on
the Council.
The annual Mother/Daughter Tea will be held Saturday, April 29th, at 2 p.m.
Director Sveinsson and Technical Services Librarian Herzig will attend the
Texas Library Association Annual Conference in Houston April 25-28, 2006.
The Library will be closed on May 5, 2006, for In-Service training.
b. Status report re:Tutor.com service.
Director Sveinsson has submitted an application to the CoServ Charitable
Foundation for a grant to fund the cost of the Live Homework Help service.
c. Status report re: grants.
See b. above.
d. North Texas Regional Library System focus group meeting.
Director Sveinsson and Member Parks attended the North Texas Regional
Library System Assembly on April 18th. Changes have been proposed for
the allocation of state system funding; beginning in FY 07-08, the funding
that was previously assigned to menu allocations will be reassigned to the
Loan Star Libraries grants. Currently, most of The Colony's menu allocation
is used to pay for the TEXpress Courier service fee. Member Parks reported
that a cookbook is being published as a fund-raiser. Another fund-raiser
through Borders Books is based on coupons distributed by NTRLS members
for Mothers Day weekend; the coupons offer a 10% discount for the
purchaser and NTRLS will receive a donation from Borders of 10%
percentage of the purchase.
e. Update re: Friends of the Library activities.
The annual meeting of the Friends of the Library will be held on Saturday,
April 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will be catered by Amore Pasta & Pizza
Restaurant. A brief Foundation Meeting is planned to follow the annual
meeting.
The "All the pancakes you can eat at McDonalds" fund-raiser will be held on
Saturday, June 3rd from 7-10 a.m.; tickets are $2 each, by advance sale
only, and may be purchased at the Library until 5 p.m. Friday, June 2nd.
The Book Sale will also be held on Saturday, June 3rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The next Library Board meeting will be held on May 25th. j'
The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m. /,"/1
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o Chantnll, Secretary