HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/26/2012 LIB
MINUTES
CITY OF THE COLONY
LIBRARY BOARD
JANUARY 26, 2012
A REGULAR SESSION of the LIBRARY BOARD of the City of The Colony, Texas, was
called to order by Chair Gehrke at 7:01 p.m.
PRESENT: Sandi Gehrke Place 1
Marlene Martin Place 2
Frederick Rushing Place 3
Nicole Rodriguez-Terrell Place 4
Joanna Krueger Place 5
Audra Preston Place 7
David Terre Council Liaison
ABSENT: Jade Kelly Place 6
STAFF: Joan Sveinsson Library Director
Jeannie Baellow Recording Secretary
1. Introduction of new Library Board members.
Director Sveinsson introduced newly appointed Place 2 Member Marlene Martin, and
Place 7 Member Audra Preston. Member Martin is employed as a Technical
Consultant, has two children, a son and daughter, and enjoys reading. Member
Preston is a 13-year The Colony resident, is a Project Manager, and also enjoys
reading.
2. Citizen Input.
None.
3. Consider approval of the minutes of the December 1, 2011 Regular Session.
Vice-Chair Rushing moved to approve the minutes as presented. Member
Rodriguez-Terrell seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
4. Election of presiding officers for 2012.
Vice-Chair Rushing nominated Chair Gehrke for the office of Chair; Member Krueger
seconded the nomination. Chair Gehrke nominated Vice-Chair Rushing for the office
of Vice-Chair and Member Rodriguez-Terrell seconded the nomination. Member
Krueger moved to elect the nominees to the respective offices; Member Rodriguez-
Terrell seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
5. Review proposed Library Board meeting schedule for 2012 and set meeting
dates.
The following dates were proposed for the remaining 2012 Library Board meetings:
February 23rd, March 22nd, April 26t", May 24t", June 28t", July 26t", August 23rd
September 27t", October 18t", and November 29t". Vice-Chair Rushing moved to
accept the proposed schedule. Member Rodriguez-Terrell seconded the motion and
the motion passed unanimously.
6. Discussion and final reports regarding implementation of Library Board 2011
goals and projects: Policy review; Increase awareness of state and national
library legislative issues; Customer and community surveys; Board presence
at TCPL events and participation in TCPL public relations activities; TCPL 2012
30th anniversary celebration; Library visits.
Library Board 01-26-2012 Page 2
Review of Library policies was completed in 2011. Director Sveinsson noted the
methods made available in 2011 for increasing awareness of state and national
library legislative issues; it was pointed out that in 2011, keeping up with state issues
was particularly important due to the biennium budget process that resulted in severe
cuts to the State Library budget and to statewide library programs. It was noted that
the current focus is on national legislation. In Agenda item 9.d., Director Sveinsson
will address results of the customer satisfaction survey initiated in November 2011.
Director Sveinsson noted that at least one Board member was present at each of the
events in which the Library participated during 2011 including, Pirate Days, Salute to
American Heroes, LISD Back to School Fair, The Colony Back to School Bash, and
the middle schools' open houses. Two Board members served on the committee
planning the Library's 30th anniversary celebration events. In 2011, several members
gave reports about libraries they had visited; for the benefit of the new Board
members, Chair Gehrke explained the purpose of visits to other libraries.
7. Discussion and consideration of Library Board goals and projects for 2012.
The following items were discussed as proposed goals and projects; discussion and
consideration will be finalized at the February meeting:
a. Develop a Display and Exhibit Policy.
b. Increase awareness of national library legislative issues.
c. Review results of customer satisfaction surveys.
d. Board presence at TCPL events.
e. Library visits.
8. Receive update and discuss the following Friends of the Library activities.
a. December events: Pictures with Santa; "Nutcracker in a Nutshell" puppet
show.
Both events were successful with 198 people attending Pictures with Santa on
Saturday, December 3rd; the Fiddle Rascals provided musical entertainment for
those waiting their turn with Santa. TAP members served as runners between the
photography and printing stations to produce photos. One hundred and five
people attended the December 15th FOTCPL PRESENTS! "Nutcracker in a
Nutshell".
b. Recognition of library volunteers for FY 2010-11 service.
A Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, February 25,
2012, at Amore Pizza and Pasta.
9. Receive update from staff and discuss the following items:
a. Public Relations Events and programs:
i. Holiday in the Park.
This December 3rd event was rained out and was not rescheduled. TCPL
traditionally distributes publicity materials about TCPL's holiday puppet show
at the Holiday in the Park event and at the Parade that precedes it. Although
the parade was rescheduled, it took place after the date of TCPL's holiday
puppet show, therefore TCPL did not participate.
ii. Stewart's Creek Elementary School Family Technology Night.
Reference Services Librarian Kate Margolis is attending tonight on behalf of
TCPL to present information on the Library's electronic resources including
Live Homework Help.
Library Board 01-26-2012 Page 3
iii. TCPL 30th Anniversary Celebration.
Technical Services Librarian Megan Charters is designing the commemorative
program for the event. The schedule of events includes a Mayoral
Proclamation; The Colony History Progressive Tours; a strolling magic show;
music by The Fiddle Rascals; recognition of former Library staff; Traveling
With Bonnie & Clyde, presented by Red River Historian Robin Cole Jett;
storytimes and walkabout puppet shows by S&D Puppetry; a local talent
showcase; writing contest award presentations; and teen anime contest award
presentations. The progressive history tour will be a two-hour tour guided by
local historians and narrated chiefly by Don Beckel, author of Bridges to the
Future, The Pre-incorporation History of The Colony, Texas. A copy of the
book will be included with the $10 cost of the tour ticket. Tour stops will
include places important to the history of the area such as Bridges Cemetery,
the original fire station, and the Spencer House. Dragon figurines and
coupons for the Royal Brush will be given away after the Dufus the Dragon
storytime.
b. AARP Tax Help program status.
Due to a lack of AARP volunteers, AARP was not able to provide the Tax Help
program this year at TCPL nor at The Colony Community Center; it is hoped that
AARP will be able to reinstate the service next year. TCPL staff is providing
information to the public as to where AARP is providing the service in nearby
communities.
c. Service improvements:
i. Event signage.
New criteria for the design of the signs are in place. Sign icons on the City's
website will link users to event information.
U. WiFi splash screen containing user agreement and disclosures.
Director Sveinsson demonstrated the splash screen containing warnings and
disclosures that alert TCPL's wifi users that it is not a secure network and that
users, when opting to use the service, do so at their own risk.
iii. TCPL website improvements.
In direct response to comments TCPL received through Counting Opinions its
on-line customer survey, Electronic Resources Librarian Cary Cox is
redesigning certain features of the website to update and streamline its
appearance. Director Sveinsson presented a tour of the website and noted
the depth of information available by "digging down" through the links to
access a broader range of information sources.
iv. Display cubes donated through Boy Scout Life project.
The Scout, Adil Virani, as his Life project, led a team to create four wooden
stacking display cubes of graduating sizes that will be used to display books
and other materials in the Library.
d. Reports from Counting Opinions surveys
Director Sveinsson provided handouts and presented screens of the results of the
customer satisfaction survey initiated in November 2011; she included customer
comments, and demonstrated various formats for viewing and analyzing the
collected information. The information allows TCPL staff to develop actions to
Library Board 01-26-2012 Page 4
enhance and tailor services to better meet TCPL's customers' needs and
expectations. It was suggested that staff might require customers to take surveys
in order to receive special rewards, such as requiring a survey to be filled out in
order for a child to receive one of the dragon figurines at the Dufus the Dragon
story time.
e. Report from ALA Midwinter Conference.
Director Sveinsson reported that the conference was held in Dallas and, due to its
proximity, she was able to attend exhibits and a number of free presentations
from January 20th to 23rd. She reported about a presentation she had attended
about a new service that will allow libraries to create effective marketing
campaigns quickly and efficiently. Another presentation attended was about The
Edge Initiative, which is a coalition of leading library and local government
organizations that have created a set of national benchmarks to be used as a
quality improvement and advocacy tool to support public access technology
services in libraries.
f. Report regarding NTLP membership and potential benefits.
Director Sveinsson reported that TCPL has joined North Texas Library Partners
(NTLP). The annual membership fee for TCPL is $2,000; benefits include NTLP-
negotiated vendor discounts, as well as other free or discounted NTLP services such
as continuing education and staff development, grant writing assistance, assistance with
collaborative project planning, consulting, Plinkit website assistance, research, and
access to an enhanced online directory of library program presenters,
g. Review list of February library programs.
The Board members reviewed the list; highlights include:
• TCPL's 30th Anniversary Celebration events.
• Online resource of the month: Literature Resources from Gale which gives
literary criticisms, biographies, and works and topic overviews.
• February 16th Continuing Education Class for Daycare Teachers. The class
features resources of the Junior Master Gardener program "to help grow good
kids."
The next Board meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2012.
The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
Sandi Gehrke, Chair
annie Baellow, Secretary