MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MAY 17, 2012
The regular meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Sonya Teets. Present were Board members: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets. Absent Board members: Garcia, Gutierrez. Also present were: Sharon L. Highler, Library Director; Mary Jane Garrett, Head of Technical Services; Laura Bartnik, Head of Adult Services; and Tyler Works, Adult Services/YA Librarian.
The Board approved the agenda for the meeting. The Executive Session will be needed. Approval was on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Rivera.
AYES: All.
Minutes of the Board meeting of April 19, 2012, and the minutes of the Executive Session of April 19, 2012, were read and accepted on a motion by Rivera with a second by Ukleja.
AYES: All.
The Board read and accepted the following: the Treasurer’s Report of April 30, 2012; the Bills Payable/Paid Report for April 2012; the Revenue and Expense Report for April 2012; and the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Reports for April 2012. Acceptance of the above reports was on a motion by Salo with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia, Gutierrez.
Grand total for May: $195,372.27.
The librarians’ reports were read and accepted with the appreciation of the Board. Highler and the Board discussed some of the topics mentioned in, or in addition to, the librarians’ reports, including plans for the summer reading program, documents from Unique collection agency, the magazines barcoding project, and a Shredding Day planned for May 19. Rivera asked Garrett what type of workshop “Can’t, Won’t, Don’t…:Combating Negativity Nellies in the Workplace” was – fluff, general, specific planning? Garrett replied that it was a more general workshop without a specific planning outline, though some of the additional resources listed for the workshop gave specifics.
Laura Bartnik was introduced as the new Head of Adult Services. She and Tyler Works, Adult Services/YA Librarian, gave a demonstration of Adult Services’ new Kindle Touch ereaders. Four have been purchased using funds remaining from a state per capita grant. The ereaders will be used for the ebook reading function, and will be checked out to patrons for the standard book checkout period. Each of the four ereaders will be preloaded with the same ten titles, and titles will be changed each month. Ereaders will provide extra copies of book titles in a different format, and will provide a way for patrons to try out ereaders before purchasing their own. Teets suggested marketing the large type option to seniors. Youth Services is purchasing Kindle Fire ereaders with their funding. Adult Services will provide additional “Book a Librarian” sessions to show adults how to use the new technology. Two iPads have also been purchased by Adult Services, which will have the same ten ebook titles as the ereaders. They will also be preloaded with mobile apps from some of our databases, such as Mango and Tutor.com. Restrictions, circulation policies, etc., are still under discussion, but the new technology will be made available to patrons as soon as possible. The summer newsletter deadline did not allow for an article promoting the ereaders and iPads, but patrons have already expressed great interest when they’ve seen the librarians trying out the new purchases, A technology “petting zoo” by Best Buy is also planned for the summer reading kickoff on June 9.
Highler thanked the trustees for completing their Economic Interest statements. Trustees still need to finish their required online training on the Open Meetings Act.
Typewriter and Internet policy revisions for Adult Services were presented to the Board. Most of the changes have already been tested and are working. Guidelines for patron use of the electronic typewriter, and a separate Internet policy for nonresidents, should be eliminated. The Internet Access User Agreement as a separate form should be eliminated. Patrons already agree to it whenever they log onto the public computers. Board members were each given a copy of the Internet Access Policy with the proposed changes marked. After discussion, the Board agreed to all proposed changes and deletions on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia, Gutirrez.
Bartnik and Works reported on Adult Services’ ongoing “Book a Librarian” program, where patrons can reserve up to an hour of time with a librarian to help with computer or technology questions.
7:28 p.m., Bartnik and Works were thanked for their presentation and they left.
Owners of two properties across the street from the library have asked if the district is still interested in purchasing property. They wanted to know before they made improvements. The property owners did not attend this reguar Board meeting. The Board asked Highler to to tell the property owners that the Board is not actively seeking to purchase property at present.
Highler reported on her search for a company to provide technology services and support. After she and Rich Stronczek, the office manager, interviewed three companies that have libraries as clients, Current Technologies has been hired to handle technology needs until the end of the fiscal year, and to help us develop a plan for the future. As a result, the IT Manager staff position has been placed on suspension. The Board was presented with the contract for Current Technologies for the next fiscal year to consider. A representative from the company will be at the regular Board meeting on June 21. After discussion, the Board decided to table the contract decision until the June 21 meeting, on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey.
AYES: All.
Highler reported that it has been suggested that the Board add technology upgrades to the approved uses for the Special Reserve funds and she agrees. After discussion, the Board agreed to add the improvements and/or upgrades of technology hardware and software, and their support, to the list of approved uses for the Special Reserve funds, on a motion by Ukleja with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia, Gutierrez
A copy of the revised “Person in Charge” list was given to each Board member.
Highler presented each Board member with a copy of her proposed additions and deletions to parts of the Personnel Policy. The first part to be changed was “Reduction in Force and Staff Reorganization.” After discussion, the Board agreed to the changes, language subject to attorney approval, on a motion by Salo with a second by Ukleja. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia, Gutirrez.
The other proposed change to the Personnel Policy was the addition of a section, proposed by staff, providing for voluntary donation of vacation hours by staff to other staff members in emergency need, so that there is no lapse in their salaries. The transfer would require the Library Director’s approval and would not affect the budget line. After discussion, the Board approved the new part of the policy, subject to the attorney’s approval, on a motion by Rivera with a second by Blaskey. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia, Gutierrez
The salary scale for the 2012-2013 fiscal year was presented to the Board. Due to current economic conditions, Highler recommended that there be a maximum of a 3% salary increase instead of the 4% allowed by the previous salary scale. She proposed that the division between cost-of-living and merit be 2% cost-of-living, 1% merit. However, if there is an increase in the Illinois minimum wage, the topic of the salary scale may need to be revisited. After discussion, the Board approved Highler’s proposed changes to the salary scale on a motion by Rivera with a second by Ukleja. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia, Gutirrez.
Highler and the Board discussed plans for the two parades: the Stone Park Memorial Day Parade (May 28), and the Northlake Days Parade (June 24). Library staff will be in charge of purchasing candy for the two parades.
No members of the public were present.
The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for June 21, 2012.
At 8:11 p.m. the Board voted to adjourn the regular meeting and go into Executive Session, as per 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1): “the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel to determine its validity.” The motion was made by Rivera with a second by Ukleja.
AYES: All.
Barbara Salo, Secretary