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Helen Matthes Library
Helen Matthes Library Board of Director’s Meeting Minutes August 17, 2009 The regular meeting of the Helen Matthes Board of Directors was held on August 17, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Treasurer Bob Willenborg. Board members physically present for roll call were Charlie Bovard, Rachael Fearday, Dana Keller, John Latta, Ellen Welton, Rod Wiethop, and Bob Willenborg as well as Director Jeanne Hamilton. Those absent were Gloria Bauer and Karen Luchtefeld. Also present from the Effingham Daily News was Donna Riley Gordon as well as patrons Brad and Amy Hibdon. As there was no public comment the board moved on to the Omnibus Agenda. Members learned the LSTA grant applications will not be funded, instead per capita grants and system functions will be funded. Brett Seagle was unable to get the financial reports to May until earlier today as there was a problem with his Quick Books system. Members had the opportunity to peruse them throughout the meeting and would vote on them later in the evening. After answering a few questions about the Omnibus Agenda a motion was made by Keller and seconded by Latta to accept it. All were in favor. Board members were addressed by Amy Hibdon about a book called Living Dead Girl. She and her husband, Brad, would like it banned from the HML. Their 15-year old daughter had read the book, and that is how they became familiar with it. Their opinion is that it was written for adults and that the author is not qualified to counsel teenagers in the matters of kidnapping and both physical and sexual abuse. Both May and the staff feel that our patrons have the control over what their children read. Over the years the library has only had a couple of ‘challenges’…once individuals were given the opportunity to fill out the needed censorship forms to ban a book they apparently decided not to go through the required steps. May felt it would be a ‘slippery slope’ if this book was banned and could ‘open a whole new can of worms’. She noted that four other Rolling Prairie Library Systems keep the same book in their teen collection. While the board appreciated the Hibdons point it was moved by Wiethop and seconded by Latta to keep said book on the teen shelves. All members were agreed. In a Tech Inventory update for the Per Capita Grant the board was told that library computers normally run smoothly. As they were purchased some years ago, the need to replace them will be here eventually. May reported a review of the Administrative Ready Reference online document for the Annual Per Capita Grant. May presented a Special Reserve Fund Plan to prepare us in our long range plan to moved into a new facility (This motion was made by Bovard and seconded by Welton; all members said aye.) In regards to the 2010 library holidays Willenborg prefers to stay consistent with the library’s days and hours available. Often times the carpets are cleaned on Columbus Day which makes it more convenient if the building is closed. May stated it could be cleaned on Sunday, and she would need to come in for that. Following a motion made by Willenborg and seconded by Wiethop the board voted yes to keep the library open for those recommended 11 holidays. Also voted on were the listings of board meetings for the upcoming year. Latta moved to accept those given us; after being seconded by Fearday all members agreed. On the RFID update, everything in the remote demo went very well. The salesperson will work with us to decide the particular phases of obtaining items as well as payments. Once tags are received the staff will practice using it, and once they are comfortable they will begin using it with patrons. By this point a motion made by Fearday and seconded by Bovard to approve the bills received all ayes. At 7:47 p.m. the board voted to move into executive session discuss property and personnel issues pursuant to sections 2(c)(1) and 2(c)(5) of the Open Meetings Act following a motion made by Keller and seconded by Latta. At 8:18 p.m. all agreed to leave executive session after a motion made by Keller and seconded by Welton recommended this. Immediately thereafter a motion was made by Latta and seconded by Fearday to adjourn. All were in favor. Respectfully submitted by Dana Keller, secretary
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