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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-02 BOLT MINS N flNUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES f April 2, 1997 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3:30 p.m. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Williams, Trustees Alexander, Valdovinos and Viesca BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Clover-Byram,Excused CITY STAFF PRESENT: Library Director Palmer, City Manager, John Goss, Principal Librarian Maureen Roeber,Literacy Coordinator, Meg Schofield OTHERS PRESENT: Mrs. Reeves Mr. Valdovinos City Manager Goss asked for a moment of silence in honor of previous Library Director Rosemary Lane who passed away on April 1, 1997. Trustees and staff members shared memories of Rosemary. She will be missed. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -Meeting of February 26, 1997 i MSUC(AlexanderNaldovinos)to approve the minutes as mailed. H. CONTINUED MATTERS A. FY 1997-98 Budget City Manager, John Goss, gave the Trustees an overview of the City's budget picture. The recession in the early 90's, State bailout and the peso devaluation combined to reduce general fund revenues available for operations. The City Council has committed to a balanced budget. (Trustee Williams arrived at 3:52 p.m.) The City is striving to develop new revenue sources. The City Manager complimented Director Palmer and the Library staff in using a participative process to address budget problems and operate more efficiently. Trustee Viesca asked how the Chula Vista's Library's budget compared to other libraries of the same size. Director Palmer reported that Chula Vista falls within j the upper quarter for per capita support when compared to cities of a similar size throughout the State. i - Library Board of Trustees -2 - April 2, 1997 i B. Telecenters Staff is preparing an information item to gain Council support to continue the operation of the Telecenter program and merging it with the Library. The F Street Telecenter has closed. More information will be available at the next meeting. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Transaction-Based Reimbursements i Director Palmer reported that libraries are compensated by the State for serving nonresident users at a rate of $ .385 per transaction. In 1994-95 Chula Vista was the sixth largest net lender in the State of California and received $217,000 for serving nonresidents. Non-resident usage of Chula Vista libraries is approximately 36% to 38%per year. Efforts are being made by some libraries to end universal borrowing Chula Vista and other Serra libraries do not support this effort. Chula Vista depends upon transaction-based reimbursement to balance its budget and has built its collection around idea of shared resources. Materials that Chula Vista could not afford to r purchase or house are available to its citizens at the library in downtown San Diego. Chula Vista, and other Serra Libraries, would prefer the State fully fund transaction-based reimbursement from the current $0.385 per transaction to $0.55. Trustees will be informed of further developments of this issue at the next meeting. B. Literacy Team's Community Development Block Grant Application I MSUC (AlexanderNiesca)to support the Literacy Teams application for Community Development Block Grant funds. Director Palmer reported that this year this funds will be used to support the Wilson Reading Proram. C. Issues Census The issues census is a preliminary step in the preparation of the Library Facilities Master Plan. This item has been carried to the next Library Board meeting. Library Board of Trustees - 3 - April 2, 1997 IV. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Internet The Library continues to prepare its Internet service for the public. Staff has had initial training and is using this tool to answer questions at the reference desks. Internet access should be available to the public by summer. The Supreme Court should have a ruling on the Communications Decency Act by July. Their decision may change the path the Library chooses for public Internet service. B. Public Library Fund. At the last meeting the Library Board supported placing the unanticipated $39,000 from Public Library Funds into the book budget. Council agreed to this proposal and will place this windfall into the Library's book budget next fiscal year also. C. Legislative Update Director Palmer discussed the Library of California Slip Bill which will introduce l the new Library of California tothe Legislature. The Library of California is the •' culmination of an 8-year network plan for multi-type libraries. This bill will create a network of 8,000 school, public, business and college libraries. -The old networks include only public libraries. More information will be available at the next meeting. D. Other Meg Schofield,Literacy Coordinator, discussed a privately funded pilot program, coordinated with two local elementary schools, working with school-aged children. The Bonita-Sunrise Rotary Club funded this program which currently includes 18 families. Parents and their children attend meetings twice weekly after school. A new program being launched in June for Pre-school children has been coordinated with the Vista-Square Elementary School and will prepare four and five year-olds to read. Director Palmer distributed "Books as Bridges" materials to the Trustees. Trustees will receive invitations to the opening reception scheduled for April 9 at the South Chula Vista Library. i i Library Board of Trustees -4 - April 2, 1997 V. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends Frances Reeves reported that the Friends have purchased puzzles for youngsters to use in the children's room. They have also purchased plastic library cards for the Chula Vista Library. New Friends Officers are: President Harry LaBore Vice President Shauna Stokes Ronnie Berman Secretary Rob MacKenzie Treasurer Robbie Boyd Membership Secretary Frank Roseman Nominating Committee Member Frances Reeves Member at Large Nancy Lemke Member at Large B. Public Comments i None C. Written Comments None i D. Board Comments Trustee Viesca was happy to be able to meet at South Chula Vista. He was sorry to hear about Rosemary Lane. Trustee Alexander echoed those feelings. Vice Chair Williams was happy to meet at South Chula Vista. VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.. The next Library Board of Trustees meeting will be Wednesday, April 30, 1997 at 3:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Library.