-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/25617/archive/files/479b6c45e135b148fdfe27f231bb6421.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=pgd45ee8rK3z%7EHQO%7Esswri59OXS5VEJrVTI-0uXBOuKjsG4qbqjdJBwLQkjV5s3u2W0Tmsm5NRpnoeGytxzSiTMCHyPj4i9PXVPlbv%7ENvqZ9wn4MEDoMKfBH-MpAYuTt9YP1Hvu4A60B8glq0zNmAKyhRrH-Uzo93r6BSsAmxKC1vexxtoJrmz5bO2P7YxyQNK0Rwhrdp-gyvaliG64uDnRFDvbUOz87EKeW2AR4BdgZ8-03SjJBNC1b9XWZD7nG5TRkc11pQqUsz5-b%7E6vsUG5p8oa4vlfurxQg6dSPGLxJR4vkhKn7qfxZfilvR24FSjOpIny9I5cmR3eEIgV07w__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
3e28a4e3bd527195fa8daf49722b0fcd
PDF Text
Text
March 19,2014
Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Skokie Public Library held
in the Skokie Public Library Board Room, Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
CALL TO ORDER
Mark Prosperi, President, called the meeting to order at 7:35p.m.
Members present: Mark Prosperi, President; Diana Hunter, Vice President/President
Emerita; Susan Greer; Jonathan H. Maks, MD; Denis O'Keefe; Zelda Rich; and Carolyn
A. Anthony, Director.
Member absent: Karen Parrilli, Secretary.
Staff present: Richard Kong, Deputy Director; Teri Room, Assistant Manager, Access
Services.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 12,
2014
Mrs. Greer made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hunter, to approve the minutes of the
regular meeting of February 12, 2014, subject to additions and/or corrections. There
being no corrections, the minutes were approved and placed on file.
CONSENT AGENDA (Financial Statements; Circulation Report; Reports from
Department Heads; Correspondence; Gifts; Personnel)
Mrs. Rich made a motion, seconded by Dr. Maks:
MOTION:
THAT THE SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SUBJECT TO AUDIT,
AND THAT THE FOLLOWING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BE
PLACED ON FILE:
1. CIRCULATION REPORT
2. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
3. CORRESPONDENCE: LETTER FROM JESSE WHITE,
SECRETARY OF STATE AND STATE LIBRARIAN TO
CAROLYN ANTHONY DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2014 RE AWARD
OF FY 2014 PER CAPITA GRANT
4. GIFTS: $100. FROM JAMES AND MARY ANN McCAULEY IN
MEMORY OF JOHN M. WOZNIAK; $100. FROM BRIAN
�2
McGUIRE IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM KATZ; $50. FROM
GARDEN CLUB OF SKOKIE IN MEMORY OF VIRGINIA
STAUBER FOR THE PURCHASE OF GARDENING BOOKS; $50.
FROM HERBERT REECE IN MEMORY OF PHIL CARLSEN FOR
PURCHASE OF LANDSCAPING BOOKS
5. PERSONNEL: HIRES: ETHAN HERDRICH, PART-TIME
DIGITAL LITERACY ASSISTANT, LEARNING EXPERIENCES,
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 19, 2014; SUSAN DUBACK, PARTTIME CUSTOMER SERVICES ASSISTANT, CUSTOMER
SERVICES, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 25, 2014; REGINA KWIT,
PART-TIME MATERIAL HANDLER, ACCESS SERVICES,
EFFECTIVE MARCH 3, 2014; RICHARD RYBAK, PART-TIME
MATERIAL HANDLER, ACCESS SERVICES, EFFECTIVE
MARCH 3, 2014; ANNA GOLASH, PART-TIME PROGRAM
ASSISTANT, LEARNING EXPERIENCES, EFFECTIVE MARCH
4, 2014; JESSICA SABELLA, PART-TIME PROGRAM
ASSISTANT, LEARNING EXPERIENCES, EFFECTIVE MARCH
4, 2014; PROMOTION: NOORAZRA, FROM PART-TIME
MATERIALS SHELVER, ACCESS SERVICES, TO PART-TIME
MATERIALS HANDLER, ACCESS SERVICES, EFFECTIVE
FEBRUARY 28, 2014; TERMINATION: ATHENS MORENO,
FULL-TIME BOOKMOBILE ASSISTANT, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, EFFECTIVE MARCH 24, 2014; STATUS
CHANGE: CARL CUTLER, FROM PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME
BOOKMOBILE ASSISTANT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
EFFECTIVE MARCH 25, 2014.
The motion passed unanimously.
BILLS
A motion was made by Mrs. Hunter, seconded by Mrs. Greer:
MOTION:
THAT THE SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVE THE BILLS, SUBJECT TO AUDIT.
The motion passed unanimously.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
�3
USAGE----Circulation in February was down nearly 6% from the same month last year,
but last winter was mild and this winter has been one of the worst on record. Use of
digital books and audio books more than doubled from last February, still amounting to
only 5.5% of total adult circulation. More resource sharing continues to be done through
LINK.in than traditional ILL. Other usage indicators such as the Gate Count, volume of
questions, reference questions, and computer use were also down. Use of self-check is
up, accounting for more than 40% of total circulation. Use of electronic databases was up
5%, with the number of users up by 16% and 18% more logged sessions.
REALIGNMENT----This past month, we implemented the Call Center for handling most
incoming calls to the Library and the use of the V ocera communications system for more
readily summoning staff to where they are needed. Both systems are working quite well,
although some small glitches have been encountered as may be expected. There have also
been some real success stories in getting help from security quickly and reducing the
number of calls handled by staff at service desks. We will continue to refme the systems.
TURNING POINT TOWN HALL MEETING----The annual Turning Point Town Hall
Meeting on mental health needs and services was held in the Petty Auditorium February
21. The Meeting was well attended by elected officials including the Mayor,
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Representative Laura Fine, Cook County Board
member Larry Suffredin and others. Speakers found encouragement in the inclusion of
mental health benefits in insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Group homes in
Skokie are functioning well and generally supported by neighbors. There is concern
about renewal of the State income tax increase for early 2015.
ILA LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST-----The annual ILA Legislative Breakfast in Ruffalo
Grove was well attended in spite of new snowfall that morning. Mrs. Anthony sat with
State Senator Daniel Biss who talked about the pension reform enacted by the Legislature
this past year. Challenges to the reform are expected to be heard by the courts. There was
a lot of expression of appreciation for public libraries and their assistance in helping
individuals and communities get through recent economic hard times.
POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH ERIE HEALTH CENTER----Some staff and Mrs.
Anthony met with representatives from the Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center and
Northwestern's Global Studies initiative regarding a possible program with Northwestern
undergraduates receiving training to provide community information regarding health
care semces in the Library. Some staffhad a tour ofthe new Erie Clinic this week.
�4
COMING TOGETHER IN SKOKIE----Coming Together in Skokie ended on a very high
note with the visit by author Sung Woo. Accompanied by his wife, he read and spoke at
both high schools as well as at the Library where he was interviewed by Deputy Director
Richard Kong. Students at the high schools served two wonderful luncheons ofKorean
food, coached by a professional Korean chef. It was gratifying to read Sung Woo's
comment "Never have .I felt such pride as a Korean and an American than in Skokie,
Illinois." Ninety percent of those completing evaluations of the Coming Together
programs indicated that they were not of Korean heritage. Seventy five per cent read or
planned to read the featured title Everything Asian. Half indicated that they had attended
Coming Together programs in prior years and half were attending for the first time this
year.
PLA 2014 CONFERENCE----Eleven staff members and Mrs. Anthony attended one or
more days of the PLA 2014 National Conference in Indianapolis March 11- 15. Mrs.
Anthony is pleased to say that the Conference was a big success by all accounts.
Attendance was at least as good as in Philadelphia in 2012. The keynoter Bryan
Stevenson was lauded by many as the best speaker they have heard at a PLA or ALA
conference. He spoke movingly about continuing injustice in the justice system and the
persistence of racism in our country while acknowledging the role of public librarians in
serving people on the margins of society. Several other TED talk speakers were featured
in the Big Ideas series which was a new part of PLA and well received. The preconferences and program sessions were all well attended as was the conference reception.
While Mrs. Anthony has continuing responsibilities through the end of her term as
President June 30, it was gratifying to preside over such a successful national conference
for PLA. In addition to introducing various speakers, Mrs. Anthony was a presenter at a
program about the LibraryAware Award the Library received in 2013. Mrs. Anthony also
gave three press interviews including serving as a guest on a local radio program. Mrs.
Anthony had lunch with authors Richard Ford, Jane Pauley, Craig Johnson and Lisa
Unger.
Mrs. Anthony also had the opportunity to participate in The Aspen Institute Dialogue on
Public Libraries at PLA 2014. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the
Aspen Institute Dialogue on Public Libraries is a 34-member working group oflibrary
and non-library stakeholders which held two meetings in 2013. The purpose of the
meeting at PLA was to have two small groups of invited public librarians react to a draft
document developed by The Aspen Institute exploring the question "What do we want
for our communities and how can public libraries help us get there?" Some major roles
�5
appear to be helping communities adapt to the digital age, enabling libraries to better
educate and empower the next generation, and ensuring that communities address
changing demographics and advance the common good. Experimentation, collaboration,
and engagement are seen as key elements of there-imagined public library. Networks of
people and knowledge, not collections ofbooks, are at the heart of the proposed library
which will create great public spaces, both physical and virtual. Programs and services
will reach beyond the walls of the library. Relationships will be established with authors,
publishers and innovative partners in the knowledge economy. Investment in leadership
and professional development will be called for.
FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR LIBRARIES----The President's budget request for IMLS for
2015 is $2 million less than the $180.9 million enacted by Congress for the 2014 Fiscal
Year, but $2.5 million more than the President called for in his FY 2014 budget. No
funds for school libraries were included, but the President mentioned the need for better
broadband access for "our schools and libraries." IMLS has early learning, civic literacy
networks, and STEM as major priorities for grant programs this year.
PROPOSED BUDGET FY 2014-2015
Mrs. Anthony distributed a draft of the proposed budget for the Operating Fund for FY
2014-2015. IMRF has been separated out from FICA and includes the additional
$65,000. to pay back the Village for funds they have advanced in order to eliminate
interest on the graduated increase in IMRF payments.
Later in the meeting, Teri Room will present proposed new budget categories for
collection spending that will help the Board track spending on digital materials vs.
traditional formats.
Most anticipated building repairs can be incorporated within the Maintenance of
Buildings & Grounds line. Capital expense is anticipated for strengthening the fence
support on the south side of the Library and replacement of the HVAC automated
monitoring system~ The Bookmobile was purchased in 2000 so it is now fourteen years
old. Mrs. Anthony will propose that we look to replace it in FY 2016. The Library van
was purchased in 2003 and so far is holding up well.
Next month, we will have recommendations from the Management Association of Illinois
regarding any scale adjustments occasioned by recent changes in organizational structure
and position descriptions. The Board can also consider at that time the level of increase
for staff at the time of their annual review. Staff not at top of sale have been eligible for
increases of2% in recent years.
�6
The Operating Budget for FY 2015 will need to be approved by the Board at the April
meeting.
Brief discussion followed.
APPROVAL OF COST OF LABOR ADJUSTMENT FOR STAFF
Last month, Mrs. Anthony distributed the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
showing a 1.1% annual increase in wages and salaries for state and local government
workers for calendar 2013. It has been the Board's practice to use this report in
determining an across-the-board adjustment to the salary sale for the following Fiscal
Year.
The proposed salary scale for FY 2014-2015 with the 1.1% adjustment across the scale
was distributed. Mrs. Anthony asked the Board to approve this scale adjustment.
Typically, all staff would receive the 1.1% adjustment at the beginning of the new Fiscal
Year. Because we have created a number of new positions and departments, we asked the
Management Association of Illinois to review our positions and grades and to benchmark
them against comparable positions in other area libraries. In the case of technical,
custodial, and clerical positions, MAl has looked beyond libraries to a broader
government and private sector range of employers. Mrs. Anthony will bring their
recommendations to the Board in April. Preliminary fmdings indicate that most of our
positions are already at an appropriate range. Some positions will need adjustment.
Nevertheless, this base adjustment ofscalewill provide an up-to-date view ofthe ranges
for consideration of any further adjustment as indicated for some positions.
In the case of a downward adjustment of a position, an employee's current pay would not
be reduced, but they would not get the 1.1% increase if their pay is found to be beyond
the range of the new, recommended scale.
After discussion, a motion was made by Mrs. Hunter, seconded by Mr. O'Keefe:
MOTION:
THAT THE SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVE A 1.1% COST OF LABOR ADJUSTMENT TO THE
LIBRARY SCALE. IN THE CASE OF A DOWNWARD
ADJUSTMENT OF A POSITION ON THE NEW SCALE, AN
EMPLOYEE'S CURENT PAY WOULD NOT BE REDUCED BUT
THEY WOULD NOT GET THE 1.1% INCREASE IF THEIR PAY IS
FOUND TO BE BEYOND THE RANGE OF THE NEW,
RECOMMENDED SCALE.
�7
The roll call vote for approval was unanimous.
APPROVAL OF RESOURCES SELECTION POLICY
State law requires that the Board review the Resources Selection Policy every two years.
Since it was last reviewed in March, 2012, an updated version was distributed for the
Board's consideration. The Library Mission has been updated to reflect the Strategic Plan
of2013-2016. Staffis not recommending any other changes to the Resources Selection
Policy at this time.
Teri Room, Assistant Department Head, Access Services, came to the Board meeting and
talked about collection issues generally, how the trend to digital formats is changing the
nature of the collection and the Library's buying patterns.
Mrs. Room said that the Library collection is changing with digital content becoming an
increasingly larger part of the collection. While we continue to observe small decreases in
print circulation we conversely see increased usage of eResources. For example,
databases are used much more often for research than our print materials and
downloadable eBook usage has increased by 71% since last year at this time. Usage at
Skokie reflects what we see in society. According to Pew Research, half of American
adults now own a tablet or eReader. People have more choices than ever before for their
reading and information needs. The Library needs to keep pace with these trends.
This new landscape presents a number of challenges. Buying an eBook is not the same as
buying a print book. When we purchase titles through OverDrive, we are really only
buying access to those titles. If we decide to stop our OverDrive subscription, all the titles
we had purchased with them are lost. 3M has a different, and more attractive model.
While we are still purchasing access, if we were to leave 3M, the titles we had bought can
be transferred to a new platfonn, as long as the publishers of those titles agree. To
complicate things further, platforms from vendors such as ebrary have patron-driven
acquisition models where titles are not purchased or leased until requested. Most of the
materials on these platforms are quite academic but may have some usefulness for our
library in meeting the long-tail needs of our patrons. And finally, some publishers
continue to be unwilling to sell digital content to libraries at all. 20% of the current New
York Times bestsellers (fiction and nonfiction) are not available for us to purchase as
eBooks. One of those publishers, Scholastic Books, will allow us access with 3M,
something other libraries don't yet have, if we are willing to put a "Buy it now" button on
our catalog record.
After discussion, Mrs. Greer made a motion, seconded by Dr. Maks:
�8
MOTION:
THAT THE SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVE PUTTING A 'BUY IT NOW' BUTTON ON LIBRARY
CATALOG RECORDS SO PURCHASE OF EBOOKS FROM
SCHOLASTIC BOOKS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
The motion passed unanimously.
The ways in which these new materials are accessed vary as well. Some eBooks are
downloadable and can be put on an eReader, tablet, mobile device, or computer. Others
are accessed via an online platform. Users are linked to that platform and read the book
live via the Internet. Some A V content like music and video is streamed live, while other
content can be downloaded.
Given these complexities and the speed with which things change, it is difficult to know
how to plan for the Library collection. As a result, we are considering a shift in how we
prepare our materials budget. Because the lines of Books, AV, and Electronic Resources,
and Periodicals are no longer so clear cut, we propose a different breakdown. The new
categories would be Physical Books/A V /Periodicals, Leased Books/A V /Periodicals,
Research Databases, and Learning Platforms.
•
Physical Books/AV/Periodicals would be anything we purchase in a physical
format, be it a book, a DVD, a game, or a puppet.
•
Leased Books/A V /Periodicals would include content to which we purchase access,
whether it is a downloadable book that can be checked out one user at a time, a book
read from an electronic platform available to many users at once, or a platform for
streaming music and videos.
•
Research Databases would include our online reference and article databases.
•
Learning Platforms would be for those products that allow patrons to teach
themselves a new skill, a category we anticipate will grow.
After lengthy discussion, Mr. Prosperi asked that the Board review the Library's
Computer Use Policy at the April meeting in particular the policy as to what children can
view online.
A motion was made by Mrs. Hunter, seconded by Mrs. Rich:
MOTION:
THAT THE SKOKIE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVE THE RESOURCES SELECTION POLICY WHICH
REFLECTS THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF 2013-2016.
The motion passed unanimously.
�9
QUARTERLY REPORT ON eBOOKS
•
The Library now has an additional eBook platform, 3M Cloud Library. Checking out
eBooks from 3M is easier than with OverDrive. We anticipate this will be our
preferred platform going forward. We will continue to get OverDrive as it still
provides us access to eBooks for the Kindle and eAudiobooks.
•
We decided not to contract for Baker & Taylor's Axis360, another eBook platform. It
was not that easy to use and all of the same materials are available via 3M.
•
We are planning to purchase access to Hoopla, a platform from Midwest Tapes that
provides access to videos, music, and audiobooks. With this model, there is no
platform fee and the Library pays per use. Patrons are able to either stream the
content or download to a tablet or mobile device.
•
The Library has formed an internal eWorkgroup to determine which new digital
content products to provide to the public, looking at cost, usage, and promotion.
eBooks Circulation
February 2014
Percentage change
eBooks from OverDrive
1855 checkouts
2126 checkouts
Up 15%
eAudiobooks from
OverDrive
337 checkouts
611 checkouts
Up 81% ·
eBooks from Tumblebooks
241 book views
712 book views
Up 195%
Zinio
304 clicks
310 clicks
Up2%
eReaders
•
February 2013
40 checkouts
21 checkouts
Down 52%
The checkouts for the pre-filled Kindles are down by more than half, even though
new titles have been added recently. It's possible that most readers of downloadable
books have now purchased a device themselves. We'll. continue to monitor these
statistics and see if we want to continue this service. The Kindles might be used to
provide digital copies of our Book Discussion books along with the print copies.
REACHING ACROSS ILLINOIS LIBRARY SYSTEM (RAILS)
Mrs. Parrilli reported on the highlights from the Febmary 28, 2014 Board ofDirectors
meeting held at the Burr Ridge Service Center. The following information was taken
from the RAILS March 5 eNewsletter, the meeting's agenda, and supporting Board
documents:
�10
Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Jim Kreger reported that the cash and investment balance
as of January 31, 2014, was $15,800,000. The balance reflected just over twenty months
of operating revenue.
Executive Director Report: As featured in the RAILS eNewsletter, Dee Brennan, in her
"State of the System" report, mentioned the accomplishments during her fourteen months
as Executive Director. Most notable was the kick-off of the eREAD Illinois program. As
ofDecember2013, this program through a grant from the Illinois State Library, includes
295 participating libraries serving a population of over 3.1 million users throughout the
state with a collection of 10,829 items and growing. Staff remains focused on expanding
continuing education and consulting services, as well as the completion oftheir Strategic
Plan.
Ms. Brennan asked for approval on new procedures on the yearly evaluation of the
Executive Director and for filling Board vacancies between elections.
The Board approved the Strategic Plan as presented by staff. Member libraries can view
the entire Plan on the RAILS website.
The sale of the Geneva Service Center was finalized. Also approved by the Board were
two leaseback agreements for the East Peoria delivery services.
Delivery Report: Outsourcing delivery at the Burr Ridge Service Center is still
experiencing "major difficulties,'' due to the severe weather in the area and drivers
unfamiliar with routes.
Employee Retention Incentive Plan: Staff have proposed an employee awards program
and asked for Board approval. This program would consist ofthree parts:
•
Birthday Recognition, affecting 43 employees with five or more years of service by
the end ofDecember 2014
•
Employee Referral Program, cash reward or paid time off for employees who refer
new hires who remain in the job for 180 days or more
•
Years of Service Program, for employees who work 20 hours or more, ranging from
$200 for 10 years of service to $1,000 for 50 years or more. This program would cost
$8,043 for FY2014.
(Mrs. Parrilli was unable to view the videotape for the Board's discussion and votes. Mrs.
Parrilli will report on the outcome at a future date.)
Next meeting: Friday, March 28, Burr Ridge Service Center
�11
Next month Mrs. Anthony will provide information on the recently released report on
delivery services.
COMMENTS FROM TRUSTEES
There were no comments from trustees.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:36p.m. a motion was made by Mrs. Rich, seconded by Mrs. Greer to adjourn the
regular ;neeting. .Jh~otio~ pas~ed unanimously.
~M{;f~g
/'
-v .
F/.aren Parrilli, Secretary
�
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Minutes, Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Skokie Public Library. Board of Trustees
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Parrilli, Karen (Secretary)
Description
An account of the resource
Includes discussion of Proposed Budget FY 2014-2015
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
3/19/2014
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
PDF
11 p.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Public Libraries -- Illinois -- Skokie
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LBM20140319.pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL
Language
A language of the resource
eng
2000s (2000-2009)
Medium
The material or physical carrier of the resource.
Serial publication, paper document
2010s
budget
library board meetings