ARNOLDS PARK LIBRARY BOARD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015
5:00 P.M.
The Arnolds Park Library Board met Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in the Arnolds Park Library.
Members present were Joyce Burgeson, Robb Keizer, Barb Woodley, Diana Jensen and Library Director, Kara Rice. Absent was Mitch Brown.
The minutes of April 6, 2015 were read and approved.
Rice reported on the upcoming summer reading program with a Super Hero theme. 18 children are signed up already. She has placed a news article in the Lakes News Shopper, Dickinson County News and on Dickco Cable. She has also given copies to the elementary school to be sent home with students and to Moms for Tots. Rice will meet with the City Council members to share the program details with them and also graphs showing the marked increase in library material check outs from 2014 to 2015.
Burgeson said there has also been an increase in book club attendance.
Rice advised she plans to take the last course she needs to become a Certified Public Library Director. It is an 8 week course starting in June.
Rice has been contacted by someone needing volunteer hours. There is a book section that needs to be cleaned and dusted, so the board agreed to the request.
New library software: Rice got a price quote on the Atriuum software which is $1900 to upgrade. She will get more specifics. The board members were in favor of proceeding with the upgrade.
Computer filters and virus software: Rice said there is a program called “Deep Freeze” which reverts a computer back to its prior settings after client use. She looked into one firewall software that would be $1,000 to $1,500 per month. The library can sign up with AVG for virus protection for $3.00 per computer per month. The filter would be a flat rate of approximately $600 to $700 per year. She is waiting for the final quote. After discussion, Keizer moved to approve the AVG virus protection and the filter at an estimate of $600 per year. Burgeson seconded. All aye.
Staffing Change: One of the part time employees is leaving. Kara, Grace, and Deb will continue to cover the staff duties.
Library director position – salary or hourly: The director position is currently paid hourly. Rice said there has been some discussion if this should be changed to salary. The city department heads are salaried. She passed out a comparison of the wage rates. The only problem with hourly is any overtime worked is not figured into the library budget. The board members agreed to have Rice see what the city feels about this and to review and discuss again next month.
Rice presented a year to date budget report for 2015 that shows an unexpended total of $20,845. There should be no problem paying the bills through end of fiscal year.
Library Wish List: Rice said one computer is out of memory. She would recommend purchase of a new one and use the old one for a card catalog for patrons. Burgeson moved to purchase a new public computer. Keizer seconded. All aye.
Bills were presented for May 2015 in the amount of $1,979.77. Rice said she had cut back on some of the kids magazines that were rarely checked out. There being no questions on other items, Keizer moved to accept the bills as presented. Burgeson seconded. All aye.
There was a discussion of the handling of rated R movie check-outs. Rice said for those under 17 years old, she advises the patron the library policy is the same as a theater. Anyone under 17 years old must have a parent’s permission.
The next meeting will be June 10, 2015.
Barbara Woodley
Secretary