HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-28 MinutesFayetteville Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
February 28, 2000
Prepared by Louise Schaper
Trustees present were M. Thomas, L. Gottsponer, L. Brewer, S. Singleton, R. Alexander, B. Schaffer and M. Roberts.
Staff members present were L. Schaper, C. Rew, L. Greenwood, S. Thomas, P. Lawrence. Also present were. Jim
Foster, Jeff Scherer, and Charlie Allison (Morning News). The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m.
M. Roberts moved and S. Singleton seconded to approve the minutes' of the 1/17/00 and 2/7/00 meetings;
and corrected minutes of the 12/20/99 meeting. All voted aye with corrections on the 12/20/99 minutes
and the 2/7/00 special meeting.
II. Status of Board position L. Gottsponer welcomed Beverly Bassett Schaffer as a new Trustee, replacing
- Marty Goff. L. Schaper pointed out the new list of Trustees in the packet.
III. Directors Report: (1) L. Schaper explained that Innovative's Web Access Management will allow database
access from home with the use of the patron's library card bar code number and a pin number of their
choice. It is the same pin number that is used for renewals, holds and viewing one's own record. (2) L.
Schaper identified the changes in fines and fees and explained that the decrease in the maximum fines was
to increase the return rate of materials. (3) L. Schaper did not know how many non -County residents pay
for cards but C. Rew said she has noticed the number increasing since staff have enforced the requirements
for a free card. (4) L. Schaper said she forgot to mention a six hour power outage preceeding the 2.5 days
of dosing due to the snow storm in her monthly report. (5) L. Schaper explained that card registrations are
down in '00 for an unknown reason. The 1999 number were down due to 1998 being inflated from re -
registration at the time of automation. However, actual number of people checking out materials is up.by
498 over December of 1999. (6) Trustees would like to have the individual line items completed for each
measure.
M. Financial Report: (1) C. Rew presented the new, easier to read budget format. She said everything was
on -track except books because of the carry over bills from 1999 orders. (2) She explained that she included
the updated budget for the City; this document reconciles the City budget request with the actual amounts
allocated to the Library by the City. (3) L. Schaper and M. Thomas updated the Board about the
Foundation The Foundation Board voted to (a) move the Otwell funds from Bank of Fayetteville to Merrill
Lynch and (b) have C. Rew do the preliminary work for the IRS tax return and Bob Christianson, CPA, do the
final work. M. Roberts moved and L..Brewer seconded a motion to amend the contract with The North
Group for the feasibility study; all voted aye. This amendment will replace Halsey North with Bill "Mitch"
Mitchell as one of the on-site consultants. Bill Mitchell is the founding director of the Walton Arts Center.
V. Service Reports: Children's: L. Greenwood and J. Scherer shared feedback about the meeting with the 18
pre-schoolers and their moms earlier that day. The children wanted more materials, to be able to reach
them and see them easily, and to have a space that is unique to them. The moms were concerned about
security, safety, and not having computers as the central focus. Public Services: S. Thomas said he hired a
part-time network administrator, Larry Irvin. Also, he noted his and Cathy's effort to improve the discounts
from our book supplier; the new shelving in genealogy; and the State teacher's award won by Lana Clark,
the Fayetteville teacher who teaches computer classes in the Computer Center. He said that the Gates
Foundation has responded rapidly to the letter sent by L. Schaper. A new server and new internal
components for each PC will be sent very soon. Volunteer Services: P. Lawrence said the UA student
registration effort (organized by UA volunteers and FPL staff member Shawn Walker) was successful and
worth doing again.
Vi. Lease agreement. L. Schaper presented the revised lease but said Carl Koffler, President, WCLS, would
only sign it if item number ten was removed. L. Schaper said item 10 appeared to be a holdover from some
old issue and wasn't needed. M. Thomas moved and M. Roberts seconded a motion to approve the lease
without item ten. All voted aye.
VII. Budding Expansion discussion with Jeff Scherer, Principal Architect, Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle LTD and
Jim Foster, Project Architect, Foster Witsell Evans & Rasco. The main points are below:
1. Scherer showed images of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and requested response.
Alexander asked if a similar building could be done with less costly materials. Schaper did not like the
small columns closely spaced in that it read like a wall and hid the glazing. She did like the clerestory
glazing. Singleton noted the human scale detailing and loggia were appealing. Like the generous
landscape but Scherer noted the library is in an urban setting. Roof overhangs and solar shielding of
clerestory glazing were appealing.
FPL Board of Trustees Regular Meeting 2/28/00
2. The group was asked to take a personal preference test indicating where each would be in terms of
familiar or unfamiliar form and risky or not risky architecture. Seven were between familiar form and
risky four in the familiar / not risky quadrant and three in the unfamiliar / risky quadrant.
3. Singleton expressed the concern that discussion is now a matter of style rather than form. He does
not feel good about the ellipse but voting is related to shape of the roof rather than the ellipse. He
agreed he was feeling uncomfortable about being penned into a corner. He felt one of the initial
schemes with an undulating curved wall was more appealing. Scherer noted that resolving this
concern will not occur before the vote unless the architect's agreement is changed to complete design
before the vote.
4. Whether to continue as planned and interrupt the design process before funding was considered. It
was resolved to do so but take care to explain that the designs being shown will change. Also state
the values that will not change (functionality, views, reverence for trees, urban nature of building,
sustainability).
S. Concern was expressed that the curvilinear form would impact function and flexibility. Scherer
assured that this would not be the case. Schaper agreed the plan works very well.
6. Most board members indicated they could support the design as presented 2/8/00. A concern was
expressed that the front entry be made obvious. A vote on roof form by the attendees indicated
option K was first, 13 was second and A, G, N tied for third..
VIII. Issue of children not picked -up before closing. This issue was briefly presented. It was suggested that a
fee be set for each minute past closing that the child was not picked -up. The item was tabled for the next
meeting.
'Adjournment: L. Brewer moved and B. Schaffer seconded a motion to adjourn. The meeting was
adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
FPL Board of Trustees Regular Meeting 2/28/00