The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1990-05-14 MinutesBoard of Trustees Meeting Fayetteville Public Library May ilj, 1990 Present: Board Members Camilla Crouch, Bobbye Hay, Charles Kirchen, Foster Park, Carol Phillips; Library Director Linda Harrison; Ozarks Regional Director Karen Duree; Fayette- ville Library staff member June Jefferson President Bobbye Hay called the meeting to order at 11.:00 p.m. The minutes for the regular April 9 meeting were approved as circulated. Library Director Harrison commented briefly on the Statistical and Financial reports for April and answered several questions about April ledger items. She noted that about thirty people attended the April 25 reading by author Douglas Jones, sponsored by the Friends of the Fayetteville Public Library as part of Library Week activities. Ms. Harrison will check with the City about responsibility for cutting the grass around the MedArk Building while renovation is going on. Ozarks Regional Director Duree reported that the Fayetteville appli- cation for LSCA funds through the Arkansas State Library was approved to the extent of $100,000. The decision was announced after the oral presentation of needs in Little Rock on May 10. President Hay and Fayetteville Director Harrison, who also attended that meeting, were especially complimentary about the presentation of Fayetteville's application by Director Duree and architect Laleh-Amirmoez. Ms. Duree noted that with the complications of paper work and of both state and federal approval, as well as the lengthy projected time frame for renovations (now estimated at 16-20 months from beginning), actual receipt of funds will be at least several months away. In an open discussion of wgys of obtaining the remaining $50,000 for MedArk renovation the Board considered several options, including a :0 est to the City for the additional money needed. But finally it was agreed that the Library's McLucas funds would be the most appro- priate. A motion by Carol Phillips, seconded by Camilla Crouch, to set aside $50,000 of the McLucas First National Bank CD when and if it is needed for the renovation of the MedArk Building and/or the existing Fayetteville Public Library building was approved unanimously. President Hay will write a letter to the Arkansas State Library committing this needed extra money, in accordance with LSCA grant requirements. President Hay reported briefly on her attendance at a special budget meeting of the Fayetteville City Board on the morning of May 8. Although no full presentation of Library needs was possible, President Hay was assured that we would tet a hearing at the next budget meeting, perhaps before the end of this month. President Hay and Director Harrison will also attend a meeting with City officials on Friday, May 18, to discuss the sometimes tangled relationship between the Library and the City administrative organi- zation. Uncertainties about our place in the City organization and difficulties in communication need to be resolved. President Hay will page 2 Minutes of May 14, 1990 continue to keep City Manager Scott Linebaugh informed about Library needs and activities. Director Harrison announced that City of Fayetteville Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance costs have been raised again, by 14%. Some City employees have voted to pay part of this themselves, but problems remain for the Library in handling this increase within our diminished budget. A survey now under way of cities comparable to Fayetteville and their library -city organizational arrangements may help in developing plans. Since insurance deductions (to reflect the increases) need to be made from salaries at the end of May, Camilla Crouch moved, with a second -from Carol Phillips, that Director Harrison be authorized to pay from Library funds the increase for the month of May if the City budget process has not been finally resolved. The motion was approved unanimously. The Board will consider insurance increases further at its: June meeting. Ms. Harrison requested Board approval to promote Glenda Brooks and Rebecca Goff to Librarian 1 positions (involving hourly raises from $5.5o to $6.1.0) retroactively. to May 1. A motion by Carol Phillips, seconded by Charles Kirchen, to approve this request was passed unanimously. President Hay asked the Board to consider whether more formal policies: need to be developed about Library acknowledgment of gifts and about the appropriate initiative in getting publicity (the giver or the Library?) for gifts, especially sizable ones. It was agreed that prompt acknow- ledgment of gifts (within a week certainly) is necessary and that we encourage givers of sizable gifts to initiate plans for publicity. Secretary Park will write a letter of appreciation to Ozarks Director Duree and her staff for their thoughtfulness in staffing the Fayetteville Library for part of the morning of May 7 so that Fayetteville staff could attend the: funeral of Dr. Timothy Donovan. The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Foster Park, Secretary