HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-16 MinutesFayetteville Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
June 16, 2014, 4 pm
Minutes
Prepared by S. Daniel, Office Manager
Library Board of Trustees present: K. Agee, S. Clark, B. Boudreaux, M. Rice, C. Adams, H. Garner. Library Board of
Trustees absent: S. Graham.
Foundation Board of Directors present: D. Russell, S. Overbey, N. Olmstead, J. Butt, G. Faucette, M. Sharkey.
Foundation Board of Directors absent: B. Gearhart, I. Uth.
Staff present: D. Johnson, S. Foley, S. Daniel, S. Palmer, S. Davis, B. Holt, C. Moody, L. Greenwood, W. Fitzgibbon, 1-1.
Robideaux, D. Wax, S. Houk, L. Yandell, G. Jelinek
Others: Jim Blair, Jeffrey Scherer of Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle via Skype, V. Chadick
Press: Joel Walsh, Todd Gill
K. Agee thanked departing trustee C. Adams for his service. M. Rice thanked departing Circulation
Services Manager D. Wax for her service.
IL The Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 4:03 pm by K. Agee.
Ill. Honored guest, Jim Blair, proclaimed the expansion a great opportunity. While the cost might scare some,
his observation has been that projects in NWA Arkansas are consistently under -built. The day the bypass
opened, traffic exceeded projections for 10 years out. The telephone company repeatedly underestimated
phone service needs in Springdale by 50% or more. Had the Walton Arts Center been built larger initially,
there'd be no need for another in Bentonville. Blair encouraged the board to, "Go for broke, and don't
leave out anything, Build a library for a town of 120,000 people. Be bold, brave and courageous. Swing
for the fence."
IV. Minutes of April 21, 2014: M. Rice moved to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2014 regular meeting;
B. Boudreaux seconded, All voted AYE.
V. Reports: Per agenda, not discussed.
VI. Old business
A. Report of Nominating Committee: S. Clark reported the committee's recommendations: K, Agee to
remain as president, B. Boudreaux to become vice-president, M. Rice to continue as treasurer and H.
Garner to become secretary. M. Rice moved to approve the nominating committee's recommendations;
K. Agee seconded. All voted AYE.
B. Update on the purchase of City Hospital property: Vince Chadick reported the library should have clear
title to the property by its next meeting in August.
C. Expansion: Next steps: D. Johnson summarized the retreat held May 6, 2014 noting the closing
question was, "What is the IT being proposed for expansion?"
Jeffrey Scherer reviewed some decisions to consider at this stage of the process. Nationwide, volumes
per capita are dropping as quality and display of the collection, not its size, bring people to a library,
AV material is the biggest wild card as technology is changing so quickly. Other wild cards are the
number and kind of computer workstations as well as the content of non -print collections.
FPL is out performing every library MS&R measured. Circulation is high and volumes per capita are
high.
Square footage per capita is less important than how an area is used. The goal is to tailor space to
allow for things that develop unexpectedly — to look beyond the traditional library to accommodate
change. The multi-purpose room/auditorium may need to be larger. It will be designed with high
quality seating easily moved to accommodate — for example - a dance, lecture, robotics competition or
banquet, The expansion will include special use space; for instance, there may be a FedEx office in
the building. While the caf6 will stay the same, space for art exhibits will increase. All of this would
require an additional 80,000 square feet. Only half of the 4 acre city hospital parcel is slated for this
expansion. However, the additional two acres might be used for overflow parking, if necessary.
The options are to expand on the current site or on both the current site and the city hospital property.
Expanding over Rock Street includes a "library bridge" which would be nontraditional space. The
bridge could include space for making films, publishing books, or creating projects with 3D printers. A
plaza, the size of the Fayetteville Square, is incorporated into the plan, as well as a green roof that
could be used for future expansion.
The Universities of Michigan and Florida have studied library R01 and determined it is from $2.7 to $7
for each $1 invested.
file auditorium, better termed the multipurpose space, will be an important part of the expansion, but
may present challenges in public perception. People get information in many different ways, and it is
important to note the programming enabled by such a space represents active, not passive, learning.
It represents an effective way to connect people with information. Library planning has changed from
the conventional to adapting to the changing needs of the community. The point of the multipurpose
space in particular and the expansion in general is to create flexible space that can change over time
as patron needs change.
An inventory of meeting spaces in Washington County revealed none that are free and few that can
accommodate programming. Neither the UA nor the high school make their space available to the
public; FPI_ is one of a few that does. Adding public spaces could make the library more central to the
life of the community. Feedback suggests that people are foregoing library programs because file
space is too crowded, or the parking is inadequate.
Branches may be part of file future, but there is time to consider them after this expansion. People
generally won't drive more than 15 minutes to the library. What has been referred to as, 'the mayor's
box," a perimeter of main thoroughfares, has kept drive time for all citizens within this window. As the
town grows further, branches may be desirable.
Scherer summarized with the following 5 questions for the board and citizenry:
1. I -low big? What scale?
2. Phases?
i. future needs (branches)?
4. I -low to use remaining 2 acres?
5, Budget: Is it too daunting?
H. Garner moved to commit, as a minimum, to the full expansion. Over the next G months, if the need
for additional parking or auditorium space arises, these could be added. M. Rice seconded. All voted
AYE.
H. Garner moved to adjourn; S. Clark seconded. All voted AYE. Meeting adjourned at 5:11 pm
He�she Garner, Secretary Date �,`_„