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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-15 - Agendas - FinalFAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY Beyond Words Lorraine Brewer, President Beverly Schaffer, Vice -President Elizabeth Jordan, Treasurer Board of Trustees February 15, 2010 4 pm Regular Meeting AGENDA Ann Henry Board Room Mike Malone, Secretary Suzanne Clark I. Call to order II. Minutes A. Approval of minutes 1. January 18, 2010 regular meeting — page 2-3 B. Signed minutes 1. October 19, 2009 regular meeting — page 4 Dan Ferritor Marla Hunt III. Reports A. Management reports 1. December -January strategic plan progress — page 5-6 2. January 2010 performance measures — page 7 3. Chart of the meeting: City Quarterly Report — page 8-12 B. Financial reports 1. January 2010 budget comparison — page 13 2. January 2010 balance sheet — page 14-15 3. January 2010 profit and loss — page 16-17 IV. Unfinished business A. Teen area expansion plans — page 18-19 V. New business A. Staff presentation: Expanding Access: Text -a -Librarian & Library2Go: M. Raine B. Staff presentation: NEH Challenge Grant Status Report: S. Foley VI. Adjournment VII. Executive session VIII. Attachments A. Key upcoming events B. Projected 2010 meeting agendas C. Director Survey Response D. Assorted "Thank You" notes E. "Kirkus Reviews R.I.P." F. "Library System Proposes Service Cuts, Cites Tax Ruling" G. Assorted FPL press H. "Libraries: How They Stack Up" Fayetteville Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting January 18, 2010 Minutes Prepared by S. Terry, Communications Manager Board Members present: L. Brewer, S. Clark, D. Ferritor, M. Malone, B. Schaffer. Absent: M. Hunt and E. Jordan. Staff present: S. Foley, M. Raine, C. Rew, S. Terry and S. Thorup. Press: S. Descant, Northwest Arkansas Times. I. The Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by L. Brewer. II. Approval of minutes. S. Clark made a motion to approve minutes from the October 19 meeting. All voted aye. III. Reports. A.) Management reports — S. Thorup announced that M. Raine is serving as interim Director of Operations until a full time person is hired. M. Raine announced the Text -a -Librarian service, which allows patrons to text questions from their cell phones. The texts will be answered by librarians. Raine also said the library has added 10 laptops for home check out. Raine said the library will switch from NetLibrary to Overdrive in February, which will make it easier to download audiobooks. Raine noted the library is kicking off the 41h annual Cover to Cover Reading Festival on February 6. S. Foley said the library has recently added "Donate Now" buttons to the website as well as a feature that allows people to join Friends of the Library online. Foley said the Foundation mailed out its first fundraising piece in fall 2009, which raised a significant amount of money. The first fundraising piece of 2010 will be mailed February 25. Foley said the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Walker Foundation and the Care Foundation have all recently made donations to the library to fund programming. Foley said the library has met the NEH Challenge Grant of $435,000 that is due January 31, 2010. Performance Measures — S. Thorup noted that the library checked out more than 1 million items in 2009 for the second year in a row. Thorup said the 68 percent of check outs in December were done with the self check machines — the highest number recorded. Also, cardholders were up more than 10 percent in 2009. The library is at the highest number of cardholders it has ever had. Thorup also noted the held item service increased almost 19 percent in 2009. B.) Financial Report — C. Rew said the executive director typically moves funds around in December if they have not been expended. Rew said 46 percent of the year end expenditures were for materials in 2009. IV. Unfinished Business. A.) Space Study Report Memo — S. Thorup noted that the study was initiated last year to address crowding in the Young Adult section. The building's original architect Jeff Scherer with Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle was hired to do an overall building study. M. Raine mentioned that the space study pointed to several areas that need to be addressed, including enlarging the computer lab, making the service desks more customer -friendly and creating a more appealing entrance from the parking garage. The main reason for the study was to address crowding in the teen area. Raine said the teen collection continues to grow. Teens need space to collaborate more effectively, to access technology and to house books — their interest in reading is growing. Thorup suggested hiring MS&R to create a detailed plan for enlarging the teen area, which is proposed to be moved to the first floor ellipse area. Moving the Young Adult section would create a vacancy on the second floor and displace a portion of the media / magazine section on the first floor. Thorup asked for permission to hire MS&R to develop plans for how to rearrange the space. Money for the space study could come from The Dr. and Mrs. Harry C. Otwell Fund, this fund was received from the Dr. and Mrs. Harry C. Otwell estate in 1997, with no expenditures made from it to date, approximately $250,000 is currently available for expenditure. When plans for rearranging the building are ready, they would be brought to the board and the public. This item was tabled until the next Board meeting. V. New business. A.) 2010 Objectives — S. Thorup said the 2010 objectives were created through a manager -led SWOT analysis with the entire staff. Thorup said her focus is improving the collections and increasing material per capita spending for collections. Thorup also emphasized creating more original content for the library's website and progress toward sustainable funding via the NEH Challenge Grant. B.) 2010 Budget Approval: C. Rew said city sales tax has been down and the City Council has voted to freeze wages, which both effect FPL. Funding for salaries largely remained the same. The items that increased in 2010 budget were utilities and preventative maintenance. Rew said she has concerns about the state aid amount and the city sales tax numbers and continues to monitor those. M. Malone moved to approve. All voted aye. C.) Policy Revision: JC: 2010 Closed Days — M. Raine said the library would like to close Presidents' Day, Monday, February 15 for staff training, including departmental goal setting and a speaker to talk to the entire staff. The library also requested closing early at 4 pm on Tuesday, April 20 to set up for the author Sapphire's talk, which will begin at 7 pm in the media / magazine section. D. Ferritor moved to approve. All voted aye. D.) 2009-2010 Budget Roll Forward: C. Rew requested to roll forward $52,623 for purchases made, but not received in 2009 and $65,360 for the solar test bed grant that was not expended in 2009. S. Clark moved to approve. All voted aye. E.) Additions to Designated Funds for End of Year 2009: C. Rew requested moving $60,011 from 2009 budget into the Building Designated Fund. M. Malone moved to approve. All voted aye. F.) Staff presentation: Reading Roadshow's Books for Borrowing by L. Greenwood & C. Walsh. This expansion of an existing outreach program was created through a Community Development Block Grant. "Books for Borrowing" puts lending libraries in each of the four Head Start Centers in Fayetteville. Greenwood announced the library just received $3,000 from the American Library Association to expand the program to Children's House. The grant pays for a book shelf and books to be housed at each center. Program teaches students the basics of the lending library concept. VI. Adjournment: B. Schaffer moved to adjourn. All voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m. VII. Executive Session: D. Ferritor moved to go into executive session at 5:19 p.m. The board came out of executive session at 5:45 p.m. No action was taken. D. Ferritor moved to adjourn. All voted aye. Fayetteville Public Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting October 19, 2009 Minutes Prepared by S. Daniel, Office Manager Board Members present: L. Brewer, D. Ferritor, M. Hunt, E. Jordan, M. Malone. Staff present: S. Daniel, S. Foley, C. Rew, L. Schaper, and S. Thorup. Press: S. Descant, The Morning News and Robin Mero, Northwest Arkansas Times. The Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 4:09 p.m. by L. Brewer. II. Approval of minutes. M. Hunt moved to approve minutes from the August 17 meeting. E. Jordan seconded. All voted aye. M. Hunt moved to approve minutes from the September 21 special meeting. E. Jordan seconded. All voted aye. E. Jordan moved to approve minutes from the special meetings at which no action was taken. M. Hunt seconded. All voted aye. III. Reports. A.) Management Reports - L. Schaper reported that a stool designed by Edward D. Stone is on display in the fireplace room. Larry Foley will begin working on a film about John Lewis. S. Thorup reported lending libraries were installed in Fayetteville Head Start Centers thanks to a CDBG. FPL partnered with Crystal Bridges in a well - attended display. Susan Foley reported in-kind support from a number of businesses. The Friends of FPL will be the lead donor to the NEH ($125,000). The Development Office has been soliciting NEH donations in FPL newsletters (to date, about $3000). We are within $98,000 of reaching the NEH goal for 01/10. Performance Measures - S. Thorup said circ is climbing about 4% monthly, cardholders and holds have increased 11% and 22% respectively over last year, and about 5000 held items are processed every month. B.) Financial Report - C. Rew reported that we are in the same place we usually are in at the end of the year with respect to year end money. C.) Art Committee Report - E. Jordan reported the committee approved a watercolor show by 105 year old Myrtle Laabs. IV. Unfinished Business. A.) Space Study Status - S. Thorup anticipates it will be ready for the next board meeting. V. New business. A.) December Board Meeting: Due to the holidays, the meeting will be moved to January 4, 2010. B.) Disposal of Unused Items: M. Malone moved to approve the staff recommendation: • That the staff be permitted to sell, according to City requirements, any old computers, servers and related hardware; any file cabinets or assorted furniture (with the exception of the Knoll and Herman Miller pieces below) from the old library and any replaced light fixtures from Blair Library. • That the staff may donate the locking cases and book display tables to other public libraries. • That the Knoll Bertoia ottomans and Herman Miller Nelson bench be retained in use and that the Knoll couches and coffee tables be retained until vintage furniture demand returns and expansion plans for the teen area are determined. • That the staff research the value and then sell the broken Bertoia chairs and the Herman Miller molded chairs in accordance with City requirements. M. Hunt seconded. M. Hunt moved to amend the motion so that any items with minimal value can be donated, still according to city requirements, to nonprofit organizations. D. Ferritor seconded. All voted aye. All voted aye on the amended motion. C.) Policy Revisions; JC 2010 Closed Days. Staff requested additional closed hours due to the timing of certain holidays and the need for building maintenance. D. Ferritor moved to approve the recommendation; M. Malone seconded. All voted aye. D.) New Strategic Plan: FPL has been working with Mitchell Communications on an organizational assessment that will tie into the new strategic plan. Once complete, S. Thorup will discuss the development of the new strategic plan with the board. E.) Staff Presentation: Louise Schaper VI. Executive Session: D. Ferritor moved to go into executive session at 5:32 p.m. E. Jordan seconded. The board went into executive session at 5:33 p.m. At 5:45 p.m., the board came out of executive session. D. Ferritor moved to waive the provisions of PA 81 relating to vacation time during the last weeks of employment for L. Schaper. M. Hunt seconded. All voted aye. VII. Adjournment: D. Ferritor moved to adjourn, M. Hunt seconded. All voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 5:49 p.m. VL2 \ L FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY Strategic Plan Progress Report December 2009 - January 2010 Our Mission: To strengthen our community and empower our citizens through free and public access to knowledge. Our Vision: To be powerfully relevant and completely accessible. I. Access: Implement strategies to improve and extend access to library collection and services. a. Hours: NTR b. Facilities: i. Met with Jeffrey Scherer, principal architect, re: teen area expansion plans. ii. Re -set Children's AV section and shifted Easy Reader section. iii. Installed LED Lights in administration, Children's Offices, Story Time room. iv. Completed install of staff meeting room AV and magnetic locks on Ref workroom door. v. Installed washer and dryer and replaced the iced plumbing lines in garage. c. Branches: NTR. d. Website: i. Deployed PayPal functionality for Foundation donations and Friends membership payment. ii. Redesigned teen's and children's web pages and updated the history page. e. Computing and networking resources: i. Completed wireless site survey to determine optimal WiFi layout for Blair Library. ii. Installed new datacenter UPS in server room. Hi. Met with engineers to plan upgrade of backend VoIP phone system hardware. f. Outreach services: i. Developed and began a pilot program for tutoring at -risk Head Start students. ii. Continued Reading Roadshow and outreach story times, as well as Books for Borrowing. iii. Provided over 100 surplus computers to area public libraries and non -profits. II. Collections: Develop collections that are responsive to the needs and demands of its community. a. Adult materials: i. Evaluated collection against 2009 Best Books lists in NY Times and Publishers' Weekly. b. Reference: NTR c. World languages: NTR d. Youth services: i. Relocated DVDs that dealt with parenting and child care issues to the Parenting collection. ii. Continued identifying levels of reading difficulty in the easy reader collection. Hi. Evaluated collection against 2009 School Library Journal's Best Books for Children and Young Adults. e. Nonprint: NTR f. E -collections: i. Procured OverDrive downloadable service to replace NetLibrary. III. Services: Define its essential activities and service levels. a. Programming and events: i. Began a twice monthly Day School Storytime for child care centers & providers. ii. Hosted an Origami Workshop, taught by Eddie Yuen. iii. Began a series of Creative Writing workshops for grades 3 — 5 and grades 6 — 12. iv. Began a Spanish class for children to learn the basics of Spanish. v. Hosted a boy's book club and a Daisy scout troop to educate them on library use. vi. Hosted Mitchell Gold author talk and book signing. vii. Hosted 2nd annual appearance by Ozark Bronze for a holiday concert. viii. Hosted renowned Arkansas photographer Tim Ernst in a book signing of his newest release. ix. Continued Resume Review service twice a month. x. Hosted inaugural session of Green Your Life series with a variety of community partners. xi. Provided reference workshop for two Farmington High School AP English classes. xii. Demonstrated use of three new business databases at Arvest Bank staff meeting. b. Self-service strategies: i. Implemented self pick-up for Interlibrary Loan materials. c. Customer service: i. Implemented Text -A -Librarian reference service. ii. Implemented "Roberta Reader" customized email newsletter service for Fulbright Society members. iii. Installed a receipt printer on the Children's Service Desk to generate guest passes for Kid Tech. iv. Deployed new room reservation booking system using staff intranet. v. Closed 3.5 days and had one late opening due to inclement weather. d. Staffing and volunteers: 1. H. Robideaux completed committee work on the ALA Notable Books Council. ii. C. Walsh completed her MLIS degree through the University of Florida. hi. S. Thorup and Don Marr presented "Building a Regional Green Economy" at the Urban Library Council's Partners Conference. iv. Staff participated in various training, e.g. "Writing a Library Behavior Code," Biography Resource Center database, Foundation Directory Online database and OverDrive's Library2Go. v. Conducted seven phone and one in-person interviews for Director of Operations. Position remains vacant. vi. Accepted practicum student from UCA. vii. Hosted Holiday volunteer party with 65 attendees. viii. Attended Head Start Holiday open house (MB,LG) and KUAF open house (mngt. team) ix. Attended various Fayetteville Forward and Chamber committee meetings. x. Volunteered for Polaris Enhancement Committee and attended Complete Count meeting. (SH) xi. Investigated best practices for book repair, problems with electronic ordering, and problems with competing RFID tags on interlibrary loans. (SH) IV. Visibility and value: Promote the contributions and value of the library to the greater Fayetteville area. a. Marketing plan: i. Working with Mitchell Communications Group to update plan. b. Marketing (visibility) and communications i. Met with area media reps to secure ads, sponsorships and other promotions for 2010. ii. Secured free advertising in Northwest Arkansas Times for 2010. iii. Designed, ordered and received digital signage system. iv. Met with Washington Regional representatives to discuss potential partnership opportunities. v. Appeared on Clear Channel Sunday morning radio show to promote Cover to Cover Kick Off. vi. Secured editorial space in Citiscapes to promote Cover to Cover. vii. Appeared on Ozarks at Large to promote Green Your Life series. viii. Appeared on morning TV to promote holidays at FPL & Green Your Life series. ix. Filmed "Ben at Work" spot for KNWA about a day in the life of a page at FPL. x. Filmed Text -a -Librarian story for KFSM; resulted in dramatic spike in this new service. c. Collaboration: i. Hosted Walton Art Center cast members of Little House on the Prairie who read from the book. ii. Partnered with UA sorority on a family story time. iii. Partnered with UA Spanish honor society, Sigma Delta Pi in offering a youth Spanish class. iv. Working with UA Industrial Engineering design team on LEED and volunteer timekeeping projects. v. Working on 2010 UA One Book, One Community Planning Committee. V. Sustainable funding: Seek funding sources that are reliable, sustainable, and adequate to carry out the Library's mission; these sources will grow as the community grows. a. Funding strategies and sources: i. Developed fundraising plan. ii. Received American Library Association's Light the Way grant to expand Books for Borrowing. iii. Applied for Summer Artist in Residence grant through the Arkansas Arts Council. i. Received funding from Care Foundation to supplement the Nonprofit Resource Center collection. ii. Invited to reapply for Altrusa International of Fayetteville grant for teen summer reading club. iii. Reported on Solar Test Bed Project to ICMA via conference call and written report. b. Advocacy: i. Executive Director discussed needs with the Mayor's Chief of Staff. c. Friends and Foundation Certified Year 3 NEH Challenge Grant funds - $489,730.98. ii. Presented 2010 fundraising plan to Foundation Board. iii. Mailed 300+ sponsorship solicitation letters to area businesses. iv. Selected and ordered Roberta Fulbright Society donor benefits. v. Hosted Friends annual meeting on 1/25. Current Friends membership is 174. FPL Performance Report: January 2010 JAN* FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 10 YTD 09 YTD CHANGE PROJ.10 TARGET 1,064,0001 o o 0 0 268,0001 o o 0 N o 0 0 (0 0 583,0001 49,0001 12,4001 (0 CO IC O O (0 (00 M no (D N r N C 266,965 V CN' r �- (0 .. LO 0) C') V N I-- (0 CO') (D co V N W 25,776 408 K V O(0 .- C0 <0 N N (0 (0 of I .......1,6321 00 V O O 0 (") co 0 N C 0 a N 0 O O) o 0 a 0 O o o7 0 co. 0 o0 C vi 0 co (O 0 (h .- 0 0N.) O) 0 I� r o <0 V O W (D O M M N (00 W C 00) V- 0 `- 06 Ln N 0) 243,871 1,774 863 in N (0 N c0') 0 0 O'0 Co N 32 0 '- W <0 V N .N- 0 CO C 731 0 •N- cn (h co W N 47 a N co M tn. 249,721 C 763 N (D (0 40,5331 1� co N M 1871 875 C O N (D 681 CO .M - O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O co O O co O O co co O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O co O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O co O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O co O co co O O O O O O O O co O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O co O O O O O 0, N CO m W N oo O) 0 (0 M 0 .- r V N N- CO .-- (0 CO N- CO (0 (0 IM O .- Ni m .' (V v CO r W< in 0 0 .- N to CO (D CO CO 'Circulation # self -checked 0N N L Y CD 0 d d 0 W u c 2 d R' Collection size Items added 'New Card Registrations e 0 a —p a m 0 3 N 'Library programs Attendees) 'Mtg Room Rentals 'Volunteers 1 0 S 'Computer Sessions 'Holds filled J 1 Requested Loaned January due to indem S U Library Division 0, O O m N O h O CO N O L T N R CP r 1a R = C� '.. 1- M M 9 o = LL 0 o X .a 0 N 4) i ma co O a. E O T. U J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N 0 0 0 0 ❑ Staff -assisted check outs 0 Self -check outs 0) O O N d) co O co O O r L L Q m y L osir R V o r L e. O L 43' - i R Q U E i O ` U J o 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OO o 0 r- m w 0 0 0 0 0) O O co a, p r 0 -a N c Y R a N >- U o d t d O .14 N LL ,Q Q O J E m CO ca • a o E ` �U • oL co .G J I l l o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (O 10 V m N O O 0 0 N CO 0 O N 0 O O N O 0 N N 0 N 0 0 N m 0 0 N 0 O N 0 0 N 0 0 0 N m m w rn rn Library Division 1998-2009 0 C 1 - di R 0 N C 0 :2 0 R W C 113 L 1- 0 0 V C 0 L N w. N re L R L S2 J Compared to Fourth Quarter 2009 1 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 Library Division a) 40 a, cm a, 91 0 N N 0 0 CD N s_ -0 CO C CP :Ts 4.) >- ca 2 co a) " $2, E E o o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O o 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 co co -a ot co oo co •or CNI 0-4 to count wireless D ion Fayetteville Public Library Budget Comparison January 31, 2010 Current Monthly Current % Budget Annual Month 1 Month Budget YTD YTD YTD Budget Sources of Funds Millage Receipts 105,614 105,615 105,614 8.33% 105,615 1,267,379 City of Fayetteville 132,588 132,588 132,588 8.33% 132,588 1,591,059 City CIP books 27,917 27,917 27,917 8.33% 27,917 335,000 City CIP other 1,917 1,917 1,917 8.33% 1,917 23,000 State Aid 11,441 0 0.00% 11,441 137,294 Foundation 14,300 0 0.00% 14,300 171,600 Friends 83 0 83 1,000 All Other Sources 54,743 16,200 54,743 28.16% 16,200 194,400 Total Sources of Funds 322,779 310,061 322,779 8.68% 310,061 3,720,732 Expenses Salaries & Wages 138,944 150,591 138,944 7.69% 150,591 1,807,091 Payroll taxes & Work Study 13,150 12,833 13,150 8.54% 12,833 154,000 Employee Insurance 9,538 12,588 9,538 6.31% 12,588 151,050 Retirement 11,800 15,000 11,800 6.56% 15,000 180,000 Processing Supplies 561 2,750 561 1.70% 2,750 33,000 IT -Hardware 119 11,750 119 0.08% 11,750 141,000 IT -Software & Maintenance 93 8,660 93 0.09% 8,660 103,920 Cleaning Supplies 76 1,500 76 0.42% 1,500 18,000 Other Supplies 3,634 4,596 3,634 6.59% 4,596 55,154 Youth Programming 1,173 2,917 1,173 3.35% 2,917 35,000 Adult Programming 540 2,917 540 1.54% 2,917 35,000 Library Materials 554 34,750 554 0.13% 34,750 417,000 Telephone & Internet 3,250 0 0.00% 3,250 39,000 Utilities 10,095 12,000 10,095 7.01% 12,000 144,000 Postage 2,083 0 0.00% 2,083 25,000 Travel & Training 273 2,813 273 0.81% 2,813 33,752 Prof./Contractual Services 496 5,708 496 0.72% 5,708 68,500 Landscape Maint. 1,977 2,083 1,977 7.91% 2,083 25,000 Building/Equip. Maint 8,051 24,680 8,051 2.72% 24,680 296,157 Insurance 583 0 0.00% 583 7,000 Public Rel. & Other 2,383 3,317 2,383 5.99% 3,317 39,800 Furniture & Equipment 2,500 0 0.00% 2,500 30,000 Total Expenses 203,457 319,869 203,457 5.30% 319,869 3,838,424 Excess/Deficit 119,322 -9,808 119 322 -9,808 -117,692 4:27 PM 02/05/10 Cash Basis Fayetteville Public Library Balance Sheet As of January 31, 2010 Jan 31, 10 ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings General Operating Funds Savings account for state money - solar project 8,501.76 CD 100,000.00 Bank of Fayetteville -deposits 16,759.04 Petty Cash 408.00 Total General Operating Funds 125,668.80 Arvest operating account 150,000.00 Merrill Lynch-WCMA Operating portion of account 906,479.54 Total Merrill Lynch-WCMA 906,479.54 Schwab-Millage 4108-2175 945,841.05 1125 • Schwab Institutional - longterm 189,220.98 For long term Facilities repairs & replacements 382,769.95 For major repair & replacement of furniture & equipment 214,021.40 For major replacements of Tech. items, conveyor, phone system... 257,172.80 Total Checking/Savings 3,171,174.52 Other Current Assets 1220 • Due to/ from other Gov. Units 1,260,645.95 1250 • Prepaid Expenses 51,673.95 Total Other Current Assets 1,312,319.90 Total Current Assets 4,483,494.42 Fixed Assets Fixed Assets Library Buildings 20,770,329.47 Books & Publications 718,926.57 Equipment 1,109,462.71 Furniture & Fixtures 233,599.94 Accumulated Depreciation -3,199,49437 Total Fixed Assets 19,632,824.32 Library Owned Art 150,000.00 Total Fixed Assets 19,782,824.32 TOTAL ASSETS 24,266,318.74 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Liabilities Current Liabilities Other Current Liabilities Accounts Payable -Other A/P Vacation accrual 176,569.65 NP Salaries & Wages Accrual 29,084.00 A/P Other Payroll Liabilities 41,299.64 1929 • A/P Sick Time 49,185.79 Accounts Payable -Other - Other 11,965.89 Total Accounts Payable -Other 308,104.97 Payroll Tax Liabilities State Unemployement Payable 1,920.56 Payroll Tax Liabilities - Other 272.56 Total Payroll Tax Liabilities 2,193.12 Other Payroll Liabilities Health & Dental Insurance 2330 • Vision Insurance 2340 • Vol. Life & AD&D 2345 • Voluntary Group Life Cafeteria Plan Total Other Payroll Liabilities 1,507.26 183.64 41.00 103.52 30.00 ���� —1,865.42 4:27 PM 02/05/10 Cash Basis Fayetteville Public Library Balance Sheet As of January 31, 2010 Jan 31,10 Total Other Current Liabilities 312,163.51 Total Current Liabilities 312,163.51 Total Liabilities 312,163.51 Equity Investment in Fixed Assets 20,110,420.12 Fund Balance -Undesignated 3,338,892.34 Fund Balance -Reserved facilitie major repairs & rep 269,873.40 for reparis & replacements 243,648.39 f & f repairs & replacements 212,998.77 ............ .._.. Total Fund Balance -Reserved 726,520.56 Fund Balance -Current Year Net -72,965.86 Net Income -148,711.93 Total Equity 23 954,155.23 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 24,266,318.74 4:57 PM Fayetteville Public Library 02/05/10 Profit & Loss YTD Comparison Cash Basis January 2010 Ordinary Income/Expense Income Revenue & Support 4150 • Miscellaneous Income 4151 Program fees 4153 • Merchandise Sales 4500 Misc. M.J. 4501 • Designated Gifts Other 4505 • Adult Designated gifts 4500 • Misc. M.J. - Other Total 4500 • Misc. M.J. Total 4150 • Miscellaneous Income Cafe Rental charges for set up and equipm Fines & Fees Fees collected at front desk 4315 • Library Cards 4320 - Research & Misc. Genealogy 4360 • Lost and Paid 4370 - Damaged and Paid 4380 Copier and Printer income 4390• Short and Over Total Fines & Fees Interest 4401 - Interest -Operating Total Interest Total Revenue & Support Total Income Expense Operating Expenses Office Supplies Jan 10 Jan 10 15.00 1,034.00 35,043.08 910.00 22.88 .....--35,975.96 37,024.96 1,000.00 640.00 12,740.16 90.00 46.00 80.69 55.90 1,642.84 1,017.02 15.00 1,034.00 35,043.08 910.00 22.88 35,975.96 37,024.96 1,000.00 640.00 12,740.16 90.00 46.00 80.69 55.90 1,642.84 1,017.02 15,672.61 15,672.61 405.58 405.58 405.58 405.58 54,743.15 54,743.15 54,743.15 54,743.15 5110 - Administration Expenses 3,634.44 3,634.44 Foundation, marketing and Volunteer needs 73.79 73.79 computer supplies & minor eq. 5114 • Computer Software, Lic. & Maint 92.51 92.51 5115 • Computer hardware & supplies 118.68 118.68 Total computer supplies & minor eq. 211.19 211.19 5130 • Childrens Program 5131 • Young Children Prog. & Supplies 736.12 736.12 5133 • Young Adult Expenses 436.38 436.38 Total 5130 • Childrens Program 1,172.50 1,172.50 Adult prog. expenses 539.89 539.89 5140 • Book Repair & Circ. Supplies 561.24 561.24 supplies for cleaning the bdg 76.48 76.48 Total Office Supplies 6,269.53 6,269.53 Travel & Training 5160 • Mileage reimbursement 552.00 552.00 Travel & Training - Other -279.30 -279.30 Total Travel & Training 272.70 272.70 5725 • Public Relations 2,308.89 2,308.89 Professional Services 495.90 495.90 Utilities 10,094.89 10,094.89 Total Operating Expenses 19,441.91 Salaries & Wages Adult Services 16,335.64 16,335.64 Materials processing 10,494.67 10,494.67 Children's Library 16,184.53 16,184.53 Circulation 25,999.50 25,999.50 19,441.91 4:57 PM 02/05/10 Cash Basis Fayetteville Public Library Profit & Loss YTD Comparison January 2010 Jan 10 Jan 10 Custodial 4,970.45 4,970.45 Administration 41,188.50 41,188.50 6498 Vacation Time Used 23,299.23 23,299.23 6499 Sick Time Used 471.51 471.51 Total Salaries & Wages Payroll Expenses FICA/Medicare Expense Payments to UofA for students Contract for cleaners State Unemployment Expense Total Payroll Expenses Employee Benefit Expenses Health & Dental Insurance Company paid portion of HSA Retirement Contributions Total Employee Benefit Expenses Publications Book Acquisitions all books child & adult 7120 • Adult Reference Materials Total Book Acquisitions Audio Visuals 7610 • Film/DVD 7620 Audio 138, 944.03 138, 944.03 10,581.97 57.57 589.56 1,920.56 10,581.97 57.57 589.56 1,920.56 13,149.66 13,149.66 8,396.61 1,141.19 11,799.54 8,396.61 1,141.19 11,799.54 21,337.34 21,337.34 430.60 46.09 430.60 46.09 476.69 476.69 59.15 18.00 Total Audio Visuals 77.15 Total Publications Building & Equipment Landscape Maintenance Building Maintenance Total Building & Equipment 59.15 18.00 77.15 553.84 553.84 1,977.28 1,977.28 8,051.02 8,051.02 10,028.30 10,028.30 Total Expense 203,455.08 203,455.08 Net Ordinary Income -148,711.93 -148,711.93 Net Income -148,711.93 -148,711.93 FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY Memo To: Board of Trustees, Fayetteville Public Library From: Shawna Thorup, Executive Director and Michele Raine, Interim Director of Operations Date: February 15, 2010 Re: Interim Solution to Teen Space Needs Background At our last Board meeting on January 18, 2010, we discussed the best way to move forward with the plan to expand the teen area. As we reported, for optimal service teens need space for more books, more seating, areas for collaborative work and increased technology access. After our discussion, I was asked to review whether an RFP was needed to hire the architect and interior designers of the original library, Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. (MS&R) to create a detailed expansion plan. City guidelines actually call for an RFQ in these cases. In speaking with Jeffrey Scherer, FAIA, the principal architect of the original library, I learned that MS&R's 5 - Year Facility Assessment was done without an RFQ. We checked with Peggy Vice from City Purchasing and were told an RFQ is not required unless a contract exceeds $20,000. However, the City may also issue an RFQ for projects in the $10,000 range in order to generate multiple quotes; however, those type of RFQs do not go through the formal review process. On January 25, 2010, Mr. Scherer was gracious enough to make a side trip to Fayetteville on a pro-bono basis to consult on this. His commitment to helping us continue the spirit and quality of the original design is very much appreciated. He met with us for about three hours. After discussing the use patterns, collection size and the reservations expressed about changing the aesthetic quality of the main floor and the acoustical impact of moving the teens, our team brainstormed several options and developed the following alternative recommendation. Analysis The original recommendation in the 5 -Year Facility Assessment will be disregarded. Based on consultation with Mr. Scherer, who compared moving the teen area to "trying to fit 15 pounds into a five pound sack," we are proposing an interim solution that has minimal construction impacts, but offers maximum service options. The plan we discussed includes: 1. Moving the large print collection from the second service floor to the location of the VHS tapes on the main level. This would require the deaquisition of the VHS tapes from the adult media collection—something that is, according to Mr. Scherer, happening nationwide. With some incremental adding of shelving on the main level for holds, there is approximately the correct amount of linear feet of shelving to accept the large print—with our planned 10% weeding. Interestingly, the public (in the original public meetings around designing Blair Library) specifically wanted the large print on the main floor. 2. The space vacated by the large print on the second floor would be used to expand the teen collection to the west of its current location. 3. The current 27 millwork units on the main service floor that house the CD and DVD collection work well for browsing but are inefficient in terms of the number of housed units per square foot of building area. We propose consolidating many of these millwork units to house more items per unit. Mr. Scherer recommends replacing them with off-the-shelf units that house more items per square foot and that could be more easily moved during events. We prefer consolidation of the current shelving bins rather than replacement at this time, but may have to rethink this solution once we see it in practice. 4. Two or three of the current diagonally arranged shelving units in the teen area would be relocated to the main floor to house the holds and to display more new books. The spaced freed up by the removal of these shelving units would house study and computer seating for the teens. The plan would be to "remodel" some of the current DVD/CD bins to become tables for this teen study and technology seating. 5. We would retain a shelving buffer between the teen area and the Roberta Fulbright Fireplace Room, which is a quiet study area. 6. We would add a special "entry" that would "announce" the teen area without compromising the adjacent adult new book display. The advantages to this revised recommendation are: • Seating on the main level at the south facing curved glass wall and the view are retained. • The teens gain valuable real estate for expanding service by remaining in their current location. • Acoustical interference with the Board Room by relocating the teens to the main level is eliminated. • Major construction is avoided. Mr. Scherer suggests that the design can be created by MS&R using about 40-50 hours of interior designer Leanne Larson's time to help us with the rearrangement, verification of the collection management and specification of an alternate CD/DVD cases. Ms. Larson's hourly rate is $115.00 per hour. She would need to be on-site for about one week so that the plan could be tested and finalized with the senior management staff. With travel expenses, Mr. Scherer believes that this new expansion plan could be done for well under $10,000. Having Blair Library's original interior designer plan this rearrangement would be ideal. Mr. Scherer has agreed to continue advising on a pro-bono basis. Recommendation We recommend Board approval of the above described plan to expand teen services. Upon Board approval, staff will issue an RFQ for an architectural / interior design plan to accommodate the described expansion elements. The plan would be presented for staff, public and Board input before being submitted for final Board approval. By approaching this as an immediate interim step, we achieve our primary objective of expanding teen services and retain our ability to later integrate a more comprehensive alignment of the many needs identified in the 5 -Year Facility Assessment with our upcoming update of our strategic plan. It also allows us to move cautiously with financial commitments and changes to Blair Library. FAYETTEVILLE PIIBLIG LIBRARY Key Events: February 16 — April 20, 2010 4th Annual Cover -to -Cover Adult Reading Festival Continues Now through April 30: The 12 -week reading festival will include author talks and a community wide reading of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. Weekly prizes will be given away, and three grand prizes will be drawn when the program concludes April 30. Excerpts from Underneath the Lintel Tuesday, February 16, 6:30 to 8 pm, Walker Community Room: TheatreSquared will perform excerpts from their production of Underneath the Lintel, a play about a Dutch librarian and what happens when an overdue book is returned -- 113 years late. After School Workshops Continue Thursdays at 4 pm, Wal-Mart Story Time Room: FPL hosts themed workshops (book binding, chemistry, international students, and martial arts) each Thursday from February 18 -March 18 for students in grades K-5. Maxed Out: Master Your Credit Thursday, February 18, 5:30 to 8 pm, Walker Community Room: Legal Aid of Arkansas and Credit Counseling of Arkansas will screen the film Maxed Out, and will offer counseling, useful fact sheets and updated information about the new credit card accountability act. Magician Zac Barkowski Saturday, February 27, 10:30 am, Walker Community Room: Zac the Magician will perform at Family Storytime. This event is free and open to the public. Resume Review Offered Thursday, March 4 and Thursday, March 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Reading Room: FPL will continue offering its resume review sessions in 2010. Ellen Bruce will review and provide feedback on resumes during the drop-in feedback sessions. Adult Reading Festival Community Read Monday, March 1, 6:30 to 7:30 pm; Monday, March 8, 1 to 2 pm; Sunday, March 14, 2 to 3 pm, Walker Community Room: The library's 12 -week Adult Reading Festival continues with a community read of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. The community read is intended to bring residents together through book discussions on a topic that highlights diverse issues and inspires the community. Kamkwamba's book spotlights series issues of poverty and famine with this story of a boy who offers solutions based on his own determination, inventiveness and ingenuity. Sponsored by the Walt Danforth Memorial Fund. How Can I Afford Retirement Series Continues Thursday, March 11, 6:30 p.m., Walker Community Room: The series of programs focuses on investor education topics aimed at helping people plan ahead while avoiding investment mistakes that can undermine their retirement security. The program is presented by the Garrison Financial Institute at the University of Arkansas's Sam M. Walton College of Business, the Investor Protection Trust and the Central Arkansas Library System. R U Game? FPL Gamers Club Kicks Off Friday, March 12, 6 to 8:30 pm, Walker Community Room: Ready to game every month? So are Wii! Test your skills with Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Rock Band 2, Super Smash Brothers Brawl and more. Board games and cards will also be available. Munchies will be served. Free and open to teens. Basic Computer Boot Camp Monday, March 15 through Thursday, March 18, 10 to 11:30 a.m., FPL Computer Lab Developed for those new to the world of computers, participants will learn the parts of a computer, how to use a mouse and keyboard, some simple word processing skills and Internet and email basics. Participants must have a library card. Find It and Fund It: Grant Seeking Basics Thursday, March 18, 6:30 to 7:45 pm, Ann Henry Room: This workshop will introduce basic and advanced search tips for those using the Foundation Directory Online, a database of more than 98,000 grant makers and a half million grants. Beginning Genealogy Class Saturday, March 6, 10 to 11:30 am, Grace Keith Genealogical Collection: Learn to use the print and online genealogy resources available at FPL. Receive a pedigree chart and other helpful forms for keeping records as you research your family tree. Presented by Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Committee. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Wednesday, March 17, 4 pm, Walker Community Room: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with traditional Irish dancing by the McCafferty Irish Dancers. Spring Break Movie Marathon for Children and Families Tuesday, March 23, Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 25, 2 pm, Walker Community Room: FPL will screen movies on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Daytime Lock -In Thursday, March 25, 11 am to 2 pm, Wal-Mart Storytime Room: Students in grades K-2 will spend the day enjoying games, crafts and stories. Cost is $10 per child, which includes lunch. Overnight Lockin Friday, April 16, 8:30 pm through Saturday, April 17, 8 am, Children's Library: Celebrate National Library Week with an overnight lock -in at FPL. Students in grades 3-5 will enjoy crafts, games and movies during the lock -in. The cost is $15 per child, which includes food. Author Sapphire Visits FPL Tuesday, April 20, 7 pm, Media & Magazine Section: Sapphire, author of The New York Times bestseller Push, will visit the Fayetteville Public Library to conclude the library's 4th annual Cover to Cover Reading Festival. Push, recently adapted to the big screen as the much lauded film Precious, follows Claireece Precious Jones, an overweight teenager living in Harlem who endures a series of abuses by her father and mother. Copies of Sapphire's works will be available for purchase during her talk at the Fayetteville Public Library, and she will sign autographs following her talk. FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY Board of Trustees Projected 2010 Meeting Agendas (updated 2/8/09) Monday, January 4, 2010 (Rescheduled December 2009 meeting) 1. Space study report 2. 2010 Objectives 3. 2010 Budget 4. Staff presentation: Reading Roadshow's Books for Borrowing: L. Greenwood & C. Walsh Monday, February 15, 2010 1. Teen area expansion plan 2. Staff presentation: Expanding Access with Text -a -Librarian & Library2Go 3. Staff presentation: NEN Challenge Grant Status: S. Foley Monday, April 19, 2010 1. Swearing in of new trustee 2. Appointment of Nominating Committee 3. Staff presentation: Summer Reading Club: L. Greenwood Monday, June 22, 2010 1. Officer elections 2. 2011 budget proposal 3. Strategic planning process 4. Staff presentation Monday, August 16, 2010 1. 2011 budget 2. Strategic planning process 3. Audit report 4. Staff presentation Monday, October 18, 2010 1. 2011 budget 2. 2011 closed day schedule 3. Staff presentation Monday, December 20, 2010 1. 2011 budget 2. 2011 fee schedule 3. Staff presentation Shawna Thorup From: do-not-reply@faylib.org Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 10:17 AM To: Shawna Thorup Subject: Director Survey Response Submitted: 1/7/2010 10:17:02 AM Patron: Mrs Sophie Massey Email: calebandsophie@lve.com Question 1: What do you really like about Fayetteville Public Library? What are we doing that's working for you? I think that Fayetteville Public Library is certainly living up to its mission to be accessible. I thoroughly appreciate in particular the large childrens department with it's wide array of literature both fiction and non- fiction. We often make use of the hands-on section in that department (ie puzzles and computers). We enjoy the audio collections available too and would perhaps like to see more classics. Self -checkout is very useful as are the availability of carts. Often a browse in the book store and a welcome drink at Asaga's enhances our library experience; elevating it to the status of a 'grand day out.' Question 2: What's not working for you, and what would you like to see different at Fayetteville Public Library? Question 3: What do you expect from Fayetteville Public Library now, next year and in 5 years? To continue on it's mission to make multi -faceted information available to the general public. 1/7/2010 11:46 AM/11:46 AM 1 of 1 of Wishing you a holiday season filled with inspiration, and a new year full of adventure and exploration with the FREE LffiRARY OF TRANSFORMATION. Sio r an A. Reardon President and Director, Free Library of Philadelphia a-7 (iywz og 70 06 totlu z- r lecle o4Lord_ 7-74 ; eft( I; i/ (1h7CLZCJ/ + R Name A✓ 11) ; / ✓� C,i! -- Date // ✓4 O Youth Bridge Add L/1 / co no(l/ ///c v Phone gc.2 U k" BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURE C/S/Z /1/41(( -LD- ((( (-v--Q Email Charitable Con ributions RecordJ-. ( /o/ Washington, Benton, Carroll, Madison, Boone, Baxter, Marion & Newton Counties ❑ Monetary Contribution: ❑ Cash 0 Donate Now 0 Credit Card: ❑ Check # 0 Paypal 0 Visa 0 Mastercard 0 Discover ❑ Volunteer Hours ❑ In ind/Service(s) E' Non -Cash Items (Contributor is requested to provide an estimated value on all non-cash items.) Item 1: / (.' ('i)Y;ty (t/:('/VS „4 (-.I D 15 $ /OW Item 2: $ Item 3: Total $ / oo)C % C O T%adc ' for Tae piny' oar area e you ai, The Federal Tax ID# is: 71-0387126. All donations made to the above mentioned agency may be tax deductible as provided by the law. The IRS requires that the above mentioned agency notify you if they have provided any goods or services in consideration, in whole or in part, for any property or cash contributed. Copy 1 - Contributor Copy 2 - YB Accounting Copy 3 - Development Copy 4 - Remains in book o pay )ecome who are to find ily able mdreds retofi- ithout a number pitals in be more dth care. scarcer se fewer the very nr mind. s admin- )11 dmhr)n sense. .ts in the And the eferred a ire choir- . Instead, irnment's 9 do with at to regu- 'Irr deficits axed to see Bance conn zto people esmolcers. osals have l'e health of -)CUs on i n - incentives e allowed ice across is reap the ''eider tour )»an." Such ?fended too 'lone some - lawyering 1) wont into Sed practio- not in order !lard against 'ot so little too. Demo - 't campaign lawyers to ill wind up er of health - 11 the others •er the years comprehen- the old; ring VJr2.4m. 6)--611 12- - 2-tc - OO COLUMNISTS Kiskus ReviewsR.I.P. MEGFAN DAUM customer reviewer. And he wo ks for free. IN THE Los ANGELES TIMES Bound by conventions of neither spelling nor hen news carne last week about the grammar, nor by the need to put anything (plot, NNclosure of Kirkus Reviews, the 76 -year- theme, typeface, anything) in context, the cus- old book -reviewing publication that tomer reviewer is so enthusiastic about his own catered mostly to booksellers and librarians, a lot opions that he not only reviews fear vieofw the Capsdiffusely Land nd of people were prettymean about it. OK, not "a emphaticallyaul hshreviow (showing no about every person or lot" as in the number of people who went to see key), The Princess and the Frog last weekend. But even. thing he comes in contact with. as they wring their hands at yet another sign of That's right, you no longer have to be ano au - the demise of print media, plenty of authors and ha hazasician d views or lmmakpeakeer to who done jece t toe he to publishing insidersare gloating. P The New York Observer na�hich still covers the sign their names to then rants. Thanks to Web book business with the same gunlet-eyed pluck sites such as Yelp and Citysearch, everyone and it fered upta few delectable ie if les than clamorousharitable supermarkets—my, of- ytrfrom local Vons hdressers to as no leclesss than quotes. 14 reviews on Yelp, many quite prickly—carr be "Ht "blearing about en closing reminded me praised or pummelall to see. ow,ed online . for e phenomenon is supposed to coalesce into sonic kind of equal -opportunity jubilee. It's supposed to be a healthy, if veto sionally gratuitous, manifestation Irl democracy itself. And as much as 1 gripe, ril admit that it can be helpful to read what others have said about Good riddance. . . And so that's n various products and services, al- Gooi pus, ce.'with Kirkus, you see, was notoriously harsh. though too often it seems as if it'sne nevergquite Whereas Publishers Weeldy often seems like a an ax to grind or a lot of guy booster for the trade, and Booklist, another book explain themselves enough for me to figure out industry magazine, usually manages to find whether to believe them. something nice to say about even the most me- Whether you're for on have to r against hisadnew nodel diocre prose, 'Coitus took no prisoners. On Dave of judgment -passing, y at the Eggers' bestselling and much -revered memoir, concept of "reviewing"—indeed, the entire idea A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, of on whits at a way constitutes value—has at es beyondeen onlinevs. KirkusAlr pity hmed: "It isn't." . print. No longer an intellectual or aesthetic or Butfflce then! cal exercise drawing from objective facts But like ryat nn ng workshop o ks-ppaor crank clor book ub (eg the rvations andrmakes everyonelse feel like a middlebrow and real what's xpe rise (sometimesficalledl ccomnois- clnunp, Kirkus was maddening enough that seursbip), reviewing is more and more simply a you were inclined to dismiss it and estimable vehicle oo r personal narnarrative. ews read like diary enough that you really couldn't. 1 well remember the day my agent looked at entries: "We ended up buying two small white po- advice devo lves Eire soberly and said, "Your novel got a not -great tatoes" chimes a Vons patron =helpfully on Ye } i. Kirkus review." Having already received a not- Too often, the pretense of sharing even -good Kirkus review for my previous book, into oversharhng the contours of one's navel. 1 t at's why the though notyall reply disingenuous) "Yeah, sowith a (tediously ?" Butrit to be mlourned. Sure, it wassing of alirkus deserves captious beast. also kind of stung. Sure, its reviews sat on many authors' Amazon 1 still feel more "Yeah, so?" than "Oh non" pages like indelible stains. But unlike the bed - e up about the end of this ndefense of KirkuBut for all my s (and on thoseiffer- lam of ne customer pages like graffiti on a bathroom ons that can wall, ence,prI will say the t review some cred. in general): At Kirkus'veryone reviews v always been a critic, and never leastG the critics had some yrod. Granted, at Kirkus many of those critics were more so thartoday—but at least Kirkus valued anonymous freelancers who were paid about $50 the job enoughto a $50. _ per review. But as dangerous as it can be to instill power in reviewers who work for cheap (and are therefore less experienced), there's now an even Meghan Daum is an essayist and novelist in more menacing form of arbiter in our midst: the Los Angeles. that they were still publishing, hter- ary agent Ira Silverberg said. Esther Newberg, an executive vice president at International Creative Management, allowed that she was "sorry people were losing their jobs but it's never been a publcation ArkansasBusiness.com - Printer Friendly Version Page 1 of 1 arkansas W business.com Library System Proposes Service Cuts, Cites Tax Ruling By Arkansas Business Staff - 1/7/2010 11:45:00 AM PRINT I CLOSE WINDOW The Central Arkansas Library System, citing a court ruling on the collection of library taxes, announced Thursday a public meeting to discuss service reductions. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Main Library's Darragh Center. The Arkansas Supreme Court, reversing an earlier Pulaski County Circuit Court decision, ruled last month that Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines' increase of property taxes for Little Rock residents was illegal. The Supreme Court agreed with a group of taxpayers that a voter -approved property tax increase for libraries was applied prematurely. Villines had applied the millage increase toward 2007 tax assessments, but the Supreme Court said the raise shouldn't have gone into effect until 2008. After the ruling, Bobby Roberts, director of CALS, said the decision probably would force the library system to make "drastic cuts." In a news release issued Thursday, GALS said action on proposed cuts would take place after the system's Board of Trustees approved them at its Jan. 28 meeting. The CALS release noted that the court hadn't yet ruled on the amount the library was to reimburse taxpayers or a timeline for repayment. The library system estimated that $1.5 million, or 10 percent of CALS' 2010 budget, would have to be repaid. The proposed budget cuts include prohibition of staff pay raises, voluntary pay cuts by senior staff, a job freeze and cutting hours of operation. Service reductions would apply only to library branches within Little Rock. Other proposals include: • Reducing the Children's Library programming. • Delaying the opening of the new Rooker Library. • Closing the Aerospace Library. • Reducing the books and audiovisual materials budget. • Reducing reserve funds. "None of these cuts in service will interfere with the expansion of the Main Library or construction of the Children's Library Initiative," the release said. "We expect services to be restored in 2011," Roberts said. "Our customer service will remain at its current excellent level, and we will do the best we can with money we have." Comments on the proposed budget cuts can be emailed to Bahbyr@Cals.Org. Copyright © 2010, Arkansas Business Limited Partnership. Ail Rights Reserved. http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=119272 1/7/2010 RELIGION NOTES Members of 1110 Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista 'troy Makers group recently donated 210 wooden to s to the Menton County Sunshine Sc tool, the Shrine's Hospitals IN Children In S1. Louts, Mo., the N ' 10 oslt Arkansas Children's SI eller, horses for Healing and M ther to Mother Ministry of N almost Adcans01 To join the group, call 855-0525. The Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista begins a 0001 Woman's Bi le Study at 9:30 a.m. tan. 13. TI e group will moot weekly through March 17. Tho study is "Esther" by B th Moore. Infeanatlon: 855-7684 op 8765581. Bella Vista Lutheran Church b gins a Liietigm class on the al oltle Paul's letters of oalatons, P 1ilippiane and Colossians at 9 ant, Jan. 12. The Imdepth Bible study v II meet for nine weeks. Reg Nies b calling 8540772, Church it formation Is available at www. b lolhe'111.com h lioy Ralph will present a p 0pbetc proclamation workshop a 9 a.m. Jan. 9 at the Northwest A 'kansas Ministry Center in Bella Vista. The session will locus 01 prophetic gifting. h A blood drive is slated at First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista from 9..11. to 3 pm. Mondry. The Community Blood Center will facilitate. The People with Arthritis Can Exerd os 03/C.E.) group meets 't4 p.m. Wednesday. 11110000011011: 85--1058, w ' w.le: IL d.ove.:0 1. 0A ladies' Bible Study will start at First Baptist Church in Garfield at 4 pin. Jan. 24. The study will run for 13 weeks. Inl ormation: 359-3496. h Bella Vista Community Church hosts a Friday Night Gospel Sing at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The Grief Recovery Support Group i» eels at 3:30 p.ml. Thursdays. The Diabetes day Group me ets at 8 a.m. Fridays. Information-. 855-1126,6, www. • bvcThe Bella Vi rch.or p The Bella Vistas ller Church Samos Adults will moat for ice recant sundaes and a movie he ay at 6:30 me, starring Jule I and Ruby De starring 0100 Ii. Info ruby Dee, will be shown. wovw.E Information: 65537413 or www.bellavistahoptslorg. f Village Baptist Church in Bolla Vista benne; its Awana program on Jan. 13. Call 856-7775 or 859-68,16 10 register area children Or youth. f The Servant Leadership School of Northwest Arkansas will host the hollowing classes this winter and spring: ROWING U 'CRISIS' SHARES STORIES OF STRUGGLES By lkitina Lehovee 001000,10000000001 itchell Gold knows hal jl ism grow up gay. 110 spent years hiding his sexual orientation, terrified that he was s nohow damaged beyond repair. The constant stress of hiding Ili. true identity spiraled into depression. Suicidal thoughts were frquent companions. Schoolwork sr flexed as a result of the inner pain. Ibday, Gold Is a successful furniture designer In l3oyloaville, Nee and an openly Say man. Yet the pain of those adolescent yews lir gens. Ile feels for other teenagers a ughl in their own private hells Elicit torment is often fueled b the intolerance found in mhlny churches, synagogues and mosques, Gold said. Ile sees religion -based prejudice a1 the root 0u110 of the problem, spreading from faith groups to families, schools, conimunitjes and lawmakers. Gold spoke at the Fayetteville Public c Library on Dec 12. He is the founder of Faith In America — a ooh p - f t organization wization dediuted 10 raising awareness of the harm caused by relibdon-based bigotry — and co-editor of "Crisis:40 Stories Ik- al g the Personal Social and Religious Pain and llatuna of Growing Up Gay In Annum" The book offers an Intimate glimpse into coning of 090 as a goy mar or 0011101. Marry of the memoirs were written by gay rights activists and public figures such as Richard Chamberlain, Martina Natrilova and Bishop Gene Robinson. Others were penned by college students and young adults, many of whom still struggle with the judgments against 1110111. "When the church Is the center of your Ole and yeuTe not accepted there, what do you do?" former Mormon Bruce Bastian writes. "Without family and friends who love you unconditionally, where do yon turn?' Stories Of Suffering The premise behind Gold's work is simple. Ile believes that 01100 people understand the trauma gay teens go through, they'll want to change the harmful attitudes they've Imbibed. "1 think there are a lot of really nice people who don't know the harm they're causing," he said in a telephone interview on Monday. GAY NW ft- r1-% %rtes r -2 --ID COU11161101010 Mitchell Gold signs d Copy of his book for Judith Levine at the Faye teville Public Library on Dec. 12. Gold is chairman of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, a furniture company in lay orsvlllo, N.C., and founder of Faith In America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending religious -based prejudice against gays. "'They truly don't know.' Many still believe that sexual orientation is a choice, something one can 00111101 00 change, ,Gold said. Yet the 7uner10m1 Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association the Ahnuhcan I t Ir 1' A0SOCiati011 and many y othermajor organizations i magree: Being gay is not a choice. Nor is it disorder: Yei the religiousand cultural prejudice agamst homosexuality ontme Cold's lr sehnton included excerpts from several of the Sit:Micei,i 1,001l, l black toil ah foster Care In .I Withthc very real threat of losing her home if she acted 100 masculine When She turned to her beloved pastor for help, he attempted to set her straight by t'o'eing himself upon her. Jared I1ori'oa1, a 28-ynar-old student et Texas lith University, recounted ye's ofselfhaired, shame and unsuccessful 810009ts to change his sexual orientation. He began cutting himself, carving "FAG" and "1 118 YOIJ" into his chest. The church leaders who counseled him said the cutting was 0 sign he was fighting his desires. 'limy urged him to continue to do 30, 01011 as the began to discover the 1' It healthier away Prom the"nx- gay" support group. The book also includes stories by two mothers who lost their children mm to suicide nd 0110 to a brutal attack. Ther sobering stories illustrate the fm' end of a spectrum that includes nine -calling, bullying and internalized) shame. 'The Sin Question' Is homosexuality a sin? That is the core of the issue for many Christians who believe that it is. Church leaders point to a handful of Bile verses to justify that view. '1'lhey include several references from the et1 f Paul and several Old Testament veses. Yet some churchleaders run rethinking their vievs.'110y behevetheta 'xual conduct Paul l :1 oke abamst relived 00 the exploitation of young men and boys then 00/011100 in the Roman world, not the committed, loving relationship between two 01110nljng n10110. Likewise. God's judgment against Sodom has more to do with rape than homosexuality, according to the flee. t L Stephen Shoemaker of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. Shoemaker contributed an essay to Gold's book titled "Llomosexuali1X the Bible and Us:' The often -cited verses of Leviticus 18:22:011(1 20:13, which call homosexual conduct an "abomination;" are part of the much larger holiness code, Shoemaker writes.'1'his code includes hundreds of fides about cleanliness and uncleanliness. Some are now considered morally neutral, such as having sex during menstruation. Others the completely accepted by 1110 Christian community. Pork, anyone? Other Old Testament verses decree death for a son who disobeys his parents or a nun who picks up sticks on the FFBIF NUMBER; GAY YOUTH AT RISK 'Suicide is life lhedleafling cause of death among ISlo 24.year-olds; for every young person who takes his or her file 20 more Ips. ' Gay 0<0>5 :010 four times more likely toatte mpt suicide than their Iheterosexualpeews. f Fotyhve percent of gay men and 20 percunof lesbians surveyed had been r'd'ns of veinal aced physical OSSaliltS`t SCCOIldilly school specifically becauseoftheir sexual orientation •G2y Youth are al higher risk of being kicked out of their homes NH lining to file on the streets ler anvivaL They are mote likely than their heleiosnxuol peers lo 010,1 using tobacco, alcoholandillegaldrugsal an cadierage. 0Terenlyeb9111 percent of gay studentsdrop out of school — mote than three bales the national avenge. Seuo: "oohs/ mesa or Minae Gnu VO Muor Bxual¢ Sabbath. -The challenge is to make our moral disecrnmenls about these laws thoughtfully and as consistently as possible,' Shoemaker writes. "I use two main criteria in my own interpretation of Scripture. The forst is from Augustine Docs my interpretation increase the lave, of Godand neighbor, or decrease it The saconcl 01 m uac toms, the Word made posh, as key to interprctationi What scents co0si010111 with who he Wall, how he lived, and what he taught?" SATURDAY, JAN. 30, 2010 NEWS Fayetteville Library Series )iscusses Financing Retirement SPtcmLTO rcomnwFSr.APHANSrs NLwSPAP;:es FAYEiTEVILEE -The Fayette- ville Public Library will continue its series of free workshops about financing retirement at 6:30 p.m. Feb. Il in the library's Walker Community Room. The program will be repeated at 10 a.m. Feb.13. "How Can 1 Afford Retire- ment?" offers investor educa- tion tips to take the mystery out of retirement planning. Participants will receive a free book on the subject of retirement playing and other materials. The series continues in March and is provided by Garrison Financial Institute at the University of Arkansas's Sam. M. Walton College of Business in partnership with the Investor Protection Trust Foundation, the Fayetteville Public Library and the Arkan- sas Security Department. The session is based on an investor education program developed by the Poston Public Library and the investor Protection 'flust Foundation. The Investor Protection "frust is a nonprofit organi- zation devoted to investor education. Since 1993, the trust has worked with states to provide independent, objective investor education needed by all Americans to make informed investor deci- sions. The talk is free and open to the public. Registration is required and is available at www.gfi.uark.edu. For information, call 856-7250. STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE An all -terrain vehicle heads east up East Spring Street on Friday in Fayetteville. FUN Some Residents Went To Work As Usual CONTINUED FROM PAGE IA the hill near J.B. Hunt in Lowell. It was a great spot, but probably not the safest place to sled." Some doubled up and took their time, while others took the plunge with abandon - I STAFF PHOTO DAVID FRANK DEMPSEY Farrah Russo, 9, makes a 6 -foot jump to the sand below the playground equipment at Lake Bella Vista in Bentonville Parents on Monday. A sunny day with 56 -degree weather brought families and trail walkers to the lake. L Fayettevil f /9 / have three Study: Teens Need ore LIBRARY'S YOUNG ADULT SECTION COULD MO By Skip Descant SDESCANT@NWAONLINECOM FAYETTEVILLE — Teens at the Fayetteville Public Library could get their own expanded section �— this time on the first floor where newspapers and magazines are currently held. A study to examine how' the BIairtLibrary can better use its existing space was' conducted by Jeffrey' Scherer' of the Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle Architecture firm in Minneapolis, the same firm that designed the 2004 library. In recent years, library officials have sears for its young, adult section grow significantly, prompting a look at how this section can be moved or reconfigured. "Their interest in reading, Tm so happy, is growing," said Shawna Thorup, direc- Historians By Tabatha Hunter THUNTER@NWAONUNE.COM BENTONVILLE — Historians from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will be in Siloam Springs on Jan. 26 to examine two'build- ings. Hn close look at s buildings in the city compoundwill attake thea corner of q Hill streetsTahle, as well lasuah the city's downtown fire station, to determine if the build- ings merit being placed on the National Register of Historic Places, said Ralph Wilcox, National Register and survey coordinatorfor the program. The tour is part `of a national study of the devel- AT A GLANCE OTHER FINDINGS BY THE SPACE STUDY * Enlarge computer room Nonprint collection (DVDs and CDs) should be consolidated and more compact r Self -check stations need more space $ Outdoor terrace needs permanent shading Stairs to garage need to be "rethought" and "enlivened with new lighting" SOURCE: STA tT REPORT tor of the Fayetteville' Public Library. The space study also found that since young people are asked to work collaboratively at school, the library should respond accordingly to create spaces for teens to work on group projects, said Michele Raine, interim director of operations at the Fayetteville Public Library. The library was built for a 300,000 -piece collection. "And we're almost there," Thorup told the board. Any reconfiguration will go through a public review process, Thorup said. "No architectural changes can be made without (Fayette- ville Public Library) board approval," Thorup noted, "And this may not fly," Thorup added of the idea to move the young adult section Space week to loi on propos options fo) Fayetteville The fir 6 p.m.tode VE DOWNSTAIRS Architects overall visi down to the area of the build- and the tw ing with the sweeping south- facilities ern views of the Boston Mountains. "We might get to �I Lily the point of public input and J they say, no way." "One of the hallmarks of Aft the library are the views out Aft to the south," said Dan Ferri - tor, a member of the library s" Board of Trustees. 'And when you change that, you're going FAYETTEV to get some more response." ville City Design and renovations Williams is would be funded through the is expected $250,000 Dr. and Mrs. Harry week, said C. Otwell Public Library his wife. Fund. The library board did William not make a decision to move emergency forward until it reviews a last Tuesd. library policy that requires hospital sta the original architect to be "He's doi commissioned for changes Emily Will to the building. evening. "T "I'm not opposed to going out for an REP (request for proposals)," Thorup said. "1ff w Id I d `h t" To Tour Siloam Springs opm; y rvices, Wilcoxent said.of' "The qualitycitofselife of many of our Arkansas` towns is directly aprssociated-with services municipal 'governovidedmbyourents," said Frances McSwain, director of the Arkan- sas Historic Preservation Program. "We plant0 document such resources y h, fire and police stations, jails, community centers and swimming pools dating from 1960 and before."' Don Warden, direc-, for of the Siloam Springs Museum, is `happy to see the city's history getting attention. The buildings that the Arkansas I3istoiic Preser- vation Program is coming to examine "are buildings that I have been admiring for a lot of years and I certainly hope they would receive some recognition," Warden said. Warden said he was not sure of the exact age of the buildings, but he felt like they were built sometime in the 1960s if not before. "They are just some great old buildings and they have served in various ways for the city over the years," Warden said. "A lot of people probably see thein and do not even think twice about them," Mark Christ, community outreach director for the Arkansas Historic Preser- vation Program, said histo Buildings` rians are al o looking for input from the community about which buildings in Benton County should be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Anyone who knows of other buildings in Benton County that should be examined by the historians is encouraged to call Wilcox at 501-324-9880. Wilcox can also be reached via e-mail at ralph@arkansasheritage: org. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is the agency of the Depart- ment of Arkansas Heritage responsible for identify- ing, evaluating, registering and preserving cultural resources in the state. Or. ST ROGERS — sions to a tra discussed M< officials. Counci ma chairman of Public Work: Jim Clark, as: ney, review, contract and some idea' improvement A five -yea Inland Servic at the end of Townzen s' to many re adding new contract. "1 think pec cle more if w cart rather tl have now," following the