MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING
OF THE
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AUGUST 18, 2011
The regular meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:33 p.m. by President Sonya Teets. Present were Board members: Salo, Blaskey, Garcia, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets. Also present were Sharon L. Highler, Library Director; and Mary Jane Garrett, Head of Technical Services. Absent Board member: Gutierrez.
The Board approved the agenda for the meeting, with the exception that an Executive Session would not be needed.
Minutes of the Board meeting of June 16, 2011, were read and approved on a motion by Salo with a second by Rivera.
AYES: All.
The Board read and accepted the following: the Treasurer’s Reports of June 30 and July 31, 2011; the Bills Payable/Paid Report for August 18, 2011; the Revenue and Expense Reports for June and July of 2011; and the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Reports for June and July of 2011. Acceptance of the above reports was on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Garcia, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Gutierrez.
Grand total, July and August: $109,897.99
The librarians’ reports were read and accepted with the appreciation of the Board. Former Board member Kathy O’Cull has sent an email to the Board; she will let the Board know about convenient dates for a Board member recognition. Highler reported on her trip to the ALA conference in New Orleans and on the library’s summer reading programs. Teets added that she has heard good comments about the programs, and about the new Family reading level, parent plus child. Rivera asked about the addition of a second security monitor staff position. Highler explained that it is one of the current goals, in order to cover security during the weekends. Salo asked Garrett about the TED website, www.ted.com, which she had mentioned in her June report, and Garrett gave a brief description.
President Teets reported that this year she could not get a consistent time for the suggested summer reading programs in Stone Park, so the library district was not able to have them. Teets and Highler have talked about planning earlier for next summer, and Highler has asked Marianne Ryczek, Head of Youth Services, to make programs located in Stone Park part of next year’s planning.
Vice President Rivera reported that he has not seen a newspaper article about the library’s new AWE bilingual literacy computer. Highler replied that the information was sent to the newspaper, but the newspaper decides whether or not to publish it. Blaskey commented that not much Northlake news gets into the local newspaper. Rivera asked if the library could try to get the article published in Northlake City News, and Highler said it can.
Highler reported that the Public Relations Associate will be starting work in September.
Board members received a copy of the list of the newly-elected members to the RAILS library system’s FY12 Board of Directors. The former Metropolitan Library System’s building in Burr Ridge is still being used by the new merged system, as are some of the other former systems’ buildings.
Rivera and Teets have been doing the audit of the Secretary’s minutes for FY 2010-2011. The only thing that was noted was that some signatures were missing. Official signatures were added and the approval of the audit was completed at this meeting.
Ordinance #11-536, the Tentative Budget and Appropriations, was read and discussed by the Board. Highler added that she has received some recent input from the auditor about what needs to be changed for this fiscal year. We are currently receiving less money from property taxes. Income from fines/fees has dropped considerably, but one possible reason for this is that email notifications may be causing materials to be returned sooner. Appropriations cover not only expected expenses, but also what the district would like to have, including any case of unexpected additional income. The actual budget will be smaller, covering what we will end up spending during the fiscal year. For example, we can plan to receive our Per Capita Grant funds in a timely fashion, but we do not expect to actually receive them by their original dates. Highler expects to receive about 75% or less of what the appropriations plan for. For the last fiscal year, Highler told department heads to plan to spend 10% less than the previous year’s budget. She plans to be doing a similar procedure this year.
Ukleja asked how the district controls and evaluates what databases it purchases. Highler explained that the library district buys most of its database subscriptions as a member of a purchasing consortium. We can suggest which databases are included, but we do not have total control of what is on the final purchase list. The databases that the district buys independently are evaluated, including by price and by how much they are used by our patrons.
Blaskey added that one reason for the reduction of funds received from property taxes is that banks used to pay back property taxes on foreclosed homes, but are not presently doing this.
Ordinance #11-536, the Tentative Budget and Appropriations, was adopted on a motion by Ukleja with a second by Blaskey . Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Garcia, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Gutierrez
The Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR) is not quite finished, but when it is, the officers needed will be asked to come in and sign it before Highler sends it to the state. This will be around the end of August.
The 2011 Illinois Library Association’s annual conference will be held in Rosemont, from October 18 through October 20. Trustee Day is scheduled for October 20, which is also the date of the regular Board meeting for October. However, if Board members wish to attend ILA on this or another day, please let Highler know.
No members of the public were present.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2011.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m., on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Garcia.
AYES: All.
Barbara Salo, Secretary