MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING
OF THE
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NOVEMBER 17, 2011
The regular meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by President Sonya Teets. Present were Board members: Gutierrez, Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets. Absent Board member: Garcia. Also present were: Sharon L. Highler, Library Director; Mary Jane Garrett, Head of Technical Services; Marianne Ryczek, Head of Youth Services; Rich Stronczek, Business/Building Manager; and Tyler Works, Adult/Teen Services Librarian.
The Board agreed to amend the agenda to allow Tyler Works to give a presentation on his participation in an ILEAD U (Illinois Libraries Explore, Apply and Discover) grant project with other local public and school librarians. The team’s mission was to identify a problem in the local community and plan how to solve it through technology. This would involve multiple literacies, e.g., print, digital, etc. Works described the programs that were developed, including virtually connecting local students with each other and with authors, doing skits and stories using technology, geocaching, and anime/manga creation. The programs were done through partnering with student clubs and other local organizations. Some of the programs were covered by a reporter and photographer from the Franklin Park Herald-Journal, with News of Northlake. Through developing programs with other local librarians, connections have been made that will make future collaborations possible. Part of the grant funding may be used to purchase some technology for the library district. At 7:05 p.m., Works was thanked by the Board for his presentation and he left.
The Board approved the remaining agenda. The Executive Session will be needed.
Minutes of the Board meeting of October 20, 2011, were read and approved on a motion by Rivera with a second by Ukleja.
AYES: All.
The Board read and accepted the following: the Treasurer’s Report of October 31, 2011; the Bills Payable/Paid Report for November 17, 2011; the Revenue and Expense Report of October 2011; and the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Reports for October 2011. Acceptance of the above reports was on a motion by Rivera with a second by Gutierrez. Roll call vote:
AYES: Gutierrez, Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia.
Grand total, November: $568,720.91.
The librarians’ reports were read and accepted with the appreciation of the Board. Highler spoke briefly on plumbing, elevator, and other repairs. She has met with the department heads of Circulation and Technical Services regarding the reorganization of duties. Heidi Patruno will be transferred from Circulation to Technical Services, and Circulation will hire a part-time clerk to continue her previous circulation duties. Highler reported on concerns about how the State Library will handle payment to automated catalog consortia (ours is SWAN), and whether the consortia will eventually become independent of the State Library. Another problem will be how the salaries of people working for the systems will be handled.
Teets asked about the process for getting price information on different payroll services. Stronczek described the search process. Another example mentioned would be looking into a cheaper option for library cards. Teets asked if the district does any joint purchasing with the State. Highler reported that the district does, one example being database purchases. Stronczek mentioned that there was also some joint purchasing of office supplies. Rivera asked about the meeting for the SAM consortium members. Highler reported that the meeting is being organized, to be held in January if possible.
Teets had nothing further to add for the President’s Report.
Rivera, for the Vice President’s Report, noted that he was pleased that Media On Demand has now become compatible with Kindle e-readers. Rivera asked about the Word Wall in the Youth Services Department, and Ryczek described the Word Wonders program, which stressed vocabulary. Rivera asked Ukleja to describe the Edible Books Contest, held in November by the Harper College Library. Ukleja reported that students, community members, and employees may participate in the creation of something edible related to a book title. Prizes are given for best adult’s book, best children’s book, most popular, and best representation of the title used in the One Book, One Harper program. Anyone interested in more details may ask her about it.
Ordinance #11-538, levying and assessing taxes of the library district for the fiscal year 2011-12, was approved on a motion by Salo with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Gutierrez, Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia.
Ordinance #11-539, directing against proportional reduction in the aggregate extension of the 2011 tax levy of the library district, was discussed by the Board. Stronczek reported that, due to a wording change in the ordinance in 2009, there has been an increasing deficit in funds for the IMRF retirement fund and for Social Security. To date, the deficits have been made up out of the Corporate Fund. He recommends changing back to the previous wording of the ordinance. The recommended version is the one that has page 2, section 3, as “The County Clerk is directed not to reduce the 2011 tax levy of the I.M.R.F., and Social Security Funds.”
The Board approved the changed wording of Ordinance #11-539, on a motion by Salo with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Gutierrez, Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia.
The Board approved Ordinance #11-539, on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Ukleja. Roll call vote:
AYES: Gutierrez, Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia.
The annual Treasurer’s Statement of Receipts and Disbursements was read and approved on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey. Roll call vote:
AYES: Gutierrez, Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Garcia.
The auditors for the library district have recommended that the purposes for the use of the Special Reserve Funds be identified. The spending plan can be changed, but it needs to be established. Stronczek submitted a short list of suggestions to the Board. During discussion it was stated that the original plan for use had been the purchase of property, but no written statement has been found. Did the Board still wish funds to be saved to purchase nearby property for parking expansion? The Board needs to compile a list of possible uses and begin discussion of the list. Stronczek will try to get something in writing from the auditor about this, and what procedures are necessary to transfer funds from overfunded items, by the regular January meeting.
8:02 p.m., Ryczek and Stronczek left.
At 8:03 p.m., the Board voted to adjourn and to go into Executive Session, as per 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), “the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel to determine its validity.” The motion was by Rivera with a second by Blaskey.
AYES: All.
Barbara Salo, Secretary