Sauk County Libary Board meeting

Sauk County Library Board

Minutes

Monday, November 18, 2013

9:00 a.m.

Sauk City Public Library

515 Water St.

Board Present:  Judy Ashford, Ken Grant, Sue Meise, Cindy Shanks, Bev Vaillancourt, Robert Wills, Denise Anton Wright (SCLS)

Librarians Present:  Meg Allen, Carol Anderson, Carolyn Forde, SueAnn Kucher, Ben Miller, Maureen Palmer, Raina Roloff, Jennifer Endres Way

1. Judy Ashford called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. and verified compliance with the open meetings law.

2.  Moved by Sue Meise and seconded by Cindy Shanks, a motion to adopt the agenda.  Passed unanimously.

3.  Moved by Sue Meise and seconded by Cindy Shanks, a motion to approve the minutes of June 12, 2013 and July 24 & 30, 2013.  Passed unanimously.

4.  SCLS Report:  Denise Anton Wright had a very brief report indicating that Cory Bauman was newly hired and placed in charge of library material distribution.  Additionally, she noted that the libraries' annual reports are "just around the bend."

5. Librarians' Reports: Directors in attendance gave brief reports.  North Freedom once again was on the Library Journal “America’s Star Libraries” List, now at number 22.  It looks as if North Freedom will have reduced hours based on budgeting.  The Prairie du Sac library may have an increase in staff.  The Plain library reported that staff saw every Pre-K child as a result of its collaboration with schools.  Their holiday craft series is a big success.  Beginning this fall, the Baraboo library is working with Oak Park Place assisted living in developing programs.  They will collaborate on a winter choral program.  Additionally, Jerry Apps presented on his book Ringlingville at the Baraboo library.  Ben Miller indicated that the Sauk City Library Board wished to express its thanks to the Sauk County Library Board for its work on the budget.  The Sauk library purchased six Kindles.  The Reedsburg library announced that its Friends of the Library group recently had a member volunteer to be their public relations person.  The Reedsburg library started a home school program with 36 people attending the first event.  The Spring Green library has established a small program to help senior citizens learn how to operate a computer.  The Spring Green Friends of the Library are planning an outreach with the local food pantry.  LaValle has acknowledged that it has been acquiring more large print books courtesy of the Spring Green Library.  They are also working on a series of programs featuring artists who were inspired to live in the LaValle area.

6.  Budget Discussion:  Denise Anton Wright distributed two spreadsheets to spur discussion of budgetary issues.  The first sheet was the Dodge County Reimbursement form for 2013, and the second was a sheet showing what would happen to Sauk County libraries if they applied the circulation funding formula used in Dodge County to the nine Sauk County libraries.  A third handout was an "Overview of County Reimbursements to Public Libraries," a draft document intended to explain library funding as well as In-County and Cross-Border reimbursements.  She is seeking input on this draft.  SueAnn Kucher suggested that the Sauk County Board look at the current cost/circulation formula and see if any improvements could be found that did not penalize libraries for becoming more efficient.  Judy Ashford suggested that members of the Board and Librarians form a taskforce to study funding options.  Sue Meise, Judy Ashford, Meg Allen, Raina Roloff, SueAnn Kucher, Carolyn Forde, and Bev Vaillancourt will comprise the taskforce.  Bev Vaillancourt moved and Ken Grant seconded, a motion to approve the budget reflecting total payments to the libraries for rural use and division of technology funds.  Passed unanimously. 

7. Service Plan 2011-2015:  All board members should review the current Service Plan and suggest changes as the subcommittee addresses the 2016-2021 Service Plan.  The subcommittee is comprised of Bob Wills, Ben Miller, and Judy Ashford.  (Ken Grant is willing to help format the 2016-2021 Service Plan.)

8.  Meetings:

                  Service Plan Subcommittee will meet January 7, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at the Sauk City Library.

                  Funding Group Taskforce will meet January 24, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. at the Baraboo Library.

                  The next meeting of the Sauk County Library Board will be Thursday, February 20, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. at the Plain Library.

Respectfully submitted,

Ken Grant, Secretary