Minutes
Coralville Public Library Board of Trustees
December 5th, 2007

Present: Donna Epley, Deborah Hatz, Lisa Martin, Jim Smith, Alison Ames Galstad (Library Director), Ellen Hampe (Assistant Library Director), John Lundell (Coralville City Council Representative), Royce Peterson & Norm Reisetter.
Absent: X. Cretzmeyer, Keith Jones.


President Hatz called the meeting to order at 6:00.

The Board considered approval of the agenda. Martin moved the agenda be approved. Smith seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board considered the minutes of the November 7th meeting. Epley moved that they be approved as presented, Hatz seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board considered the bills for November. Galstad pointed out that at the end of the bill list are some items that were not under the contract with MLC. Their cost was approved, but not through the contract. They are associated with furnishings equipment, and moving. Martin moved the bills be approved, Smith seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board considered the Annual Report for FY07. Galstad had previously shared highlights of the report with them. This was the entire report which was recently turned in to the State Library, after an extension on the deadline.

Galstad informed the Board that the Budget conference has been pushed back. Galstad will get information out to the Budget Committee, and the Board will have a chance to consider it at the January meeting before the City Council hearing. Galstad will figure the budget implications of being open on Sundays, and asked if there were any opinions about hours of operations. It was agreed that closing at 4:30 would be good for the sake of consistency.

Galstad updated the Board on the completion of Phase I of the Library expansion project. The range movers arrived from Hallett, and Jones Library Sales did the moving of the large stacks and the rearrangement of the other shelves. Jones also added some random pieces to make the Neumann Monson gift into complete shelves. The range movers were sent back a day early (the contract was for a minimum of 5 days). Lots of volunteers have been helping with cleaning, moving things into storage and other odd jobs. Staff members have done a phenomenal job, many have put in extra hours. We had a couple of working lunches, one of which resulted in a possible prospect for the café. The soffits, ceilings, walls, and lighting will be finished out in the café, but there won’t be casework or specific lighting until there is a vendor on board.
There are a few things scheduled in the meeting rooms in January, but staff are waiting to book them until February. The construction crew has cleaned off the red chairs downstairs and moved them into the new space. They will eventually go back into the Schwab Auditorium. Wall coverings for the Schwab auditorium are not part of the contract, and will be an additional cost. The quilts from the old library will be cleaned and hung in the Schwab Auditorium.
McComas Lacina has blankets on the parking facility to try to get the ice off. Epley asked about the lower level of the ramp. Galstad said they are still working on the lights and sprinklers. Epley asked the number of spots, Galstad told her there are 350 planned. She asked Lundell if this is sufficient for the building on the corner, and he said yes, it was planned for this. Galstad pointed out that there could be a possible issue with parking if the library is open on Sundays.

Epley gave a report from the Friends. The Friends are waiting to see when they can have a book sale in January. Galstad said they are able to anytime they would like to. The Friends will be moving stuff from the old building into their new space this weekend.

Martin gave a report from the Foundation. The Foundation board met. They are losing two board members, and have one person who is interested in filling a position. The recent mailing generated approximately $10,000 in donations and pledges.

Galstad gave the monthly Director’s Report:

• Statistics:
  The total circulation is irrelevant, because of the closure. The average daily circulation is interesting.
• Budget:
  In the Government Funding line, Enrich Iowa money was received and $311 from a CD lawsuit settlement.
  There was a $100 donation from Nadine Hain.
  There was a $25 donation from the Iowa City Area Questers for the Early American Life subscription.
• Construction:
  Construction meetings continue bi-weekly. The last meeting was a Phase 2 coordination meeting, which Galstad asked to have because of all of the miscommunication during Phase 1. Martin asked if minutes were being taken, and Galstad told her that they are taken and distributed at all construction meetings.
• Meetings:
  Galstad will attend the ILA Executive Board meeting this Friday in Des Moines.
• Other business:
  Galstad informed the Board that the Johnson County Legislator’s Reception has been moved due to conflicts that the legislators had. It will now be held on Wednesday Dec. 19th from 5:30-6:30 at the Iowa City Public Library.

The next Board meeting will be on January 2nd, and the board agreed not to change the meeting.

The visitors had a few questions about change orders. Galstad informed them that each change order is being considered individually, as far as who is paying for it. There was further discussion, but no action was taken as there was no longer a quorum present.

Lundell told the Board that Julie Pulkrabek had been nominated for the county position on the Library Board.

Hatz reported on the teleconference she attended about fair pay for library directors, and there was discussion about Galstad’s salary.

Hatz adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Hampe
Assistant Library Director
(Subject to approval at the Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008 meeting.)