Minutes
Coralville Public Library Board of Trustees
June 6th, 2007

Present: X. Cretzmeyer, Donna Epley, Keith Jones, Lisa Martin, Mike O’Leary, Jim Smith, Alison Ames Galstad (Library Director), Ellen Hampe (Assistant Library Director), John Lundell (City Council Representative).
Absent: Deborah Hatz.

Vice-President Epley called the meeting to order at 6:00.

The Board considered approval of the agenda. Cretzmeyer moved the agenda be approved. O’Leary seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board considered the minutes of the May 2nd meeting. Cretzmeyer moved that they be approved, O’Leary seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board considered the bills for May. Galstad explained that there will be more at the special meeting in a few weeks. She is reconciling the materials budget for the end of the fiscal year. Martin moved the bills be approved, O’Leary seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board considered the timeline for the Town Center Parking Structure rehabilitation project. Currently, the new temporary gravel lot is being put in. The 12th street exit will be only to the right because of the median. Signage and markings are coming. It may be ready to use this Saturday. The jackhammering should begin next week, and the hydrodemolition the week after. There will be noise, mess and more parking constraints starting next week. There will be approximately 23 parking spots in te gravel lot, plus the current gravel and 7 or so in the little section towards 5th St. in the ramp.

Epley gave a report from the Friends. There will be a book sale on July 13th and 14th, and they’re billing it as a clearance sale. They are unsure they’ll have anywhere to store their books. Galstad has asked the contractors about getting access to the future Friends storage room downstairs, and believes there should be some limited access. Friends should be able to continue to take donations, though probably will not be able to sort before the project is turned over to the City.

There was no report from the Foundation.

Galstad gave the monthly Director’s Report:

• General Information:
  Circulation was only down about 12% from a year ago. People entering the library was down about 15% from last year. Internet use was down as well.
• Summer Reading Programs:
  The Signups were all very successful. 391 kids signed up at Hills bank during the kickoff event, as of yesterday there were 911 total (including the kickoff night number and additional signups at the library only).
  There were 192 teens who signed up at the kickoff night of their program. 92 adults signed up in the lobby the day of the kickoff of their program, and as of Monday there were 178.
• Building Issues:
  The sidewalk where trucks have been coming in and out of the construction zone has become problematic, and will be paved. They will also be adding gravel to the existing temporary parking lot.
  A few weekends ago, some ceiling tiles in the staff lounge collapsed. Ed LaGrange cleaned it up, got the moisture out and worked with Jeff Greiner to get it sealed. The ceiling tiles will not be replaced.
• Construction:
  During a recent technology walk-through of the construction, it was realized that the server room is smaller by more than half of what was called for in the building program. Also, many of the changes made in an October 2005 and a February 2006 meeting with KJWW were not implemented in the plans, and were therefore not in the bidding document. Galstad will be involving Kevin Olsen in communications with Neumann Monson about this issue and who is taking financial responsibility.
  On a smaller scale, there’s been a bit of frustration with the interiors as well, with changes not always being implemented into the plan right away.
  Bi-weekly construction meetings continue. They are almost finished with the masonry, but will wait to do the part of the building facing the parking until the fix of the parking ramp is finished.
  There may be changes to the entrance, possibly at the end of the summer. There is a sanitary sewer right through the middle of the basement where they’ll need to cut through to the new construction, and there may be minor changes to the entrance while that is being done.
  They think they will need three days to cut through to the new section in the basement, and will probably be doing it on June 29th, 30th, July 1st and 2nd. There will probably not be access to the lower level on that Friday.
• Meetings:
  ILA planning continues, and Galstad will be going to a meeting tomorrow. The meeting rooms at the Marriot were overbooked. ILA was supposed to have the exhibit hall at 7:00 a.m., but another group will be using them until 10. It has been mostly straightened out, with the Marriott offering to sponsor the exhibit opening reception.
  Vicky Robrock, the Coralville Transit Manager, called Galstad to explore some sort of free bus pass system to help alleviate the parking problems. We are thinking of a way to make it work, and also exploring moving the bus stop so that it stops right in front of the library.

Epley complimented staff on doing a great job this summer. The Meskwaki event received great coverage. Galstad attended it, and reported that there were 185 people there. Epley mentioned that next week is the Big Day at the Children’s Museum, sponsored by the Friends.

The next Board meeting will be Wednesday July 11th, and there may be a short special meeting on June 20th. This special meeting would be to approve the furniture contracts, and would allow furniture orders to be placed before the 4th of July holiday.


Epley adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:40p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Hampe
Assistant Library Director
(Subject to approval at the Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 meeting.)