08-A Library Adv (04-21-04)
Library Advisory Board
April 21, 2004
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LIBRARY
ADVISORY BOARD
April 21, 2004
The Paris Public Library Advisory Board met in regular session
Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at 4:00 PM in the Library with Chairman
Nancee Salzman presiding. The following Board members were present:
Jackie Alsobrook, Sarah Gambill, Peggy Guthrie, Deborah Hatley, Bill
Kennedy, Carl Lucas, Nancee Salzman, and Walter Williams. Also
attending was Betty Landon, Library Director. Anna Davis and Callie
Thompson, Friends’ President did not attend.
The minutes from the March meeting were approved.
The board then had a discussion about upgrading the library’s automation
system. The current system is DOS based and needs to be upgraded to pc-
based with a Windows environment to interface with the library’s vendors
to retrieve records for cataloging as well as other purposes. Each new
computer purchased for staff has to have a $200 software package installed
in order to access the library’s catalog. The two computers used for
cataloging cannot be upgraded but use old technology in order to use the
current cataloging program. Earlier this year, the vendor announced that
they would discontinue the cataloging program. Current pricing on a new
system would be about $60,000, down from $100,000 two years ago.
Betty’s concern is that our vendor will discontinue maintenance soon
because they have only 132 customers nationwide using the system. The
board concurred that the city should pay for an upgrade because they
should maintain the library but voted to use a limited amount of money
from Library trust funds to help acquire a new system. They asked Betty
to add this to the 2004/05 budget request and agreed that, at the
appropriate time, board members would appear before council to request
this purchase.
The board then had a short discussion about increasing trust funds and
ways of making the public aware that they could include such bequests to
Library Advisory Board
April 21, 2004
Page 2
the library in their wills. No decision was reached on the correct approach,
but further discussion will be held in the future.
The budget report was favorable.
February circulation statistics were down about 6% from last March.
Program attendance was up almost 1000. Children’s programming had 19
programs with 1659 children and 1193 adults attending. In Children’s
Outreach, 12 programs were held with 304 children attending and 62
adults.
In adult outreach, there was 1 program which 12 people attended. There
were 61 interlibrary loans. We had 37memorials given for a total of
$1096.50.
In the Director’s Report, Betty informed the members that she and
Priscilla attended funeral services for Joyce Kennemer, a recent board
member. The Board instructed Betty to place an audio book in the
collection in memory of Joyce. Betty then announced that she had decided
to retire at the end of June, 2004. Priscilla McAnally, assistant director
will apply for the position and Betty was supportive of her application.
Betty plans to move to Florida at the end of the summer.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on May 19 at 4 p.m. in the Gallery.
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Betty Landon Date Approved