HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Committee - Minutes - 1/25/2013Bayfield County Library Board Minutes, January 25, 2013
In Attendance: Committee Members; Beth Meyers, John Bennett, Darrel Pendergrass, Courtney
Dietsche, Roberta Menger, Suzanne Widmar
Others: Jim Trojanowski, Mark Abeles-Allison,
Excused: Harold Maki and Kristine Lendved
Meyers called the meeting to order at 1:00pm.
Bennett made the motion to approved the last minutes of 2/8/12, seconded by Dietsche, motion
carried.
Item 3: Jim Trojanowski with Northern Waters Library System provided an overview of the mission and
services provided by Northern Waters. A summary of the presentation is attached.
Additional Notes:
• 45% of mail a books in the eight county NWLS region come from Bayfield County
• Of the eight counties Bayfield County is second only to Vilas County in number of libraries in the
region.
• NWLS received a 10% budget cut from the State last year, equivalent to a $33,000 cut.
• In 2013 NWLS has a staff 1/3 less than in 2004.
• Myers thanks Trojanowski for his presentation and presented him with the annual budget
allotment for Bayfield County.
Item 4: Pendergrass reviewed the budget process and calendar for calculating circulations for libraries.
Libraries are currently preparing end of 2012 reports. Budget calculations for the current year are based
on circulations two years prior.
Meyers brought up the subject of presentations before the county Executive Committee and noted this
was a concern of the libraries in the past. Members of the committee expressly stated their interest in
making a presentation before the Executive Committee in September. This will be scheduled as part of
one of the budget meetings.
Item 5. Committee Appointments. Meyers reviewed the letter to Bayfield County libraries requesting
committee member appointments. Libraries will forward recommendations to Myers or Abeles-Allison
as soon as possible. The goal will be to have appointments in place by the April library meeting.
Item 6. All five libraries provided updates:
Grandview: Suzanne Widmar
• Wrote an article on Act 420 for Bottom line newspaper
• Preparing an art exhibit with LCO artists.
• Upgrade of library parking lot lights.
Iron River: Courtney Dietsche
• The library is very busy with checkouts, Iron River is the library with the most circulations of any
Bayfield County Library
• The library is sponsoring computer classes at the elementary school. From January until April
they will have a mini class once a week.
• The library board is surveying community members.
• The library is currently short of space and is considering an expansion.
• Considering more part time positions.
• Many volunteers donate time to the library in the summer months.
Washburn: Darrel Pendergrass
• Congratulated Iron River as the newest library in the county with the greatest circulation.
• The Washburn library is no longer affiliated with the Book Across the Bay.
• They sponsoran annual Golf Tournament now that generates the same amount of revenue with
less work.
• Included in the packet the 2009 Plan of Service that Tim Kane assisted with.
• Increased utilization of meeting rooms.
• Wifi usage continues to remain heavy. (Other libraries noted that since adding fiber speeds
have increased dramatically).
• Tax forms are now available, use is heavy.
Bayfield: Roberta Menger
• 2012 was busier than 2011
• A winter lecture series is being held in the basement. The next presentation will be “ What is it
about this place” by David Saetre
• A building repair project will limit hours in February.
The next meeting will be held on April 26 at 2:00pm, Tim Kane will be present to help update the Library
Plan of Services.
Respectfully,
Mark Abeles-Allison