Mae S. Bruce Library

Library Advisory Board Meeting

Minutes of July 7, 2004 Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 6:35pm. The following board members were present: 

Library Director Brenda B. Cheatham was also present.

The minutes of April 1 were read.  Lark made a motion to approve the minutes and Barbara seconded the motion.

Member’s Report/ Old Business

1.      At the last meeting, we discussed a new fire alarm system that would be installed.  That installation has been postponed due to contract negotiations.

2.      Lark mentioned that she has heard many good things from the community about the Summer Reading Program.  Jennifer has been doing a great job.

3.      It is Heritage Festival Time.  The Festival is on Sept 4^th.  The Library Board members will share the cost of a double booth for our book sale.  Lark will complete the paperwork to secure our booths.  The staff has already begun collecting books.  Kim will bring up some boxes for those books.  Brenda will provide the tables needed for the booth.  We have several ideas in regards to handouts that we would like to make for the booth as well as decorations.  A meeting has been set up for Aug 12 to get all ideas finalized and delegated.

Director’s Report

Director Brenda Cheatham discussed the following items with the board members. 

1.                  At the last meeting, Brenda discussed the need for Library Advisory Board By-Laws.  She was able to create a By-Laws draft.  She needs volunteers to review and help edit these.  Linda and Kim agreed to assist her and will meet on July 12 at 2pm.

2.                  The Summer Reading Program is in full swing.  The attendance has been great.

3.                  Brenda has 2 new projects for DeAnna.  The first and most important is a video history of Santa Fe.  DeAnna will use Brenda’s video recorder to interview members of the community.  Brenda read an article titled “Reconnecting the past through Oral History” that discusses this exact project.  She will use this article as a guideline for conducting the interviews.  This could even turn out to be a beneficial fundraising item once complete.

The other project is to teach Senior Citizens how to use the Internet.  There are many aspects that need to be carefully thought out and planned. 

4.                  A new book club has been organized for adults.  Membership has been growing.  The books are selected months in advance and Brenda orders them for everyone.  This is funded by a Kempner fund and through private donations.

5.                  Rebecca Darden is our new City Council liaison.

New Business

1.                  The new City Ordinance regarding the Library Advisory Board members has been approved and implemented.  Several of the board positions are in a transitional 1 year term renew period.  Those include Jack Long, Barbara Wells, and Kim Holliday.  All other positions are still a 2-year term.  After 2005, all positions will again be 2-year terms.  A motion to approve the new term schedule was made by Lark and then seconded by Jack.

2.                  Board officers will be appointed at another meeting.  The current fiscal year of the Library Board is July.  However, in creating By-Laws, we feel the need to change the fiscal year to coincide with the City’s fiscal year.

3.                  We need someone to be our HALS representative.  This gives our library a voice at the Houston systems meetings.  Many things are voted on that could effect our library.  The meetings are held twice a year.  Kim agreed to fill the position and Lark will be her alternate.  The next meeting is on Sept. 16^th.

Adjournment

The motion to adjourn was made by Jack and seconded by Lark.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:24pm.  The next meeting is scheduled for October 7, 2004 at 6:30 pm.