HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - LB - 1981.11.17 BURLINGA-"E PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AGENDA
NOVEMBER 17th, 1981
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
Trustees Present :
Trustees Absent :
Also Present :
BILLS :
City Checks : $11 ,476.67 k
Special Fund: S 1 ,239.09
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF OC"'OBLR 20th, 1981 :
CORRESPONDENCE:
LIBRARIAN' S REPORT:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS :
Communications to Council ori Automated Circulation
Reorganization of the Library
NEW BUSINESS :
Renewal of A.L.A. Memberships
Change of Time of December Board Meeting to 5 :00 pm.
ADJOURNMENT:
The next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on
December 15th, 1981, in the California Room.
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BURLI';GAVE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NI NUTES
OCTOBER 20th , 1981
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting of October 20th, 1981 was called to order by
Chairman Fricke at 4 : 59, -:.
ROLL CALL:
Trustees Present : Chairman Fricke , Secretary Weatherbe,
Trustees Hechinger, Parsons & Nagle
Trustees Absent : None
Also Present : bars . Joy Molder, Assistant City Librarian
Mrs . Judy Gladysz ;Library Secretary
BILLS :
City checks in the amount of $113,946 .411, were approved on
a motion made by Trustee Parsons , seconded by Trustee Weatherbe and
carried. Special Fund checks in the amount of $1 , 148. 29 were approved
to be paid on a motion Wade by Trustee Parsons , seconded by Trustee
Weatherbe and carried.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 1Sth, 1981 :
b:inutes of the meeting of September 1Sth, 1981 were approved
as written and ordered filed.
CORRESPONDENCE :
Secretary Weatherbe read a letter from Mr. Don Marion, a
past patron, who wanted to make restitution for a book he had stolen
from the Library, seven years ago.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
Meetings in Los Angeles : Trustee Nagle asked about the possible
"short- fall" in funding for transaction based reimbursements for
Burlingame Library. Librarian Bergsing replied that Librarians
throughout the State had been asked to give suggestions about how
to deal with the possible short-fall. At the moment , however, the
State Librarian was working closely with members of the Legislature
to try and get the C.L .S .A. funds augmented. Mrs . Bergsing antici-
pates that Burlingame would still receive a substantial portion of
the reimbursement funds , so the shortage might not have too great
an impact .
Chairman Fricke offered to compose a letter to be sent from
the Board of Trustees to the appropriate State Legislators as soon as
the outcome of the November election is known,
BURLINGAi'4E PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE tt2
UNFINISHED BUSINESS :
�. Automated Circulation : Chairman Fricke introduced the "Recommendation
to Participate in Shared Autc-►a:.ek,_ Circulation System. with Other P . L .S .
Libraries" to the Trustees . Trustee Hechinger opened the discussion
by asking what "cost effectiveness" an automated circulation system
would have for Burlingame .
Airs . Bergsing replied that the study that the Board had
received a year ago had endeavored to show both the need for auto-
mated circulation and the "cost effectiveness" of such a system.
Briefly, the increase in circulation activity, the increase in
personnel costs , and the fact that the Library' s current equipment is
wearing out and is no longer manufactured, have all contributed to the
need to change to an automated system.
Chairman Fricke szated that libraries and companies do not
necessarily "lay-off" staff when they automate , but . they do use
existing-staff to better advantage . It usually means that additional
staff does not have to be hired, and that the level of service to the
public can be maintained or improved.
Trustee Weatherbe stated that the visit to the Palo Alto
Public Library to see their automated system in action , had been very
informative . It had helped her to understand, more clearly, how the
system operates , and what it could accomplish . She felt the Palo Alto
staff was very pleased and appreciative of the system. She thought it
was unfortunate that Trustee Hechinger had been unable to accompany
them for the demonstration_.
Trustee Nagle stated that he felt comfortable with the
decision to go with the Geac System. It was his understanding that it
was relatively easy to upgrade the system if it became necessary.
Firs . Bergsing agreed. Air. Nagle further stated that we are in the day
and age of automation and that it was inevitable and necessary for the
library to automate . He felt the major question was the management
of the shared system. He referred to the City Librarian ' s letter to
the County Librarian outlining Burlingame 's concerns about management .
He stated that if these problems could be satisfactorily resolved,
then he felt that the Board should recommend the shared automated
circulation system to the City Council ,
Trustee Hechinger asked what sort of committment the P .L.S .
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES -MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE #3
libraries have made to the County so far. 'Mrs . Bergsing said none
of the libraries have made any commitment to date , however, if they
don' t start soon, the County will not have a System. The price t's_at
was quoted to the County, by Geac, is good until January 1,
Trustee Nagle asked how long before the System would be up
and running. Mrs . Bergsing replied "approximately 3 years with all the
conversion effort that must take place" . Trustee Nagle asked if
the current system the Library is using would hold together that long.
Mrs . Bergsing said she would go back to "hand stamping" everything if
need *be .
Chairman Fricke commented that since our current circulation
system is obsolete and there are no parts available for repair, then
the best buy would be automated circulation. She further said that
for Burlingame to "go it alone" would be far too exnensiti-e and to
"share" a system would give us more for less money. Further discussion
and ' quest_ions followed,
Trustee Nagle made a motion that a committee be appointed
by the Chairman of the Board, consisting of the Chairman , Alice Fricke;
the Secretary, June Weatherbe ; and one other member of the Board. The
charge would be to review the agreement that is to be drawn up by the
F.L.S. committee dealing with the management issues , and to draft up a
recommendation for the full Library Board to forward to the City
Council. The motion was seconded by Trustee Parsons and carried.
Since Mr. Hechinger had expressed the most reservations about
automation, Chairman Fricke asked him to serve as the third member of
the committee. Everyone concurred. Trustee Nagle suggested that
Dennis Argyres , the City Finance Director, might be present to give
additional valuable input to the committee. Chairman Fricke agreed to
extend an invitation to Mr. Argyres when the date of the meeting was
arranged.
It wasagreed that depending on the timetable of both the
P. L. S. committee, and the Burlingame Library Board committee, it right
be necessary to have a special Board meeting in early November to revew
the recommendation.
NEW BUSINESS :
Friends of the: Library Booksale : Alice Fricke .reported that the Books-le
took in $3 ,516. 10 . This money has been earmarked partially, to help
with the reorganization plans for the Library.
BURL1NUAti1L FLJBLIU LInKHKT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE r4
uestionaire : C.A. L.T.A. C. Tool Kit : Trustee Nagle made a motion,
seconded by Trustee Parsons , that Chairman Fricke fill out the
questionaire on behalf of all the Board members , rather than each
one filling out his or her own. It was passed unanimously.
C. L.A. Conference : Airs . Bergsing asked who would be able to attend
the California Library Association Conference , in San Francisco , on
December 12th through the 15th? Chairman Fricke and Secretary
Weatherbe said they would definitely be attending. Trustee Nagle
made a motion that two registrations and one hotel -room be paid out
of the Trustees Special Fund. The motion was seconded by Trustee
Parsons , and passed.
Mrs . Bergsing announced that the City would be supplying
the Board members with new Commissioners badges . Trustee Hechinger
stated that he already had one , but everyone else needs one .
Airs . Bergsing said that the wood shelving is to be
installed this week, in the Reference Room, so the re-organization
has started.
ADJOUR-NMENT:
`-' The meeting was adnourned at 6 :OOpm, with the next meeting
scheduled for November 17th, 1981, at 4 : 30pm, in the California Room.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Bergsing
Clerk of the Board
PMB/jag
L..
LIB?,, ?RTAN' S REPORT
BURLING_�`E PUBLIC LIBRARY
NO`S EY BAR 17th, 1981
Automated Circulation
�— Attached to this report is the communication to the
City Council recom .ending part-vipation in the Shared Automated
Circulation System, and a copy of the latest draft of the Joint
Exercise of Powers Agreement. The committee of the Board, Alice ,
June, and Ben, met with Dennis Argyres and me on Tuesday,
November 10th, and agreed on the memo. If it meets with your
approval, it will be forwarded to the Council in time for their
regular meeting on December 7th , 1981.
Reorganization of the Library
The tall wood shelving has been installed in the
Reference Room, and we are moving ahead with the reorganization
plans . We have arranged with the shelving installer to put up
the remainder of the shelving on the weekend of December 19th,
and the 20th. We would like the permission of the Library Board
to close The Library on those two days , so that we can also move
the Reference Desk, the Reference Collections , and the Periodicals .
This is the slowest weekend of the year for the Library. We
would like to open the Branch from 10 : 00 am to 5 :. 00 pm on
Saturday, the 19th, and 1 : 00 pm to 5 :00 pm on Sunday, the 20th,
so that people may return books , and pick up any "light" reading
material they may want . We would do as much publicity as possible
to let the public know about the change.
We 'll review the plans with you in more detail at
your meeting.
A.L.A. Membership Renewals
We have received notification from the American
Library Association that the three Trustee memberships are expiring
on January 1 , 1982 . These are for Trustees Fricke, Nagle, and
Weatherbe. The Board needs to decide whether to renew all of them
or not . They are $20 . 00 per person, and the decision to join
last year, was made primarily because A.L.A. was held in San
a. Francisco .
LIBRARIAN' S REPORT
PAGE #2 11/17/81
C. L.A. Conference
As you know, the California Library Association
Conference is in San Francisco on December 12th through the 16th.
Your December Board Meeting is scheduled for December 1-5---h -
There is a membership meeting that afternoon in San Francisco .
It is scheduled to end at 4 :00 pm. It would be very helpful, if
you could schedule your meeting to begin at 5 :00 pm instead of
4 : 30 .
This would allow Joy and me to attend the meeting, and
still get back here in time for the Board meeting.
Collection Development
Burlingame Public Library has initiated the use of
a Baker and Taylor service called "Book Alert" . This service is
designed to reserve books for the Burlingame Library, prior to
publication. Baker and Taylor then gives priority in filling
orders to those libraries who are "Book Alert" customers before
they fill other orders . Although our service has been good from
Baker and Taylor, this service should insure the delivery of
currently published titles to meet public demand.
We are planning to purchase two new projectors
that were approved earlier in the year by the Friends of the
Library. We will be buying a new Slide Projector and an 8mm
Projector, both for circulation to the public.
Our telephone book .collection has expanded considerably
during the last few months. All of the new books have been added,
and Warren Wickliffe is setting up both a standing order system
and an index to the books .
Programming
The Second Annual Christmas Program will be held on
Saturday, December 5th, at 11 : 00am, in the Children's Room of the
Main Library. Puppet plays , a mime act , and a visit from Santa
Claus will highlight the program to which adults and children of
all ages are cordially invited. Once again, Christmas Trees at
both the Main Library and Easton Branch may be decorated by the
public. The tree at the Easton Branch is being donated, again this
year, by the Burlingame Lions Club. Library patrons are invited
LIBRARIAN' S REPORT
PAGE 93 11/17/81
to hang a homemade or manufactured ornament on the Library tree
of their choice from Monday, -November 30th through Friday ,
December 4th. Ornaments will not be returned, but are kept
year-to-year and re-hung on the tree each year. This program
is the Library staff' s way or sharing Christmas with the
community and saying "Happy Holidays" .
The Burlingame Writer' s Club toured the Library
during their October 22nd meeting. Alice Fricke provided tea,
coffee and cookies . After a sort business meeting, the group
went to the Reference Department where Christine Dassoff talked
about interlibrary loans . Pat Thomas demonstrated RLIN in the
Technical Processing Department .
The October Book Chat at the Branch included the
following books : Michael Pearson's The Store ; Gordon Parks '
Shannon; and Leslie Wheeler' s Loving Warriors , the romance of
Henry Blackwell and Lucy Stone.
Exhibits for the month included: National Hobby
Month, National Apple Month, Football and Baseball ; and an
interesting exhibit of historical fireman' s articles for Fire
Prevention Week (loaned by members of the Burlingame Fire Dept . ) .
Staff Development
Michelle Larsen, Martha Peebles , and Helen Ward
attended the P.L.S . Orientation Workshop at San Mateo County
Library Headquarters on Wednesday morning, October 21st . This
program, ' designed by. the P.L.S. Staff Development Committee, is
given twice annually for staff members of the P.L.S. libraries
who are new or need review. Attendees are introduced to each
P. L.S . service and activity and see first-hand how the work is
done and how it relates to each P.L.S . library. Those who attend
are quick to say how valuable the workshop is , and that "all
staff should attend. "
Joy Molder is chairing a subcommittee of the P.L.S .
Staff Development Committee, which is planning a workshop on
"Selling The Library" with Dean Roger C. Greer, U.S . C . , School of
Library and Information Management , as featured speaker. Dean
Greer is well known for his advocacy of community analysis and
innovative ideas on community awareness of the library. Dean
Greer will present two half-day sessions the the Burlingame Public
LIBRARIAN' S REPORT
PAGE #4 11/17/81
Library on Wednesday, February 3rd, 1982 . We feel fortunate to
have a man of Dean Greer' s cal-bre as a featured speaker for
P. L.S . Funds for the program are being made available through a
generous donation by the San i_ateo Foundation and each P .L.S .
1ibrar�T.
The Reference Department met twice this month.
During one of the sessions, a -video tape was show entitled
"Determining the Library User's Needs", produced by University
of Denver. The video tape provides a helful approach to the
reference interview. A discussion of various reference question
techniques followed.
P. L.S . Activity
The P.L.S .Fillm Co=ittee met on October 19th, to
discuss the circulation of the previous fiscal year, and the
purchases for the 1981-1982 fiscal year. Circulation figures
for the 16mm films have increased each year, and videocassettes
have been very popular. The Film Committee has a $6 ,000 budget
for 1981-1982 , and this will include the purchase of 40 additional
videocassettes to meet the high demand.
Reference Department
Reference questions were up 160 over the same month
last year! Interlibrary loan statistics remained about the same.
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CITY OF f3UHL TNnAmE f� � E3tIr)G_E 7 __SlA�� �tF�'t�RT
12 MONTH Y-T- D Y•T-D CUR MO ONEXPENDED
ACCT DESCRIPTioN APPROP, ESTIMAT'F' ACT-)At. ACTUAtVARTAtj(�(T--_BM ANCE EmCt1!
LIBRARY
750810 LIBRARY SALARIES 312,734 104,244 103,940 26,018 304 208,794 -
750011 LIBRARY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 1471978 49, 328 49,326 12,312 2 98►652
750013 LIBRARY PARTTIME 287894 6?,632 61 ,634 13,969 998 126t260
750110 LIBRARY OFFTMEXPENSE 7a:286 2r4P8 1, 149 109 1x219 6, 137 —
750120 LIBRARY SPECIAL DEPTL EXPENSE 90, 163 3,0'x6 21151 467 905 7, 012
750121 LIBRARY BOOKS $ MAP'S 86,801 28,9' 2 17, 01 4#461 1.1 "6-11 6,91500
750122 LIBRARY PERIODICALS 10,406 3,468 61186 12 2t 718• 41220
750123 LIBRARY BINDINGS 716130 2,560 416 416 21144 7,264
750124 LIBRARY CATALOGING 20100 6.,6613 1-0-1-444 17 --3-t 776�» _- -_41556
750125 LIBRARY RECORDS &, CASSETTES 41464 11488 2't206 232 718- 2r2`)a
750130 LIBRARY SMALL TPOLS & EQUIP 225 76 45 0 _31 180
750160 L16RARY COMMt1NtCATIONS 4 199 10,500 524 t6q 976 _3,975
750170 LIBRARY UTILITIES 211027 7rtit2H 4,641 1 ,500 2r ?j67 1 , 384—_�
750190 LIBRARY MAINT BLDG & GROUNDS 6,877 2.292 1 ,983 804 3017 11,894
7502 3O LIBRARY EOUTPMENT MAINTENANCE 866 c?86 132 102 lc6 734 --
750201 LIBRARY` EQUIP MAINT-*AUDIO VIS. 400 1 32 223 < 122 91« 177
750202 LIBRARY .EQUIP MAINT«SF'C.SYSTEM 195 13, 0 tl 132 3��5
750210 LIBRARY PROF & SPECIAL _SERVICE _3_,,,00 I .200 31601 3.p0f
750240 LIBRARY DUES R SUBSCRIPTIONS 4� 530 176 311 U 146 500
750250 LTSRARY TRAVEL 1100 132 614 46 68 336
rya 5� 1,I CnPaF & ti1Tr8-t�TBRARTAN 550 184 2 6 6 7 - 291
750252 i.z H c i�rs F �, Pq T r s�-S'r�;>�F � �i�q ���_. .�-��� � _ 1..4_1; 416 16
750260 LTbRARY TRAINTNr, &. SAFETY 350 116 0 1l 111) 3c►0
7504 l TMtY_t7XHtF Fi.DEt A f3rl 1~S _ 75 ..�_ 0 0 2ci 75
*** * TOTAL 1TLiFtA.f3Y ___ _. _ _ 83.11 50__T 2.7Ht2f�'_ �_ ?_66 f1b __ 64,038 11 `?3'R__- __5611, 364- _- _
STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER 1981
�:I RCULAT I ON 14A I N BRANCH
Gooks:
Adult, Non-Fiction 9 , 861 461
Child, Non-Fiction 1 , 321 966
Adult, Fiction 7 ,886 995
Child, Fiction 2 , 378 5
TOTf,L: 21,446 TOTAL:
reriodicals: 1.,455 429
Pamphlets (Incl . Maps & Sm. Press: 367 -0-
TOTAL: 1,822 TOTAL: 4 2 9
Moving Pictures: 26 -0-
Audiorecordings (Incl . Rec. & Cass.) 1 ,193 -0-
Art Prints: 33 -0-
Equipment Loaned: _0- -0-
Slides. 7 -0-
GRAND TOTAL: 24 , 59?4� GRAND TOTAL:�;fi�9
Main Total 1981 Circ. : 24 , 592 Main Total 1980 Circ. : 25,421 = 3 . 26 7, Decrease
Branch Total 1981 Circ. : 2659 Branch Total 1980 Circ. : 2 , 828 - 5 . 1118 Decrease
GRAND TOTAL 1981 CIRC:: 27 ,251 GRAND TOTAL 1980 CIRC. : 28 ,249 = 3 . 53 " Decrease
REFERENCE STATISTICS:
Total Reference Questions: . 3 ,291 ILL Borrowed: 138 TOTAL OF
ILL Lent: 178 REF. ACTIVITY3 , 607
ILL Total : 316
REGISTRATIONS: AS OF 10/31/81 ADDITIONS WITHDRAWALS TOTAL REG. PLS PATRONS TO
Adults: 10 ,719 354 355 10 , 718 DATE: 7 ,9 0
`-' Children: 1 , 719 48 83 1 ,684 Increase of 79
Hillsborough: 4 ,135 77 35 4 ,177
Other Non-Res. Patrons 1554 0 159
TOTAL: 16 ,728 _ 483 473 16 , 738
ACCESSIONS AND WITHDRAWALS: Added Discarded Total to Date
AS OF: VOLUMES/TITLES VOLUMES/TITLES VOLUMES/TITLES VOLUMES/TITLES
Adult,Non-Fic. : 135 ,90,3-- 100 ,187 212 - 31 68 - 54 136 ,047 - 1.10 ,154
Child, Non-Fic: - 1� 8 34 - 4 11 - 6 17 ,585 - 14 , 016
Y.A. , Non-Fic: 3 ,276' 3,120 0 - 0 0 - 0 3 ,270 - 3 ,120
Adult, Fiction: 45 , 591' 41,219 151 - 78 155 - 121 45 ,587 - 41 ,176
Child, Fiction: 13 ,960' 9 , 838 24 - 10 17 - 0 13 ,973 - 9 , 6--+8
Y.A. , Fiction: 2 ,748' 2 ,393 _ 16 - 4 0 - 0 2 ,764 - 2 , 397
TOTAL: 219 ,0463- 170 , 775 437 - 127 251 -- 181- 219 , 232 - 170 ,721
PAMPHLETS ADDED: 0 MAPS ADDED: 0
PAMPHLETS DISCARDED: 0 MAPS DISCARDED: 0
11 TOTAL: 19 ,153 TOTAL: 1 -479
RECORDINGS: AS OF. 9/30/81 ADDED DISCARDED AS OF: 10/31/31
UNITS / TITLES UNITS / TITLES UNITS / TITLES UNITS / TITLES
Disc's: 5 , 358 / 4 ,778 22 / 22 0 / 0 5, 380/ 4 , 330
Cassettes: 694 / 613 11 / 11 0 / 0 705/ 624
TOTAL: 6 ,052 / 5 , 391 33 / 33 0 / 0 65085/ 5 ,-)a
Di SITED WITH THE CITY TREASURER: MAIN: 11757. 00
BRANCH: . 00 TOTAL: 1 757 , C
MEETING ROOM FEES COLLECTED & DEPOSITED: $ 20 . 00 TOTAL: 1 ,777 . 00
TOTAL MEETINGS HELD 13 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE 287
-O3-f m
CITY OF BURLINGAME
-----2—-- 3 -----4
2
p ! jlGs
7
119
�!10
113
I!14
i
l115
( �f
ii 16
1117
d 18
;L. 1�2fl
421
i122 i
124
2
'27
#28
H I I ;�31
I j ii E 1`32
li ( it j i ! 1- 1
't34
Outreach Activities
1. Volunteer Coordinator
A. Hours worked
2. Volunteers
A. Number of volunteers
B. Hours contributed
3. Shut-in Patrons--Individual Visits
A. Number of patrons
B. Number of visits madeZ
C. Items circulated f
4. Shut-in Patrons—Institutional Visits
No. of
Ma- aerials
visits / Attendance / circulated
B.
l C-
D.
��.
E
5. ' Totals (3 & 4) -
A. Shut-in patrons
B. Visits made Q'
C. Items circulated / 7
Co:TMnen is/ac tivi ties:
�' ��=
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES
OCTOBER 20th, 1981
�-- CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting of October 20th, 1981 was called to order by
Chairman Fricke at 4 : 30pm.
ROLL CALL :
Trustees Present : Chairman Fricke , Secretary Weatherbe ,
Trustees Hechinger , Parsons & Nagle
Trustees Absent : None
Also Present : Mrs . Joy Molder, Assistant City Librarian
Mrs . Judy Gladysz , Library Secretary
BILLS :
City checks in the amount of $11 , 946 . 41 , were approved on
a motion made by Trustee Parsons , seconded by Trustee Weatherbe and
carried. Special Fund checks in the amount of $1 , 148 . 29 were approved
to be paid on a motion made by Trustee Parsons , seconded by Trustee
Weatherbe and carried.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 1Sth, 1981 :
Minutes of the meeting of September 1Sth, 1981 were approved
as written and ordered filed.
CORRESPONDENCE :
Secretary Weatherbe read a letter from Mr. Don Marion , a
past patron, who wanted to make restitution for a book he had stolen
from the Library, seven years ago .
LIBRARIAN' S REPORT :
Meetings in Los An eles : Trustee Nagle asked about the possible
"short-fall" in funding for transaction based reimbursements for
Burlingame Library. Librarian Bergsing replied that Librarians
throughout the State had been asked to give suggestions about how
to deal with the possible short- fall . At the moment , however, the
State Librarian was working closely with members of the Legislature
to try and get the C. L .S .A. funds augmented. Mrs . Bergsing antici-
pates that Burlingame would still receive a substantial portion of
the reimbursement funds , so the shortage might not have too great
an impact .
Chairman Fricke offered to compose a letter to be sent from
the Board of Trustees to the appropriate State Legislators as soon as
the outcome of the November election is known.
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE #2
�.. UNFINISHED BUSINESS :
Automated Circulation: Chairman Fricke introduced the "Recommendation
to Participate in Shared Automated Circulation System with Other P .L .S .
Libraries" to the Trustees . Trustee Hechinger opened the discussion
by asking what "cost effectiveness" an automated circulation system
would have for Burlingame .
Mrs . Bergsing replied that the study that the Board had
received a year ago had endeavored to show both the need for auto-
mated circulation and the "cost effectiveness" of such a system.
Briefly, the increase in circulation activity , the increase in
personnel costs , and the fact that the Library' s current equipment is
wearing out and is no longer manufactured, have all contributed to the
need to change to an automated system.
Chairman Fricke stated that libraries and companies do not
necessarily "lay-off" staff when they automate , but they do use
existing staff to better advantage . It usually means that additional
staff does not have to be hired, and that the level of service to the
public can be maintained or improved.
Trustee Weatherbe stated that the visit to the Palo Alto
Public Library to see their automated system in action , had been very
informative . It had helped her to understand, more clearly, how the
system operates , and what it could accomplish . She felt the Palo Alto
staff was very pleased and appreciative of the system. She thought it
was unfortunate that Trustee Hechinger had been unable to accompany
them for the demonstration.
Trustee Nagle stated that he felt comfortable with the
decision to go with the Geac System. It was his understanding that it
was relatively easy to upgrade the system if it became necessary.
Mrs . Bergsing agreed. Mr. Nagle further stated that we are in the day
and age of automation and that it was inevitable and necessary for the
library to automate . He felt the major question was the management
of the shared system. He referred to the City Librarian ' s letter to
the County Librarian outlining Burlingame 's concerns about management .
He stated that if these problems could be satisfactorily resolved,
�- then he felt that the Board should recommend the shared automated
circulation system to the City Council .
Trustee Hechinger asked what sort of committment the P .L .S .
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE #3
libraries have made to the County so far. Mrs . Bergsing said none
of the libraries have made any committment to date , however, if they
don' t start soon, the County will not have a System. The price that
was quoted to the County , by Geac , is good until January 1 , 1982 .
Trustee Nagle asked how long before the System would be up
and running. Mrs . Bergsing replied "approximately 3 years with all the
conversion effort that must take place" . Trustee Nagle asked if
the current system the Library is using would hold together that long.
Mrs . Bergsing said she would go back to "hand stamping" everything if
need be .
Chairman Fricke commented that since our current circulation
system is obsolete and there are no parts available for repair, then
the best buy would be automated circulation. She further said that
for Burlingame to "go it alone" would be far too expensive and to
"share" a system would give us more for less money. Further discussion
and questions followed.
Trustee Nagle made a motion that a committee be appointed
�. by the Chairman of the Board, consisting of the Chairman , Alice Fricke ;
the Secretary, June Weatherbe ; and one other member of the Board. The
charge would be to review the agreement that is to be drawn up by the
P. L . S. committee dealing with the management issues , and to draft up a
recommendation for the full Library Board to forward to the City
Council . The motion was seconded by Trustee Parsons and carried.
Since Mr. Hechinger had expressed the most reservations about
automation, Chairman Fricke asked him to serve as the third member of
the committee . Everyone concurred. Trustee Nagle suggested that
Dennis Argyres , the City Finance Director, might be present to give
additional valuable input to the committee . Chairman Fricke agreed to
extend an invitation to Mr. Argyres when the date of the meeting was
arranged.
It was agreed that depending on the timetable of both the
P. L . S . committee , and the Burlingame Library Board committee, it might
be necessary to have a special Board meeting in early November to review
the recommendation .
NEW BUSINESS :
Friends of the Library Booksale : Alice Fricke reported that the Booksale
took in $3 ,516 . 10 . This money has been earmarked partially, to help
with the reorganization plans for the Library.
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE #4
uestionaire : C .A. L.T.A. C. Tool Kit : Trustee Nagle made a motion ,
seconded by Trustee Parsons , that Chairman Fricke fill out the
questionaire on behalf of all the Board members , rather than each
one filling out his or her own. It was passed unanimously.
C . L.A. Conference : Mrs . Bergsing asked who would be able to attend
the California Library Association Conference , in San Francisco , on
December 12th through the 16th? Chairman Fricke and Secretary
Weatherbe said they would definitely be attending . Trustee Nagle
made a motion that two registrations and one hotel room be paid out
of the Trustees Special Fund. The motion was seconded by Trustee
Parsons , and passed.
Mrs . Bergsing announced that the City would be supplying
the Board members with new Commissioners' badges . Trustee Hechinger
stated that he already had one , but everyone else needs one .
Mrs . Bergsing said that the wood shelving is to be
installed this week, in the Reference Room, so the re-organization
has started.
ADJOURNMENT :
The meeting was adnourned at 6 :OOpm, with the next meeting
scheduled for November 17th , 1981, at 4 : 30pm, in the California Room.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Bergsing
Clerk of the Board
PMB/jag