HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 1981.10.20 BURI.T GAVE, PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A1INUTES
OCTOBER 20th , 1981
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting of October 20th, 1981 was called to order by
Chairman Fricke at + : 30p�lt.
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
leatherbe and carried.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15th, 1981 :
Minutes of the meeting of September 15th, 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.
BURLINGA`IE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE n2
UNFINISHED BUSINESS :
Automated Circulation : Chairman Fricke introduced the "Recommendation
to Participate in Shared A;:tc:nate" Circulation System 1 ith 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 Librarians 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 ti�hat 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, 1032 .
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 �o
"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
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 :;as
arranged.
It wasagreed that depending on the timetable of both to
P.L. S. committee, and the Burlingame Library Board committee, it ^igh
be necessary to have a special Board meeting in early November to rex`
the recommendation.
NEW BUSINESS
Friends of the: Library Booksale : Alice Fricke reported that the Bcoks:=_le
took in $3 ,516. 10 . This money has been earmarked partially, to help
with the reorganization plans for the Library.
BURLINUANIh FUISLIk, L1I5Kf1KI
BOARD OF TRUSTEES - MINUTES 10/20/81
PAGE -44
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.N. Conference : Firs . Bergsing asked who would be able to attend
the California Library Association Conference , in San Francisca, 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.
Firs . Bergsing announced that the City would be supplying
the Board members with new Corwaissioners' 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,
r Patricia M. Bergsing
Clerk of the Board
PMB/jag