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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 2002.12.17 BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY Burlingame Public Library Board of Trustees Minutes December 17, 2002 I. Call to Order President, Andrew Gurthet, called the meeting to order at 4:30pm. II. Roll Call Trustees Present: Cecile Coar, Andrew Gurthet, Catherine McCormack, Mary Herman and Carol Rossi City Attorney: Larry Anderson Staff Present: Alfred Escoffier, City Librarian Pat Harding, Library Services Manager Sidney Poland, Recorder Public Present: Mr. Lee, Patron III. Warrants and Special Funds The Trustees unanimously agreed to approve the warrants. M/S/C (McCormack/Rossi) IV. Minutes The Trustees unanimously agreed to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2002 meeting. M/S/C (Herman/Coar) V. Correspondence and Attachments Correspondence and Attachments mailed in the Board packet were reviewed. A. Duncan Trust Fund Activity Statement - The City Librarian clarified that monies in the Duncan Fund can be used for any need that the Trustees deem beneficial to the Library. The Peninsula Community Foundation Grant Committee must approve a written request for funds by the City Librarian. He noted that it was not the intention of the Duncan Trust to be used for on-going Library operations but to supplement Library services. 48o Primrose Road•Burlingame•CA 94010-4083 Phone (650) 558-7474'Fax (650) 342-6295 VIII. C. Unfinished Business Item 8c Disciplinary Action for Library Patron, Mr. George Lee - A motion was made to move item 8c to this point of the agenda, as Mr. Lee had arrived for his hearing. M/S/C (McCormack/Rossi) 1. Request for Disciplinary Action of Mr. George Lee - Pat Harding, Library Services Manager, passed out Internet Rules for the one hour Internet, 15 minute express Internet and explained her position, as well as that of the Reference staff, in regard to Mr. Lee's continual disregard for Library policy relating to the 15 minute express Internet. She requested that the Trustees ban Mr. Lee from the Library for one week. The following information was given to the Trustees. a. Mr. Lee has continually over stayed his 15 minute limit time periods. On November 22nd he surpassed the time limit by 20 minutes and later in the afternoon by 40 minutes. Even though a time clock was installed to help patrons monitor their time, Mr. Lee did not conform to the 15 minute policy. b. Other patrons have continually become upset and angry over Mr. Lee's constant abuse of the 15 minute policy. Pat Harding expressed concern that an incident might occur and someone could be injured. �. C. When approached by Reference staff to leave the terminal, as his time was over, he has often been argumentative, uncooperative, and on one occasion used obscene language. 2. Mr. George Lee Addressed the Board of Trustees Mr. Lee commented as follows: a. He once stayed 42 minutes but he checked to make certain that no one was waiting. It was his understanding that if no one was waiting, he could continue. b. He plays games on the Internet, becomes very involved and has difficulty stopping, if he is at a particular level in the game. He said he noticed that other patrons stayed on passed their 15 minutes. C. As far as using "obscene" language, Mr. Lee stated that he did not use "obscene" language but he did tell a Reference librarian that he felt the librarian was discriminating. 3. Comments and Discussion by Trustees a. Pat Harding advised the Trustees that a 15 minute timing out program would be installed on a trial basis in the future, which will give the patron a `- warning signal and then the screen will return to the web page. Library Board of Trustee Minutes 2 December 17, 2002 b. The express stations are not set up for long term projects and most patrons adhere to the 15 minute express policy. C. It is the obligation of the patron to monitor his own time. d. If no one is waiting for the station, patron can stay on but must leave immediately if another patron arrives. e. Most patrons adhere to the Internet policy and do not cause problems but Mr. Lee's behavior stands out. 4. Conclusion of Hearing - Trustee Rossi made a motion to support Pat Harding's request to suspend Mr. George Lee for one week beginning December 18th to December 26th with the hope that now the procedures have been explained, Mr. Lee will be able to conform to the Internet policy. M/S/C (Rossi/Herman) 5. Post Hearing - The Trustees requested that Internet Policy be placed on the agenda for the January meeting. VI. From the Floor - There were no other public comments. VII. Reports �.. A. City Librarian's Report - The City Librarian reviewed his report highlighting the following items: 1. City Budget Reduction - On December 9th, Al Escoffier presented a draft budget proposal to the Library staff. The staff asked questions and offered other suggestions for budget cuts. 2. Proposed Reductions For the Library a. Reduction of service hours to 11 hrs. per week which will result in cutting approximately 10 FTE staff. b. Staff reductions cost out at 20% of FTE. The total reduction is $600,000, or a 20% cut in the Library budget. C. City manager has recommended closing Easton and reducing middle management staff by two employees. d. Cuts made in 2002 include $24,000 from the book budget, $5,000 in audiovisual materials, and foregoing the use of on- call employees who have filled in for vacations and illness in the past. The financial result has been that in December the Library was 6.5% under budget. Library Board of Trustee Minutes 3 December 17, 2002 B. Foundation Report - Carol Rossi 1. Election of Officers will take place at the January 9, 2003 Annual Meeting. 2. Trustee Rossi encouraged the Library Trustees and the Foundation to put the venue for the 2003 Employee Achievement Award Dinner out to bid. Tentative date is December 8, 2003. VIII. Unfinished Business A. Change in Trustee Meeting Date For January 2003 Trustee Herman made a motion to change the January 21St meeting to Monday January 13, 2003 at 4:30pm. M/S/C (Herman/Coar) B. Interlibrary Loan Fee Increase - Trustee Rossi made a motion to increase the Interlibrary Loan Fee from $3.00 to $5.00. M/S/C (Rossi/Herman) C. Hearing of Mr. Lee Moved for Discussion/Action After Item V of the Agenda D. Draft of Budget Reductions - The Trustees discussed the draft budget cut proposal and expressed concern over the possible closure of Easton. The Trustees inquired into the possibility of increasing the amount of the Hillsborough contract, which will be re-negotiated in June 2003. The City Librarian stated that he will contact the City Librarian of San Mateo in the early part of 2003 to discuss the contract. IX. New Business - There was not any new business. X. Announcements XI. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:00pm. M/S/C (Rossi/Herman) The next meeting of the Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for January 13, 2003 at 4:30pm in the Library Conference Room. Respectfully Submitted Alfred H. Escoffier City Librarian Library Board of Trustee Minutes 4 December 17, 2002