HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - LB - 1971.01.25 AGENDA
�-- BURLIAGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
JANUARY 25, 1971
TRUSTEES PRESENT:
TRUSTEES ABSENT:
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBE2 15, 1970
BILLS:
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
CORRESPONDENCE:
OLD BUSh1ESS:
Individual membership in C.L.A. - Trustees
NEW BUSINESS:
Carpet in basement section of stacks
Audio-visual material
ADJOURNMENT:
Adjournment in memory of J. Dennis Finney
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
December 15, 1970
CALL TO ORDER:
A regular meeting of the Burlingame Public Library Board was held on the above given date.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P. M. by Chairman Cohendet.
ROLL CALL:
Trustees Present: Trustee Cohendet, Trustee Phelan, Trustee Hechinger, Trustee
DeMartini
Trustees Absent: Trustee Lynes (excused)
MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting of November 17, 1970 were approved and adopted.
BILLS:
Bills in the amount of $5,454.11 were ordered paid on a motion b Trustee Hechinger seconded
by Trustee DeMartini and carried.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
The Librarian's report was read and ordered filed. There was a question on the status of
Reference Librarian Dennis Finney, who is still very ill. His replacement has not yet
been found. The Librarian stated that Mr. Finney still has about 79 days sick leave left
in our employment. There was some discussion of the hospital plan for city employees.
CORRESPONDENCE:
The Librarian read a latter from the Assistant Dean of Instruction for Library Services,
College of San Mateo, thanking the Burlingame Library for the opportunity of having story-
telling classes here.
There was another letter from the Librarian of the Sutro Library, San Francisco, thanking
us for several gift books we sent them. There was discussion of the Sutro Library and its
facilities.
A lettar was read from the American Library Association urging the Library Board of Trustees
to become members of the A.L.A. and of the American Library Trustees Association.
There was also a letter from the California Library Association enclosing applications
for membership. This was discussed later in the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Steinbeck Property: Chairman Cohendet asked regarding the status of the Steinbeck property
and the Librarian stated that the purchase had been finalized. However, the house itselF
will not be torn down for awhile and possibly the library will be able to use it for storage
and a book sale in February or March. Trustee DeMartini asked about our liability in the
event of a sate, and the Librarian replied that it would be covered under any circumstances
since it is now City property.
Refurbishing of old section of library: The Librarian informed the Board that the City
Council had accepted and signed the contract with Mr. Comey for this work, and that Mr.
Comey is now working on the details. He is to come up with a presentation to the Library
Board soon. Trustee De Martini asked regarding the furniture to be bought from the Contra --
Costs College District. The Librarian stated that it has been bought and is now stored in
the Steinbeck house. He mentioned that although we had had extensive roof repairs several
years ago, certain sections did not have new roofing paper under the tiles, and there is now
a leak in the Children's Room and several have occurred in the Main Reading Room though
there has been no leaking of late. These sections of tile should be taken up and the paper
replaced. In part, the leaks are due to the needles of the deodar and redwood collecting
underneath the tile. Chairman Cohendet asked about the effect of the bad weather on the
contractors' work in progress and was informed that they are up to schedule so far.
NEW BUSINESS:
Individual membership to C.L.A.: There was considerable discussion on this subject, with
Trustees Hechinger and DeMartini expressing the opinion that little is gained by belonging
to the organization, and Trustees Cohendet and Phelan feeling that there were several
advantages to belonging, and in addition that the library board may have a moral obligation
because of C.L.A.'s strong support of trusteeship. The Librarian spoke of C.L.A.'s assistance
in getting our library system. There was a suggestion that only one individual membership
be bought in the name of the President of the Board. Chairman Cohendet gave her opinion that
Trustee Lynes should be contacted before a decision was made. The Librarian mentioned that
the San Mateo Public Library does not have an institutional membership, dues for which are
considerably higher this year. The subject of both institutional membership and individual
membership was tabled for discussion at the next meeting.
Chairman Cohendet read an invitation to the Board to attend the Staff Christmas party, to
be held December 22 at the Library.
Upon a motion by Trustee Phelan, seconded by Trustee Hechinger and carried, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:30 P. M.
Re pectfully submitt ,
GeorgFPau Lechich
Clerk of the Board
i
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
JANUARY 19, 1971^
BUILDING:
The main floor addition cement slab has been poured and the children's
addition main floor is almost ready for pouring, awaiting only the steel
columns from the shelving sub-contractor.
The electrician is installing the new lights in the basement of the stack.
They are a great improvement, and with the carpeting of the stack area and the
addition of a few carrells should make this area much more inviting for the
casual browser. As the bound periodicals will be in the basement area, their
use will no longer elicit the comment, "Shall we spend the afternoon in the
catacombs."
At the last board meeting of the system, we ware notified that we would be
provided with $100,000 for two years for the federally funded project for
increasing our reference material . A committee is working on how this is to
presented and to make sure that these funds are spent meaningfully.
About 5% to 10% of our circulation is system oriented, but apparently
our patrons are using San Mateo's films and business services to offset this
non-resident use.
STAFF:
Mr. Finney is still in a canatose condition and has been transferred from
Kaiser in Redwood City to South San Francisco, and is under the care of Dr.
Friedman. He can neither hear, speak, nor apparently see, and is definitely
not expected to recover. If he did, he would never be able to work. The
library should be working on a replacement, as we are operating under a considerable
handicap not only for a person, but more especially one with reference
experience to help in the conducting of the department and with the planning
of the new reference area.
CIRCULATION:
The circulation for December increased 5% over that of December, 1959. The
traffic count increased from 18,258 to 21,847, or nearly 20%. This is reflected
in the grater number of reference questions answered, and in Vie occupancy
rate. In other words, more people are spending more time in the library.
-2-
N.— CHILDREN'S ROOM
In honor of the holiday season two special events were held at the Main
and Branch libraries. There was a tree decorating party where the
children made decorations and helped trim the tree, and on the 19th of
the month a puppet show was held featuring "Something for Christmas"
by Palmer.
On December 1st I spoke to the parents of children who attend Presbyterians
Nursery School on "Books of Interest to the Pre-Schooler."
School activity was marginal due to their holiday vacation schedule.
.This is award time for children's literature. The Newberg Award for the
best written book of 1970 is "Summer of the Swans" by Betsy Byars .
The Caldecott Award for the best illustrated book is "A Story! A Story,"
by Haley.
CONVENTION - LIBRARIAN
American Library Association, Mid-Winter Meeting, January 17-23, 1971,
at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles:
At the Atlantic City Conference in June 1959, membership by resolution
directed the appointment of an activities committee on new directions
for ALA. This committee known as Aconda was instructed to reinterpret and
restate the philosophy of ALA and to determine their priorities for
action, which would reflect the desires of ALA members and to examine
their organizational structure which everyone feels has become too
complex.
.An interim report was presented for cons'Ideration at the mid-winter
meeting in Chicago in January 1970, and Detroit in June the final report
was discussed at length. The council took some action on the recom,rw ndEl-
tions. The convention in Detroit recommended that Aconda 's Final report
undergo extensive review and virtually the entire body of recommendations
for democratization and reorganization was referred back to Aconda for
further study a,id refinement. This final .-eport, plus the report of an Ad
Hoc Council Com-iittee on Aconda was the subject of the mid-winter meeting.
This was made possible by a special mail ballot. The ALA council voted
143 to 43 to authorize the .waiver of the ALA policy against holding a
membership meetings during mid-winter for the 1971 mid-winter meeting 0111./,
in order to pro,/;.Ie an opportunity for membership to give further consid-
eration to the Aconda report and to the resolutions not considered in
Detroit and other such business as the mc:,lb,.rship may bring up.
There were three ALA council sassions; I attented the First one on Tuesday,
and the second one on Wednesday. On Tuesday there was a membership
meeting from 2:00 pm to 6:OOpxn, and from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Again on
Wednesday from 9:30 pn to 10:30 pm. These actually lasted longer than
10:30 pm. There were several resolutions which have been delayed in their
action at D:;troit due to tact of time. Among these were the:
1 . Resolution against the destruction of libraries by
wanton acts or groups of individuals in the name of
honest dissent. This was passed.
2. Also accepted was the resolution stating that all
ALA conference committee meetings would be open.
3. Another resolution was For equal opp:)rtunities for
women in libraries.
4. Also another resolution against the requirement for
local residence at the place of employment.
• After the passing of these resolutions the Aconda committee's reports were
placed before the membership. They were thoroughly discussed and straw votes
taken, and in practically all cases the work of the committee was approved.
-2-
Aconda recommends that ALA staff develop and carry out a communications
program as outlined in report. They recommended that a study be made
by a competent management firm as a basis for evaluation for the feder-
ation and triad plans for the possible models for the reorganization
of ALA. If the council accepts the proposed changes in the composition
of the council and procedures for nomination of elected councilors, and
that after further study, decision and action teguarding the organization
of the association, all divisions and sections and permanent committees
must be essential for the continual 'operation of ALA.
Anaconda recommendations were concerned wit!i the combining of their staff
•act,ivit.ies. Both reports were discussed with great interest by practically
everyone present. Any action on these reports was to be taken by the
council on Friday, and also at the convencion in Dallas in June.
There was a considerably, number of exhibits by suppliers which I was
interested in. Of most interest to me was the audio visual aspects
where I spent considerable time looking at the different types of
microfilm readers, micro-fish ereaders, charging systems, using cassett
tape for recording and in the cassBtt program by Brodart.
I feel that due to the smaller number of membership that this mid=winter
meeting had more meaning for those present than Vie usual ALA summer �
convention. Certainly, anyone who attended would come away with a
distinct knowledge of how the council and the ALA executive committee
operated.
i
CITY OF BURLING4ME
BUDGET EXPENDITURE
MONTH OF JANUARY, 1971
THIS TO BUDGET j
MONTH DATE ALLOWANCE BALANCE
S-1 Salaries 14,669.46 108,345-j1 1880912 8o,566.V
M-11 Supplies 59.21 1,317.02 2,200 882.98 �f
t
M-12 Printing & Postage 279.19 2,035.91 2,250 214.09
M-13 Light, Heat, Power & Water 347.97 1,997.98 4,360 2,362.02
M-14 Telephone 96.50 639.08 1,031 391 .92 x
M-16 Bldg. & Grounds Maintenance 90.18 442.59 2, 500 2;057.41
-�14,9(-JA,GIS I;�', 5�E�O5 I
M-17 Books & Maps 2,585-34 9r5- 37,450 a 2T"#-W�
M-17A Periodicals 459.00 3,206,00 3,650 444.00
M-17B Binding 112.12 1,829.86 3,000 1, 170.14 '
M-17C Cataloging 116.70 1,462.51 2,250 787.49
q-19 Convention (Librarian) --- 142.34 275 132.66-
M-19A Auto Allowance 1 .00 60.60 300 239.40
M-19P Convention (Personnel ) --- 220.07 250 29.93
M-19T Convention (Trustees) --- 134.19 125 - 9.19
M-20 Dues to Library Associations 62.00 92.00 275 183.00
M-21 Miscellaneous --- --- 100 100.00
M-24 Typewriter Repairs 40.93 121 .43 250 128.57
M-27 Comp. Insurance --- --- 2,000 2,000.00
M-28 Contracts 403.00 2,761 .00 4, 56o 1,799-00
C-90 Capital Expenditures --- 660.72 1,650 989.28
---- �' X11 ,`1'58 , 25" 2-,',4�B 9. `15
TOTAL BEFORE SALARIES 4,663.14 4} 7 68,476 :�
TOTAL AFTER SALAR I E S 19,33 2.60 L507-34'3rr'1257,388 +
ISO 1333 \C)q ,05�'z^�
L=
STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER, 1970
CIRCULATION MAIN BRANCH
Books, Adult Non-Fiction 8,582 1, 155
Child Non-Fiction 1,233 708
Adult Fiction 6,384 1,613
Child Fiction 1,782 1,064
18,031 4,540
Periodicals 1,035 559
19`,obi 5,099
Phonograph records 669 ---
19,735 5,099
Art Prints 19 "-
Slides 254 --- _
Total Circulation 201008 5,099
Branch it 5,099
BRANCH & MAIN, GRAND TOTAL CIRCULATION 25, 107
Daily Average for Main 715 (1969: 23,923)
Daily Average for Branch 196 % of increase - 5%
TOTAL DAILY AVERAGE 911
TRAFFIC COUNT - DECE_MBER
Daily Averag,2, Main 715 Total Traffic, Main 21,847
Daily Average, Branch 282_ Total Traffic, Branch 7,334
997 ------
REGISTRATIONS: ADULT " CHILD TOTAL
Membership - 11/31/70 13,7789- 3,497- 11,286
Additions, December, 1970 251 42 293
Withdrawals, " " 275 23 2_98
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS AS OF 12/31/70^�� 13,765 3,51 17,2ff1
ACCESS'_IONS AND WITHDFtAWALS OF BOOT( STOCK:
AS OF CAN- GRAND
11/30/70 ADDEDCELLED TOTAL
+x
Adult non-fiction 10 ,03 9__ 710
Child non-fiction 16,883 48 3 16,927
H.S. Non-fiction 2,374 62 0 2,436
Adult fiction 37,641 104 39 37,706
H.S. Fiction 3,024 6 202 2,828
Child Fiction 14,537 38 14 14, 561
TOTAL BOOK STOCK AS OF 12/31/70 17-'8,4996 697 319 178,874
NET INCREASE IN BOOK STOCK 373
Included in above figures 53 gifts and 434 new titles
Pamphlets added �+7-' Maps Added 0
Pamphlets discarded 25 Maps Discarded 0
Total Pamphlets V 6, 573 Total Maps 744 _
RECORDINGS: AS OF ACCES- OIS- - GRAND
11/30/70 SIONED CARDED TOTAL
78's 1,074 0 0 1,07 +1-
45's 228 0 0 228
33 's 2542 _ 0 0 2,5 2
3,�4+r 0 0 3; 44 _ _Y
DEPOSITED WITH CITY TREASURER: MAIN 1,202.95
BRANCH 210.48
TOTAL 1,413.43