HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 1969.08.19 MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
August 19, 1969
r
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 7:35 P. M• by Chairman Cohendet.
ROLL CALL:
Trustees Present: Trustee Cohendet, Trustee Hechinger, Trustee Phelan
Trustees Absent: Trustee Lynes, Trustee De Martini, excused - vacation
MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting of July 15 were approved and adopted.
BILLS:
Bills in the amount of $4,130.94 were ordered paid on a motion by Trustee Hechinger
seconded by Trustee Phelan and carried.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
The Librarian's report was read and ordered filed. Trustee Phelan inquired about the
tea for school personnel and authors and was informed that this was the second year it had
been held. Chairman Cohendet asked if Board members could attend and was told they would
be welcome. In connection with the forthcoming book sale, Trustee Hechinger mentioned
that an organization collecting books for the Merchant Marine's Seamans Association would
probably be happy to take any surplus. Chairman Cohendet stated the D.A.R. also collected
books for seamen, but the Librarian said that usually any books left over from the book
sale were usually in such poor shape that they were undesirable.
COMMUNICATIONS:
There were no communications.
OLD BUSINESS:
San Mateo Libraries Cooperative Project: The Librarian reported on this project, saying
that the survey of the County regarding the imbalance of service had been submitted; and
that they had now come up with the final pian of service. However, the libraries
interested and County do not quite meet the criteria set by the State for eligibility
in that we do not have enough back files of periodicals; but they propose to meet it
in three years' time. This will be protested because of the cost of the extra space
involved. He said that the City Managers wanted the survey to get an idea of any
imbalance of service that may exist. Upon a question by Trustee Phelan, he stated that
the library paid $200.00 for it out of its own special fund. Trustee Cohendet asked
for more information, on the periodicals requirement and on other aspects wewere lacking.
The Librarian informed her that all other requirements could be met, and that the cooperative
libraries as a group were supposed to have 10 years back files of 700 periodicals. The
group has 37'% of the titles, of which we have more than average. Trustee Hechinger was in
doubt as to whether people actually used back files of magazines to any great extent, but
the Librarian stated that there was considerable useage. With regard to the plan, he
said that the next step was to recommend to the City Council that they pass the Declaration
of Intention to Participate. The format of the resolution will be checked by the City
Attorney and then given to the Council for their consideration. The Librarian said that
one change in the plan is that we cannot withdraw after 30 days in it, but must participate
for a year. If the State does not finance it after the initial grant, it may cost us
money; and if this is so and we derive no particular benefits, we can withdraw. He
thought, however, that the main thing that made the project feasible was the terrific
increase in the number of new books published - 19,000 titles per year in 1959 and now
about 30,000 - making it impracticable for any one library to carry them all. He also
expressed the idea that this may eventually be a satellite type of operation in that there
would probably be one large library and several supporting it. In addition, if we were
building an addition or new building and had funds totaling $200,000, we might get from the
Federal Government 25% additional, which would be worthwhile. Another advantage would be
the union catalog. The first year, the entire system would get $70,000 plus per capita;
the second year they would also get $70,000 plus a per capita. The first 2 years would
entail a lot of effort on the part of the libraries involved, and we would lose some money
from non-resident fees but not much. Trustee Hechinger moved that we should request the
City Attorney to draw up a Declaration of Intent to Join the County System, and present
it to the City Council for their approval. Trustee Phelan seconded the motion. There were
some questions on the legal aspects of the intention to participate which were discussed.
The Librarian read part of the Intention to clarify matters. Trustee Phelan wanted to know
if it would require an addition to the staff, and was informed that it would not. Upon
a question by Trustee Hechinger, the Librarian stated that the City would have to accept
the plan of service is they approved the Declaration of Intent to Participate. Motion carried.
Budget: The Librarian informed the Board that the budget had been passed in exactly the
same amounts that we submitted.
Request of Auditor for Board Minutes Book: The Librarian informed the Board of the City
Auditor's desire to examine the Board Minutes Book away from the library; Trustee Hechinger
moved that the Librarian be permitted to remove the Minutes Book for examination by the
Auditor at the City Hall. Trustee Phelan seconded the motion and it was carried.
Special Fund: The Librarian discussed the Library Special Fund. He stated there was a
balance of 211.81 from the Friends of the Library, and this money might be returned to them
when they are reorganized. Additional donations had brought the total up to about $1,300
and this was depleted when tapestry repair was paid. From a $200.00 donation from the
Friends of the Library, a down payment was made on a copying machine, and this machine has
paid for itself and two others. Receipts also pay for records, tapes, and such incidentals
as the $200.00 fee for the County Survey report, and $100.00 for Raymond Holt's per diem.
The Librarian said that money should be transferred from the copying machine account to
the other accounts which are in the hole, and suggested that the auditor set up the funds
and transfer to his :-n satisfaction. He also suggested that a co-signer be appointed
for the special fund checks and mentioned that the City Treasurer would be a good solution.
Chairman Cohendet agreed that it weld be a good idea to have two people sign the checks
for this fund and suggested that we have a meeting with the auditor to see what he would
suggest.
Library Buildings Workshop: The Librarian informed the Board that he would like to attend
the State Library workshop on Buildings in Sacramento on September 25. Trustee Hechinger
thought it would be a good idea if Colonel Norberg were permitted to attend.
General : Trustee Hechinger spoke on the effective work done by the San Jose City Library
in regularly visiting various hospitals in their area with books; and in particular their
work with the poorly sighted in furnishing large type books. He expressed the thought that
this was of immeasurable benefit to the patients and wondered if any consideration had been
given to Burlingame Library's doing this. In the discussion which followed, it was brought
out that this would cost a certain amount of money unless a volunteer group were used. Trustee
Cohendet thought this could be a project of the reorganized Friends of the Library. It
was agreed that this was a most worthwhile project. Chairman Coh�ndet asked the Board that
the next meeting might be changed to the 15th of September at 7:00 pending the-approval of
absent trustees, and all present stated that they would be able to attend that night.
Building: The Librarian reported on the City Council meeting when our building was discussed.
He stated that the Council had appointed Colonel Norberg as architect, and introduced him
to the Board. Chairman Cohendet welcomed Colonel Norberg; and he showed a preliminary
drawing of the proposed addition to the Board and led a general discussion on the various
phases of implementing this project. He stated he was going to have an engineer make a
survey of the building as to its conformance with the present building code while he completed
the plans. He stated that this would take only a month at the most. The Librarian mentioned
a library consultant by the name of Comey who specialized in interior design who might be
able to work with Colonel Norberg. Colonel Norberg stated he would submit the new plans to
the Board of Trustees for their presentation to the Council.
On a motion by Trustee Hechinger, seconded by Trustee Phelan, the meeting adjourned at
9:45 P. M.
George Paul Lechich, Clerk of the Board