HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 1968.09.17 MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
SEPTEMBER 17, 1968
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: Chairman Cohendet, Trustee Hechinger, Trustee Amstrup, Trustee
Lynes, Trustee Oe Martini
Trustees Absent: None
MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting of August 20, 1968 were approved and adopted.
BILLS:
Bills in the amount of $2,812.62 were ordered paid on a motion by Trustee Lynes,
seconded by Trustee De Martini and carried unanimously.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
The Librarian's report was read and ordered filed. Trustee Hechinger asked if there
had been any publicity and pictures given Mrs. Collins and the animals in the Children's
Room Reading Program, and the Librarian said no, although an effort had been made.
Chairman Cohendet inquired regarding the library card for visiting children, and the
Librarian mentioned that this proposal would be presented in greater length later in
the meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS:
A letter was read from Mr. Eugene Greene, Principal of Roosevelt School commending
Mrs. Bergsing and Mrs. Dunn for their efforts on behalf of the school children. There
was a letter from Mrs. Jean Smith, Trustee of the Burbank Library, asking that the
Board of—Trustees complete a questionaire with regard to library trusteeship, and
make comments thereon. However, the questionaire was not enclosed with the letter,
and Chairman Cohendet suggested that the Librarian write Mrs. Smith and request the
enclosure so that the Board might complete.
Another letter was from Mr. Harry McCrea, praising the Burlingame Lion's Club and the
Burlingame Public Library for the Summer Reading Club Program. Trustee Lynes, in
connection with this, informed the Board of his school 's practice of verbally recog-
nizing the children who have participated in the program during the previous summer,
and of the pleasure which this generates.
OLD BUSINESS:
San Francisco Cooperative Reference Project: - The Librarian informed the Board that
the County and Municipal libraries had furnished lists of proposed projects and are
going to meet with the City of San Francisco Library in order to combine their opera-
tions and work out the type of program which would be feasible. He reiterated that
this would be financed by the State; and for the benefit of the Board went over some
of the more salient features: This program will give us an infinitely more complete
reference service - the questions would first be referred to the County, and then to
San Francisco. Many of the cooperative features we have been trying in a minor way,
but this program would more fully implement them. One very helpful item would be the
establishment of a union catalog with union lists of serials. (San Francisco alone
has over 6,000 periodicals.) A sizable amount of the money granted would be going
toward publicity, which would be valuable because many people would not realize that
a small library, i.e. Burlingame, could handle such a quantity of material and cover
so much area.
The Librarian stated that this project might become operative by the first of 1969,
as the Program must be approved by State and Federal. Chairman Cohendet asked who
actually got the money, and the Librarian replied that both the municipalities and
San Francisco would receive it. He went on that we hope to derive better tools from
this system than we had ever had before - that a teletype, for example, would be installed
in each library for the transmission of messages. Trustee Hechinger asked if the
State paid for that and he was informed that they did. The Librarian again brought
out the fact that this project was actually an experiment. For example, would people
ask ten questions a month or would they ask several hundred? Chairman Cohendet
questioned the value of reciprocity to San Francisco, and the Librarian replied that
they would probably get more than they gave.
San Mateo Municipal Libraries Cooperation Project:
The Librarian stated that the City Council had approved Burlingame Library's joining
the San Mateo Municipal Project, and that the cities involved would probably be Menlo
Park, Redwood City, San Mateo, Burlingame, and maybe San Bruno.
Trustee DeMartini informed the Chairman that he wished to go on record as being
opposed to the Burlingame Library's joining the San Mateo Cooperative. Trustee Lynes
noted that he was impressed with the significant change in the Librarian's attitude
toward cooperatives since a few years ago. Trustee Hechinger remarked that probably
this was because of the many different types of programs, and the fact that this one
looked more promising. The Librarian stated that the main thing that had influenced
him was the tremendous increase in the number of titles being published yearly, and
the virtual necessity of joining a system in order to have access to a majority of them,
because of the rising price of books. Trustee Lynes mentioned a meeting which he had
with Dr. Daniels and Mrs. Gregor regarding this cooperative in which it was agreed
that there had to be some way of handling the flood of new material either through
data processing or some other method. It was mentioned that some of the smaller
libraries are fearful of entering into systems because of the question of autonomy,
and the Librarian brought out that Mr. Ray Holt, of the Pomona Library, is a very
independent type and yet is in favor of systems because of the availability of large
numbers of titles. In Mr. Holt's area, the systems started out with five libraries,
and now there are about 15 members. The Board agreed that unification was now going
on in many different fields, and that the only drawback would be a possible loss of
some of the local control .
NEW BUSINESS:
Trust Fund:
The Librarian informed the Board that it was the desire of the City Auditor that money
which is now contained in the Library's General Fund (recipts from gifts, copier,
record fines) be placed in a trust fund and deposited with the City Treasurer. The
disbursement of funds would be handled by a dual-signature voucher, one party being
the Librarian and the other the City Treasurer. The Librarian then went into the
background of monies disbursed by the Library, stating that many years ago a certain
amount was received from the City each month and warrants were issued on our own
checking account. Under the new system now operative, however, records are kept both
at the Library and at City Hall. After 1949, he stated we received a gift of $500
from a Mr. Kirkbride, which we deposited in a checking account and used to buy books;
and from time to time there were more gifts, such as from an anonymous donor who gave
the Library $1,000 with the specification that it was not to be included with the City
funds and was to be used for buying various necessities for the Library. The Friends
of the Library was established, and money from its book sales was also put into this
fund. $410.81 from the Friends fund was deposited in our checking account in 1965.
From this was purchased drapes and $200.00 was used as a deposit on a copying machine.
This machine has paid for itself and a similar one at the Branch library, and now has
Minutes 9/17/68 - 3 -
a surplus of $3,156.06. The Librarian mentioned that actually, we needed another
copying machine, and this money could be used for that and for supplies. Trustee
De Martini queried if the Board must turn this money over to the City or was it optional.
The Librarian replied that as far as money received from the copier was concerned, it
was optional, in that we would need a certain amount of money for supplies for the
machine.
Trustee De Martini moved that the Board turn down any change in the present trust
fund and allow Mr. Lechich to continue as the trustee in that he had done such an
exemplary job for so many years. This motion was tabled for want of a second. There
was more discussion, and the Librarian was asked if the Board could postpone a decision
until after the auditor could make his recommendation in writing. Trustee Lynes
brought out the point that one of the reasons for this action could be that tax supported
institutions should not be in the position of making money. Trustee De Martini then
noted that the law states that such institutions may make money if, during the course
of the same fiscal year, such money is put back into the institution. It was decided
to table action on this trust fund until the next Board meeting when more information
would have been accumulated.
Additional Copier:
The Librarian informed the Board that the purchase of an additional copying machine
would be necessary because of the number of patrons making use of our copying services.
Trustee Amstrup moved that we purchase an additional copier. Trustee De Martini seconded.
This motion was carried unanimously. Trustee Hechinger queried the Librarian as to the
amount of actual additional revenue which this machine would produce, and the Librarian
stated that the copying fee might be reduced, since the end point of having copier is
to save our books, not to produce revenue.
Non-Resident School Library Cards:
The Librarian presented the Board with the request by the Children's Librarian that
non-resident pupils who visit the library with school classes be allowed to take out
books by having them checked out on a school card. This card would be used only once
a year on the school visits. Trustee Lynes voiced his definite approval because of
the value of the children's being exposed to the full procedures of the library on
their visits, stating that this would be a temporary measure for fall school visiting,
and that in his opinion Burlingame Hills would be the main area affected. The Librarian
presented the matter of reciprocity by other cities in connection with this, and
Trustee Amstrup voiced the opinion that we would incur disfavor from Hillsborough by
this, since they pay for their non-resident cards, and we would in effect be letting
Burlingame Hills have their cards free. Trustee DeMartini suggested that all present
consider methods of implementing this permanently for presentation at the next meeting.
The Librarian stated that many libraries will issue a student a card because he goes
to school in their area, and again requested that the Board make a decision ona
temporary measure for school visits this fall. Trustee Hechinger inquired if there
was a law requiring payment of non-resident fees, and was informed that there was not
but it was a Board jurisdiction and had been voted on. Trustee Hechinger presented
the idea that the Library could issue the pupils cards in the custody of the classroom
teacher, and Chairman Cohendet remarked that issuing some 600 cards would cost a con-
siderable amount. Trustee Lynes then asked if the school could issue the cards that
would be honored by the Library. Several other methods were discussed. Trustee
De Martini then moved that the Librarian be allowed to conduct the program temporarily
as he desires for 30 days, until a permanent program could be worked out. Trustee
Lynes seconded the motion. There was much further discussion as to implementation.
Trustee De Martini withdrew his motion and Trustee Lynes withdrew his second. Trustee
Hechinger moved that children making their visit to the library with their teacher
as a class effort be allowed to take out a book for that visit only on a card issued
to the school. Trustee Amstrup seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. It
was agreed that further thought be given to a permanent program.
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Friends of the Library:
The Librarian informed the Board that for. the benefit of the Library he would like
to reorganize Friends of the Library; that money which they had put in our general
fund in the amount of $410.81 could be turned back to them as the basis of their
treasury. Chairman Cohendet suggested that the Librarian put out a questionaire relative
to the public's interest in this, and the Librarian stated that he knew of several
people who would be interested. It was the opinion of the Board that reorganization
would be valuable.
&.L.A. Convention:
The Librarian inquired if any Board members would be able to attend the C.L.A. Con-
vention in San Diego, and no one could. He mentioned that Mrs. Bergsing would derive
considerable benefit from the convention, as his assistant in charge of the library,
and it was the recommendation of the Board that she should attend.
Water Fountain:
Trustee Amstrup asked about the location of the Library water fountain, and there was
a discussion as to the advisability of placing a fountain in various locations in the
building.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion by Trustee Hechinger seconded by Trustee Lynes, the meeting adjourned at
9:30 P. M.
Respectfully submitted, -
George Paul Lechich
Clerk of the Board