HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - LB - 1967.11.21 X,
AGENDA
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 21, 1967
TRUSTEES PRESENT:
TRUSTEES ABSENT:
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 1967
BILLS
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
COMMUNICATIONS
OLD BUSINESS
Building Program - City Council
Gift Book Sale
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
OCTOBER 17, 1967
Trustees Present: Cohendet, DeMartini, Guthrie, Hechinger
Trustees Absent: Lynes excused on account of school business.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting of September 19, 1967 were read and approved.
BILLS:
Bills in the amount of $3,333.79 were ordered paid on a motion by DeMartini, seconded by
Guthrie.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
The Librarian's report was read and approved.
MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The monthly financial statement was read and approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
Building Program - City Council: The Librarian was instructed to invite the City Council to
met with the Library Board at their next meeting, November 21 at 7:30. After a brief discussion,
the Board decided to have a study meeting on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30. They instructed
the Librarian to have the secretary send cards for this meeting.
C.L.A. Convention: After some discussion, it was agreed that such funds as are in the per-
sonnel convention fund will be disbursed to those who attend to cover as much of the expense
as possible. The Librarian stated that Mr. Finney, Mrs. Powell, and Mrs. Bergsing will go
the first three days, and Mr. Wickliffe, the last three days; and that he himself will attend
all five days. Trustee Guthrie stated that he will attend the Friday meeting.
Special Library Fund Account: There was some discussion concerning the accountant's feeling
that the special library fund should be placed as a trust fund with the City Treasurer; and
the Board stated that they felt that, as the account had been carried on in this fashion
for many years, they could not see the necessity for changing it.
Gift Book Sala: The Librarian stated that Mr. Duncan had a shop area which could be used
for the library book sale sometime during the latter part of November or the first part of
December. The Librarian stated that other buildings were also being investigated.
NEW BUSINESS:
Change of Meeting Date: On a motion by Trustee Cohendet, seconded by Trustee DeMartini, the
meeting of December 19 will be changed to Thursday, December 14.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion by Trustee DeMartini, seconded by Trustee Guthrie, the meting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
ChuC;�/
Geo ge Oaul Lechich
Clerk of the Board
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
NOVEMBER 21, 1967
Use of LibrarX:
Despite the loss of 6% In circulation from. the month of October, 1966 (which
may be die to the excellent weather) the traffic to the libraries continues to
increase. The total traffic for Octob r was 32,610, or 4,636 more than
October, 1966, a3! gain of 16.6%.
I
o e tended:.
il-.e librarian attended thra League of California Cities Con`erence in San Francisco;
the California Liboary Association Convention at Fresno; two city council etingsl
and the general ro-mbarship meting of the Ciro r of Commarce. Ti,e length of the
C,L.A. Convention was the subject of much criticism - the conference lasting
from Sunday evening to Friday evening. The exhibits were chased Wednesday
night. To those of sus who did not know t'rm exhibits were to bim open th. previous
Sunday rafternoon, it left all torn little tifWa to visit ti many booths.
The procceedings will ,ubliskjed in early spring.
tt,. Finmay also attended t1va California Library association in Fresno. On
ndaay, October 23, he spant the morning visiting the sa ny exhibits at the
Convention Center with the particular oh* e;ctive of finding out tahat the cost t*uld
be of circulating frz d art reproductions as part of the library's collection.
Monday afternoon h-- attendee, a very it lemiinaating session of the Reference Librarians
Round 'fable on the subjoct of the San Joaquin Valley Information Center. Tuesday
morning he assisted at a breakfast M=eeting or tip California Library History
Committee at which the spzar ker was the historian of San Gabriel Mission, T. W.
Temple N. At 10:00 A, 14. ha took part in the Children's and Young People's
Open Meting at wthichs a blisher's representative gave a stimulating talk on
interesting young people in poatr3. Tuesday afternoon Mr. Finney participatod in
a meting devoted to the theme: "Creating an envirommwnt for reading."
Wednesday morning was taken cep with a, discussion meeting on the "Newly Proposed
Master Plan and Standards for Public Libraries In W i fornia."
ltt-. Wickliffe's impressions of the convention follaw:
Ellen E. Thompson was reelable to V.-aside over the Yining Adult Librarians' Round
yable mating �k-d sday morning, and her place was taken by th,-t President-elect.
01 scu cion cantered around, ars agenda that had laden, pvapared to cover most
active Y.A. fntsrssts� The group is working on a list of tkW_ bast books of:
the past 50 years for young Adepts. There is a definite need for a viable Y. A--
orfented historicAl fiction last, and steps ir--:i11 be takers not only to compile
e but also to establish a co ittee for ceantfr=us revision.
A newsletter will �,-e publisi4ad quarterly, giving news of y.Ar activities and
programs hrousheest the state, it will be mailed to Y.A. librarians with tM
�- C.L.A. Newsletter-. Questionnaires will be sent out to determine interests of
Y.A. librarians so that future programs can be gx:ared to ti-se Interests.
A pre-conference workshop before tfe. 1963 annual C.L,A, noeting was discussed,
Films, books, discussion, groups aid other Y.A. activities will be considered
- 2
for the programoming, which will be outlined and announced in time. for work to be
done on it.
The U.S.C. Library School Alunni luncheon was followed by a two-woman comedy
act out on by Juna Bienman and Barbara Toohey, who collaborate on writing books
and articles which are published under the pseudonym of Nargaret Bennet. Both
are librarians, and much of their writing which has appeared in library periodicals
has been satirical of the profession :and some of its shibboleths.
The afternoon general session was a lively one after the routine business had been
disposed of. Wi 1 1 ftm Brett outlined the background for the management and
organization survey of C.L.A. that had been made by the firm of Booz, Allen and
Hamilton. The featured speaker was Mr. Donald klegstrom of Booz, Allen b Hamilton,
wv o outlined the scope., arae reeomilmndations of the .survey. After his talk, many
w.mbers addressed questions to Ressers. Brett and Hegstrom, and many shade statements
to th,w points at issue. A ffw-w salient points will be covered. One was the fact
that no C.L.A. embers had seen the D.A. & H raport, yet the r.eting had been
called for them to vote on aut-horizing its adoption and implementation. Semantics
played a role in reference to previously announced chances in C.L.R. structure and
operas-ions. Debate centered on the powers of tie President, particularly with
reference to further changes in lime with the B.A. & H study. after imuch debate,
a motion was passed forbidding the further imple axntation of B.A. & H-proposed
chants until sufficient copies of the report had been run off for members to be
familiar with it in detail .
Following the dinner in the evening was the folksong teem of Keith & !fusty McNeil,
who sang "sctgs of social change" ter protest) from many historical periods and
geographic areas of this country. They were followed by harry Dolan, who has been
in charge of the "Watts Writers' Workshop" at Douglass House in Watts. Mrs. Dolan
and one of the young writers from the workshop helped him present his material,
which had to do with the self-help activities in the Watts area since the riots,
with emphasis on the building of self-respect through personal and community
achievement. He received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his talc.
The Thursday "freer dray" was spent in a tour of the Fresno State College library,
where we saw an ongoing conversion of the collection from Dewey to Library of
Congress classification; then warm on a tour of the Sanger branch of the Fresno
Counts library - small, w,°a l l-designed, and apparently the pride of everyone In
Sanger, as well as the librarians; a toner through the t$t. Tivy branch of the
Christian Brothers :vineries - no wine, but a very informative tour of the opera"Zions
zondeacted by two company officials uho explained every step.
Friday t attended the non-quorum trustees' meeting outlined in Wayne; Guthrie's
report.
Final meeting attended was one on paiperback books in libraries. Little was learned
here9 since the talks were on the uses of paperbacks in school libraries and
children's book collections. 1" was good to know that they have been successful
and wall-received, particularly in poverty-pocket areas. not much light was
cast on the perpetual prohl a of acquisition of single-copy paperbacks.
Mrs. Alice Powell had the following reaction to the convention:
Attendance at the conference was exfremly interesting and rewarding. While the
Fresno location greetly reduced the numbers of librarians registeredp it must
admitted that one gets wholly caught up in a conference away from ho4-$ where
one's attention is cstntera;d on the convention and that alone.
As to meetings, I found the talk by Dean Burd especially stimulating. He fo usad
his speech around the idea of "The sound of the sense of words," explaining that
children can be led to comprehend many new &nd difficult ideas having been captured
by the sound of tfreir sense. Mr. Hurd illustrated his talk with snatches of
poetry both traditional and contemn rary, beautifully s:oken.
The afternoon session of Children's Section featured a panel of school and
public children's librarians, a school psychologist and a curriculum supervisor
speaking to the topic of providing an environment for reading. The psychologist
was by far the most interesting and sivAe of soaia of the new methods being used
to help non-readers learn. We need :»ore of this sort of information to keels our
ideas and in-a-thoc s up-to-date.
The banquet of the Children's Section featured Mrs. Ziipita Snyder, a Marin County
author, as the speaker. She is a parson of integrity and forthrightness who
talked simply and movingly about what soba felt children's books should offer the
youngsters. Mrs. Snyder' ,.qr i t i nqs have an interesting overlay of local color
espec®ally appealing in this area. As things sta=id noir, :#_- hope her 1967 book
"The Egypt: game" will win the diaewberry Modal this year.
Rue Business Meeting was not without its exciter-,at as a group of us banded
together to try to preserve the California Library Asso:iation's structure from
sorx- of the projected changes theat appeared to us to have been "put over" on
the Association in a high-handed and undemocratic fashion. Our strategy
copxrPitgtes had met late at night and aarly in the mornings, and were happy to c:rm
off winners of the battle at Fresno. I hope that the Library Board members will be
actively concerned about such propos,als as reducing all Divisions to district
groups, giving the Council complete control over By-laws and other changers,
introducing ,a non-graduated dues scale, and the whole p4ailosophy of the Booz
Allen Hamilton report which assumes librarians are icecappatent to run a meaningful
state organization and must have the wort: done for therm by a well paid staff of
professionals. (Interestingly enough, the person recently appointed to Head-
quarters Staff in charge of all program planning and several other important
functions is not even a trained librarian.)
CHILDREN'S ROOM
Business has picked up substantially in the Main children's room_. Mrs. Dunn has
had about three classes a week visiting the. Branch. Airy:. Poll hes had t-wo
classes from schools and has several scheduled ,n the roaar future. firs. P0,w-a l
also gave a talk on Pre-s.c.h,�al books to the San Hateo Co-op Nursery School motdfars.
Perhaps the most significant event was the meeting of A`5o Powell with rr°
Chappelle and the inembars of the Burlingame Elementary School District Curriculum
Ccmi Ittee to foirmulate a long range plan for mfnimal services by the Library
to the schools. This meeting had been initiated earlier In the fall by a conference
by Mrso Powell with Mr. Chappelle. Membors of the committee were enthusiastic
about library experiences for the children. lir,, Chappelle presented the point
that most classes have to bi bussed to the Library and that Burlingama now relies
on rented bus services. Th,_1 budget for such trips is presently quite limited.
It is my opinion that: the adrrainistration of the school district needs to be
f
persuaded that it is important to furnish the money to provide at least a miniival
exposure to the Public l.ihrary as an important part of each child's educational
experiencesa not only because our Burlingame School libraries are inadequate and
Inadequately staffed, but also because becoming a public fibra.-y user is at desirable
t i fe-long habit. Icy fee 1 i ng is that the School Administration 13 in no way opposed
to tha idea of library visits, but rather is presently somewhat unaware of or
Indifferent to their real value. It seems to me that this is an area where
enthusiastic support by the Library Board could be highly useful.
CITY OF GURLIN13"Nif-I
BUDGET EXPENDITURE
WITH OVEKISE191j. -19 7
TH I S TA-L-A-
C IN T H TO DATE ALLOWAWE TOTAL
3-1 Salaries 11,580-10 59,405.61 143,250 83,844-39
14-11 Supplies 32.82 1,059-74 1..800 730,26
X12 Printing & Postage 61.41 710-557 2,900 2,189.43
P -13 Light, Heat, Power S. W'atar 253-25 IW27.24 30000 1,672-76
; -14 To I e phoric 70.55
33'8.76 850 511.24
3-16 Building & Grounds #bintenance 356-52 612.,02 2
.0 ,500 4887.98
M-17 300k.5 & Maps 2,186.61 120162.12 27,800 15s637-86
PI-17A Periodica'as U8.56 1,999.22 2,500 500-78
3-17B Binding 098.60 122.56.28 2.,600 1043-72
N-19 Convention (Librarian) 87.25 87-25 250 162-75
:".--19A Auto Allacanes 26.45 51 ,70 300 248-30
,,- PP Convention (Parsonnel ) 100.26 100,26 150 49-74
M-19T Convention (Trustees) 26.50 26.50 1.25 98.50
M-20 Dues to Libra?y Associationz 48.50 68.50 200 131-50
I K
-21 Miscellaneous --- 19.50 100 80.50
M-24 Typwriter Repairs .efts 60.00 175 115.00
13 --- --- 2
-27 Camp. insurance ,000 20000.00
'10 23 Contracts 310.00 1,540.00 3,900 2060.00
29 Nicroff1ming Advancz --- odr 750 750-00
C-90 Capital Expenditures Ir nn 15.00
3,500+ 30485.00
s'OTAL BEFORE SALARIES biv402.28 21,444.66 55,400 33s955-34+
TOTAL AFTER SALARIES 15,982-38 80,850..27 198t650 117,799-73
'I-
STATISM'S FOR OCTOBER, 1967
-CIRCULATION MIN BRANCH
Socks, Adult Mon-Fictlon x,907 1,44.5
Child Noti- iction 1,889 1,214
Adult Fictions 6,392 2,469
Child Fiction ..21 29247
Total Book Cir,ula on 23.,721 20,1 � 701
€�eriocic�,z s 5 q qp 1,671 1,031 735 71"3 ,sw�
7(5
Total Books Fy Perio6i caI 5 2 j
Phonograph Records 687 687 �.
Slides ---
Total Circulation 21079
- -- �
Total Branch Circulation 8,110 _
GRAND YOTAL CIRCULATION (MAIN & MAUCH �•�••����~ T.-O-9- 19 6 6°0 32,082)
Daily average for Main 77 IF `1: of decreases 6
Daily average for Branch 312
TOTAL DAILY AVERAGE 0
TRAFFIC COUNT • OCTOBER
Daily Average, Man 806 Total Traffic, Main 22,761
Daily Average, Branch 312 Total Traffic, Branch 9849
Total 32, 10
REGISTRATIONS: ADULT CHILD TOTAL
membership, Sept. 30 r 1467 13;�2 3;T59 16,921
Additions, Oct., 1967 370 105 475
Withdrawals, Oct., 1967 384 171 561
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS A5 OF 10 31 6 13 30 3�i�
ACCESSIONS AND WITHDRAWALS OF OUR STOCKs
AS OF CAX— GRAND
9/30/67 ADDED CELLED TOTAL
Adult Non-Fiction 94,128 X91 1;7— 9 2
:phi l d Mon-Fi rt:l on 16,667 162 14 16,815
HS Mon-Fiction 1,944 8 0 4952
Adult Fiction 26,738 167 2► 36,878
HS Fi ct i on L790 19 3 3,806
Child Fiction 13P642 146 63 13 725
TOTAL BOOK STOCK__ AS OF 10231/67 1;'" �93p" 1`5Va ' 1�
NET INCREASE IN E'OOK STOCK: 739
Included in above figures 87 gifts and 504 nese titles
Pamphlets Added 69 Maps ded 1
Pa.moh r et s Discarded 23 Maps Discarded 0
Total emphlets _ Wl, Total Mans 1 023
r
RE,' AS OF ACCES» QIS_ GRAND
'Z SI(MED CARD ? TOTAL
7e°s tat 0 T-7 —' iM5
L"5 S 231, 0 0 234
3 e . 611--, 19 _i__ JAM
RECORD STOCK
AS O)F +DCT0BER 3L, 1^.�, ..1': 20.s� �..., ,"' 400
OEPOSITED WITH CITY TREASURER: MAIN, $ 84th.o6
BRANCH 255.07
TOTAL DEPOSITS OCTOBER, 1967 T1095-13
Octob,s-r 30, 1967
REPORT OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONVENTION MEETINGS FIELD FRIDAYS
OCTOBER 27s 1967 AT FRES4109 CALIFORNIA
SUBMITTED BY: TRUSTEE WAYNE GUTHRIE
0:00 A.A. BUSINESS MEETING. 'TRUSTEE'S SECTION
Anetinr poorly attended. Eduard E. Callanon Jr.s President of the Trustee's
Section was scheduled to preside. He never did arrive, and no explanation was
ever offered for his absence. Secretary Jean Smith presided over the meeting
with only 13 trustees and a scattering of librarians and others ;resent.
Mrs. Smith explained that to last legislative budget session cut State Library
davalopamnt funds from an anticipated $3s000,OOO to $8009000. The resuitant
cost makes it difficult$ if not impossible, for libraries contemplating joining
a library system or attempting further development of their libraries to
do so.
Mrs. Smith called for and received a motion echoing a resolution passed on
Wednesday, October 26, by the California Library Association urging all
C.L.A. m- tubers to send letters and telegrams to Governor Reagan asking him to
instruct the legislature to reinstate the larger appropriation.
1000 A.He OPEN MEETING FRIENDS 05 CALIFORNIA LIBRARIES. ® Outgoing President
Firs, We R. Ralston presiding.
An excellent meetings well attended and well conducted. The Secretary (Mrs.
Works of Berkeley) reported membership at 80 with two other organizations
in the process of developing "Friend11 groups. As a represent6tive of
Burlingame, I told ttt� thtt wm are hopeful oV reactivating our group; and
cskad that a "kit" explaining orgapization be sen% to mom.
After a short business meeting at which there were some minor changes in t
by-lavas and election of new officers,, germ was a panel discussion. Mrs. Louis
Golden, President of t:18 Frasno League of Women Voters, Yr. William Youngs
Director of Secondary School Libraries for the Fresno School District; and
Ars. Michael Kershaw of the American Association of University Woven, Fresno,
01 gave excellent explaining how "Libraries6° are helpful in
€;S it particular fields of interest.
1200 P.M. FRIENDS OF CALIFORNIA LIBEiARIES LUNCIHEON. - Presided over by 1W.
M-F6;rt TP7tc F's Ila ego �C c brav
a ym
The featured sp-:aker at this meeting was PIFs. lobart Sibley of Berkeley.
She was introduced by Vis. ifs R, Ralston with a list of community improve nt
activities that took tan minutes to covers a truly remarkable leader. Fir
�"` topic was "Community Involvmit." This lady Ikept everyone spellbound with
instances of carmnity betterment activities. liar remarks were wed at
"Friends" with the admonitions "If you wait until you are ready, you will
never coraaz at all.' She suggested that oar first responsibility to our community
is "C--mmunicationt0 tjith all elea"ents of the coiamnity.
:00 P.R . PAPl"L € ISCUSSION: "ARC TRUSTEES REALLY NECESSARY?" - Edward E.
Ca anan 1r ss en o Tr uRSea ..-on presiding.
Panel -,, rticir�ntss
Dore tBenningl ovenv Leagues_ of California Cities
Raymmd M. Nolt: Pomona MHz Library
Mrs. J. Henry Mohr, President of San Francisco Public Library Cantlission
E. Robert T'urnesr, City fanagerr, Burbank
As semb l y o asp John Lao:a Richmond
Katherine Laich, Los Angeles Public Library, Moder,ator
Turner introduced his remarks with this bit of wisdom : 'Ye are ?sere for the
sa a- reason people join nudist c,ilonias, to air our differences." His argument
presented the position .-hot notes library boards, but recreation, planning,
safety etc. should come 'under the scrutiny of the city manager and the city
council.
it is impractical to sot up rules or legislation saying this or that policy
is binding an all beards inasmuch as all cities take a different approach
to the duties and activities of their various boards.
His conclusion: Library board; are essential; however, t ra-y should be advisory
and stay away frem the nitty, gritty details of financial pboble.ms. They
should form and administer policy.
Mrs. Mohr quoted from tl:lm State Educational Code to establish the legality
of library boards. The question is not so much their legality, but whether
they should be advisory or administrative.
Librarians receive more consideration from library boards than from either city
managers or city councils who are al ready overburdened with administrative
duties.
Trustees have been the founders of all free public libraries starting from t6
time of Banjamin Franklin.
The budget alone takes a great deal of tim~ which city eaanage rs and city
councils are short of already.
Challenges Never go before tB city council, city manager, nor in fact an
individual city ceouncilm—an without being fully informed as to why you exist
as a beard and what you teant and in fact meed for the bettermant of the library.
K--r conclusion - library boards are essential to the efficient administration
of a rilbl is library.
Papa 3
�- Seaninghaven stated that no one is saying that 13 -nary boards are not needed.
The question Gs: what role shale they play? Mn.inistrative or advisory?
Library boards should ham freedom to set poli,--y.- e.i ., diversification,
ti:les,- brancl-tss, systems., etcm
Library boards are not considered 'on he son level as fire coivalssions,
police ccnmaissionsa recreation etc. Libraries are not even .Mntioned in tea
latest imanual oor city goverAvmnto
Quite frog Mr. BannIngho�fena esT are Qwi l l be n� change in the status of
library bosrd5 sinless soar ds tirei selvas agree that a change is nec ssary."
This statemAnt seems ambiguous Ina-smirch as tree league of California Cities
was the organ e a at imi which enlisted Assadbl yuan Leo Ryan to introduce legis.
lation limiting V'm action oa library boards. (A.S. 2831, subsequently dropped
from considarnwian after oppz.31.tion was heard, including the opposition of the
writer of this report in a phone call to Fr. Ryan.)
Mr. Sanninghoven's conclusion - Library bw3rds are necessary, but only as
advisory and policy making bodies.
Holt said that library boards are flexing their muscles and struggling for
recognition. They are the backbone of the basis of procedure for city
services. (Also tune of oto r city commissions.)
The role of the library board and its services and powers is reflected in the
kind of paopla selected by iaayors and city counci 1 s to serve as trustees.
Councils should investigate what motivates people to dant to serve on library
boards. Librarians should be heard by councils v,-hzn a trustee 3s to lie
a ppoi rued
It is the libravy board that Is best equipped to interpret the relationship
of the library to thee cc-aunity, Boards are useful as sounding boards and
buffers between the coarzunity,, the librarian and the city council.
His conclusion - Library boards are definitely essential to the sanoothe and
efficient. operatfore of the library,,
Knox stated Haat his principal reason for appearing at this convention °wws to
thank the California Library Association for its support sof the House Cri: i
Cocamittee zn its battle to control pornography.
Libraries are the center sof V-* c rnaunity and the repository o tPM histy, Of
its people. The 11bra•y as rwwn, to ba 'n '«gvirag, crt�ativw Inntltutionp and as
:such must be protected from its ettnckers
If library trustees ware civ; covncslw-n or county supervisors they mould coma
under -,wessuras that tho appointed trustee is exempt from.
City councilmen are free to appoint `he best people of the comuni ty to act as
public guardians o4 the ibriary as a repositari v of co pity treasure,; culture,
etc.
"lis conclusion - Library hoards are essential and should In no rase be done
way with'.
On rebuttal, every ow ngraed that 14ib -ary boards are m�cessarye t,•'k,a Turwn
and Mr. Sanninghoven i intairad V`Pair position that the board shculd serve only
In an advi spy capacity with the city winager and c nci l b i ng the ad i as i stre.m
M ve beady.
T
e other threw wnelfsts maintained thair position that tM board mv— t rammin
free to set an, admini star g"E icy* adopt and ac ini star budgsts.
They r:cc mi and the fact that that' must in all busimss cam under the scrutiny
and review of thau cou cid..