HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 1957.09.19 KINUTES OF THE MEETING
Or TI E
BURLIIIC�A1,'1E PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
SEPTEMBER 19, 1957
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Trustees Present: Pass. Harrison, Mrs. Cohendet, Mr. Cargill, P,Tr. Edwards
Trustees Absent: Mr. Crosby
PQINU TES
The nlnutes of the previous meeting, of Au.^,ust 15, 1957, were read and approved.
BILLS
On a motion by i:ir. 'Edwards and seconded by Mr. Cargill, bills in the amount of
X2,093.50 were ordered paid.
LIBRA'RIAN'S REPORT
The Librarian's report was read and accepted.
'<IOPdTFiLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The financial statement was approved and placed on file.
OLD BUSINESS
Biad2et. The final budget, as received from the City Council, was discussed. It
was noted that in re moving the capital expenditure item of ;896 for painting the
outside of the branch and the main library, to DI-16 Building Maintenance, 896 was
dedacted. It was noted that this constitutes a reduction of the original building
item. estimate of qt�1,500, of which ;;900 per year is earmarked for the Pare Department
in payment for its maintenance of the grounds. The Librarian stated that any funds
which are unspent in this item each year can be attributed to the fact that he dcaes__
many of the .ore expensive maintenance items himself, especially when such items
consist of a short time interval for which the library pays sometimes as mach as
r28 per hour, i.e., repairing a library toilet float valve, etc., repairing a
library toilet float valve, etc.
Ass. Harrison noted that ::"1,070 was deducted from the reauested book budget. The
Librarian stated that this would mare it impossible to replace many of the older
and somewhat obsolete non-fiction books in political science, business, engineering,
etc. He also stated that the subscription to one of the financial services, such
as 7Toody's or Poors, would have to wait until our book budget was increased. He
stated that the ;great increase in the cost of books would res.11t in an even more
drastic curtailment of the number of titles purchased each year; therefore, from
,'1,400 in 1956 to 3,432 in 1957, to probably no more than 3,000 in 1958. He stated
that the library hoped to hold the line and, possibly by an increase in gifts,
perhaps the number of titles could be dept at the level of previous years.
Stacks Extension_._ It was noted that there was no fund allowed for the requested
extension of tl_e stacks. The Librarian stated that in the early part of the Council
discussion or: the stacks extension, it was agreed to allow a 10 cent increase in
the library tax in order to cover the building of the stacks extension. This,
however, was disallowed by the City Attorney, who gave an opinion that there was
no precedent for the library tag, to cover building extensions. The Librarian
stated that by the time he had contacted Sacramento, and found that the legal advisor
of the State Librarian believed that the intent of the law was to cover all library
expenses, it was too late and the 10 cents had been alloted to the drainage project
Page 2 - T.Tinutes Sept. 19, 1957
on Lorton Ave. The Librarian stated however that all those consulted agreed that
if the amount had been budgeted in the general fund for library use, it would have
been perfectly legal. The Librarian stated that he was workinm with the legal
committee of the C. L. A. end the State Librarian in order to clarify the law.
lie also stated that the stacks extension represented our greatest problem. He
said that if it is desirable for our library to continue not only as a library of
the current but to be a library of our cultural past, it is most desirable that
we obtain the extension to the stacks and, through a careful Needing policy, not
a forced one, be kept in practice as well as the constant attempt to obtain the
out of print materials needed to complete our very exceptional humanistic collection.
That the possession of adequate storage space would allow the cataloging and accession
of a duplicate collection for a neer branch, when and if it were available. He
stated that it is a serious task which needs considerable still and knowledge in
order to avoid the removal of hard to replace books that form the basis of our
collection.
New Branch. Mrs. Harrison discussed briefly the present status of our proposed
branc Y She stated that as the city could give us no funds for the purchase of
a site, it would seem to indicate that they did not approve of library trustees
trying to purchase a site for future use of a branch in the P,Iills Estate.
F,Irs. Cohendet stated that she would undertake to find out the present attitude
of the elerentar, school board in regard to allowing the library trustees to
purchase a site on their property at the corner of Quesada and Truesdale.
Pair. Edwards requested a complete summary of the previous action taken in regard
to the proposed branch, and all agreed that this summary should be incorporated
in the minutes of the next meeting.
NUN BUSINESS
Cooperation with the Elementary School. The Librarian stated that IIr. Nhite had
a,-,reed to szb iit- to re Curr_culum Committee any plan we might devise for the use
of library material to forr_2 a semi-permanent classroom or library collection in
the local elementary schools.
Friends or the Library. It was moved by Iilrs. Cohendet and seconded by '-`r. Edwards
�h .t the rr%enas of tle Library be recp ested to form a committee who would cooperate
ti^,-ith the library in furnishing of books to shut-ins.
ADJOURNMENT
After considerable discussion on various other library problems, the meeting was
adjourned on a motion by Mir. Edwards, seconded by Peer. Cargill.
P, weeich
ly submitted,
J �
Cierk of the Board