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TO: PARMLY BILLINGS LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM: BILL COCHRAN, DIRECTOR RE: REPORT MEETING DATE: JUNE 12, 2008 ACTIVITIES REPORT I joined Chair Dan Carter and the other members of the Library Facilities Committee at its 5-12 meeting. I joined Chair Dave Ward, Senior Administrative Coordinator Sandy Raymond and the other members of the Library Funding Committee at its 5-14 meeting. Children’s Librarian Cindy Patterson promoted the Library’s Summer Reading Program at Boulder Elementary School 5 -14 and Arrowhead Elementary School 5-21. With MSU-B Facilities Director Eakle Barfield, I Co-chaired the 5-15 Community Library Committee meeting. Assistant Director Jim Peters, Patterson and Foundation Development Director Leslie Modrow taped a 30-minute segment on Library events for TV-7’s Spotlight on the Arts on 5-27. I attended the 5-27 City Council Meeting, at which the Council approved a gift from the Parmly Billings Library Foundation of $11,700 for multi-media equipment for programs and performances. Raymond and Systems Administrator Dee Ann Redman presented the Library’s FY09 Budget Presentation to the City Council at its 5-28 Work Session, attended by Board Chair Lloyd Mickelson and Trustee Shari Nault. Montana Library Association election results were announced 5-28. Redman was elected to the Board of MLA as Secretary. Raymond provided Library liaison and coordination for the successful Third Annual Food for Thought, sponsored by the Parmly Billings Library Foundation, 5-29. I attended the 6-2 City Council Work Session, the last devoted to the FY09 budget, and presented a proposed resolution of a concern about the documentation of the Library’s mill levy support, which received the Council’s consensus support. Jim Peters attended training, along with Corby Skinner and Leila Nelson of the Writer’s Voice, in Minneapolis for the NEA Big Read grant, 6-8/9. I am scheduled, with other members of the Community Library Planning Committee, to attend the Grand Opening and Dedication of the new Little Big Horn College Library, Archives, and Administration building in Crow Agency 6-11. UPCOMING EVENTS 6-10 Digital TV Transition, 7:00 p.m. 6-11 Friends of the Library Board Meeting, Noon 6-12 Library Board meeting, Noon 6-13 The Deadly Mantis, Freaky Friday Film, 2:00 p.m. 6-17 Library Foundation Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m. 6-18 Metamorphose with Astrology: What’s Your Rising Sign, 2:00 p.m. 6-19 Autumn Spring, Foreign Film Series, 7:00 p.m. 6-21 Spanish Conversation, 1:30 p.m. ---PAGE BREAK--- 6-25 How to Get the Most Out of Your Digital Camera, noon 6-25 Tie Dye for Teens, 2:00 p.m. 6-25 What I Did in the Peace Corps, 7:00 p.m. 6-26 Amateur Astronomy Telescope Workshop, 7:00 p.m. 6-27 Them, Freaky Friday Film, 2:00 p.m. 6-28 Blending Vegetable Oil for Fuel, 11:00 a.m. 7-3 Double Indemnity, Film Noir Series, 7:00 p.m. 7-9 Unmask the Inner Your, Part I, teen program, 2:00 p.m. 7-10 Library Board meeting, Noon 7-12/13 Library at Summer Fair ---PAGE BREAK--- STRATEGIC PLAN STATUS REPORT Completed • Objective 1.4 Formally solicit Library Board representation in community planning efforts that might impact existing Library facilities or pose opportunities; ongoing, and BSEDA official presented at Board meeting as of 7-12-07 and Downtown Partnership presented at 12-13-07 Board meeting. • Objective 1.5 Provide ‘The Study’ to be made available for group study, book clubs, etc.; available for public use. • Objective 1.5 Free up additional space by weeding adult print collections by one third; adult nonfiction has been weeded by approximately 17%. • Objective 1.5 Improve seating and work space options for customers; new seating ordered 5-08. • Objective 1.6 Infomobile improvements including interior improvements and online connection for patrons; upholstery replacement and carpet installation completed. • Objective 1.7/3.1 Patron request card at point of checkout and “What changes would you like to see” for roving assistance combined; printed and in use. • Objective 1.8 Customer service training for staff; FISH training completed 6-6. • Objective 1.9 Incremental improvements in the safety, functionality and appearance of the Main Library; accent painting completed on first and second floors. • Objective 1.9 Replace or update automatic doors; added new sensors and updated doors March 2007. • Objective 1.9 Repair or replace picture book bins in Children’s Services; repainted and trim installed. • Objective 1.9 Painting of the second floor of the Library; scheduled to be completed by 1-9-08. • Objective 2.1 Library sponsorship of four community issue oriented events; Yellowstone County Elections Office program 1-15 and 5-15; the 5-29 Food for Thought included conversations on the influence of money on politics, recycling in Billings, separation of church and state, the Montana film industry, the future of family ranching and many more relevant topics; and Dead in the Water, a panel discussion on freshwater dead zones in Montana is scheduled for 6-18. • Objective 2.2 Library’s web page as a virtual commons; achieved 4-28 as part of City website redesign project. • Objective 3.2 Patron request link IS on the Library’s web page as of 10-29-07. • Objective 4.1 Develop a program idea form to be distributed to patrons; form has been printed as a postcard and is being distributed. • Objective 4.3/8.3 Facilitate a virtual program advisory group; wiki for Adult Programming Committee created and in use. • Objective 4.4/8.4 Quarterly calendar of events; available on webpage. • Objective 5.3 Workstation modified for persons with disabilities; to be ordered with Gates Foundation grant funds by 6-30. • Objective 6.1 Assessment of staff skills in evaluating information sources; assessment tools administered 10-5-07. • Objective 6.5 Design & acquire a mobile computer lab for classes; lab acquired and in use. • Objective 7.1 Community assessment of resources available to self-directed learners; completed by Management Team 3-21-07. • Objective 7.2 Discuss cooperative efforts for lifelong learning; seven-part series on “Listening to Classical Music” scheduled for 3-12-08 through 5-28-08. • Objective 7.3 Collection assessment of library sources for self-directed learning; assessment has been completed. • Objective 7.4 Allocate 5% of collection budget to self-directed learning materials; allocated in FY08 budget. • Objective 7.5 Staff training on lifelong learning and adult education; Cochran, Peters, and Robins attended “Strategies for Adult Learning” at MSU-Billings 1-23-08. ---PAGE BREAK--- In Progress • Objective 1.1 Joint Community Library; joint planning committee met 7-26, 8-30, 9- 27; 11-1; 12-6; 1-17; 2-21; 3-20; and 4-17. • Objective 1.2 Community process to develop plan for downtown facility; Facilities Committee met 4-7 and 5-12. • Objective 1.3 Study feasibility for a Heights branch library; under study of the Board Facilities Committee, which met 4-7 and 5-12. • Objective 5.1 Community needs assessment for Internet & electronic information training; review of training providers completed/assessment of needs will be done. • Objective 5.2 Public Internet & electronic information resource classes; ongoing existing classes returned in September; more to be developed per Objective 5.1. • Objective 6.2 Staff training based on technology assessment in 6.1.; individual meetings to develop training plans have been completed. • Objective 6.3 Public classes to identify & evaluate information resources; curriculum has been developed. • Objective 7.6 Develop a plan for preservation of and access to historical records; meetings with representatives of MSU-Billings and Western Heritage Center held 1- 29, 2-26, 3-18, and 4-3. • Objective 8.5 activities for newborns and parents; cooperative planning underway among Children’s Services, Foundation, Friends and Junior Women’s League. To Be Completed By October 1, 2007 • Objective 6.4 Links from Library’s website to recommended Internet sites. January 1, 2008 • Objective 1.5 Re-evaluate best use of Montana Room, Teen Pit & Internet stations. • Objective 3.3 Expand new book display shelves. • Objective 5.4 Internet and online classes at retirement facilities. July 1, 2008 • Objective 1.6 Infomobile improvements including interior improvements and online connection for patrons; online connection will be rescheduled for next year.. • Objective 4.2/8.2 Conduct focus groups for programming.