Appleton Public Library
Board of Trustees Minutes
April 10, 2002
Present: Bergen,
Bloedow, Bergman, Dunlap, de Young, Ducklow, Heuring, Schuessler
Excused: Chandler
Others present: Kelly, Dawson, Muench, Shriver, DeJardin, Lenz, OWLS Director Rick
Krumwiede, Appleton City Attorney Jim Walsh, Appleton Human Resources Director
Sandra Neisen
President Schuessler
called the meeting to order at 11:04 AM.
Dawson read two letters received: a thank you from University of Wisconsin
– Milwaukee Library School Dean Aman regarding the two scholarships awarded to
UWM students, and a thank you letter from Colleen Rortvedt for the scholarship
she received.
Schuessler welcomed HR
Director Neisen and Attorney Walsh and invited them to the table. Walsh and Neisen presented to the Board
their concerns about potential liability arising from inconsistent HR policies
between the library and the City. They
expressed a preference that the Library Board, rather than having separate
policies, should adopt City HR Policies in their entirety.
de Young moved and
Bloedow seconded approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, with a
correction to reflect the roll call vote to enter closed session. The motion passed.
Bergman moved to approve
The March 2002 bill registers and Heuring seconded. Bergman asked for clarification of just what is included in the
building repairs budget line. Dawson
and Muench explained that the line included funds designated for replacement furniture,
which was being held pending better information about the state budget
situation. The motion passed.
A flagpole is in the
process of being installed. There will be a dedication ceremony on Friday April
19 at 9:00 a.m. Students from local
elementary schools will sing the National Anthem, Appleton Police and Fire
Departments will provide a color guard, and Dr. Robert Harrington will lead the
group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Library Board, Foundation Board and FOAL Board members are invited.
There being no viable
offers from coffee vendors, staff recommends convert the former coffee shop
area to office space. Vending machines
will be placed in the corridor adjacent to the pay phones.
Dawson said that he had
met with OWLS Director Krumwiede and the directors of Kimberly/Little Chute and
Kaukauna Public Libraries to discuss fines and fees associated with overdue
materials and reserves, with the goal of increasing consistency among Fox
Cities libraries. He proposed that adult book fines be increased to 10 cents
per day to a maximum of $5.00. Fines
for overdue interloan materials will increase to $1.00 per day with a maximum
of $10.00. Children’s overdue books will increase to 5 cents per day with a
maximum of $3.00. These changes will be
made at the same time email notification is instituted for reserves and overdue
notices. Postage charges for reserve
and interloan notification would be dropped.
Although this would cause
some revenue reduction of approximately $7,000 a year, this would be offset by
the reduction in postage meter bills.
With increased fines, net revenue should actually increase, but charges
would be on the back end (overdues) rather than a barrier to getting materials. After discussion of email notification
processes, Bloedow moved and Ducklow seconded to accept the staff
recommendations, and the motion passed.
Following a discussion of
the concerns raised by the visiting City officials, de Young moved and Bergen
seconded that Dawson be directed to identify major issues involved and to
report to the Board at the May meeting.
Further, they moved that the larger topic of Library Board authority and
autonomy be addressed at the Board Retreat planned for May 31. The motion passed. Dawson indicated he would like to work with HR Director Neisen to
prepare a report.
A motion to adjourn was
made by Ducklow and seconded by Bergen. The meeting adjourned at 12:54 p.m.