Library Commission Minutes

December 15, 2005

Location: Eugene Field Branch Library

Present: Fofi Mendez, Kevin O’Connor, Julie Rodriguez, Karen Rokala, Lois Ann Rovira, Edward Schenck, Sid Wilson.

Excused: K.C. Veio.

Staff: Rick Ashton, Robert Bowles, Diane Christman, Elizabeth Elder, Letty Icolari, Cori Jackamore, Celeste Jackson, Durae Kubat, Elaine Langeberg, Diane Lapierre, Rachelle Naishtut, Jo Sarling, Derek Wolfgram.

Guests: Hanne Lichtenfels, Denver Public Library Friends Foundation; Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann; Ms. Christiansen, Steve Hildmann, Loni Prante, Philip Ritter, James Russo, community members.

1. Call to Order
   Vice President Sid Wilson called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes of November 17, 2005, Regular Monthly Meeting
   The Minutes were approved as written.
   
   
3. Public Comment Period
   The staff and guests present introduced themselves. A few community members expressed their concerns/interests in Library matters.
   
   
4. Report of the President and Members
   
   • Karen Rokala reported on the December 5 Development Committee meeting.
   • Sid Wilson reported on the November 18 Staff Council meeting.
   • Sid Wilson and Kevin O’Connor reported on their experiences at the Urban Libraries Council Conference on Partners for Successful Cities in Chicago, December 2-3, 2005.


5. Report of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation
   Hanne Lichtenfels reported on the December 6 Friends Foundation Board meeting. At the meeting the 2006 operating budget was approved and two new board members, Rick Lawrence and Taylor Kirkpatrick, were elected.
   
   
6. Financial Matters
   • Robert Bowles presented the monthly Financial Report through November 30, 2005.
   • Lois Ann Rovira reported on the December 5 Finance Committee meeting. She also noted that the word "Projected" should be added to the heading of the last column of the report so that it reads "Projected 2006 Budget." With this change, upon motion by Kevin O’Connor, seconded by Lois Ann Rovira, the Commission members approved the proposed Special Trust Fund Budget for 2006.


7. Approval of Proposed Actions on Report and Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Community Conversations
   • The Commission modified the proposed resolution to read as attached. [See: Affirmation in Concept of the Report and Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Community Conversation on the Library’s Future.]
   • The Commission modified the proposed resolution to read as attached. [See: Directive to Staff Regarding Preliminary Plan for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Community Conversation.]
   • The Commission reviewed the proposed outline as attached. [See: Proposed Outline - Denver Public Library Service Styles Implementation Plan.]

Following these discussions, upon motion by Kevin O’Connor, seconded by Fofi Mendez, the Commission approved the three items.


8. Approval of Proposed Resolutions Concerning Collection Development
   Upon motion by Karen Rokala, seconded by Kevin O’Connor, the Commission members unanimously approved the proposed resolutions concerning Collection Development, the salient points of which are:
   • To reaffirm and re-adopt the Denver Public Library’s Collection Development Policy.
   • To incorporate the American Library Association Policy Statements by Reference.
   • To support staff adherence to said policy.
     
     
9. Approval in Concept of Proposed Library Sponsorship Program
   Diane Christman presented the background of the concept and details of the process, which would include a Request For Proposal for a sponsor-broker and the formation of a Sponsorship Committee which would include the members of the Development Committee. Upon motion by Kevin O’Connor, seconded by Edward Schenck, the proposed Library Sponsorship program was unanimously approved in concept.
   
   
10. Report of the City Librarian and Staff
    Rick Ashton reported that this month, in addition to the $120,000 grant from the Gates Foundation for the replacement of computer hardware, the Library received $25,000 from the Buell Foundation to support the Read Aloud Project, $35,000 from the Johnson Foundation for support of Summer Reading, and a commitment of $10,000 from a client of Wesley Brown’s firm to purchase scholarly books.
    
    
11. Sid Wilson declared the public session in recess at 5:10 p.m.



12. The Commission met in Executive Session for discussion of personnel matters, specifically dealing with the recruitment and employment of the next City Librarian.



13. The public session was reconvened and the following actions were taken on matters discussed in Executive Session:
• Upon motion by Kevin O’Connor, seconded by Fofi Mendez, Library staff are directed to invite the following three executive search firms to come for an interview with the Library Commission on the morning of Friday, January 6: Dubberly Garcia Associates Inc., Gossage Sager Associates, and Library Associates.


14. Sid Wilson adjourned the meeting at 5:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Lois Ann Rovira, Secretary