HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE BOARD MEETING

April 9, 1997

HLC Governing Board members present: Chairman Jeri Canale, Perry Newport, Jeanne Renton, Highlands Co.; Charles Evans, Paul Erickson, Barbara Smith, DeSoto Co.; Marilyn Buxton, Clois Harvey, Okeechobee Co.; Gloria Davis, Hardee Co.

Board members absent: Diana Youmans, Hardee Co.; Bonnie Dyga, Okeechobee Co.

Other Attendees; Mary Myers, Cooperative Coordinator; host Elizabeth Kenney, DeSoto Librarian; Don Obrakta, Hardee Librarian; Ed Kilroy, Okeechobee Librarian; Marcellus Mason, Network Services Manager; Carolyn Hesselink, Administrative Secretary,

Chairman Jeri Canale called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Public notice was read. Elizabeth Kenney introduced her library staff to the board members.

1. Agenda Additions - Agenda additions were called for and three were added: Recommendation for 5% raise for Marcellus Mason, a budget amendment to pay interest on borrowed moneys, and discussion on the automation project. It was moved and seconded we add these 3 agenda items, and carried by voice vote. The agenda was approved as amended. Minutes of the February 26, 1977 meeting were moved for acceptance and approved.

2. Raise Discussion - Coordinator Mary Myers recommended to the board that Mr. Mason be given a 5% pay increase at the end of his probation, contingent on receiving a satisfactory or above performance evaluation. His probation ends May 14, 1997 and the salary increase would be effective then. The amount for the remainder of FY97 is approximately $700.00. Highlands normally gives a 5% raise after probation; other counties give less or give after the first year. After several minutes of discussion, it was moved to give the 5% raise as the Coordinator has recommended; seconded and carried with one dissenting vote.

3. Budget Amendment - The promissory note was paid to Highlands County, but $400.00 extra in interest is owed due to the April pay back date. The Coordinator recommended we take it from Machinery & Equipment and move it to Interest Payments. It was moved and seconded to do so. The motion was then revised to move the moneys from Communications & Freight to Interest Payments, seconded and carrier.

4. Financial Report of Coordinator - Coordinator Myers noted we are significantly under our budget. We are still, however, not paying for gas and oil for the courier. That, until a cooperative car is purchased, is coming out of our Highlands County budget, with the blessing of our county administrator. In looking over the set-up of the report, Barbara Smith recommended Mary add the opening balance for each month in her report. It was moved and seconded to approve the coordinator's financial report. Carried by voice vote.

5. Library Day in Tallahassee - Ed Kilroy spoke for all who attended and commented that we spoke to all our legislators or their aides about our Cooperative and individual county issues, especially the needed construction funds. Everyone learned a good deal about the pressures our legislators have. We networked with other library works and all felt it was good to have made the effort to attend. The board extends its sympathy to Perry Newport, who was to have attended, in the death of his mother.

6. Long Range Plan Status Report - As noted in the report, Coordinator Myers said we are ahead or have completed most of the goals in the Long Range Plan. The Collection Development goals will be discussed at our July meeting. Charlie Parker from the State Library has requested that he be at our meeting to brainstorm with us and help plan. Our funding from the State Library (2nd payment) will be received in June. Myers estimated next year's total amount to be between #350,000 and $380,000. Marcellus Mason spoke to the board about his recommendations concerning the Automation goal. Our current vendor, Gaylord, runs on an open VMS platform while most vendors are in process of changing to Windows NT. Gaylord also wants to change our cooperative several thousand dollars in fees because we didn't buy our hardware from the.  Coordinator Myers said our plan is to go to Windows NT when it is available, leaving the circulation in all the libraries as it is until then. Cabling is now complete, and new workstations are being installed. We have the capability to have access to Internet, and public access would be available (most important for sharing resources). Marcellus can maintain our current systems until we change over to a union circulation system. Network services Manager Mason commented that we spent a lot less as a result of our birds than what Gaylord wanted.

7. Piggy Back Computer Bid - All board members have a copy of the memo on this subject. Orders of PCs from Arsys can be called in anytime. The board members were invited to see the one already set up at the DeSoto Library.

8. Next meeting set for July 16, 1997 (3rd Wednesday) at Lake Placid Library, Lake Placid, 10:00 a.m. This will be our brainstorming session on collection development, what subject we need to purchase more of, which libraries should have the major collection in a particular subject area, etc.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn L. Hesselink

Administrative Secretary