HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE BOARD MEETING

July 12, 2000

HLC Governing Board voting members present: DeSoto-Ann Ryals, Paul Erickson; Hardee-Elinor Batey, Walter Olliff Jr., Gloria Davis; Highlands-Jeanne Renton, Perry Newport; Okeechobee-Marilyn Buxton, Clois Harvey.

Voting members excused: Bob Bullard, Bob Avant, Robbie Clarke.

Others present: Coordinator Mary Myers, Diane Hunt, E.M. Kenney, Ed Kilroy, Carolyn Hesselink.

In the absence of Chairman Bullard, Perry Newport called the meeting at the Sebring Public Library to order at 10:08 a.m. Public Notice of Meeting was read by the Secretary C. Hesselink. The agenda was approved as presented by motion of Ann Ryals, seconded by Clois Harvey, and carried by voice vote. The minutes were approved by consensus.

COORDINATOR'S REPORT

Members were informed about the attached letters from Ross Macbeth concerning our Internet Use Policy, and the letter from Chairman Bullard to Computer Interconnections stating the board's wishes, that the contract ending August 19, 2000, not be renewed. Mrs. Myers also reported to the board on the lawsuit filed by Nina St. Germain and the status of the M. Mason proceedings. Her report was approved by consensus.

LONG RANGE PLAN DRAFT

The Coordinator discussed mainly the fourth goal in this plan--Libraries and Their Communities. It was stated that the cooperative is the mechanism to help counties provide services and one way to find out what services to provide is through various types of surveys. These surveys would pinpoint whom we are serving and whom we need to serve. The planning committee will use the needs list generated by the surveys. First the surveys are planned and executed, then the libraries can decide what areas to work in and what grants to apply for. This ground work should also show us where we have surveyed and what areas we will not be able to serve, with our limited means.

It was noted that we have, at this time, not received any information on the status of our Born to Read grants for Highlands and Okeechobee counties. Mary expects, however, that the cooperative will receive more funds than last fiscal year from the State Library.

Looking at the draft budget, the board was told that because we will need to update our library automation within the near future, more money has been put into the contingency fund to help pay for costs in the range of $110-140,000. We are building our cash reserves, anticipating paying in total from our budget, without borrowing money.

MEETING DATE SET

The board will meet on September 20, Wednesday, at the Lake Placid Library, 10 a.m. to vote on the finalized budget, the Long Range Plan, the Annual Plan of Service, and the application for State Aid.

The meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Hesselink

Administrative Secretary