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Board Minutes
HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE BOARD MEETING
March 15, 2000
HLC Governing Board voting members present: DeSoto – Ann Ryals; Hardee – Elinor Batey, Gloria Davis; Highlands–Perry Newport; Okeechobee-Marilyn Buxton, Clois Harvey, Robbie Clarke
Board members excused: Walter Olliff Jr., Bob Bullard, Jeanne Renton, Bob Avant, Paul Erickson.
Others present: Coordinator Mary Myers, Librarians Margo Taylor, Ed Kilroy, Elizabeth Kenney, and Diane Hunt, Okeechobee volunteer Ella Duggan, and Carolyn Hesselink.
The meeting was called to order at 10:09 a.m. by appointed temporary chairman Perry Newport, in the absence of Chairman Bob Bullard. We met in the new Okeechobee county Library building. Notice of meeting posting was read. Under additions to the agenda, Elizabeth Kenney asked to be added. The agenda was moved for approval with this addition by Ann Ryals, seconded by Clois Harvey, and the motion passed by voice vote. Minutes were read to the board. Clois moved their approval, seconded by Ann, and passed by voice vote.
COORDINATOR’S REPORT
Mary answered Perry’s inquiry about the continuing interest in internet filtering, by noting that our filters are not word specific, but site specific.
Mrs. Myers informed the board that our need for network administration has changed. With more than 200 PCs in the system, we have had to pull a Highlands County employee from desk duty and use his expertise as a certified computer technician to keep up with the desktop repairs. The cooperative may want to have a network service retainer rather than a full time network administrator. Our routers (our main communication device) all have 24 hours technical support from Cisco. Fixing and maintaining all our computers is the pressing need now. Sebring has amassed a depot of parts for servicing machines as needed.
Mary reported that FIRN service has improved and is more reliable now.
CIRCULATION
Ed Kilroy reported that Okeechobee patrons are checking out items at a rate of 35-40% more than last year as a result of the new building. The 1968 population of Okeechobee was some 10,000 and the 1999-2000 winter population is estimated at some 58,000. Mr. Kilroy also noted that circulation statistics do not tell the whole story as hundreds of hours are used on the computers each month by patrons who do not check out materials. The same is true of those who come in to look information up, read the newspapers, or who call the library.
NEW BUSINESS
Concerning applications for grants from the State Library, Mrs. Myers told the board the state of Florida doesn’t want numbers so much as they want outcomes in reporting. Our two grants, the Literacy and Born to Read, had to show behavior changes or life impacts as a result. There is a movement to use the United Way model, using survey and interviews to show positive results in lives. This is the 3rd year for our Born to Read grant submittal. We believe that, using the outcomes reporting, tracking may be needed over a long period of time. One early outcome would be observing parents reading to their children. Now follow-up will be more necessary to come up with the proof of life changes.
It was noted that DeSoto’s Literacy grant (DeSoto’s New Readers) was awarded in the amount of $25,000 for materials. The 3 library literacy grants (Libraries Support Literacy) was also awarded in the amount of $25,000 for materials.
Our number one priority grant application was called Graying the Net and identifies six sites of older adult centers which would be used as training centers. The grant would pay for installation of a computer and a phone line at each site, and hire an additional trainer to go to the locations, also to work in the libraries. A senior site on our heartlineweb.org page would be developed with extensive help for seniors.
The second priority in our grant applications was our Born to Read grant. Mrs. Myers believes that Heartland libraries stand an excellent chance of having both grants funded.
BUDGET 2000
The Coordinator and librarians will be working on the budget. The next meeting was set for May 24 and will be a budget workshop. The final budget will be presented for approval on July 19. The board concurred that an invitation be extended to Charlie Parker from the State Library to join us for our May 24 meeting at Lake Placid Library.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Diana Hunt announced that Hardee Library will be one of only 75 sites in the U.S. to receive the ALA traveling mathematics exhibit called “Go Figure.”
DeSoto Library will be the site of a special stamp cancellation on April 25 showing the library. Elizabeth Keeney invited all the libraries to inform those who would like to get their mail canceled with this special stamp to send it on their library. The Library of Congress will issue a library stamp on April 24.
Florida Library Day at Tallahassee is March 21 and 22.
Adjourned at 11:25 and board members were given a tour by Librarian Ed Kilroy.
NEXT MEETING MAY 24, 10 A.M., AT LAKE PLACID LIBRARY.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Hesselink
Administrative Secretary
