Board Minutes

HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE
May 19, 2004

HLC Governing Board members present: DeSoto—Paul Erickson, Felton Garner; Hardee—Elinor Batey; Highlands—Perry Newport, Jeanne Renton, Guy Maxcy; Okeechobee—Marilyn Buxton. All others excused. Librarians present: Mary Myers, Margo Taylor, Fred Lohrer, E. M. Kenney, Diane Hunt.

The Board met at Sebring Library, being called to order at 10 a.m. by Chairman Paul Erickson. Commissioner Garner led in the invocation, then the pledge to the flag was recited. Notice of meeting was verified by the secretary.

Coordinator Myers presented a new agenda to the board which was approved with a motion by Jeanne Renton, second by Marilyn Buxton and passed by voice vote.
The minutes, with a correction by E.M. Kenney of House Bill being 259, not 529, was moved for approval by Elinor Batey, seconded by Jeanne Renton, carried by voice vote.

COORDINATOR’S REPORT
Mrs. Myers gave out an updated, corrected statistics sheet for March and April patron visits, patrons, circulation, and collection. She talked about a new spam control program that will be available on the newly installed Firebox. This will block inappropriate URL sites. Myers informed the board that this isn’t being done by mandate, but to be proactive in our protecting our library users.
The board was asked to think about wireless access inside all the libraries for patrons wanting to use their notebooks, PDAs, etc. The thought behind this is to free up the internet computers for those who don’t own laptops, to give extra service to guests, but with the libraries managing the users access, how many people could use it at one time, and how long they can be connected. Coordinator Myers noted that all users would need a library card to access our services. We already have in the works the “smart” cards for Highlands County and, if we decide to charge for Internet access (as Orange County does), that charge could be put on the smart card.
Regarding cooperative funding, Mrs. Myers pointed out that our cooperative money is closely tied to the local matches in our counties. Right now we are receiving the maximum amount ($400,000), but that could change drastically if local library budgets are not fully funded. Concerning the question of time limits and raising money by charging for wireless Internet access, board members asked that this be discussed by the librarians and brought back to the board as a proposal.
Perry Newport moved that the Coordinator’s Report be approved, seconded by Jeanne Renton, carried by voice vote.

NEW BUSINES
Board members all had a copy of the “Staying Connected” computer grant application. Hardee County was the only county to qualify for this grant and, if approved by the board, will receive $4,800 for replacement of computers, printers, software, and cabling. Felton Garner moved to authorize acceptance of this grant and authorize Paul Erickson to sign as our chairman, seconded by Jeanne Renton, carried by voice vote.

The board discussed the new direction of grants…collection development grants are no longer available as such. Grants now are mainly for literacy or disadvantaged groups, to supply books and programs. Coordinator Myers noted that Highlands is interested in reestablishing the bookmobile service for eventually reaching the more isolated areas in our cooperative. This could be grant funded.

Chairman Paul Erickson told board members that he had asked for an attendance count of all board members and, seeing at least two members that had not attended in the last year, would propose he write a letter to those counties asking their county commissions to reappoint another member to actively attend Heartland board meetings. Perry Newport moved that the chairman write this letter on our letterhead, seconded by Elinor Batey, and carried by voice vote.

New cooperative library cards are to arrive in June. The question was asked what, if anything, should be charged if a person with a card wanted to have one of the new cards? This is not a question about charges for use of the Internet because Internet use will require a purchase of a “smart” card. Those “smart” cards are like a debit card and will cost a minimum of $2.00 because they will then pay for printing charges. The amount placed on those cards will not affect overdue fines (that is, we cannot deduct overdue fines from money given on the “smart” cards for printing). The problem being addressed is for those simply wanting to change cards from the current sunset pink to the picture cards. The board concurred that any replacement card (lost, destroyed, or simply wanting to replace) would come under the $2.00 charge already in place.

There were no board member comments.

NEXT MEETING IS AUGUST 18, 2004, 10:00 A.M. AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED LAKE PLACID LIBRARY.

Adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Hesselink, Administrative Secretary

Print-Ready Format