Board Minutes

HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE
November 17, 2004

HLC Governing Board members present: DeSoto—Paul Erickson; Hardee—Elinor Batey; Highlands—Jeanne Renton, Guy Maxcy; Okeechobee—Robbie Chartier. Librarians present: E.M. Kenney, Fred Lohrer, Diane Hunt, Mary Myers, Merry Cresswell, Margo Taylor. Guest—Debra Worley.

The Board met at Lake Placid Memorial Library and was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by Chairman Paul Erickson. Commissioner Guy Maxcy led in the invocation and pledge to the flag.

The board secretary read the public meeting notice. Mrs. Myers requested an addition to the agenda for the long-range plan. Robbie moved the approval of the agenda with the addition, Elinor seconded, and it carried. A correction to the September minutes under New Business was the changing of the budget year to show 2004-2005. Robbie moved to accept the minutes as corrected, seconded by Elinor, and carried.

NEW BUSINESS

Annual Plan of Service
Mary Myers presented the Annual Plan of Service for 2005 to the board. Wireless Internet access is going to be available first at DeSoto County Library. Besides patrons using their personal notebook computers, this access will also include wireless notebooks available to be checked out for in-library use. Fred Lohrer wondered if wireless access could be offered to courthouse employees. It was noted that any businessperson could use this service, but they would need either a smart card or a $5-a-week guest card. The board asked that the Annual Plan under Access to Information add “wireless access management system”. Elinor Batey moved to approve the Plan with the addition, Robbie seconded, and it carried.
Budget
The combined 2005 budget was presented and Robbie moved to approve it contingent on the DeSoto County Commission approval of their library budget in the amount of $269,428. Elinor seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Summary Financial Report
The Summary Financial Report was presented and Mrs. Myers was asked to correct it by rounding up the figures. Jeanne Renton moved to approve the report; Elinor Batey seconded the motion, which passed.
Long Range Plan
The State Library notified us that our Long Range Plan would expire in 2005. The Highlands County Library System’s Long Range Plan is in the Bibliotrail quarterly newsletter, which was passed out to board members. Mary suggested focus groups made up of our local library boards talk about what they want in the Heartland Long Range Plan for their county. After the focus groups meet, then the library directors would come up with an over-all plan for the cooperative. The board agreed to use focus groups and asked Mary to head this up. Along the line of cooperative needs, Paul Erickson mentioned the on-going need of continued cross training of library workers. Mrs. Myers told board members that she would like library workers to become more service oriented, having more direct contact with the patrons.

Board Members Comments
Robbie Chartier stated that at the November 18th Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners’ meeting, they would be appointing two members to our Heartland Board.
Hardee, said Diane Hunt, is also expecting the appointment of Gordon Norris to the board. She announced that the November 28th Today Show will feature the Wauchula house of the mother of library worker Nancy Collins, for a holiday decorating show.

NEXT MEETING DATE IS JANUARY 19, WEDNESDAY, 10 A.M., AT LAKE PLACID MEMORIAL LIBRARY.

Chairman Paul Erickson adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Hesselink, Administrative Secretary

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