CALL TO ORDER:

The meeting was called to order by President Mann at 2:30 p.m. in the Library Board Room.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Georgieff, and Mr. Kawase

Absent: Carolyn T. Johnson

Staff : Al Milo, Library Director
Betty Schwarzkopf, Administrative Secretary

Guest : Nancy Lee, President, Friends of FPL

MINUTES OF JANUARY 27, 2005:

Mrs. Britt moved and Mr. Georgieff seconded that the minutes of the meeting of January 27, 2005 be approved. The motion carried.

WARRANT REGISTER OF FEBRUARY 2005:

Mr. Kawase moved and Mrs. Britt seconded that the warrant register in the amount of $39,175.04 be approved. The motion carried.

EXPENDITURE SUMMARY OF FEBRUARY 2005:

Director Milo commented that 66.6% of the fiscal year is complete with 58.4% expended. The report was accepted and filed.

REPORTS:

1. Library Director

   There were inquiries regarding the lanyards in the written report with the word READ in four different languages that the Library gave the visiting delegation from Shangyu, China. Director Milo explained the training session for librarians on the Ebscohost (magazines and newspapers) database; the purpose of the REFORMA association; and said the Boards 2005 membership to CALTAC had been renewed. He said the recent rainstorm had destroyed 35 large print books; and that Wi Fi at the Library was up and working 24 hours prior to the deadline. There have been several changes in personnel. Daniel Dische (Library Technical Assistant I) who works in Library Administration and is the current Bookmobile driver is leaving to go to the Administrative Services Department at City Hall. A Library Page has been promoted to the Administration position and a Library Clerk will assist on the Bookmobile. Librarian Chaunacey Dunklee has been trained to drive the Bookmobile. He added there were nine applications received for the Library Division Manager position. Five applicants were interviewed and three made the eligibility list. Recruitment for the open Senior Librarian position will begin soon.

   The written report was accepted and filed.

2. Friends of the Library

   Friends President, Nancy Lee, said the Friends netted $13,000 at their recent book sale. They have given Childrens Services $6,000 for the summer reading program and $4,200 to Adult Services to have two CD cabinets built.

3. Library Foundation

   Ray Kawase reported that the Foundation is about halfway to their goal for the Dig Deep 4 Book$ campaign, and they approved a request from Director Milo for $30,000 as the first installation from the campaign. The Foundations endowment fund is doing well with a 9% increase from a year ago.

ACTIVITY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2005:

The report was accepted and filed.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Easter Sunday Closure

   Director Milo recommended that the Library be closed on Easter Sunday (March 27th).

   Mr. Kawase moved and Mr. Georgieff seconded that the Library be closed on Easter Sunday. The motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. 2005-2007

   Director Milo gave an overview of the 2003-2004 budget deficits:

   2003-2005	$ 70,000 Electronic Resources
   	$ 54,840 Library Materials $124,840
   2005-2007	($110,000) First Year
   2005-2007	($190,000) Second Year ($300,000)

   Why?
   

   • Decrease in State Support (PLF)
   • Decrease in Library Reserves
   • Decrease in Donations
   • Increase in Technology
   • Retirement Payoffs

   Decision Packages
   

   • Periodicals Staffing Reduced (Implemented)
   • Close Thursday Evenings
   • Non-resident Library Card fee (Implemented)
   • Sell Book Bags (Implemented
   • Close Sundays
   • Cut Book Budget (Implemented)

   Criteria
   

   • Cost Savings
   • Usage/Demand
   • Impact on other Library Services/Subprograms
   • Restoration Potential
   • Alternatives for Service

   Timeline
   March	Library Management Team meets with the City Manager and the Finance Department.
   May	City Council receives the proposed budget and releases it to the public.
   June	City Council hold public hearings and adopts the budget.

2. State Legislative Priorities

   Staff will draft a letter to State legislators. Mrs. Britt will make appointments with State Senator Dunn, Assemblyman Ackerman, and Assemblywoman Daucher. Mrs. Mann suggested inviting the Foundation and the Friends to join them at the meetings.

3. Small Business Website

   The item was tabled to the next regular meeting.

4. Teen Focus Group Results

   Mr. Georgieff reported on the meeting with the teen volunteers. He said they were all junior high school age. He went over the written report that was included in the agenda packets. He suggested having several more meetings and including high school students in March.

ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS:

Director Milo requested that $30,000 from the Foundations Dig Deep 4 Book$ campaign be added to the donation report. Mrs. Britt moved and Mr. Georgieff second that the donations in the amount of $30,570.35 be accepted. The motion carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

There was no correspondence to report.

BOARD MEMBER ROUND TABLE:

Mr. Georgieff reported that he had attended a Boy Scout Camp with his son in Death Valley. He said the wild flowers were beautiful and the boys went on a midnight hike on the sand dunes.

Mrs. Britt said she talked with her City Council contact, Don Bankhead, and encouraged the other Board members to call or write their Council Members.

Mr. Kawase said he had visited Death Valley in January. He said the Rotarians recently hosted four guests from Morelia, Mexico. He took them on the Metro to Los Angeles where they toured the Central Library.

Mrs. Mann said in honor of her husbands retirement, they are going on a month long tour of Europe from March 29 to April 27.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Kawase moved and Mr. Georgieff seconded that the meeting adjourn at 4:50 p.m. The motion carried. The Board members then toured the Main Library.