4/11/13 Minutes of the Joint Committee of the Fairfax Community Library.

Fairfax Community Library
Joint Board Meeting
April 11 2013

In attendance: Toni Jiwatram, Peggy Stewart, Pat McNall, Judy Cleary, Liz Griffin, Debbie Landauer, Mike Clark, Rachelle Howard, Lea Wimette, Joy Mercer.

The meeting began at 6:30.
There was no public comment. The library has received a letter from the Department of Libraries stating that the Fairfax Community Library had met the minimum standards for 2012. They will be establishing new standards and once they are updated will will use those standards for evaluation.
Library standards for the school are different from those for the town library.
Liz Griffin read the minutes from the November 7, 2012 meeting. A motion was made by Pat McNall and seconded by Judy Cleary to accept the minutes as read.

Report from School Librarian.
Joy observed that ipad use has affected the use of the library computers,especially by middle school students, but there is a consistent group of high schoolers who use them.
There has been no drop in circulation.
Three youth, and possibly 5, have read all 30 DCF books this year. There will be a DCF party on May 8 2013 for students in grades 4-8.
Joy has been working with two other area librarians to develop a library curriculum which at the moment is non-existent. They have found one that uses the common core and they are using that as a model.
Report from the Town Librarian.
Debbie explained why there was a lack of statistics for ListenUp Vermont .The Overdrive is in the middle of changing the reporting that is available.The r issues should be resolved so that the information is available for the next report.
The library sponsored programs have been well attended.
The craft table has been well received by youth and their parents. It is primarily used by toddlers through 10 years olds with their parents.
Library events, including the arrival of new books, are posted on Facebook and on vtgrandpa.

The postage rates have gone up 5 cents a pound. For the first quarter $727 was spent on postage, up about $120 from last year. This mostly likely is due to the increase in interlibrary loans as well as postage fees.

Program Planner Report
Karen reported that there have been many events and for the most part they are very well attended.
The monthly after school craft program is well attended A discussion ensued about finding transportation so that youth whose parents are not available to provide transportation home could participate.
She is currently working on the summer concert series.
A motion was made by Judy that the reports from both librarians and the program planner be accepted as read. It was seconded by Pat and approved.

New Business

There is a concern about individuals using the library as a way to enter the school, compelling the librarians to interrupt what they are doing to buzz people into the building. While this is acceptable for people who have used the library and wish to enter the school, it is problematic for people merely walking through to go to a meeting or class. And, technically, this is not meeting the security concerns of the building. For the librarian to have to inform people that she cannot buzz them in puts her in the awkward position of being the bearer of ill tidings.
It was suggested that the library door to the lobby be used as the main door and the other door be locked. This creates its own issues: parking, handicap accessibility, visibility from the circulation desk, and could necessitate re-arranging the set up of the library at that entrance.
Should this be done, a discussion would need to be held to determine which entity, the school or the library, would be fiscally responsible, though it would undoubtedly be a collaborative effort, though the library as a weak link in the school security system makes it primarily a school concern.
This concern: moving the entrance and its ramifications, will be addressed by the Town Library trustees as well as the School Board.
Strategic Plan

Toni reported that the Library trustees had a meeting with Michael Roche of the state library to discuss the concept of strategic planning. The trustees distributed a survey at town meeting and it was also available on the internet. There have been about 50 responses to the survey.
The next step is for the library trustees to have a meeting at which interested parties share ideas about the library and its future, and from that group strategic planning committee members will be selected. There will need to be a representative from the school board and the school community on the strategic planning committee. A committee of 10 would be adequate to the task. The work would take about 6- 9 months and would involve creating a 5 year strategic plan for the town library.
It was noted that the State Department of Libraries requires that town libraries have a strategic plan. It would be the town library’s responsibility to generate this strategic plan, but it would not be a vision limited to the town’s needs and concerns. The trustees and members of the committee will be aware of the unique nature of the Fairfax Community Library and create a vision that is inclusive.

Library Summer High School Student

Applications are out and applicants will be interviewed on the 30th of April

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be October 10 2013.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20.

Elizabeth Griffin, secretary.