ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
12-038 I. CALL TO ORDER
President Leary called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
12-039 II. ATTENDANCE
Present: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Rosenthal, Surovell
Absent: Murphy, Barney Newman
Staff: Choate, Neiburger, Nieman, Parker, Wilson (recorder)
12-040 III. RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL
12-041 IV. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 PM
President Leary reconvened the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
12-042 V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Trustee Head, supported by Vice President Rosenthal, moved to approve the agenda.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
12-043 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 2012
(Item of action)
Trustee Kaplan, supported by Trustee Head, moved to approve the minutes of February 20, 2012.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
12-044 VII. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
There were no citizens’ comments.
12-045 VIII. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Associate Director Nieman reported February showed unrestricted cash balance just over $11.1 million. Tax receipts just over $10.8 million, reflecting 96.8% of the budgeted amount, have been received. The Fund Balance reflects just over $7.9 million. Two line items are over budget, but will come back into line later in the year.
12-046 IX. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
(Item of action)
Trustee Head, supported by Trustee Surovell, moved to approve the February disbursements.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
12-047 X. COMMITTEE REPORTS
12-048 A. BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Trustee Surovell, in absence of committee chair Treasurer Murphy, reported that the committee met and was notified by administration that tax revenues were unknown at the time. The committee will meet prior to the April Board meeting to review a draft budget which should have firmer figures.
The Budget and Finance Committee consists of Treasurer Murphy, Trustee Kaplan and Trustee Surovell.
12-049 B. FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Vice President Rosenthal reported a preliminary meeting of a facilities committee consisting of Trustee Kaplan, Trustee Surovell and herself met to begin the process of reviewing the condition of the downtown library building.
12-050 XI. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Parker reported her involvement as MLA Legislative Chairperson has required several trips to Lansing to testify before legislators. Issues revolve around repeal of personal property taxes, lack of renaissance zone reimbursements and the creation of parallel ordinances all diverting monies from libraries.
AADL recently received two certificates of participation from the Department of Veteran Affairs due to the efforts of Terry Soave, Sherlonya Turner and Diane Dahlem and their staff in promoting participation with this group.
Director Parker reflected on her tenure as director over the past ten years. She thanked members of her administrative staff for their support; she thanked all staff for placing patrons first and for providing excellent service, and she thanked the Board for their ongoing support.
12-051 XII. NEW BUSINESS
12-052 A. VOTE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE APRIL 16, 2012 REGULAR MEETING FOR OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL & DIRECTOR’S EVALUATION
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Trustee Kaplan, supported by Trustee Head, moved to hold an Executive Session at the April 16, 2012 regular Board meeting for opinion of legal counsel and director’s evaluation.
A roll call vote was taken.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
12-053 B. RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF JOSIE BARNES PARKER’S TENTH ANNIVERSARY AS DIRECTOR OF THE ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY
The following preamble and resolution was offered by President Leary and supported by Trustee Head:
WHEREAS Josie Barnes Parker has served as Director the Ann Arbor District Library for ten years this week, and;
WHEREAS Ms. Parker has provided outstanding leadership in all areas of her work: physical buildings, digital environments, and service. Specifically:
• A new branch library at Malletts Creek opened January 10, 2004; and this branch has received numerous awards for sustainability;
• A new branch library at Pittsfield opened March, 2006;
• A new branch library at Traverwood opened June, 2008; and this branch has won numerous awards;
• All of which earned her an Honorary Affiliate membership in the Michigan chapter of the American Institute of Architects;
WHEREAS enormous increases in use of AADL, exemplified by the following during her tenure:
--increase in circulation from under 2 million to 8.8 million last year;
--increase in cardholders from 87,000 to 112,000, 68% of the district population served;
--increase in program attendance from 45,000 to 67,000;
--increase in people entering AADL buildings from about 1 million to almost 1.8 million;
WHEREAS Ms. Parker has provided ongoing growth and expansion of services for children; expanding opportunities for public use of library buildings; as reflected in receipt of a Library Journal 5 Star Library ranking and Voice of the People Awards presented by the International City/County Management Association;
WHEREAS development of a robust and popular web presence, exemplified by 59 million views of library pages last year; and by popular features such as renewing material and placing holds online;
WHEREAS provision of computer work stations and Wi-Fi in all buildings, enabling those without those services at home to participate in the now-essential world of the web;
WHEREAS provided in 2009 a new home for the Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled; also in 2009 negotiated a unique and positive agreement with the Ann Arbor News to provide sustainable, permanent access to their archives;
WHEREAS leadership at the state and national levels, exemplified by her service as President of the Michigan Library Association (2007/2008), and this year as chair of MLA’s legislative committee, for which she has often provided compelling testimony about the increased importance of public libraries in a recession and an increasingly digital world; exemplified by her participation in the Digital Public Library planning session and the UNESCO World Forum;
AND WHEREAS Ms. Parker has done all of this while maintaining a balanced budget and fund balance; while developing more efficient and effective organizational structures; and while fostering growth and professional maturity among her staff;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of the Ann Arbor District Library offers its hearty and sincere congratulations, and wishes for continued success, to Josie Barnes Parker.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
12-054 XIII. ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Head, supported by Vice President Rosenthal, moved to adjourn the meeting.
President Leary adjourned the meeting at 7:34 p.m.