COMBINED BOARD MEETING
OF
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY JONESBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY,
CROWLEY RIDGE REGIONAL
LIBRARY,
AND POINSETT COUNTY LIBRARY
APRIL 4, 2006
A special called combined board meeting of the Craighead County
Jonesboro Public Library, Crowley Ridge Regional Library, and the
Poinsett County Library Board to discuss long range planning was
held at 6 p.m. in the Training Lab at the Craighead County Jonesboro
Public Library. CCJPL Board members present for the meeting were:
Board Chairman, Mr. Paul Waddell, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Mike Johnson,
Treasurer Mr. Lennie Hogan, Mrs. June Morse, and Mrs. Jean Pasmore,
and Mr. Lynn Haag. PCL Board members present for the meeting were:
Mrs. Johnita Faulkner, Mrs. Patsy McClain and Mrs. Mary Norris.
CCJPL staff present was: Ms. Phyllis Burkett, Library Director,
Mrs. Nancy Dobbins, Sr. Administrative Assistant, and Mr. Chris
Bearden, Systems Administrator.
The
Poinsett County Board met first. Ms. Burkett announced that she
received a letter from the AR State Library that the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation are distributing funds to Arkansas public libraries
under the Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant (PAC HUG).
CCJPL is eligible to receive $21,600 and PCL is eligible to receive
$12,000 under the grant. Funds must be used only for public access
computers. CRRL will receive an additional $30,047 in GIF money
in 2006. Ms. Burkett recommends that the per capita amount for
CCJPL of $16,536 be held to build an electronic sign. A spreadsheet
showing the number of current public access computers, the number
of computers that will be added by the Gates Grant, and the number
which will be added by the GIF funds reflecting the revised total
was presented. Mrs. Pasmore made a motion to accept the proposed
spending of the Gates Public Access Computer Hardware Upgrade Grant
to replace older public access computers for Poinsett & Craighead
County libraries and to set aside the $16,536 for CCJPL to purchase
an electronic sign. Mrs. Faulkner seconded the motion, which passed.
The Poinsett County Library Board meeting was adjourned.
The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library Board met immediately
after the PCL adjourned.
Ms.
Burkett has been contacted by a Leadership Jonesboro Committee
member asking if the library would be open to receiving a donation
in the form of a project on the grounds from their organization.
Ms. Burkett told the member that the library is investigating
the possibility of adding a sign on the corner of Madison & Cherry
Streets and that this area might be one they should consider for
their project. The board was in agreement that Mr. Jerry Brackett,
architect for the library should be consulted to draw up plans
for the sign which should include landscaping which the Leadership
Jonesboro group may want to consider for their project to be completed
over a two to three year period. Mr. Brackett will be asked to
have the plans ready to be presented to the board for approval
at the May board meeting. Ms. Burkett will also get a price for
the electronic sign and will return with the information for the
May 17, CCJPL Board meeting.
A proposal in the amount of $4,869.93 from Mr. Tom Chester, electrician
and owner of INTAC Services to update the lighting in the Round
Room to include spot lights which will highlight the stage area
was presented to the board. Dimmer switches will be added and the
light control switches will be relocated to the back of the room
for ease in accessing. Since no programs are scheduled for the
during the third week in May and it will take approximately five
days to complete that is the week selected for the work to be done.
Mr. Hogan made a motion to accept the proposal from INTAC Services
to replace the Round Room lighting at the cost of $4,869.93. Mrs.
Morse seconded the motion, which passed.
The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library was adjourned.
Mr. Waddell proceeded to lead the meeting by passing out sheets
with points for discussion to be considered for the long range
planning process. Ms. Burkett stated that since state aid will
soon be restored completely to public libraries the boards need
to decide in what direction the libraries need to go for the future.
She feels that it is important that the boards read the current
regional contract and revise it since there are few services if
any that are still being performed from the original contract.
The boards need to decide how funding issues should be handled
such as the $25,000 that CCJPL is currently paying for online databases
and receiving no reimbursement but benefit from by the regional
system.
Charts
reflecting statistical information for 1995, 2000 & 2005
circulation & people counts for each library along with the
children’s programming counts for 2000 & 2005 for each
library showing the trend for growth or decline for each chart
were shared.
Possible
reasons for growth and decline in usage and participation were
discussed. It was agreed that most of the working population
drives mainly to Jonesboro to do most of their shopping and other
activities. If they do not own a car or cannot drive and live
out in the county, they have little access to library services.
Children who live out in the county have no way to get in to
the library if their parents work. Branch hours have been extended
to later but it is difficult still for parents to get their children
to the library after coming home from work. Most don’t
want to return to town for another trip.
Board
members were also given population statistics for the areas served
showing growth or decline in the areas. Mrs. Norris felt that
the PCL population statistics should be updated to include the
areas of Waldenburg, Fisher and Grubbs. Other board members noted
that Tyronza and Dyess should also be added. It was suggested
that CCJPL population statistics should also add Bay, Cash & Egypt.
Ms. Burkett will add these communities information to the other
areas served. Mr. Johnson noted that Craighead County is growing
at the same rate as the City of Jonesboro.
CCJPL
is currently offering two children’s workshops each
year. Ms. Burkett is considering cutting back to one children’s
workshop in the spring and a fall workshop on how to use databases.
Members discussed what the library of the 21 st Century will
offer. Since the statistical charts on usage reflect that usage
is up on computers and down on material circulation, members agreed
that libraries will have to become more technology driven in the
future. One way is by offering e-books through a plan the AR State
Library is planning on implementing. Mr. Bearden feels that possible
mobile devices which will offer multi-tasking for listening to
music, books and other media will be offered to customers. Mrs.
Norris stated that technology is not the only direction that libraries
should focus on for the future that children especially should
be targeted to try and introduce them to new areas of reading and
possibly open new doors of interest by doing so. She was surprised
to find out that 75% of the boys in her school in the grades of
K-3 are checking out juvenile non-fiction books rather than fiction
books. Mr. Johnson stated that they have noticed the same trend
in the Nettleton School District.
Mrs. Pasmore would like for a computer dedicated for genealogy
users to be added to the computers.
Mrs.
Karen Newberry-Robinson, Assistant to the Children’s
Librarian is compiling information that she saw while attending
the Public Library Association Conference in Boston regarding e-books
and other new media forms. Her findings will be shared with board
members at the next long range planning meeting along with some
recommendations from Mr. Chris Bearden, CCJPL Systems Administrator.
Ms. Burkett mentioned that she would like for board members to
be considering attending the American Library Association meeting
which will be held in New Orleans June 22-28. More information
will be shared later on the conference details.
Board Meeting
March 15, 2005
Approved
The Crowley Ridge Regional Library met in regular session at noon on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 in the Round Room of the Public Library in Jonesboro. Board members present were: Mr. Mike Johnson, Vice-Chairmen acting as Chairman in the absence of Chairman, Mr. Paul Waddell. Other CRRL members present were Mr. Buzzy Faulkner, and Mrs. Traci Smith. Also in attendance were Craighead County Jonesboro Library Board members Mr. Lennie Hogan, Mrs. June Morse, Mr. Wayne Wiggins, Library Director Ms. Phyllis Burkett, CCJPL Administrative Assistant Mrs. Nancy Dobbins, and Ms. Kellie Bardis from the Jonesboro Sun.
A discussion on the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library Branch Library hours was held prior to the meeting.
Mr. Johnson called the meeting to order.
Mr. Johnson declared the financial reports to be approved as presented.
Ms. Burkett reported that the System Administrator, Mr. Chris Bearden was able to take advantage of a great deal on the Dell computers for the Gates Grant getting two for essentially the price of one. The Children’s Department in Jonesboro will be the first location to receive the new computers. Poinsett County branches will be next in line for replacement followed by the Craighead County branches.
Mr. Johnson as acting chair authorized the library to begin the process of having an audit done for Crowley Ridge Regional Library’s records for the past two years since only two years can be open in the accounting software at one time. The audit should begin in June and be ready to present to the board at the August meeting.
Financial reports showing the state aid distribution to the counties and expenses through the second quarter of 2004 were reviewed. Statistical reports on usage for CCJPL & PCL libraries were presented. Jonesboro statistics for the people count are not accurate because the counter is not working. Circulation in Lake City & Monette is down. This is one reason for requesting additional hours in the CCJPL branches. The CCJPL materials budget has been changed this year to place more money in databases rather than the adult non-fiction category. CCJPL board member Mrs. June Morse requested that the DVD’s be broken out from the regular video statistics to show the trend in usage. PCL branches showed an increase in the people count in all locations except Harrisburg. Circulation & patron registration statistics were up at PCL locations except Weiner’s circulation was down. Some of the loss in circulation in the libraries can be attributed to more computer usage. Ms. Burkett stated that the staff needs to teach people how to become better at searching the Internet. She suggested that the board may want to have a special called meeting to discuss statistics and which direction the library needs to go in order to improve usage and the quality of service being provided.
Ms. Burkett distributed a list of phone numbers and email addresses for local legislators for board members to use to contact and encourage them to support library legislation to fund public libraries. Advocates for Public Libraries (AAPL) has hired lobbyist Martha Perry who has proved to be valuable in providing email reports at critical times. Many bills were approved on March 10, 2005 of which three were for Craighead County. Representatives Thyer & Kidd are responsible for a bill which designated $10,000 for Jonesboro and $30,000 for Craighead County. Ms. Burkett anticipates that since the legislators are still looking at the General Improvement Fund to assist in school funding that the library bills will get cut back some. She was not sure of the status on a bill sponsored for Poinsett Count Library to receive $50,000. A discussion was held on tax increment funding (TIF) legislation. AAPL is concerned about what effect TIFs will have on public libraries. Senator Ledbetter has introduced a bill to exempt public libraries from future TIFs. Various other bills were discussed.
The next meeting date will be August 17, 2005.
Board Meeting
September 2, 2004
Approved
The Crowley Ridge Regional Library met in regular session at noon on Thursday, September2, 2004 in the Civic League Room of the Public Library in Jonesboro. Board members present were: Chairman, Mr. Lennie Hogan, Mr. Buzzy Faulkner, Mrs. Thelma Jett, Mrs. Jean Pasmore, Mrs. Patsy McClain and Mrs. Traci Smith. Also in attendance were Craighead County Jonesboro Library Board members Mr. Mike Johnson, Mr. Paul Waddell, Mrs. June Morse, Library Director Ms. Phyllis Burkett, CCJPL Administrative Assistant Mrs. Nancy Dobbins, Mr. Jeff Wicker, CCJPL Auditor from the firm of Thomas Speight and Noble, and Ms. Kellie Bardis from the Jonesboro Sun.
Chairman Hogan called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m.
Mr. Faulkner made a motion to accept the minutes from the February 18, 2004 board meeting. Mrs. Pasmore seconded the motion, which passed six to zero.
Financial reports through the end of the fiscal year were presented. It was noted that the income for the 4 th quarter was larger due to a end of the year distribution from the state library. The carryover of income is larger at the end of the year due to the way the checks are received. The income for the current fiscal year is approximately $560 less than the checks received for the previous year. The end of the year settlement will probably cover this amount making up for the difference in what is being estimated for income. Mrs. Pasmore made a motion to accepting the financial reports. Mrs. Jett seconded the motion, which passed six to zero.
Ms. Burkett announced that she has agreed to serve a Standards committee for Advocates for Arkansas Public Libraries since the organization is concerned about the future of Arkansas public libraries. The recent dissolution of several regional libraries and the loss of state aid is of particular concern to the group. The purpose of the group is to lobby for public libraries. Ms. Burkett felt that it was important to be involved in the group since the situation between Crowley Ridge Regional Library and Poinsett County Library has almost evolved into a contract for services and it could be beneficial to see the direction where other regional libraries are headed. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
Board Meeting
February 18, 2004
Approved
The Crowley Ridge Regional Library met in regular session at noon on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 in the Round Room of the Public Library in Jonesboro. Board members present were: Chairman, Mr. Lennie Hogan, Mr. Buzzy Faulkner, Mrs. Thelma Jett, Mrs. Jean Pasmore, and Mrs. Patsy McClain. Also in attendance were Craighead County Jonesboro Library Board members Mr. Mike Johnson, Mrs. Traci Smith, Mr. Paul Waddell, Mr. Tony Sauser, Library Director Ms. Phyllis Burkett, CCJPL Administrative Assistant Mrs. Nancy Dobbins, and Ms. Kellie Bardis from the Jonesboro Sun.
Chairman Hogan called the meeting to order at 12:25 p.m.
Mr. Faulkner made a motion to accept the August 20, 2003 minutes. Mrs. Pasmore seconded the motion, which passed.
Second quarter financial reports were presented. It was noted that the audit had not been budgeted for and would be taken out of general revenues. A spreadsheet showing the breakdown of income by taxing unit was provided. The board discussed moving the Capital Improvement account into the regular operating account since the operating account is earning more in interest. Mrs. Pasmore made a motion to move the Capital Improvement account into the regular operating account. Mr. Faulkner seconded the motion, which passed. A spreadsheet detailing processing activities, which have been reimbursed to CCJPL by PCL was presented. Mr. Faulkner made a motion to accept the Crowley Ridge Regional Library financial reports. Mrs. Pasmore seconded the motion, which passed.
Annual reports for 2003 which included the hard back holding report, computer users, and Arkansas Genealogy users was also provided.
Abbreviated job diaries for Mrs. Marilyn Griffin’s time to provide service to PCL and Mr. Chris Bearden’s time for providing computer work to PCL from July 1 to December 31, 2003 were included. The MLS award of $13,000 in state aid covers Mr. Bearden and Ms. Burkett’s time. Not as much thought was given as to how much time would be required from Mrs. Griffin Ms. Burkett stated that she has also been keeping a job diary of the PCL activities she has been doing.
Mrs. Jett made a motion to accept the annual reports. Mr. Faulkner seconded the motion, which passed.
Ms. Burkett mentioned that Mrs. Jett is the new Chairman of the PCL board which makes her Vice-chairman of the CRRL board.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
Return to top
|