05-23-2005 LIBMMinutes
Hutchinson Public Library Board
May 23, 2005
Members present: John Paulsen, Kay Peterson, Julie Jensen, Larry Ladd, Janet Vacek, and Mary Henke
Members absent: Kay Johnson and John Hassinger
President Julie Jensen called the meeting to order. Kay Peterson moved that the minutes from the April
25, 2005 meeting be approved with John Paulsen seconding the motion. The motion passed.
Report from County Commissioners' meeting on May 23, 2005: Mary reported that she requested a 4%
increase to cover operating funds in 2006. This was a joint request from the McLeod libraries: Brownton,
Hutchinson, Glencoe and Winsted. Jackee Fountain, the Glencoe librarian then spoke about the updated
computer .information system and the selection process. John Houlahan, Pioneerland Library System
director, made a speech regarding the automation project's cost and funding proposal. The
commissioners listened, asked questions, and will make a decision in the future.
Old business
1. Librarians' portrait project: Mr. Corby gave us examples of photographs he enhanced from a small
picture of one of the librarians. Janet Vacek moved to choose the sepia colored photograph vs. the black
and white photograph for all the librarians with the exception of Mary Henke's, which will be in color.
Kay Peterson seconded the motion. Motion passed.
2. Community forum: Tabled until future meeting when Forum Committee members Kay Johnson and
John Hassinger are present.
3. Thank you note from Connie Lambert, former Library Board President, was passed around.
New business
1. PLS automation presentation to City Council: Mary Henke prepared a fact sheet for the Library Board
members, City Council, and to provide general information about the project. Mary will present to the
City Council using this tool.
2. Children's summer reading program: Sherry Lund, Children's Librarian, shared plans for this
summer's programs for children. "What's Buzzing at Your Library" is the statewide theme and features
bugs of all kinds. Stories in the Park, a story hour located outside with community readers, will be held
on Thursday mornings throughout June, July and August. The summer reading program sign -up starts
June 6. Businesses in the community have been generous in supplying weekly prizes for the children as
they meet their reading goals. These businesses are Mid Country Bank, Scoop's, McDonald's, CashWise,
Hardee's, Taco John's, Dairy Queen and Subway. Sherry displayed the reading records, punch cards and
stickers that will be used to track the children's progress. Friends of the Library have donated funds for a
puppet show at the end of the summer. Last year, about 370 kids participated.
3. Library endowment: The library board has received a request from a patron to consider establishing a
library endowment. Our first hurdle as a board is to decide if we would like such a fund to exist with
what terms and options. If we want to do this, we need to have an informed person advise us. Kay
Peterson made the motion that we contact a person to present information about endowment at our next
board meeting. John Paulsen seconded the motion. Motion passed. Julie will contact Rich Peterson, a
local lawyer and former library board member, about taping to us with Ron McGraw or Neil Jensen as
back-up choices.
John Paulsen made a motion to adjourn the meeting with a second by Janet Vacek. Motion passed.
Our next meeting will be Monday, June 27 at 4:30 p.m.
There were no donations in April.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Vacek, Co Secretary
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