02-25-2008 LIBMMinutes
Hutchinson Public Library Board
Monday, February 25, 2008
Members present: John Paulsen, Ann Vance, Abby Dahlquist, Janet Vacek, Guy Stone, Yvonne
Johnson, and Mary Henke, Ex- Officio
Members absent: Kay Peterson
John called the meeting to order. The minutes were approved and seconded,
National LibraU Week Author Visit. Annette Atkins, professor at the College of St. Benedict's, St.
Joseph, MN, has agreed to give a presentation on Tuesday, April 15, 7.00 pm. Her fee is $100
plus mileage. She has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. Some publicity will begin
soon with ongoing publicity until the event. Her newest book is "Creating Minnesota ".
Also, there will be drawings ( "give away ") of children's and adult books during National Library
Week,
Library Services to Seniors.
• Mary attended a MELSA sponsored presentation by Dr. Gene Cohen, Director on Aging
and Gerontology - Georgetown University. His comments focused on how the image of
aging has changed and how there is an increased interest in aging issues. Dr. Cohen
suggested that as people age, there's deeper thinking, both sides of the brain start
working together, and maturing of cognitive intelligence occurs. To stimulate these
processes he suggested ways to challenge the brain (social portfolio) while considering
these variables: high & low mobility, high energy & low energy and group & individual
efforts. One of Dr. Cohen's books is "The Maturing Mind ".
Library opportunities that resulted from the information gained from this presentation
include: Memoir writing, book discussion groups, developing ❑ resource collection to
expand senior's horizons and materials for discovering latent talents, career reevaluation,
and brain fitness.
Senior services seem more successful when approached through partnering. Mary will
invite interested senior organizational leaders to "brainstorm" on the topic of library
services to seniors.
Board Reappointments. Mary has completed the paperwork to reappoint John Paulsen and
Janet Vacek. It will now go on the city council agenda.
Library Legislative Day on February, 27, 2008. Mary does not plan to attend since it's a bonding
year and the session will be focused on that type of funding.
Donations. Mary commented that the family of Joseph Marquardt, an avid library user, has
donated one of his sketches to the library in his memory. Additionally, the Friends of the Library
covered the cost of the purchase of DVD's and books on CD for last year.
Next meeting: Monday, March 24, 2008 at 4:30 pm.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Yvonne Meyer Johnson, Co- secretary
Co