11-28-2011 LIBMHutchinson Public Library Board Minutes
Monday November 28, 2011
Present: Roger Vacek, Dianne Wanzek, Abby Dahlquist, Jon Ross, Mary Christensen, Guy Stone, Stacey Nass, Bev
Wangerin, and Mary Henke, Ex- Officio.
Guy Stone called the meeting to order. The minutes from the last meeting were reviewed. Roger Vacek made a motion
that the minutes be approved and Dianne Wanzek seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Bev Wangerin, McLeod County Commissioner and representative on PLS Executive Board, told us that the county
libraries could expect to receive $187,513 in funds from the county for 2012, which is the same as last year.
Old Business:
Mary also updated us on the recent inventory taken of all the books in our library. The inventory process was
completed in 21/2 days. Two PLS employees helped on the first day and trained personnel on how to use the barcode
scanners and input the information. The rest of the inventory was done using library employees so they could get their
regular hours and volunteers. 41,624 items were counted and 5,363 were found to be checked out. Now the librarians
are in the process of tracking down the exceptions or errors found in the inventory reports from PLS.
New Business:
Mary, as head librarian, recently gave the City Council a presentation about the high usage of the Hutchinson
Library supported by a 2010 Statistical Profile. The difficult economy, free services offered and number of open hours
seem to be helping drive people to the library. Also mentioned was the write up about the library in the Hutchinson
Leader.
Mary updated us on her work with the Winsted library. She commented that the Winsted library was currently
over budget and that they would need to go back to the city to ask for more money or possibly try to find a corporate
sponsor.
Mary has tentatively lined up Doug Ohman to do a program on Monday, April 9, 2010 during National Library
Week. Doug is a photographer whose photos, along with text by 7 MN writers, created the book Ubrarles of Minnesota.
He charges $250 plus mileage. We probably won't be able to use Legacy funds as we usually have a program that during
Nat. Library Week but the Friends of the Library usually help to pay for programming that week. The Board all agreed
that this was a good idea and approved finalizing the date.
The Winter Reading Program is due to begin the 1" week in January. Mary explained the program to the new
board members. The program gives prizes to readers that sign up: read 4 books and the reader will receive a mug or
tote bag(provided by Friends of the Library), read 4 more books and get a gift basket item, read 4 more books and
receive a free book(provided through donations). If a reader reads the 12 books in 12 weeks they are invited to attend a
dessert buffet (also paid for by the Friends of the Library).
We started a discussion about the programs available from the MN History Society. We talked about a possible
music program using the park bandstand in May before the summer concerts in the park begin. Another possibility that
we liked was about Frederick Jones that we could maybe have in October. We are hoping that Legacy funds could be
used for either of these and will continue discussion at the next meeting.
Because of the Christmas Holiday and the library will be dosed, our next meeting is scheduled for January 23, 2012 at
4:30 pm.
Jon Ross made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mary Christianson seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by Abby Dahlqu ist, Secretary.