07-23-2007 LIBMMinutes
Hutchinson Public Library Board
July 23, 2007
Members present: Guy Stone, Abby Dahiquist, Janet Vacek, Ann Vance, Yvonne Johnson,
John Paulsen, and Mary Henke, Ex- Officio
Member absent: Kay Peterson
The meeting was called to order by Vice - President Ann Vance, since John Paulsen was delayed.
Janet Vacek moved to approve the minutes with Abby Dahlquist seconding the motion, Motion
passed.
Old Business:
1. Children's Summer Reading Program update Sign up ended July 7 with 588 children
signing up. The Stories in the Park programs on Thursdays are drawing 70 -199 people
per session.
2. Municipal Benchmarks The benchmark committee ranked the scores submitted by
the board in their priority listing of possible benchmarks to use. Mary explained
the per capita issue. After talking to Nancy Walton from the State Dept. of Library
Services, she discovered that there Is no state -wide method for determining the
number of people a library serves outside of its city limits. Because of this, using the
2000 census figures seems to be the best, most consistent way of comparing cities.
Mary also shared that in using budget comparisons, we focus on what it costs to run
the library effectively and well. For example, we could track a specific area of
spending such as the spending on the library collection (books, magazines, audio
books, videos, etc.) Yvonne Johnson suggested using historic data. Our assignment
from the city is to track 4 to b benchmarks so we can measure what we are getting
for our money and identify trends. John P. said that he thought it important to
include a benchmark addressing budget. The benchmarks chosen were as follows:
Items checked out
• Number of FTE staff
• Number of computers available to public
• Programs for both children and adults
• Visitors to the library
We chose the cities of New Ulm, Marshall and Fergus Falls to compare data with.
These cities are similar to Hutchinson in size. Mary and Ann Vance will begin
gathering information, with the process completed hopefully in September.
New Business:
1. Computer replacement funding At our last meeting, Jack Sandberg, the
Pioneerland Library System (PLS) representative, reported that the PLS board
approved a plan to replace all computers in the system at the some time by 2010 at
the latest. The board would like to make a goal of addressing the need for more
computers and the space for them. Mary has approached the Friends of the
Library about help funding the computers. The Friends will provide some of the funds.
We need to tap into other resources as well. Hutchinson Community Foundation, the
Burich Foundation and the Citizens Bank would be good prospects to contact.
2. Prelimina Maintenance of Effort report John Houlahan contacted Mary about the
possibility of increased funds in 2008 from McLeod County because of an increase in
the county's maintenance of effort obligation. This may translate into almost $5,000
extra for the Hutchinson library.
John Paulsen made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Guy Stone. Motion passed.
Next meeting will be on Monday, August 27, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Vacek, Co- Secretary
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