Call to Order: President Dan D'Allaird called the meeting of the Duluth Public Library Board to order at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2011. On a motion by Katz, seconded by Johnson, the agenda was approved.

Members Present: Dan D'Allaird, Frank Jewell, Liz Benson Johnson, Virginia Katz, Printha Markert, Andrew Slade, Peter Spooner
Also Present: Jennifer Julsrud, Carla Powers
Excused: Jane Brissett, Sister Edith Bogue

Welcome/Introductions: Introductions took place for new board member Frank Jewell and for Jennifer Julsrud, a city council candidate who attended the meeting as a visitor.

Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Slade, seconded by Spooner, the Library Board minutes of the regular meeting of June 28, 2011 meeting were approved as amended.

Reports
A. Friends of the Duluth Public Library - Markert
The Friends group has donated $25,000 to the library, including $500 in honor of longtime member Jean Merry. Clarice Hietala, Dale Hurst and Printha Markert are now sharing the presidency, dividing the duties three ways. Previous president Adele Krusz is now doing public relations for the organization.

B. Arrowhead Library System - Powers
Powers shared information that Brissett had passed along about the last ALS board meeting. ALS director Jim Weikum is telling libraries to prepare for cuts of about 10 percent from state sources. About $1.2 million was cut from library Legacy money statewide, and ALS expects to distribute about $300,000 to member libraries this fiscal year. ALS is working on hiring a part-time independent contractor to oversee the administration of these funds.

C. Duluth Library Foundation - Katz
The foundation will soon begin working on a fall fundraising campaign. The group's staff member is putting together materials that will be distributed to attorneys' offices, which will provide information about the Duluth Library Foundation for people who are working on a will. Currently the endowment is about $800,000, and the foundation would like to see it increase to $1 million.

Old Business:
"Our Libraries are Essential" Campaign - Spooner and Katz reported on a meeting with the editorial board for the Duluth News-Tribune. Library representatives at the meeting included the two of them and Dean Casperson from the foundation. The meeting was positive in tone, but the editorial board did not make any promises about running an editorial in favor of restoring library hours to the 2006 level. Slade reported on a discussion with Chief Administrative Office Dave Montgomery. They did some rough math and determined that adding $300,000 to the library's budget would translate to a tax increase of about 75 cents per household per month. There was discussion about other activities the group has participated in to raise the visibility of the library. Balloons with the "Our Libraries Are Essential" message were given out at the Depot Street Arts Festival and the Spirit Valley Days Parade. D'Allaird and Slade gave a presentation at a City Council Committee of the Whole meeting, and a question relating to library funding was included at the Chamber Forum for city council candidates.

Collection Development Policy - On a motion by Katz, seconded by Slade, the final draft of a new collection development policy was approved.

New Business:
Planning Retreat - The staff/board planning retreat will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Powers will prepare and agenda and send an invitation to board members, the three staff members who participated on the original planning team, and Lisa Potswald.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
The next meeting will take place Tuesday, September 27 at 4:30 p.m. in the library's conference room.

10/7/11
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802