The meeting of the Duluth Public Library Board was called to order by President Dean Casperson at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
Present: L. Benson Johnson, D. Casperson, D. D'Allaird, V.
Katz, M. Lynch, P. Markert, A. Slade, D. Ouse. Guest: Lisa Potswald
(CAO, City of Duluth)
Excused: M.A. Korsch
Approval of Minutes from Library Board meeting
The Library Board minutes from the March 25, 2008, and April
22, 2008 meetings were approved as distributed.
Communications
Library Summer Programs brochure
Article-"Under construction: Main library closed next week,"
DNT, 4/19/08
Article-"Library reopens with new look," DNT, 5/1/08
Duluth Public Library Board 2008-2009 Calendar
Reports
A. Friends of the Duluth Public Library
Friends worked 3,000 volunteer hours during 2007
At the June meeting, the Friends Board will vote on giving $7,500
to the Library
Officers elected at the annual meeting:
B. Director's Report
Remodeling is done on the top two floors and progressing on the
Michigan Street level. Delivery of the new furniture is expected
this week.
City administration is working on solutions for a 2008 budget
shortfall.
Three DPL staff members attended the Arrowhead Library System
annual Dinner May 13 in Mountain Iron.
David attended the Northeast Minnesota Book Awards on Sunday,
May 18, at UMD.
Judy Sheriff, manager of Youth Services, has been selected to
participate in the Leadership Academy School Readiness Learning
Opportunity in Minneapolis June 26-27.
The Public Arts Commission and United Way are working on a project
to place a bike rack near the Superior Street entrance to the
Library.
Nancy Eaton has begun posting Library Board minutes on the Library's
web page.
Old Business
Election of officers for 2008-2009. Nominees are Andrew Slade
(president) and Dan D'Allaird (vice-president). V. Katz moved
and L. Benson Johnson seconded to elect them both unanimously.
The motion was approved.
New Business
At the beginning of the meeting. Lisa Potswald, Chief Administrative
Officer, City of Duluth, reported on Mayor Ness' plan to combine
the Library Department with the Parks & Recreation Department,
and to hire one director for both. Under this plan, an associate
director in the Library, and an associate director in Parks, would
handle the day-to-day management. Board members expressed some
concern about the Library being somewhat devalued under this scenario,
and also about the Library's budget being combined with Parks.
Lisa stated that the Mayor considers the Library a core service,
and that the two budgets would be kept separate under a combined
Library and Parks department.
The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 4:30
p.m.
6/25/08