Call to Order: President Dan D'Allaird called the meeting of the Duluth Public Library Board to order at 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. On a motion by Katz, seconded by Brissett, the agenda was approved with one amendment. Brissett requested that an update on One Book, One Community be added under Reports.

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

Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Brissett, seconded by Bogue, the Library Board minutes of the regular meeting of September 27, 2011 were approved as written.

Reports
A. Friends of the Duluth Public Library - Markert
The Friends board passed a resolution in support of the parks referendum, similar to the one passed by the library board last month. The Friends have been told they can lobby for issues but not for candidates. They are looking into new fundraising ideas, such as an author visit that is open to the public. However, the Mystery Dinner will remain a Friends-only event.

B. Arrowhead Library System - Brissett
Whitney Crettol is doing strategic planning for ALS next year, and a committee of board members, staff and library representatives has been formed. ALS expects to be impacted by a 10 percent cut in the county Maintenance of Effort requirement for library support. Koochiching County in particular is receiving more in services than it provides in financial support. ALS still has not received its Legacy Amendment funding but will be moving forward soon with planning programs. A resolution in support of the parks referendum was passed by the ALS board at its last meeting.

C. Duluth Library Foundation - Katz
Dean Casperson stepped down as president of the foundation board recently, due to a possible conflict of interest with his position as chair of the board of directors for the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. However, he will stay on as a foundation board member. Katz was elected president. A special meeting has been scheduled for November 9 to determine the wording of the fall fundraising campaign, as the wording is dependent upon the outcome of the referendum. Recent stock market declines have had an impact on the endowment fund. Last summer the fund was up to $800,000; it now stands at $722,000. The fund is managed by Wells Fargo.

D. Minnesota Library Association - Powers, Brissett
Eighteen library staff attended at least one day of the Minnesota Library Association conference. Some of them were first-time attendees. Powers, Brissett and Jewell attended all three days. Brissett mentioned a "50 in 60" program, which focused on one-minute reviews of fiction books, as one of the sessions she particularly enjoyed.

E. One Book, One Community - Brissett
The author of "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate," the youth book chosen for this year's program, will visit Duluth, Cloquet and Virginia sixth graders in early April. Another youth program may be planned during spring break. Several adult programs are in the early planning stages and will be finalized before December 1.

Old Business:
Gift policy - On a motion by Slade, seconded by Katz, the gift policy was approved as drafted.

Recap of planning retreat - Powers gave a brief synopsis of last month's planning retreat, which was attended by several board members and three of the four staff members who were members of the original planning team. Powers will email a copy of her written summary to board members and provided a print copy to Markert at the meeting. Library management staff will work on action plans after the November 8 election.

Update on "Vote Yes" campaign - D'Allaird handed out copies of the Vote Yes Committee's Parks Referendum Fact Sheet and a summary of the Vote Yes group's recent and upcoming activities. Katz mentioned that D'Allaird appeared with Mayor Ness on the program "Almanac North" last week and did a great job of explaining the referendum and what its passage would mean to Duluth's parks and libraries. Katz also encouraged board members to attend a news conference scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the West Duluth Branch Library.

New Business:
Contingency planning for referendum outcome - There was brief discussion of some of the planning work that management staff at the library is doing for either referendum outcome.

Communications/Correspondence:
Manager's Report
There were no questions on this month's manager's report.

The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
The next meeting will take place Tuesday, November 22 at 4:30 p.m. in the library's conference room.

3/13/12
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802