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, September 27, 2011. On a motion by Markert, seconded by Johnson, the agenda was approved with one amendment. Katz requested that the Duluth Library Foundation report be moved to New Business.

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

Welcome visitor: Introductions took place for Laurie Slattengren, a library staff member who attended the meeting as a visitor.

Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Katz, seconded by Brissett, the Library Board minutes of the regular meeting of August 23, 2011 were approved with one amendment. D'Allaird did not attend the meeting with the editorial board. Spooner and Katz were the library board representatives who reported on that meeting.

Reports
A. Friends of the Duluth Public Library - Markert
At the last Friends meeting, Markert expressed thanks on behalf of the library board for the $25,000 check that was presented to the library. The Friends have been asked to provide more help for the Northeast Minnesota Book Awards (NEMBA). As in past years, the Friends will donate $600 for the purchase of plaques that will be given to the winners. Upcoming events include a book fair at Barnes & Noble on December 3, the annual holiday sale December 6 and 7, and the Mystery Dinner - featuring author David Housewright - on April 13. The annual book sale has been permanently moved to June.

B. Arrowhead Library System - Brissett
Legacy Amendment funding will total $273,000 for 2011. The funds have not arrived from State Library Services yet and must be spent by June 30, 2012. ALS is in the process of hiring a contract worker to coordinate Legacy Amendment programs at libraries. Programs aren't likely to be scheduled until late 2011 at the earliest. Due to the funding reduction, ALS will not contribute to a statewide Legacy project this year. A change that the state legislature enacted in the Maintenance of Effort law may result in ALS losing $137,000 in funding next year if counties provide only the minimum level of support. ALS is dropping the Gale Biography Resource Center database, which it provides to member libraries, due to low usage statistics. Downloadable e-books are seeing heavy use and will probably become even more popular now that they are compatible with Kindles. The North County Library Cooperative (NCLC), which is the region's multitype system, is considering a merger with ALS to save money and increase efficiency. The idea of a merger came out of NCLC's strategic planning process, and Brissett is on a committee that is studying it.

Old Business:
Planning retreat - The planning retreat will take place on Thursday, September 29 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Gold Room.

"Our Libraries are Essential" Campaign - The Mt. Royal businesses have written a letter to city councilors to express their support of restoring hours at the branch. With plans shaping up for a parks referendum this fall, the focus of the Libraries Are Essential group will be on supporting the referendum and educating voters about what passage of the referendum will mean for the library.

New Business:
Duluth Library Foundation - Katz
At the foundation board meeting on October 3, Katz will recommend postponing the fall fundraising campaign until after the referendum to avoid confusion.

Discuss formal support of Parks Referendum - There was a kickoff meeting on September 26 for the "Vote Yes for Parks and Libraries" Campaign. Five library board members and Patra Sevastiades from the Foundation were in attendance. Mayor Ness outlined his plan for forming a committee and organizing a campaign to inform the public about the benefits of passing the referendum. D'Allaird is co-chair of this group (without a co-chair from the parks side at this time) and Katz is the library outreach coordinator.

There was discussion about a formal statement of support for the referendum. On a motion by Jewell, seconded by Bogue, the following statement was approved unanimously: "The Duluth Public Library Board supports the 2011 Parks and Recreation Fund Referendum, because resulting savings in the city budget will support increased hours at all three Duluth libraries."

Gift Policy - Powers introduced a gift policy that was discussed at a previous meeting and revised. On a motion by Katz, seconded by Brissett, the policy was tabled until the next meeting.

Review conceptual drawings for Main Library redesign - Powers showed the concept boards put together by architect Sara Weiner. Weiner will be in town again on October 11 to meet with Mayor Ness and to present information about pricing and phasing the project.

Communications/Correspondence:
Manager's Report
D'Allaird asked Powers to report on her budget presentation to the city council on September 26. Powers said that the presentation, which was part of the Public Administration Department's budget presentation, seemed to be well received. Councilors did not ask many questions.

The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
The next meeting will take place Tuesday, October 25 at 4:30 p.m. in the library's conference room.

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