The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Free Library was held at the Levittown branch. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were:  Joan Bowman, President; Roberta Foerst , Secretary; Jerry Balchis, Treasurer; Steven Dilliplane; Det Ansinn; Martina Kominiarek , Executive Director; David Bauer, Business Manager; Mary Ann Bursk, Branch Librarian/Levittown; Pam Riley , Executive Assistant. William Draper, Vice President, and Mary Ann Garton were absent. 

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the amended minutes of the Regular Meeting of
March 20, 2007 was made by Dilliplane, SECONDED by Ansinn and unanimously APPROVED.

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 17, 2007 was made by Ansinn, SECONDED by Dilliplane and unanimously APPROVED.

 

Nancy Masulis, President of the Levittown Friends, and Claudia Griffiths, Levittown Friends’ Membership Chair, spoke on behalf of their organization. They said that they had made $6,000 from their most recent Book Sale and Flea Market, the success of which was aided by the nice weather that accompanied their day. The Friends group has over 40 members, although they are not all currently active. The Book Sale helps to attract new members, who are allowed to preview the Book Sale prior to the public.

 

STAFF REPORTS

 

Report of Branch Librarian/Levittown

 

Mary Ann Bursk officially becomes Levittown ’s Branch Librarian on Monday,
May 21. After telling the Board some of her history with the Levittown branch, where she has been Youth Services Librarian since 1991, she related some of the highlights and achievements the Youth Services department has experienced this past year. Notable among them was the interaction with the John Fitch Elementary School in Bristol Township , where every classroom in the school scheduled a visit to the library and checked out books.

 

 

She noted that she feels fortunate to have worked with such creative, enthusiastic colleagues in Youth Services, Stephanie Deeter and Mary Wieczezynski . She also noted the tremendous contribution that the Friends of the Levittown Library continue to make in support of the library, including quarterly donations for the purchase of books, and the appreciation the library staff have for the effort of the Friends.

 

Lastly, she commented on the wonderful staff at the Levittown library and the tremendous teamwork that is regularly practiced there.

 

 

Report of Executive Director: 

 

Announcements: 

 

We will be implementing a new position, Circulation Manager. We hope to implement the position at both Levittown and Doylestown libraries as soon as possible to fulfill the staffing and management needs at those locations.

 

Many staff are unable to attend this board meeting due to a leadership workshop taking place this week at the Upper Merion Township Library. The presenter,
Kelly Krieg-Sigman, who is the Executive Director of the La Crosse Public Library in Wisconsin , is focusing on how each individual staff member at every level can function and become leaders.

 

The District Advisory Council (DAC) meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 5 at the administrative offices in Doylestown.

 

We received a strategic planning grant for next year. June Garcia will be reviewing with library board members and trustees what we need. This go-round is part two, where we bring it to the branches, honing in on local needs. Prior to this we did a strategic plan for Bucks County Free Library as a whole. All board members interested in strategic planning should attend.

Sirsi will be upgraded this weekend, and we will be on standalone during this time. When we come back on, we will have activated online-placed holds. We are not advertising it yet, because we want to see it go into effect slowly so that we can check for problems.

 

Paul Acampora, our Development Director, has resigned and accepted a position closer to his home at the Northampton Community College . I will talk to staff and board to try to come up with a plan for development and discuss where we want to take this position. With the branding project near completion, one possibility is to get a marketing person that could combine fundraising mailings with library promotional information.

 

Board members are welcome to attend a Human Resources workshop on Thursday, June 7 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Dave Spitko, BCFL’s counsel, will give basic ideas on laws that are frequently broken.

 

The Executive Director has been asked to attend the for Doylestown Borough Zoning and Planning committee meeting on Monday, July 9. The committee will be discussing the cultural zoning district and the parking garage.

 

 

Report of Public Services Director (submitted in writing)

 

 

Report of System Services Director (submitted in writing)

 

 

Report of District Consultant (submitted in writing).

 

 

Report of Youth Services Consultant (submitted in writing)

 

 

Report of Collection Management Director (submitted in writing)

 

Report of Technical Services Manager (submitted in writing)

 

 

Report of Business Manager

MOTION to APPROVE the 2006 audit was made by Balchis, SECONDED by Ansinn and APPROVED unanimously.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the payment of bills for April 2007 in the amount of $333,303.64 was made by Balchis, SECONDED by Foerst and APPROVED unanimously.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the April 2007 financial statements (subject to audit) was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Bowman, and unanimously APPROVED.

 

 

Board Committee Reports:

 

Building, Library Services and Development Committees did not meet.

 

Finance Committee – Good progress is being made with the capital projects as well as the day-to-day projects. Jerry Balchis thanked Business Manager
David Bauer for all he does in managing the finances of BCFL. They met with a representative from Wachovia, and over the last 12 months 10.25% was earned and 10.2% over the last two years. Overall, they are very pleased with Wachovia’s handling of BCFL funds.

 

At the auditors’ recommendation, cash registers will be installed in libraries in the coming months to increase fiscal responsibility.

 

We have been issuing passports at Bensalem for the past two years, and we feel it is time to evaluate the impact on library services and on their staff. In view of the fact that there may be a drastic decrease in the amount we collect for each passport issued, it is time to review whether it will still be worth pursuing this service.

 

Personnel Committee– The Executive Director commented on the union negotiations, stating that it was hopeful that they would conclude on May 29, which is when the next meeting is scheduled. Both sides are anxious to conclude negotiations.

 

Correspondence

 

Meeting was opened to Public Comment.  No public in attendance. 

 

Unfinished business –None

 

New Business – Submitted for the board’s approval was a draft BCFL Board Resolution for approval of the Keystone Grant application, which is a grant to fund repaving the parking lot at the Bensalem branch. The 20+– year–old parking lot is in dire need of repair, having numerous potholes, and when it rains, water pools up. By approving the resolution, the board is guaranteeing that matching funds would be available should BCFL be awarded this grant. Because of good investments, money has been put aside that could be used for this. Due to the departure of BCFL’s Development Director, the System Services Director and Facilities Manager are working with a vendor to complete the grant. The total cost is expected to be approximately $260,000, so BCFL would need to provide matching funds of about $100,000-$130,000. MOTION to APPROVE the BCFL Board Resolution for the approval of the Keystone Grant application was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Ansinn and APPROVED unanimously.

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the 2007-2008 Application for State Aid was made by Ansinn, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

A MOTION to APPROVE the 2006 Annual Report was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

                                                                                               

There being no further business, a MOTION to ADJOURN was made at 6:19 p.m. by Balchis, SECONDED by Foerst and so MOVED.

           

Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                        Pamela J. Riley

 

Executive Assistant

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JUNE 19, 2007