The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Free Library was held at the Pennwood Library in Langhorne. The meeting was called to order at 5:29 p.m. Present were:  Det Ansinn, Vice President; Roberta Foerst, Secretary; Jerry Balchis, Treasurer; Bill Draper and Steven Dilliplane, Board Trustees; Javier Lanchang, System Services Director; John Doran, Business Officer; and Pam Riley, Executive Assistant. Also in attendance were Jan Dickler, Branch Librarian/Langhorne, and Susan Geiss, Assistant Branch Librarian/Langhorne. Board trustee Mary Ann Beltz was absent. Executive Director Martina Kominiarek and Public Services Director Sue Ziegler were not in attendance because of an out-of-town conference commitment.

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 17, 2008 was made by Draper, SECONDED by Foerst and unanimously APPROVED.

 

 

STAFF REPORTS

 

Report of Branch Librarian/Langhorne           

 

Jan Dickler welcomed the board and invited them to tour the building to see the many improvements that have been made since their visit last year. The addition of a café and teen area with a focus on merchandising as a means to attract borrowers leads them to believe that they are achieving the service priority of providing a comfortable and stimulating place for the public.

 

Report of Assistant Branch Librarian/Langhorne

 

Susan Geiss gave a report on the current outreach programs in which Langhorne is involved. Their outreach efforts have included daycares and pre-schools, park visits, elementary school after-school programs and elementary school classes. Summer Reading registration has increased from 29 in 2006 to over 215 registered children this year.

 

Report of Executive Director (submitted in writing)

The Executive Assistant reported that the Executive Director spoke with Henry Carroll, the Board President of the Township Library of Lower Southampton, regarding his concerns over the cancelled Legislative Breakfast. It was decided that, as an alternative, the Summer Reading Program grand prize drawing of a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos will be held at their library. Roberta Foerst noted that future legislative events be planned more in keeping with what we could offer legislators to encourage them to take time from their hectic schedules to attend.     

 

System Services Director Javier Lanchang reported on BCFL’s project to employ Unique Management Services to obtain past due materials and fines from our customers. Board vice president Det Ansinn asked about the possibility of instituting an “amnesty day” prior to the launching of the project. Javier said that it will be under discussion with community public libraries and boards, but no decision had been made yet as to implementation dates.  Board member Steve Dilliplane asked if reviews of Unique’s progress will be made on a periodic basis. Javier said that Unique will be reviewed monthly to see how many materials are being returned as a result of their efforts. It usually takes about four to six months before progress is evident.

Det Ansinn said that Executive Director Martina Kominiarek had shared a matrix with him that would be very informative for all the board members to see at next month’s meeting.

 

Report of Public Services Director (submitted in writing)

 

 

Report of Business Officer

MOTION to APPROVE the payment of bills for June 2008 in the amount of $419,862.96 was made by Draper, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the June 2008 financial statements (subject to audit) was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Draper, and APPROVED unanimously.

 

 

Correspondence – Submitted in writing

 

Business Officer John Doran reviewed the auditor’s management letter.

 

 

Public Comment – In attendance was the vice president of the Yardley-Makefield Friends. She noted that she found out at a recent conference about a service called Library Elf that she uses to notify her when her books are due.

 

 

Unfinished business –  None

 

 

 

 

New Business – Det Ansinn noted and reviewed a letter of resignation submitted by Board President Joan Bowman the previous week. The letter stated that the resignation would be effective July 15, 2008. Det suggested that the Governance Committee meet to determine how the board should proceed to identify potential new members and fill the vacant position. Roberta Foerst felt that it should not be left to committee to decide but rather be a meeting with all board members present. Det stated that the Governance Committee would not make any decisions but rather discuss and then recommend various options. Board Trustee Steve Dilliplane tendered his resignation, stating that it was something he had been considering and that he would present it to the commissioners.

 

 

There being no further business, a MOTION to ADJOURN was made at 6:00 p.m. by Draper, SECONDED by Foerst and so MOVED.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

     Pamela J. Riley

 

Executive Assistant

 

 

 

APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUGUST 19, 2008