Des Moines-Woodmont Library Advisory Board
Minutes – July 14, 2011 at Woodmont Library
Present: Tony Wilson, Virg Staiger, Robin Lamoreux, Janet Sorby, Melissa Ponder, Carol Van Baalen
The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm by Tony Wilson, President.
The agenda was approved. The minutes of the last meeting were approved.
Community Report: Des Moines City Council elections will be held in November. The Waterland Parade is on July 23, but the library is not participating.
Library Report: Surveillance Cameras were removed from Woodmont on May 23. Carol notified the Des Moines Police department, as they had requested. Chief O’Leary stopped by the library the following week to reassure the staff that they had moved on from any hard feelings over the incident, and that we should not hesitate to call them whenever we need their assistance.
In June, KCLS received the Library of the Year Award from Library Journal. Carol passed out copies of the article about the award to board members. This is a very prestigious award, and KCLS is proud to receive it. Thanks to the board for their part in making KCLS a great library system.
Tony showed the LibrariUS website, which has been posted on the homepage of the KCLS website. It is a national survey that shows what people are doing at their libraries all over the country.
Carol showed a new KCLS database, Universal Class, that has a wide variety of free online classes available for all KCLS card holders. It is especially targeted for the 50+ age group. She also passed around Summer Reading program flyers for children and teens, and talked about some of the upcoming programs for adults this fall. She mentioned that the Digital Discovery Zone van will be at the Des Moines Farmers Market on July 16.
Virg asked about having eReader demos at our libraries again. Carol said we would like to, but no dates are set yet. Melissa asked about Magic the Gathering cards and games – whether we had considered adding it to the games available in the library for teens. Carol will check with the teen librarians about this.
Our Cyber Presence: We looked at our blog and facebook pages. Tony is regularly posting the Insights newsletter on the blog, and Melissa posts library events and news on the facebook page. Carol will try to get the Friends to post information about their upcoming book sale on the facebook page. Any other board members who have ideas to post on the blog or facebook page can get help from Tony and Mel.
Next Meeting: For our next meeting, which will be in September, we will try to schedule a presentation for the Des Moines City Council. Preferred date is September 22. Virg will check with the city about scheduling it and report to Tony. Tony and Carol will write the report and send it out by email to the rest of the board for suggestions and comments.
Carol Van Baalen, Community Liaison
Des Moines/Woodmont Libraries
Des Moines-Woodmont Library Advisory Board
Minutes – May 11, 2011 at Des Moines Library
Present: Tony Wilson, Virg Staiger, Robin Lamoureux, Carol Van Baalen
The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm by Tony Wilson, President.
The agenda was approved. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
Library Report: Carol reported on the decision by KCLS to remove surveillance cameras from the 10 libraries having cameras, after an incident at the Woodmont Library in March, in which an elderly patron was assaulted in the parking lot. In that incident, Des Moines police were frustrated by attempts to obtain a copy of library surveillance video when they were asked to obtain a search warrant in order to release the records, as is standard practice according to KCLS policy. Carol went over the memo from Bill Ptacek, in which he explained the reasons for the decision. 1. Effectiveness: there is no evidence that security cameras really do assist in maintaining staff and patron safety, or that they are a significant deterrent of crime. 2. Relationships: cameras have created an adversarial relationship between KCLS, local law enforcement, and crime victims. 3. Public records exemption for libraries (RCW 42.56.310): security cameras may not be in keeping with a narrow interpretation of this exemption. Surveillance of any type is contrary to our principles of intellectual freedom and the right to privacy.
There was much discussion and many questions from board members. Robin said that the situation is totally opposite at Parkside Elementary, where she is principal. Surveillance cameras are all over their new building; staff and parents are happy to have them. Tony showed the video clip from King 5 news report last Friday. The board’s decision was that they should support the decision of KCLS administration. Tony had drafted a memo to that effect ahead of the meeting which he shared with the rest of the board. He will forward it to Bill Ptacek, to be used however it is deemed helpful, either as a statement to the KCLS Board of Trustees, or to officials of the city of Des Moines.
Cyber Presence: We looked at the library board blog and facebook pages, as well as the facebook pages of the Des Moines and Woodmont branches. No additions or changes were made, but we will continue to seek input and participation from the Friends groups.
Carol asked board members who live in Des Moines for news about the community. Virg mentioned the new plan for Des Moines downtown that will be coming out soon, and also that Marine View Drive will be torn up for construction. There will be a Waterland Parade this summer, on July 23rd.
Virg asked whether we have a towing company, and whether it is a system-wide contract. Carol said that we have a contract with Skyway Towing, but she will check with the Facilities department to see if it is system-wide.
Next meeting: Thursday, July 14, at Woodmont Library
Carol Van Baalen, Community Liaison
Des Moines/Woodmont Libraries
Des Moines - Woodmont Library Advisory Board
Minutes – January 12, 2011 at Des Moines Library
Present: Virg Staiger, Tony Wilson, Melissa Ponder, Carol Van Baalen
The meeting was called to order by Virg Staiger, President. Minutes from the last meeting were approved.
Tony Wilson was elected as board president for 2011.
Library Report: Woodmont parking lot expansion is ready for the asphalt to be poured, but this has been delayed because of weather and coordinating it with the asphalt plant. Library 2 Go: Community stops will be added in 2011. Appian Way apartment complex and Nike Manor transitional housing and housing for abused women are the two probably sites in the Des Moines/Woodmont area. Target start date is March; board members are interested in visiting the sites with L2G once they are established. Future Services staffing: the pilot clusters began using the new staffing configuration on January 2nd. There will be more information as the year progresses. Facilities projects for 2011 include expanded Friends book shelves at Woodmont, a cyber bar for computer users, new children’s furniture, and new Wayfinding signage at Des Moines.
Board Goals for 2011:
· Attend Library Legislative Day. Date is Friday, February 4. KCLS Foundation will again provide a bus for transportation, leaving from South Center. More information will be forthcoming. Tony and Virg plan to attend; others are welcome to join them!
· Participate and/or provide input for the “Take Time to Read” initiative. Carol gave an update on the Quick Reads shelf at Les Schwab on Pacific Highway, and on the Winter Reading for Adults. Readers in Residence will be happening in the spring – board members could participate or suggest other community members to ask.
· Increase awareness of, and develop the blog as a tool for communication and discussion with the community.
Discussion about the Blog:
· Suggestions for content: pictures and bios of board members; links to articles about libraries, information and literacy in society that might provoke discussion in the community. Carol said that the blog content needs to be managed by the board, not by library or staff.
· Ways to increase awareness: Have links to the blog from the City of Des Moines web page, the Highline Times web page, and the Waterland Blog. Board members will pursue these possibilities (Carol is sending the city web page manager’s name to Melissa). Have a Facebook page for the board, and link it to the blog. Melissa set up the Facebook page at the board meeting. Have signs and/or bookmarks about the blog available in the Des Moines and Woodmont libraries. Carol will follow up on this.
Next Meeting: Thursday, March 10, at the Woodmont Library
Carol Van Baalen, Community Liaison
Des Moines / Woodmont Libraries
