Library Advisory Board Minutes

Cascade Township Library Advisory Board Meeting

Cascade Township Library Advisory Board Meeting
Monday, September 12, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

Attendees:
Charles Fry, Library Advisory Board Chairman
Diane Cutler, Cascade Library Branch Manager
Laura Weld, Cascade Library Asst. Branch Manager
Edward Dupke, Library Advisory Board Co-Chairman
Michael Maier, KDL Board Trustee
Barbara Kalinka, Board member
Jacque Miller, Friends President
Holly Sturges, Board Member
Lynne Marie Quinlan, Board Member
Ron Goodyke, Township Clerk
Maureen Sullivan, Board Member

Excused Attendees:
Pamela Vander Ploeg, KDL Facilities Planning

Absent:
Brian Currier, Township Trustee

Approval of June 6, 2005 minutes: The minutes to the June 6, 2005 meeting were not approved.

Correction to the June 6, 2005 minutes: Maureen Sullivan was in attendance.

Chuck began the meeting with the introduction and welcome of the new Friends President, Jacque Miller.

Building and Finance Update: Ron stated the building project was awarded to Dan Vos Company in the amount of $1,821,120.00, below the $2,000,000.00 budgeted). Ron stated the Township has decided to use the new program room as a shelter in the case of emergencies and has decided to equip the building with a generator. It will provide light and heat. They have found a used generator that is available to purchase.

Chuck stated that because we are doing so well with pledges, we are going to be able to do this project on a cash basis without bonding and interest. $480,000 interest and $125,000 in attorney's bonding fees for a total savings of $605,000.00.

Due to the bids coming in lower than expected, new carpet will be installed in the library while the bookshelves are being moved for the rearrangement. Another addition is heated sidewalks will be added outside the addition.

Finances:
$719,000.00 - Pledges including Skutt & Good Funds
$2,000,000.00 - Library Fund

The Board discussed the donations, including the Skutt and Good Funds and the idea of how the money would be used if not entirely needed for construction. There was consensus that any "leftover" funds would be used to create a new fund to support library programming.

Diane offered to obtain monthly financial reports from Janet Wensel at the township office, on the Library Construction Fund as well as change orders.

Chuck thanked everyone that attended the Ground Breaking Ceremony. Diane noted that there are pictures to view in the lobby area of the library.

Campaign Finance Committee - Public Campaign: Maureen distributed copies of her spreadsheet detailing gifts received and showing amount in-hand, amount pledged and book tile proceeds. Chuck mentioned that Pamela's daughter did the artwork on the brochure and booklet. Due to a perceived conflict of interest, Pam has requested that her daughter not be paid for her work. Suggestion was made that flowers and/or gift certificate be sent to her along with a thank you letter and possibly a book tile with her name on it.

Branch Report: Diane introduced Mike Maier, KDL Board Trustee representing our area. Everyone was provided a copy of the KDL 2004 Annual Report. Diane will be making a presentation with Director Martha Smart and Mike to the Cascade Township Board meeting, Wednesday, September 14. They will also be going to Ada Township on September 26. Diane hopes to clear up some misunderstandings about KDL/township funding that were raised at and earlier Ada Township meeting. Diane provided copies of emails that are shared with government officials on the 2006 Strategic Plan and the Hub and Spokes concept. Branch activities over the summer went very well. In June and July the Cascade branch checked out more books than any other branch in KDL. Reference statistics indicate that through July the Cascade branch is second after Wyoming. This branch is continuing to grow. Summer Reading Club was exceptionally well attended with an 18% increase from last year in the 0-5 age group and a 12% increase in the teen attendance. A total of 345 kids signed up.

Thank you very much to our Friends for supplying additional prizes for the kids. They funded $250.00 worth of $10.00 gift certificates to various retail stores, which the teens really enjoyed. Friends also funded a couple of the programs and made a $100.00 contribution to the West Michigan Therapy Dogs. Sunday hours resume effective September 11 from 1 - 5 p.m. Laura, Diane and husband Dave Veneman attended the July 4th Book Sale and raised $131.00 in donations to the building fund. Changes were made to the driveway signs with much success. Chuck suggested additional signage for visitors coming into the new addition from the far back parking area.

Cascade Township Library is used as the background in a public service announcement being shown on Wood TV with Jim Dunlap, President of Huntington Bank, regarding early literacy programs. Also, some filming was done on Saturday for an interview with literary specialists to be shown on an Asian station located in Grand Rapids. There will be a building tour at the end of this meeting. The Library Room Use Policy is in progress and will have the final draft for the February board meeting. The draft will be reviewed by LAB in January. Diane will put together a committee to establish a Room Use Policy for the new addition.

Friends Report: Jacque stated that the Friends for this next year will be doing things a little differently and are trying to encourage the community to come to meetings. They are starting off the year with a Community Appreciation Day on October 2, 2005. They will be providing entertainment, story telling and snacks. They will also be trying to encourage more people to join the Friends. They will be handing out surveys to find out what the community would like to see Friends do for them. There will be baskets given out via a drawing. The Friends luncheon will be held on October 27th, 2005. The author of the book The Wreck of the Edmunds Fitzgerald will be speaking at the luncheon. November will be tree trimming in the children's area.

Mike Maier: Mike was very appreciative of everyone's comments. He noted that all of the branches are growing and Cascade has a very dynamic Friends group. The KDL Board is looking at the 2006 budget. The Grand Rapids Public Library has a new director that is very concerned with branding which is having a negative impact on Grand Rapids residents, as they like to come to KDL branches if they work in the area. GRPL has decided other libraries may not issue GRPL cards (as has been the practice in the past). They are also buckling down on fines/over-dues.

Ed noted that Grand Rapids residents do not pay into KDL and a perpetual mileage funds the GRPL.

Next Meeting:
The next Cascade Township Library Advisory Board meeting will be held on October 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library's Program Room.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45.

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