OHIO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Members Present:
Mr. Ted Hess, Sr. Mary Jude Jochum, Mr. Mike Baker, Miss Sally Carroll.
Members Absent: Mr. Charles Monfradi
Also Present:
Dottie Thomas, Library Director, Louis Horacek, Assistant Director, Mary Lou Henderson, President of the Wheeling Genealogical Society, and Jan Shelburne and Steve Kellas from Wesbanco
Call to order:
Mr. Hess called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M
Minutes
Mr. Baker moved that the minutes of the December meeting be approved as distributed. Miss Carroll seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Miss Carroll | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | absent |
Financial Report:
The Financial Report for December was distributed with the board package.
INVOICES AND WARRANTS
Mr. Baker moved to approve both Financial Reports and approve payment of invoices and warrants; Sr. Mary Jude seconded the motion.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Miss Carroll | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | absent |
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Ms. Thomas reported that two part-time circulation clerks, Linda Galloway and Lindsay Spaar had been hired. She said that she anticipated training being needed for these employees as well as for the new Reference Assistants, Alyssa Archer and Bonnie McCloskey, who were also recently hired. Ms. Thomas said that she had been working with Children’s Specialist, Shannon Dunn, on book selection and collection development for the Children’s Department.
A new Lunch With Books schedule has been released, and the first program was well attended. Mr. Hess commented that perhaps a new Friends of the Library group could be developed from those who attended the programs regularly.
Ms. Thomas noted the death of former board member Amy OBrien on January 2. A card of sympathy has been sent from the library and some staff members went to visitation at the funeral home. Because the Ohio County Public Library was listed as a possible recipient for memorial donations in the obituary, the library will probably receive many memorial donations in Mrs. OBriens honor.
Ms. Thomas reported that she was had received a quote from Conway LLC for moving furniture as part of the Technical Services flooring upgrade. The workers will be paid regular hourly wages with the amount of time required to move furniture noted and then the hourly rate billed to the library. She said that the installation will be done within the next few weeks.
Ms. Thomas said that she had spoken with Senator Ed Bowman, Chair of the Committee on Government Reorganization about the potential impact on OCPLs special funding law of the soon-to-be proposed legislation that would enable the mergers of local governments. He recommended that she send him a letter detailing the librarys concerns so that they could be addressed when the committee considers the proposed legislation.
Ms. Thomas reported that she had spoken with Mary Hughes in the federal Department of Education concerning the former Social Security property. Ms. Hughes said the Department of Education should know by the middle of the month if any group serving the homeless wanted the Social Security property. Once that information was known, then she will send the Department of Educations recommendation to the General Services Administration and would inform all applicants of her decision. Ms. Thomas also said that she had been contacted by Congressman Mollohans office because West Virginia Northern Community College had contacted the Congressman for a letter of support and the Congressman first wanted to be sure that the library was in agreement with the colleges plan and application. Ms. Thomas said this call gave her the opportunity to fully present OCPLs position. Mr. Hess asked Ms. Thomas to forward a copy of the cover letter to the librarys application for the Social Security property to members of the congressional delegation, not forgetting to mention to Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito that her mother had served on the Moundsville library board.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ms. Thomas said that on Saturday, January 15 at 2 PM, the family of Nancy T. Paull would formally present gifts to the library in honor of her 90th birthday.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Capital Improvements List and Legislative Budget Digest Request
Ms. Thomas presented a list of capital improvements suggested by the library's staff.
1. New ceiling for main floor of library: The ceiling is dirty-looking, water-damaged in places from previous leaks, missing some tiles from a current leak, and replacement tiles are impossible to get. The Board asked her to consult with Mr. Monfradi about possible sources of replacement tiles. They also asked her to consider repainting the ceiling as an alternative to replacement. They said the roof should be inspected to find the source of the leak.
2. Microfilm machines: Mr. Baker asked Mr. Horacek for quotes on new machines for the next meeting.
3. New technical services furniture and renovation of the staff lunchroom: Mr. Baker said he would contact firms for possible bids on the projects.
4. New file server to run Athena: Mr. Horacek said that it was the most critical computer in the system, and should be replaced as it would soon be about 5 years old. The West Virginia Library Commission is urging upgrades of all Windows NT computers to operating systems currently supported by Microsoft. He said he would bring a quote to the next meeting.
5. Paving of the driveway area: This project has encountered delays with easement issues, city government oversight issues, and WVNCC's College Square expansion project. A quote has never been procured. The Board told Ms. Thomas to get one.
6. Five new computers: Last year the board suggested that five computers be purchased annually to replace obsolescent equipment. Mr. Horacek said he would prepare quotes for these.
7. New phone system: Ms. Thomas said that phone systems with voice mail, etc. were available, and the present system was very old.
8. Area carpet for the Wheeling Room: Mr. Baker said he would look into replacements.
Circulation Desk canopy updating: Ms Thomas reminded the board that the quote received last year from Walter's Construction was too high so the project had been put on hold.
The Board agreed that new computers, a file server, microfilm machines and paving of the driveway would be appropriate legislative digest requests. They felt that the phone system and ceiling replacement were low priorities.
Meeting Room Policy
Ms. Thomas presented a liability form that meeting room users would be asked to sign to indicate that they would pay for damage and cleaning expenses caused by their groups.
Mr. Baker suggested specifying a minimum charge of $50. Mr. Hess asked Ms Thomas to make the necessary changed and present the revied form at the February meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 PM.