1991-09-24 PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTESPearland Library Board Minu..�s
September 24, 1991 7:30 P.M.
Chairman Rosalie Olah called the meeting to order with the following present: Mayor Vic
Coppinger, Joy Colson, Nancy Sallee, Ed Fondren, Dave Beckman, Steve Brown, Dede Williams,
Bettye Alexander, and Judy Demecs.
The minutes were read and approved. The Treasurer, Nancy reported the balance remains the
same in the amount of $354.63. Dede welcomed the Mayor and Councilwiman Joy and asked whether
the city budget had been finalized. Joy said the capital outlay library requests were
approved.
Dede reported that over 2,000 signed up for the summer children's program and over half
finished the program. She showed a brochure for fall programs including a traveling exhibit
now on display from the Brazoria County Historical Museum and a speaker on the history of
the county by Dr. W. G. McAlexander. The Mayor reported that the historical society is workir
on a history of Brazoria County and is well along with it. Dede noted in regard to the
statistical report that Lake Jackson grew in circulation markedly with their expanded
library size.
Steve gave the county library report, etating that we will soon be going into the next fis-
cal year. The county library received an increase in amounts for hourly wages for book-
shelvers to $4.50 and allowance for more hours to be paid for reshelving. Part of Pearland's
library budget increase is due to Pearland's becoming a regional library. No new positions
will be appointed. The county cut its tax rate but county employees did not get a raise.
Steve commented on the good attendance in the summer reading club, reporting 10,000 children
in the county joined such a club. A fax machin^= has been added for each county library, and
this enhances communication of book requests, etc. In October will begin a six -month-long
search to select the best automation plan between the county libraries. Dede will be on
the committee. Steve showed a photo of a children's librarian from Lake Jackson carding a
book and explained how an automation system would save valuable time, expedite library
chores, and easily enable interlibrary loans. By having the Braznet system between the high
schools and county library, our library is more advanced in some areas, but Brazoria County
is the largest system in the state that is not automated.
The book sale raised $2,800 and retained $2,600 after expenses. Bettye requested that
Steve tell the board about a group in the Brazoria area representing industry and profes-
sional organizations which worked with the library in putting ,Ip display cases and building
the library collection in the science and technology areas. Included was a CD ROM collection
of some encyclopedias and foreign language works so that one can search electronically in
some areas. The collection fires students' imaginations because they can hear tapes of
important speeches, good music, etc. from the exhibit rather than just reading them.
Dede said she would like to acquire News Bank for the library, which is news articles on
microfiche with an index on the computer. The high school students use this frequently.
Joy Colson told Dede that comments on a recent city questionnaire showed that some towns-
people would like longer library hours to better accommodate working people, etc. Steve
Pearland Library Board Min es (Cont.)
September 24, 1991
and Dede both said this would be desirable. Joy inquired how Dede used volunteers and
whether she encouraged them and Dede responded that she definitely did and would like to
have more than the two regular volunteers she now has. The Mayor commended Joy as a
laiason and said she would do an excellent job.
Respectfully submitted,
%a.?tOjZf`<
Judy Demeg`s, Secretary
Rosalie Olah, Chairman