1987-09-15 PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MINUTES OF PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD
September 15, 1987 7:30 P.M.
The meeting was opened with an invocation by Rosalie Olah, chairman. In attendance
were Ed Fondren, Bettye Alexander, Fay Hunter, Steve Brown, Dave Beckman, Dede
Williams, and Judy Demecs.
Minutes of the June meeting were read and Steve recommended a change in them in
regard to the county laser-disk catalog project so that the minutes would read
"Each county library now has only its own catalog."
Rosalie did give a report to City Council in June concerning library activities
and was favorably received by the council.
Dede Williams gave the library report and began by thanking everyone who spoke to
council. The McNaughton Plan in the amount of $7,000.00 was included in the regular
budget rather than capital outlay. The Assistant County Director is working with
the Parks and Recreation Dept. and plans to hire a new custodian, which will help
in building care for the library.
Dede announced some fall programs, including one on bulb planting by Sally Squire,
one on building greenhouses by Kenneth Davis, and a cancer-wise program in October
when M.D. !lnderson Hospital will provide a speaker. There will be a Christmas crafts
program in November and two children's programs for Children's Book Week. Dede said
there is a crack on the outside of the building which Bill Miller has investigated.
He thinks lightning may have struck the building and has filled the crack with mortar
and will recheck it.
Billie Garrison was shocked by a plug in the library meeting room in July and was
hospitalized. Grounding devices have been added to plugs in the library building
as a precaution, so that now there is no way one could receive a serious shock.
The fault was actually due in part to worn wiring of the record player being used.
Dede will speak to the Assistant City Manager about the needed wheelchair ramp for
front and back of the library.
Steve Brown said the August statistics were not completed yet for the report but that
they were very good.
Dede described a new literacy group in the community begun by an individual two months
ago. Tutors, which are teaching through the Laubach method, are in great demand, since
100 persons have requested to be on the waiting list. The county has been able to
provide some books. Steve reported that the Houston Area Library System has funding
from the state in the amount of approximately $54,000. to support reading programs,
and our organization might qualify for a grant to help with their program. There is
now a similar grant in the Brazosport area in the amount of $7,000.00 to support books
and training for their project. If we are interested in supporting a grant request
MINUTES OF PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD (CONT.)
September 15, 1987
for our organization, Steve informed us we sould write a letter from the board which
would be submitted with the group's proposal (October 16th deadline). The grant fund-
ing would not be available until this time next year. Judy made a motion that our
board members compose such a letter to accompany the grant request, and it was
seconded.
Steve brought the board up to date on summer library activities and said that over
125,000 volumes were circulated in June throughout the county. Participation in
summer reading clubs jumped and the clubs were assisted by volunteers and some
federally -funded job training workers.
The County Director further reported that a school book depository has been set up
in which core texts for grades 3-8 will be on reserve in the Lake Jackson Library
for use of students or parents. Steve said the budget at the county level was cut
about 6% from this year to next and that about 20% will be lost from the book budget.
No losses in staff are planned. He said we need to encourage individual donors to
make up the deficit in the book budget.
The Angleton Friends have been planning a January campaign which will be a buy -a -book
campaign. They have appealed to private donors and found they did best when a
specific need for books was identified rather than a general appeal for library funds.
Dede plans to make up a donation slip and a list of needed books. She will write
to organizations that have not donated to the library recently and request donations.
Bettye asked about the possibility of putting an article in the newspaper stating
specific library needs, suggesting donations for memorials. Ed asked about contacting
businesses and Bettye said we should include the Chamber of Commerce. Steve noted
thatan interview -type newspaper article would attract the attention of the public
Bettye will supply Dede with a list of names and addresses of organizations and she
suggested some companies might be willing to donate in a program of supplying
economic -development -related materials to the public.
Steve reported on an unusual fund-raiser idea. Sweeny and Clute Libraries have held
men's cake -baking contests in which public officials were invited to participate,
with the library then auctioning their cakes. A funny entry was an "emperor's new
cake."
The grant has been approved for putting the county holdings on a laser -disc. There
has been an award of the bid of the first phase of the project. Steve showed the
floppy disc which has a capacity of 1500 and explained `low a search can be made on
it. Dede asked if this type of material is available to replace the magazine index,
and Steve said it is becoming available, the cost is coming down, and improvements
are being made. Steve said he is hopeful that by this time next year we can cease
filing cards in the card catalog.
3.
MINUTES OF PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD (CONT.)
September 15, 1987
Judy inquired of Steve whether the county had space to store approximately
1200 books weeded from the Carleston and Harris Elementary School Libraries
until time for the county book sale. Steve told her that the county van would
pick up the books and house them.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Domecs Rosalie Olah
Secretary Chairman