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MILWAUKEE COUNTY FEDERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM
Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting Held Monday, December 6, 2004
At
Milwaukee County Federated Library System
709 North Eighth Street
Milwaukee,
WI 53233
ROLL CALL
Present: Mike D’Amato,
President
Dick Maslowski, Vice President
Paul Ziehler, Treasurer
Ryan McCue, Trustee
Dora Montoya, Trustee
Ron Tays, Trustee
Excused: Martin Schreiber, Trustee
Staff: Jim Gingery,
Director
Steve Heser, Library Systems Administrator
Judy Kaniasty, Business Manager/Personnel
Assistant (Recorder)
Others:
Beth
Carey, Shorewood Public Library and TAC Chair
Pedro Colon, State Senator
Bruce Gay, Milwaukee Public Library
Jennifer Gonda, City of Milwaukee Budget Department
Arnie Gutkowski, Brown Deer Public Library
Kate Huston, Milwaukee Public Library
Paula Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library
Mike Koszalka, West Allis Public Library
Pat Laughlin, Hales Corners Public Library
Dick Nelson, North
Shore Library
I. CALL TO ORDER. President D’Amato called the regular monthly meeting of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System Board of Trustees to order at 9:08 a.m.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Vice President Maslowski moved and Trustee Tays seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the Monday, October 11, 2004 meeting which are shown as Attachment A of the agenda packet as presented. Unanimously approved.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT. West Allis Director Mike Koszalka questioned whether the MCFLS Board will be assisting members with data migration if they decide to no longer be members of MCFLS. Director Gingery noted that this topic would be addressed later in the meeting under the member agreement agenda item.
IV. INTRODUCTION OF STATE SENATOR PEDRO COLON. President D’Amato welcomed State Senator Pedro Colon to the meeting and thanked him for attending in lieu of attending the October 23 Library Listening Session. Senator Colon is a fairly new member of the Joint Finance Committee and he indicated that he uses the Milwaukee County Federated Library System and he is a strong advocate of our library system. He indicated he needed to learn more about the funding formula and will do what he can to help. Director Gingery spoke of the history of library systems and summarized the benefits of being a system member. Senator Colon excused himself after this discussion.
V. TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE – REPORTS.
A. November & December, 2004. Beth Carey referred to her report, shown as Exhibit 1 attached to these minutes and added that another topic of discussion was the definition of a member and that the conclusion they came to was that everyone is considered a member until they take all the necessary steps to leave. Beth also announced that Arnie Gutkowski will be the 2005 TAC Chair. President D’Amato commented to Beth’s member question by saying that MCFLS will be referring to legal counsel on that topic as well if needed. It was the consensus to Accept the report and Place on File.
VI. REPORTS.
A. Finance and Personnel Committee
1. Financial Reports – September 2004 and October 2004. Treasurer Ziehler reported that the Finance & Personnel Committee reviewed the reports and recommends approval of Attachment B of the agenda packet as presented. Treasurer Ziehler moved and Vice President Maslowski seconded a motion to approve the reports as presented. Unanimously approved.
2. 2005 MCFLS-MPL Interlibrary Services Contract. Treasurer Ziehler referred to Attachment C of the agenda packet which is for $36,000. It is understood that if the State ceases to fund their associated contract with Milwaukee that the MCFLS contract would also end and the cost would be prorated. The chances of the State not continuing funding past June 30 are slim per Kate Huston since Rick Grobschmidt indicates he is supportive of continuation of the contract. Treasurer Ziehler reported that the Finance & Personnel Committee recommends approval. Treasurer Ziehler moved and Vice President Maslowski seconded a motion to approve the contract as presented. Unanimously approved.
VII. OTHER ACTION ITEMS
A. 2005 MCFLS Board of Trustees Officers. Appointment of a Nominating Committee. Director Gingery noted that it is time again to appoint a Nominating Committee to select the 2005 slate of officers. President D’Amato noted that he had served his two consecutive terms as President and therefore would not be President in 2005. Treasurer Ziehler, President D’Amato and Trustee McCue volunteered to serve on the Nominating Committee and will report at the next meeting.
B. Dates of 2005 MCFLS Board Meetings. President D’Amato suggested that a meeting date for January be set and then the new President can set the rest of the year’s meetings in January. It was agreed that the next meeting would be January 10, 2005.
C. Letter to Mayors, Village Presidents, and Common Council Members reiterating deadline for signing 2005-2007 Member Agreement, highlighting benefits of MCFLS Membership and potential cost of Leaving the MCFLS Automation System. President D’Amato reported that Director Gingery has received many inquiries and he feels that Attachment D of the agenda packet outlines the financial benefits of being a member; it is time to be frank with decision makers. MCFLS serves and counts on each member; citizens have come to expect to be able to use all libraries. Director Gingery reviewed the letter and noted that the State prefers large automation systems instead of stand-alone systems. If a member(s) leave MCFLS then the remaining libraries would only have to absorb a minimal amount of increase for automation charges. President D’Amato commented that if a member(s) leaves the System that would mean inferior service to its residents at more cost. Treasurer Ziehler stated that reciprocal borrowing is still out of the mix and the MCFLS Board continues to ignore the problem. Beth Carey questioned whether the letter is intended to also be sent to Library Boards. President D’Amato agreed that that was the case. Vice President Maslowski moved and Trustee Montoya seconded a motion to send the letter to all decision makers in all Milwaukee County communities. Roll was called and the vote was: Yes: D’Amato, Maslowski, Tays, Montoya and McCue; No: Ziehler. The motion carried on a roll call vote of 5-1.
VIII. MCFLS BOARD – INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
A. MCFLS Auto Lease. Director Gingery reported that MCFLS took possession of a 2004 Honda CR-V for a four-year lease at a cost $20 cheaper than the last lease. The proper bid process was adhered to and funds are budgeted. The vehicle is used to service library computers.
B. 2005 West Milwaukee Charges. Treasurer Ziehler reported that the Finance & Personnel Committee reviewed and approved the charges which will be sent to West Milwaukee for services already rendered. Treasurer Ziehler reported that the Finance & Personnel Committee recommends that MCFLS enter into a contract with West Milwaukee for future years since one does not currently exist.
C. Library Listening Session Summary. Director Gingery provided a summary of the October 23 Library Listening Session, which is shown as Attachment E of the agenda packet.
D. 2005-2007 Member Agreement Update. Director Gingery reported that the St. Francis Public Library Board signed the member agreement last Thursday evening and also signed the Milwaukee reciprocal borrowing offer, pending their City Attorney’s review. Most likely 3-4 more member library Board’s will sign the Member Agreement by the end of the year. Kate Huston reported that Hales Corners had signed the Milwaukee reciprocal borrowing offer already and both South Milwaukee and Oak Creek have indicated they will not pay nor receive money relating to reciprocal borrowing. Whitefish Bay owes Milwaukee money for reciprocal borrowing and Milwaukee will forgive that amount due them.
Treasurer Ziehler reported that at the last ICC library subcommittee meeting they again voted on the $1.50 per reciprocal borrowing transaction idea and there are still a few other ideas floating around with no consistency among all member communities—the ICC is considering $1.50; North Shore is talking about $1 and Milwaukee has offered 57 cents. Paul asked if there was any possibility of all this coming together so a joint agreement can be reached by all parties to one amount for all. President D’Amato replied that Milwaukee as well as all other communities have already passed their 2005 budgets. Treasurer Ziehler responded that all communities have contingency accounts and if there was a will there would be a way to accomplish this request. President D’Amato noted that the $1 per transaction for some but not all libraries actually changes the landscape and balance for many communities. Treasurer Ziehler asked if all of the MCFLS Board Members could be provided with spreadsheets so an educated discussion could be held. Treasurer Ziehler feels that the members need uniformity and that the MCFLS Board should set one rate which is the main topic not being addressed in the eyes of many member libraries. Director Gingery distributed a letter, shown as Exhibit 2 attached to these minutes, from the North Shore Library suggesting that all libraries agree on $1 as the rate used to calculate reciprocal borrowing payments.
Treasurer Ziehler moved and Trustee McCue seconded a motion that the MCFLS Board make a reciprocal borrowing policy statement that “our central position is that all members should pay the same amount per item and that we propose that that amount be $1.00”. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 3-2 and one abstention. [Yes=Tays, Ziehler and McCue; No=D’Amato, Maslowski and Montoya abstained.] President D’Amato asked that a letter be prepared encouraging members to come to agreement between each other to pay $1 for each reciprocal borrowing transaction.
Treasurer Ziehler suggested that the County pay for the Resource Library Agreement since it pays for many other services that provides services to the entire Milwaukee County population. That would in turn free up MCFLS funds which could be used for reciprocal borrowing. Director Gingery cautioned that MCFLS needs to go through a process of determining all budget priorities for 2006 (later in the year) and that would need to be done via the normal Board process prior to committing any MCFLS funds toward this or any specific purpose. Treasurer Ziehler noted that if Milwaukee received more money for Resource Library Agreement, then Milwaukee would possibly have more money to pay reciprocal borrowing.
Trustee McCue commented that the County Special idea has been discussed at different times, and in order for that concept to happen, all communities within Milwaukee County would first need to agree to the idea and then all would have to communicate that desire to MCFLS and then to the County. Trustee McCue suggested that MCFLS consider sending a letter to the ICC asking them to discuss this topic at their meeting as an action item and to request that Library Boards and Common Councils take a stand on the issue. To date, not one single letter has been received from any municipality requesting the County Special. Pat Laughlin noted that a few months ago she personally asked that the MCFLS Board define what the County Special is so library directors could begin the task of getting that matter rolling. She still is waiting to see that definition. President D’Amato feels that that is not MCFLS’ place to define what the County Special is. Trustee McCue commented that the MCFLS Board should take a leadership role to define and send letters to communities. If they agree to the concept, communities should pass a resolution or vote against it. This action would help MCFLS to see where every community is on this issue. President D’Amato agreed to place an agenda item on the next Board agenda to consider the issue.
Director Gingery distributed three letters he recently received (shown as Exhibit 3 attached to these minutes) from West Allis, Brown Deer and Greenfield requesting their patron and bibliographic records in MARC format. Jim noted that during the last member agreement process Wauwatosa took MCFLS to court while Wauwatosa was a member requesting the same thing and a court ruling determined that MCFLS was not required to provide stored data in the electronic form requested by local officials. MCFLS offered to send data via a print or email format even though this did this did not satisfy the original request since it is merely a printout of fields and (in Director Gingery’s opinion). is not at all helpful for any sort of structured migration. Printouts of data fields can easily be developed by member libraries without the aid of MCFLS via Create Lists and thus do not require permission or intervention of MCFLS to produce. Director Gingery does recommend that MCFLS assist with migration if and when a member is no longer a member of MCFLS, i.e. has withdrawn or been expelled. President D’Amato feels that MCFLS should not help a member when they leave the System. This topic will be discussed further, after a consultation with the MCFLS attorney.
Treasurer Ziehler asked that all members of the Board be made aware of what Attorney Graupner says in regard to whether MCFLS Board members are able to continue to serve on the Board if the communities they represent do not sign the member agreement. He is also curious to see whether there is any difference in terms of which type of seat a member holds—be it a citizen members or a member library representative seat—if they can participate and/or vote at future meetings.
E. Additional Funding for Out-of-County Use of Resource Library. Director Gingery reviewed Attachment F of the agenda packet. Treasurer Ziehler feels that MCFLS must follow-up and send letters to all adjoining Counties as he agreed MCFLS would do during the Resource Library Agreement negotiations. Treasurer Ziehler moved and Trustee Tays seconded a motion to send a letter to each adjoining County governmental body requesting $50,000 which is for the use of the resource library. Unanimously approved.
F. Director’s Report. Attachment G was summarized by Director Gingery.
G. Introduction of New Library Systems Administrator – Steve Heser. President D’Amato welcomed Steve Heser to MCFLS and Steve said a few things about his past and that he looks forward to working for MCFLS.
IX. NEXT MEETING DATE.. The next meeting was scheduled for January 10, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. at MCFLS.
X. ADJOURNMENT. With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
County Cat (On-Line Catalog) | Find Your Library! | Who is MCFLS?