Milwaukee County Federated Library System
Board of Trustees
Minutes of

Regular Monthly Meeting Held Monday, December 17, 2007

At

Milwaukee County Federated Library System
709 North Eighth Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233

ROLL CALL

Present:                  Paul Ziehler, Vice President and Chair
                                Ron Tays, Treasurer
                                Michele Bria, Trustee
                                Mike D’Amato, Trustee

Staff:                       Jim Gingery, Director
                                Steve Heser, Library Systems Administrator
                                Judy  Kaniasty, Business Manager

Others:                   Beth Carey, Shorewood Public Library
                                Bruce Gay, Milwaukee Public Library
                                Chuck Graupner, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
                                John Heinen, Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office
                                Dennis Jones, City of Milwaukee Citizen
                                Paula Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library
                                Dick Nelson, North Shore Library
                                Gary Warren Niebuhr, Greendale Public Library
                                Sheila O’Brien, Greenfield Public Library
                                Cathy Peterson, Whitefish Bay Public Library
                                Barbara Roark, Franklin Public Library and LDAC Chair
                                Rebecca Roepke, Cudahy Family Library
                                Taj Schoening, Milwaukee Public Library 

I.                     CALL TO ORDER.  In President Schreiber’s absence, Vice President Ziehler called the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System Board of Trustees meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.

II.                   APPROVAL OF MINUTES.  Treasurer Tays moved and Trustee D’Amato seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held Monday, November 26, 2007, which are shown as Attachment A of the agenda packet.  Paula Kiely asked that the minutes be modified to reflect that MPL requests nine (9) new item-types for Milwaukee materials.  Exhibit 1 attached to these minutes reflects that specific modification request.  Unanimously approved. 

III.                 PUBLIC COMMENT.  Barbara Roark, Director of Franklin Public Library and LDAC Chair, commented that she attended last month’s meeting and was surprised since she feels that the MCFLS Board should represent all residents of Milwaukee County, but instead it seems partisan.  She did not get a feeling that she would be represented well.   Also does not feel that a lot of options were considered and this option will degrade our library system.  Vice President Ziehler responded that it is very difficult at times to represent all; it is difficult to separate and he admits it is a struggle. 

IV.                 LIBRARY DIRECTORS ADVISORY COUNCIL – REPORTS. 

A.      Report of the November 1, 2007 LDAC meeting.  LDAC Chair Barb Roark reviewed her report, which was distributed at meeting and shown as Exhibit 2 attached to these minutes.  Vice President Ziehler requested review of the reciprocal borrowing timeline and Director Gingery noted that Attachment C of the 12/6/07 LDAC meeting packet reflects the final payout numbers to be paid in early 2009 by MCFLS.  Attachment D of that same agenda packet are the circulation transactions supporting those payouts. Director Gingery noted that the larger amount of time between transaction cycle and payout aids in projecting budgets and is so stipulated in the member agreement.  Treasurer Tays moved and Trustee D’Amato seconded a motion to accept and place on file.  Unanimously approved.   

B.       LDAC Letter to MCFLS Board regarding Interloan/Holds of Media – Letter sent based on motion (passed 11-2) from LDAC Meeting of December 6, 2007.  LDAC Chair Roark referred to Attachment B of the agenda packet, noting all members except the two representing Milwaukee agreed to writing the letter.  Treasurer Tays moved and Trustee D’Amato seconded a motion to accept and place on file.  Unanimously approved. 

V.                   BOARD OF TRUSTEES – COMMITTEE AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS REQUIRING ACTION.    

A.      Finance and Personnel Committee.  [There was no Finance & Personnel Committee quorum for the meeting scheduled to meet immediately prior to this meeting, and therefore the agenda item will be acted on by the Committee of the Whole.]

1.        Financial Report – October, 2007.  Treasurer Tays moved and Trustee Bria seconded a motion to approve the October, 2007 financial report shown as Attachment C of the agenda packet.  It was so noted that there looks to be nothing out of order.  Unanimously approved.

VI.                 BOARD OF TRUSTEES – ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS REQUIRING ACTION.

A.      Interloan/Holds of Media Items.

1.        Letter to MCFLS Attorney Graupner requesting Legal Opinion.  Director Gingery was directed at the last meeting to send a letter and it is shown as Attachment D of the agenda packet.

2.        Attorney Graupner’s response.  Attorney Graupner reviewed his opinion,  which was distributed at the meeting and shown as Exhibit 3 attached to these minutes.  Treasurer Tays questioned whether he felt there were any statutory breaches and Attorney Graupner replied that he is not issuing an opinion in that regard since the State of Wisconsin would be the proper place to make that opinion.  While the member agreement does not say how much interloan is enough, long history would show that past practice for a few decades would prevail in his opinion.  When asked what enforcement opportunities exist, Attorney Graupner responded that he had not considered that, but again the State has criteria and MCFLS has some avenues to consider and he would be willing to look at if directed to, but he wasn’t directed to consider that point in this request.  Treasurer Tays questioned whether MCFLS could file an injunction and Attorney Graupner indicated that could be done but the easiest thing would be to not direct staff to permit the action requested.  Vice President Ziehler questioned what the Milwaukee City Attorney’s opinion is on  the matter.  John Heinen, Milwaukee Assistant City Attorney responded that his office has not fully reviewed the matter yet.  Treasurer Tays questioned what impact would the patron incur if MCFLS does nothing and MPL stops media holds.  Director Gingery responded that libraries can choose to do nothing, or they could transfer hold to another copy of the same item, or they could cancel the hold and notify patron.  Patrons are not notified to expect an item until that item is checked in at the pick up location.  Vice President Ziehler asked whether any other libraries have taken a position to do the same thing Milwaukee is suggesting.  Director Gingery replied that he has not heard any other library saying they will follow.  There is no automatic way to move a hold on a Milwaukee item to another copy.  Paula Kiely noted that Milwaukee has a plan in place and has begun notifying the public with bookmarks that their specified materials will not be holdable; a press release was issued in the paper.  Trustee D’Amato noted that there are no staff to move holds to other copies and therefore nothing will be done with paging slips.  Dick Nelson asked whether any attempt was made to have a meeting with Milwaukee Mayor Barrett.  Vice President Ziehler reported that Mayor Barrett would be happy to meet with any other Mayors but since that was not part of the motion made last month that avenue has not advanced.  Beth Carey noted that to best serve her customers, she would allow her staff to move holds to non-Milwaukee items instead of having the hold linger forever.  Gary Niebuhr commented that this change will be passing Milwaukee’s cost to suburban libraries.  SHORT BREAK TAKEN.  Trustee D’Amato  moved and Trustee Bria seconded a motion to direct MCFLS Staff to implement plan to be ready for 1/2/08 Milwaukee change in media holds so patrons are notified.  Motion failed on a roll call vote of 2-2.  Yes: D’Amato, Bria. No : Tays, Ziehler. Trustee D’Amato moved and Treasurer Tays seconded a motion to place information concerning Milwaukee’s desire to discontinue holds of certain media on CountyCat to assist patrons in understanding what Milwaukee proposes to change.  Unanimously approved.  Vice President Ziehler asked Paula Kiely to inform Director Gingery what comes of her meeting this afternoon regarding this topic. 

VII.               ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

A.      MCFLS 2008 System Plan – Letter of Approval from DPI State Superintendent Burmaster.  Director Gingery summarized Attachment E of the agenda packet which indicates that the MCFLS 2008 System Plan has been approved and therefore funding will be released as is routinely done. 

B.       Director’s Report.  Director Gingery referred to his report, which is shown as Attachment F of the agenda packet.  Vice President Ziehler asked whether the union contract has been signed and Director Gingery responded that it had been just recently signed.  Director Gingery also reported that a part-time Administrative Assistant, Janice Sciano, will begin tomorrow for 20 hours a week.  There is no change in Diane O’Hotto’s condition and it is unknown at this time when she will return to work.  Vice President Ziehler wishes to extend holiday wishes to Diane.  Director Gingery thanked Milwaukee Public Library for working together on Ecommerce publicity campaign; a press release will be issued on Friday and bookmarks and display materials will be distributed shortly.

VIII.             NEXT MEETING DATES.

A.      Finance and Personnel.  Scheduled for January 28, 2008 beginning at 8:45 a.m.

B.       MCFLS Board of Trustees.  Scheduled for January 28, 2008 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

IX.                ADJOURNMENT.  With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at    

10:31 a.m.  Vice President Ziehler wished everyone a happy holiday.