THORNTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
March 10, 2008
Minutes

Vice-President Deanna Brueggert  called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.  Present were Teresa Carter, Stephanie Jones, Patty Ramsey,, Eric Ragsdale, and Deanna Brueggert.  John Merson and Ron Guinn were absent.  Also present were library director Karen K. Niemeyer and treasurer Barbara A. Darnell.

Assistant Librarian Christine Sterle was introduced.  She told about her job at the library:  collection development and working with the teens.

The minutes of the February 11, 2008, meeting were reviewed.  Barbara provided a list of additional claims to be added to the February claims register; this brings the new total of February claims to $262,045.29.  Eric moved and Stephanie seconded that the minutes be approved; motion carried.

Barbara Darnell provided the treasurer’s monthly financial report.  Receipts for February 2008 total $240,923.16 and disbursements total $46,181.91.  The February ending cash balance is $601,921.74 plus investments of $60,000.00 and interest of $6399.23.  Total of all funds is $669,320.97.  All deposits except $59.00 were removed from MBIA Investors and deposited in Home National Bank.    The board is investigating TrustINdiana, the local government investment pool, but will make no decisions until more information is available.   After discussion, Patty moved and Eric seconded that the register of claims be approved for payment; motion carried.  The claims total is $28,153.00. 

A salary ordinance dated March 10 and reflecting 2008 salaries and titles was presented.  Stephanie moved the ordinance be approved, Eric seconded; motion carried.

The estimated cost of a large walled garden will be $65,500.  Karen presented a list of ten proposals for work on the library’s Secret Garden that will be at the north side of the Carnegie.  The proposals included excavating, masonry, electrical, pavers, gates, etc.  The gates will need locks.  The walls are six feet tall.  A bronze sculpture is planned for the center of the garden but will not be part of the 2008 work.  Engraved pavers will be sold for $28.00 each in the hope that proceeds will cover the cost of many of the blank pavers.  To begin the garden project Karen requested using up to $50,000 of the $57,000 budgeted in 2008 from the Rainy Day Fund.  Fund-raising at the gala and other events will then help replenish the Rainy Day Fund.  She will seek grants and other donations.  Deanna is making beaded bookmarks and selling for $5.00 each; she is giving that money to the garden fund.  Eric moved and Deanna seconded that at this time $25,000 of the Rainy Day Fund by assigned to proposals 1,2,5, and 9 of the ten proposals.  These include excavating and foundation, masonry, electrical work and lights, and partial payment of  Craig White for his supervision of and work with the project.  The motion carried. 

Fern Miner has agreed to replace John Merson on the library board, effective May 1.  Karen has approached Bib Klinefelter to replace Eric in October 2008.

The annual director’s report will be presented at the April meeting.

A KohaZoom Open Source system for the library’s management system and public access catalog will replace the current SIRSI system.  An  $8300  grant has been obtained from the Community Foundation of Boone County; it will cover the cost of extracting bibliographic records from the SISRI system and importing into Koha.  Five of the library staff have been trained in use of the new system and five more will be trained in March.

Karen reported that she and the Friends of Thorntown Public Library board will meet on March 11 and continue planning the gala fund-raiser for the Secret Garden.  The gala date is April 19.

There being no further business, Stephanie moved and Patty seconded that the meeting be adjourned; motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:25  p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa Carter,
Secretary