In attendance were John Dubinsky, President, presiding; Jacque Land, Janet Rainford, Keith Savage, Thomas F. Schlafly, David Sweeney, and Vince Volpe.
Also present were Executive Director Waller McGuire and staff members Barry Berry, Patty Carleton, Tiffany Davis, Jon Drakesmith, Diane Freiermuth, Cathy Heimberger, William Jackson, Charles Jefferson, Tonnya Joy, Kathy Leitle, Brenda McDonald, Jen Ohzourk, Sarah Parker, Justin Struttmann, and Ed Witkowski; Lisa Stump, Lashly & Baer; Liz Reeves, Library Foundation; and Library Foundation Board Chair Larry Otto and Library Foundation Board members Carolyn Farrell, Bob Guller, Michael Kahn, Deborah Patterson, David Rabe, Lee Rodgers, Laura Shaughnessy, Ellen Sherberg, Patti Thorp, Matt Villa, Andreas Wolf, and Mike Wolff.
The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. by Mr. Dubinsky. He introduced new Library Board member Janet Rainford.
Minutes:
Mr. Sweeney’s motion to approve the minutes of the December 5, 2016 Board meeting, seconded by Mr. Savage, was approved.
President’s Report:
Mr. Dubinsky welcomed everyone to the meeting, stating that the next meeting would be February 6, 2017.
Fiscal Affairs Committee Report:
Mr. Volpe reported that an ERP system called Serenic from Finley & Cook had been selected for the Business Office and that the installation and conversion to the new system would take about nine months. Mr. McGuire reported that the sale of the north FCB building to Confluence Academy was in process. The Library has received the $2,250,000 down payment and the rest will be paid over seven years and nine months, with the possibility of full payment at any point. The Library is continuing the work to finalize the condominium agreement details with Confluence.
Executive Director’s Report:
•McGuire introduced Lisa Stump from Lashly & Baer.
•Jackson presented the financial report. He also stated that the Library has now invested $4.9 million with the MOSIP Program.
•Berry presented the HR report.
•Reeves presented the Foundation report, commenting that 173 people have RSVP’d for the Friends reception before the Josh Aronson presentation and 75 have RSVP’d for the Black History Month Speaker reception.
•A copy of the Black History Month brochure was highlighted.
New Business:
Mr. Dubinsky welcomed members of the Library Foundation Board to the meeting and asked everyone at the table to introduce themselves. He noted Mr. Schlafly’s thirty-two years on the Library Board, and that Mr. Schlafly had started the Foundation to help fund the renovation of Central Library with a $20,000,000 campaign led by Mr. Schlafly and Ms. Ferring. He stated that this meeting was to talk about new goals for the Foundation.
Library Foundation Chair Larry Otto stated that the meeting was to discuss further collaboration between the two Boards, and to discuss project initiatives that can be targets to help raise funds.
Mr. McGuire thanked the Foundation, stating that the renovation of Central Library would not have been possible without the hard work and support of the Foundation. He also noted the $600,000 the Library received in annual support this year. The Library is in good financial shape, with more than six months’ operating costs in reserves, but to tackle new initiatives for the Strategic Plan as outlined in the Tactical Plan, additional funds are needed. Two main areas of focus have been targeted for 2017: the Digital Divide and Early Childhood Learning.
To address the Digital Divide, the Library is proposing to reconfigure Barr and Walnut Park Libraries by increasing the technology available to Creative Experience-level offerings with new training and learning opportunities. The print collection would also be reconfigured to better match the needs of each location. These prototype locations, if successful, could become the model for the rest of the Neighborhood Libraries.
To address Early Childhood Learning, the Library is proposing an initiative called “Born to Read.” This would include kits given to new parents and caregivers at hospitals and at the first wellness visits and would include a book, learning toy, and information to help them work with their children. It would also include information on the many resources the Library has to help.
The Library is asking for additional support from the Foundation for these initiatives. For the current year, this would mean an additional $85,000 and then for a commitment of an additional $400,000 each year from 2018 – 2022. Library Administration is also looking carefully at the current year’s budget to cut $700,000 to put toward these projects.
Mr. Dubinsky noted that 95% of the Library’s funding comes from a dedicated tax and that the budget is break-even from year to year.
Ms. Patterson noted that research should be done to see which funders would be interested in these initiatives so that a fundraising plan could be put in place.
Mr. Otto stated that the $85,000 requested for the first year would be doable.
Mr. Rodgers asked for further information on the kits proposed for the “Born to Read” initiative.
Mr. Guller suggested that the initiatives be presented to funders with the understanding that they will not happen unless funds are raised.
Mr. Schlafly’s motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Sweeney, was approved.
The meeting ended at 7:10 p.m.
At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Pubic Library on January 9, 2017, the following actions were taken:
| Mr. Sweeney moved | that the Board approve the minutes of the meeting of December 5, 2016. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Schlafly moved | that the meeting adjourn. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe.) |
