The Mission of LARL is to link people and communities
to resources and experiences for learning and enrichment.
LARL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FULL BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
A meeting of the Lake Agassiz Regional Library Full Board was held on Thursday,
September 16, 2010 at the Moorhead Library. Vice-President Nelson called the
meeting to order at 5:35 pm.
Board Members Present:
Buness, Bursik, Chevalier, Fox, Hall, Hovdenes, Lindgren,
Nelson, Perry, Rue, Stoltenow, Tweten, Vinz.
Board Members Absent:
Hooper, Ingersoll, Kochmann, Mehsikhomer, Mooney
(chair), Pazdernik, Savageau, Winterfeldt, Wray-Williams.
One vacancy (City of Moorhead)
Others Present:
Fredette; Sprynczynatyk; Anne Fredine, Moorhead Hub
Supervisor; Helen Goodin, Collection Development
Librarian; Liz Lynch, Moorhead Public Services
Supervisor/Youth Services Co-Coordinator; Josh Stompro,
Network Administrator.
PUBLIC INPUT
None.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
(Bursik/Vinz) Moved to approve the Agenda as presented. MCU.
MINUTES OF THE JUNE 17, 2010 FULL BOARD MEETING.
(Lindgren/Chevalier) Move to approve the Minutes of the June 17, 2010 Full Board
Meeting as presented. MCU
LARL STRATEGIC PLAN: ANNUAL UPDATE ON STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS.
The four Leads of each Strategic Plan Focus Area discussed their particular area:
Great Facilities: Anne Fredine, Moorhead Hub Supervisor.
LARL’s current space is being reviewed. Anne, Sr. Eileen Beutel, and Helen Goodin visited all 13
branch libraries in the LARL region, they saw that every location is doing something really well,
but all locations have things they can do better. A 4-page checklist was used at each location
how the building looked as you walked up, how things looked when you walked into the
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Minutes of the September 16, 2010 Full Board Meeting – Page 2.
LARL STRATEGIC PLAN: ANNUAL UPDATE ON STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS (continued)
building, are tables clear, are displays being used, vents cleaned, etc. Items found are now
being evaluated and who is going to correct the issues is being discussed (LARL, the cities, etc).
Excellent Customer Service: Helen Goodin, Collection Development Librarian.
LARL’s job descriptions are being evaluated and interview questions are being reviewed in order
to emphasize the importance of customer service. We have developed customer service
standards and have been training staff. Staff will be doing a self-assessment of their customer
service skills. Currently our focus in on our staff but we will focus on customers and will really
look at what customers want as we proceed in this strategic plan.
Maximize existing technology and add new technology as needed: Josh Stompro,
Network Administrator.
We are looking to get the most out of the technology we currently have. Overdue notices were
evaluated. Research has shown that the earlier you contact a customer the better chance you
have of getting items back, so our notification process has been shortened. We also started
sending bill notices in the mail, through a company called Click2Mail. Next we will be looking at
working with a collection agency. We are also working on evaluating our processes; we are
working with vendors to minimize staff time by maximizing what vendors can do for us as far as
processing materials. Our firewalls are being updated to better handle customers using
YouTube and slowing down the network. A software deployment solution has been
implemented, so now all 250 of our computers can be updated at one time remotely.
Employ effective, creative and dynamic marketing of libraries and programs: Liz
Lynch, Moorhead Public Service Supervisor/Youth Services Co-Coordinator.
It’s National Library Card Sign-Up Month. LARL has a goal of every 1st grader in the region
getting a library card. Over 30 1st grade classes are being visited by librarians during the
month. Each child will receive a booklist for beginning readers and a magnet bookmark. Green
Library Card applications (rather than blue) are being used to track the success of the program.
The new LARL.org website has been released. A new LARL Events Calendar is also being used.
A new electronic newsletter has also been started. A LARL Facebook page is being worked on.
A marketing team has been formed to develop a Marketing Plan for LARL.
Vice-President Nelson recognized Goodin on behalf of the Board and thanked her for her 40
years of service to LARL.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Through the end of August we are 66.67% of the way through the year and 62.55% of
budgeted expenses have been spent. Summer Reading Program (SRP) is at about 100%
because all costs for the 2010 SRP have been incurred. PC Computer Supplies and Office
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Minutes of the September 16, 2010 Full Board Meeting – Page 3.
FINANCIAL REPORT (continued)
Supplies are high due to large purchases that should take us through the rest of 2010.
(Perry/Hovdenes) Move to approve the Final Report for the State Regional Public
Library System Arts and Cultural Heritage Program for FY2010. MCU.
(Bursik/Vinz) Move to authorize the Regional Library Director and Business Office to
submit the Report of Results Accomplished for the FY2010 Regional Library Basic
System Support (RLBSS) Grant. MCU.
Buness asked if LARL had heard about Health Insurance rates for 2011. Sprynczynatyk
reported that LARL’s Health Insurance premiums will decrease by 1% for 2011.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Fredette provided a 6-page overview of 2010 happenings in LARL, to be used as part of the
Director’s review which is taking place. This report was requested by the Personnel Committee
to be reported to the Board.
Our first Legacy program was February 2nd and since then 117 programs have been held and
attended by over 8,500 people. Information is being developed to handout at Legacy events,
with the hopes that people will contact their Legislators and tell them the value of Legacy funds
going to libraries.
Use is up through August. 45,299 more items checked out so far in 2010 over 2009.
The Legislative Appreciation Events will be at 4 branch libraries (Ada – Oct 12th, Crookston –
Oct 13th, Moorhead – Oct 14th, and Bagley – Oct 15th). The next step is to actually call the
Legislators and see if they will come to the open houses. Board members attending the open
houses in their area would be very much appreciated along with strong library
supporters/customers. A brief PowerPoint presentation is being developed for the events.
Fredette and Sprynczynatyk are currently looking at revising the 2011 Budget.
The Hawley Library renovation will be starting next week. Immediately following, Ada will be
undergoing a space reorganization/renovation. Fosston will be getting new carpet soon.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Becker County (Bursik, Hovdenes, Nelson, Sauvageau-absent).
Mary Haney, Detroit Lakes Hub Supervisor, is at home recovering from surgery and is doing
well.
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Minutes of the September 16, 2010 Full Board Meeting – Page 4.
Breckenridge (Fox).
The windows and doors replacement project is done and looks great.
Clay County (Ingersoll-absent, Mehsikomer-absent, Mooney-absent).
No report.
Clearwater County (Chevalier).
No report.
Crookston (Lindgren).
The roof will be replaced soon due to a hail storm about a year ago.
Detroit Lakes (Hooper-absent).
No report.
City of Mahnomen (Kochmann-absent).
No report.
Mahnomen County (Pazdernik-absent).
No report.
Moorhead (Stoltenow, Vinz, Wray-Williams-absent, Winterfeldt-absent).
The security camera system has been updated. The elevator has been repaired.
Norman County/Ada (Hall).
The Ada Library has been very active in community events. The library was part of National
Night Out. The 8th Street String Quartet (Legacy event) was at their fall festival - Fun In The
Flatlands.
Polk County (Buness, Rue, Tweten-absent).
The Rick Crume Genealogy program and the 8th Street String Quartet Legacy programs were
well attended.
Wilkin County (Perry).
No report.
Northern Lights Library Network (Bursik/Iverson).
NLLN is busy and things are going well. The Director is hinting at retirement.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
(Chavelier/Fox) Move to approve the 2011 Holidays & Closings schedule as
presented. MCU.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
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