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DIRECTOR'S REPORT
August 2007

    Director’s Report and Highlights
    August 21, 2007
    Submitted by Pamela Nyberg Kiesner, Library Director

    Sadly, with the recent death of Tom Glenn, the Library lost one of its best friends.

    Tom and his wife Caroline were charter members of the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library when it formed in 1952, and Tom served as its President for 12 years. He faithfully retrieved books that Village Books was donating to the Friends’ book sales, and Tom also picked up book donations from individuals when they could not deliver them to the library.

    For the past two years Tom represented the Friends organization to the Library Board, attending each of our meetings. As you all know and heard at each meeting, he was highly complimentary of the Board’s work and efforts on behalf of the community. He recently and often said that he wished he could do more. Two of his favorite expressions describe the kind of man he was: “Fantastic! Stunning!”

    We will miss Tom, and his genuine love and enthusiasm for the library.


    Friends of the Library

    Happy news, that the Friends agreed to fund our request for 6 laptop computers so that we may conduct classes throughout the library, or even on the road (where there is wireless)! Thanks to our good Friends!


    Communications

    In your packet is a letter from Rachel Myers, Executive Director of the Whatcom Literacy Council, signed by its Board of Directors (of which I am a member).

    It may be the first of several letters or comments we receive from organizations as we plan for Bellingham’s new public library. Our consultants will be soliciting feedback from the community about what they’d like. As you know, we’ve talked about planning for a coffee shop/café, a Friends gift shop and book sale area, and the question of leasing space to community organizations or entities has also been brought up.

    From my perspective, a library partnership with the Literacy Council is a natural, one that is not unfamiliar for many other libraries. We share similar missions, with similar clientele and resources. This will be up to you and the community to decide as we begin planning.

    Whatcom Community Foundation

    Enclosed is the Bellingham Public Library annual fund report, as well as information about two checks we received:
    ˇ $8,113.00 from our BPL Fund, the full distributable amount.
    ˇ $2,014.50 from the Bayview Fund, an endowed fund established by Fredericka Bond to benefit eight local organizations. Each year we receive one-eighth of the distributable amount of the fund.
      For the past several years the Board decided to return both checks to the Foundation to be re-invested in our Bellingham Public Library Fund. Let’s discuss it at the meeting; I recommend re-investment.

      2008 Budget

      Next task on our 2008 budget timetable is to review our library rates and fees. Attached is a complete listing for your review, discussion, and approval. I recommend the following changes:
      ˇ Non-resident borrower fee: increase from $35 to $52 to reflect a Bellingham resident’s actual cost for library services. This amount has not increased since per capita support was $35. The senior non-resident rate would be $26.00, half the regular fee.
      ˇ Add a “color copy” charge of .50 cents when new copiers arrive this September because the new copiers will provide the choice of b/w or color. We have not had this option available to our customers before.
      ˇ Special invoices: increase staff time charge from $16 to $20 per hour to more closely reflect staff wages.

      I will review other budget highlights with you at the meeting. Our final budget was due to the City on Friday August 17th.

      Trustee Education

      At the meeting I will review our procedures for handling incidents that occur at the library. This is in follow up to a question that was raised at your last meeting, and will provide good information for our discussion about your options for processing trespass appeals.