Director’s Report and Highlights February 17, 2009 Pamela Nyberg Kiesner, Director Bellingham, Washington This month’s Library Board meeting agenda is full. Here is a preview for you of the issues we’ll be discussing, reviewing, and approving. Performance and Activity Report Each month you review and approve the “performance and activity” of the library. I’ve included a five year review in your packet which contains additional detail. This is information we normally provide for the City’s final budget document, including several per capita calculations. I think you’ll find it revealing, and I look forward to discussing it with you. New Central Library Site Review As a Board you decided that we would re-open the discussion about sites for the New Central Library, especially because of these three reasons: · Two years have passed since the City Council unanimously approved your site recommendation and then the project was put on hold. · The Waterfront has been re-introduced by the Mayor as a potential site. · Times have changed in these two years and the status of the sites considered may have changed. In preparation for our discussion, I’ve included two familiar documents: the criteria we used when evaluating each site, and the list of sites that were evaluated. At our meeting I’d like us to talk about how you envision moving forward with re-opening the site review process. Fairhaven Branch Library We’ll review the public meeting that took place on February 5th; you have notes from the meeting and follow-up emailed public comments in your packet. We’ve also included a copy of the floor plans to date and the cost estimates that were shared at that meeting. We’ll review the progress on the project, and let you know what we expect to cover in the Repair and Renovations Committee meeting on the 18th. Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library System Do you want to formalize who will try to attend each of the WCLS Board meetings as a BPL Board representative? Faye Hill and Vicky Marshall served in this capacity last year, and with the potential for a study of our two systems we will want to keep the lines of communication open. Joan Airoldi, WCLS Director, and I have begun looking into the costs of a study and possible consultants. I’ll provide you an update and would like some discussion about moving forward with a study this year. Teen Summer Reading Fine Forgiveness Summer! We’re planning our reading programs, and bring the fine forgiveness program to you for your approval. See the information that is provided in your packet. Program Update Christine will bring you up-to-speed on all that is happening with Whatcom READS!, the Coop Drop Box, and our library user survey. Have you taken the survey yet? It’s available online: www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org until the end of the month. See you at the Board meeting!