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MEETING MINUTES

MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
February 17, 2005

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library was held on Thursday, February 17, 2005, in the Central Library pursuant to due notice to trustees. The following members were present:

Rebecca L. Pordum, Chair
Phyllis A. Horton, Vice Chair
John B. Long, Treasurer
W. Lawrence Buck
Jack Connors
Annette A. Juncewicz
Elaine M. Panty
Abdul H. Raoof
Daniel T. Roach
Judith K. Summer
Wayne D. Wisbaum

George M. Zimmermann, Trustee Emeritus

Excused:

Frank Gist, out of town
Susan Maggiore, out of town
Sharon A. Thomas, conflict

Chair Rebecca L. Pordum called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Joseph B. Rounds Conference Room.

Agenda Item B – Approval / Change to the Agenda. The agenda was approved as submitted.

Agenda Item C – Minutes of the January 20, 2005 meeting. On motion by Mr. Buck, seconded by Ms. Summer, the Minutes were approved as mailed.

Agenda Item D – Report of the Chair. Chair Pordum introduced and welcomed Jack Connors as a newly appointed member of the Board of Trustees. He is president and publisher of Business First of Buffalo and the Buffalo Law Journal . Mr. Connors has a Master's degree in Library Science and worked briefly as a librarian before starting a career in the field of journalism.

Mr. Connors stated he was pleased to become a trustee and hoped he would contribute to the Board.

In regard to Committee assignments, the Chair informed trustees that due to the appointments of some new trustees, she planned to delay these assignments for another month.

Ms. Pordum referred to the 2004 “Goals and Objectives” document that had been included in the February Board packet. This report informs Board members and the community about all the work the Library does for patrons. She encouraged trustees to study the report. The Chair asked that a copy of the “Goals and Objectives” be sent to the Library Foundation to apprise them of Library initiatives and facilitate communications.

The Chair then asked Director Michael Mahaney to update the Board on the budget situation. With the Library not directly impacted by the sales tax issue, there is a perception that the Library is “out of the woods.” In reality, it has not gone unscathed. A budget reduction of $4.2 million has taken effect. Based on projections, additional revenues must be identified and deeper cuts absorbed in coming months. Schedules have been compressed in almost every location, more than 100 full and part-time employees have been eliminated or downgraded, Sunday hours remain in effect at only a few locations, and bookmobiles are off the road. This occurs at a time when library activity has reached record-breaking highs.

With the Library funded primarily through the property tax, which was set when the Legislature adopted a budget in December, $21.7 million in operating funds are believed to be secure thanks to the Library Protection Act. Unfortunately, the library materials budget is in the County's capital budget. Those funds are not available and will not be available until the Legislature agrees to issue bonds. Reserves from 2004 are being used to purchase some new titles. The reduced materials budget has an impact not only on circulation activity, but on revenues as well since many fines are generated by seven-day bestseller titles. January revenues are down 16% compared to last January and 20% below budget projections. The County's capital budget also allocates $600,000 for materials, furnishings and equipment at the new Merriweather Library and $7 million for new library construction. It is not known if those items will be funded. While revenues are down, costs are up. If trends continue, cuts made thus far are only the beginning. All hiring has been suspended, and staff continues to examine areas to reduce expenditures and generate more revenue.

Mr. Connors asked if the Library's 2005 funding allocation might be in jeopardy. The Director said it is very unlikely the Library's appropriation would be diminished since its funds are derived from property tax revenues rather than sales tax, and he believes the Library Protection Act secures the 2005 allocation. However, funding for 2006 is another matter.

Agenda Item E – Committee Reports.

Agenda Item E.1 – Executive Committee. Ms. Horton stated the Executive Committee met on February 10 th to discuss agenda items. Due to time constraints, the Executive Committee approved Resolution 2005-6, Wide Area Network and Internet Local Loop RFP Award. This allowed time to process paperwork and file E-rate forms prior to the deadline. For the record, the following resolution was approved unanimously by Executive Committee members (Trustees Buck, Horton and Pordum) on February 10 th .

RESOLUTION 2005-06

WHEREAS, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library utilizes a complex wide area network (WAN) to provide patron access to the Internet at the Central Library and each of the fifty-one (51) branch and contracting library locations, and

WHEREAS, these services are eligible for E-rate program discounts, which currently pay 61% of the cost of the Library's WAN and Internet access services, and

WHEREAS, pursuant to E-rate program requirements, on January 5, 2005 the Library posted an online FCC Form 470 Description of Services Requested and Certification and issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), and

WHEREAS, seven vendors requested the RFP, and two proposals by American Broadband in cooperation with Adelphia and by Paetec Communications, were submitted , and

WHEREAS, the current service provided by AT&T was treated as a “standing proposal” as earlier this year Erie County elected to extend its AT&T contract through November 6, 2007 and as part of the County Legislature's approval included a provision allowing other County entities to utilize this contract, and

WHEREAS, the Library's RFP review committee, determined that the total costs for the existing service provided by AT&T were significantly lower than the other proposals, and

WHEREAS, in order to provide adequate time to process the award notice and to file necessary E-rate forms prior to the E-rate filing deadline Executive Committee action on behalf of the full Board pursuant to the Board's Bylaws is necessary, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library designates the AT&T existing services “standing proposal” as the lowest cost response for the Library's wide area network, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library designates AT&T as the lowest responsive proposal for local loop service, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Library Director and/or his designee(s) is authorized to execute the necessary documents to continue the existing AT&T services through November 7, 2007, and be if further

RESOLVED, that the above action will be reported to the full Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees pursuant to Bylaws Article VI 1.

Agenda Item E.2 – Budget and Finance Committee. Dr. John Long asked Deputy Director Kenneth Stone to introduce budget and finance committee items, which Dr. Long recommended for approval.

Agenda Item E.2.a – Contract Library Transfers. This item involves transfers for the Cheektowaga and Orchard Park Public Libraries. Ms. Panty recommended approval and was seconded by Ms. Summer. Approval was unanimous.

RESOLUTION 2005-7

WHEREAS, a request for budget transfers has been received from the Cheektowaga Public Library and Orchard Park Public Library, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library approve transfers totaling $6,811 within the budget of the Cheektowaga Public Library and $5,448 within the budget of the Orchard Park Public Library.

Agenda Item E.2.b – Amend 2005 Budget: State Member Aid. Mr. Stone reminded trustees that $70,000 in Member Aid received in late December from Senator Mary Lou Rath had been accepted at last month's meeting. It is necessary to re-budget these funds to the 2005 budget. Upon motion by Ms. Juncewicz and a second by Ms. Horton, the following action received unanimous approval.

RESOLUTION 2005-8

WHEREAS, on January 20 th , the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library approved Resolution 2005-3 amending the 2004 budget to reflect a State “grant-in-aid in the amount of $70,000” that was received in December 2004, and

WHEREAS, this member aid item was sponsored by New York State Senator Mary Lou Rath to assist libraries in her district in light of the “severe financial constraints facing our libraries,” and

WHEREAS, these proceeds are designated for the benefit of the Amherst Public Library ($20,000), Clarence Public Library ($10,000), Newstead Public Library ($10,000), City of Tonawanda Public Library ($10,000) and the Town of Tonawanda Public Library ($20,000), and

WHEREAS, subsequent to Board approval of this resolution, the Library was informed that the deadline to amend the 2004 budget in the County's financial system had passed, and

WHEREAS, the funds have not been disbursed and remain in the Library fund balance, and

WHEREAS, to allow these funds to be disbursed as intended, the 2005 budget must be amended to incorporate this expenditure from Library fund balance, now therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library approves a budget amendment to the 2005 budget, increasing revenues and expenses as follows:

and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library authorizes the above contracting libraries to retain these funds until such time as they are needed to offset 2005 budget reductions or future state or local aid reductions, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library urges the contracting libraries to apply these funds for the above purposes, and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution and a revised Exhibit A be transmitted to the above libraries to implement the change.

Agenda Item E.2.c – State Construction Grant Award. The Library recently received notice of a $37,853 award from New York State . This money will be applied towards furnishings, shelving and equipment at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library, which is under construction. Ms. Horton moved for approval and was seconded by Ms. Summer. This resolution to accept funds was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 2005-9

WHEREAS, the City of Buffalo is constructing a new library, the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library, to replace the aging and cramped North Jefferson Branch Library, and

WHEREAS, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees strongly supports this project, which is consistent with the goals outlined in Breaking New Ground: A Blueprint for Strengthening a Community Through Superior Library Service and the System Five Year Plan of Service, 2001-2006 , and

WHEREAS, in Resolution 2004-50 the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library directed staff to transmit to the New York State Division of Library Development a recommendation to allocate an estimated $40,000 in State Library Construction grant funds for the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library project, and

WHEREAS, t he Library has received notice that $37,853 in State Public Library Construction grant funding has been awarded for this project, and

WHEREAS, this amount reflects the 5% reduction in library aid enacted in the 2004-2005 New York State budget , now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees amends the 2005 Grants Budget by appropriating the additional $37,853 State Public Library Construction grant revenues and expenditures as shown below.

2005 Grants Budget
Revenue From State Grant		$ 37,853
Project Expenditures   Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library		$ 37,853

Agenda Item E.2.d – Budget Transfer for Part-time Construction Project Support. The Facility Manager's provisional appointment is ending soon. Interviews had been scheduled to fill that position — before the County's finances took a downturn. Library Administration then decided to reassess the position because any vacancies that occur present an opportunity for the Library to restructure the organization to avoid future layoffs. By eliminating the Facility Manager position and changing reporting relation­ships within departments, the Library will save $65,000 in 2005. This resolution creates a temporary part-time construction manager position to provide support for Central Library renovation and Merriweather Library projects, protecting the Library's interests through completion, anticipated to be September 30 th . This includes one option for renewal, also requiring Board approval, in the event projects are not completed on time.

Board members requested assurance that changing reporting responsibilities in the midst of construction would not disrupt completion. Mr. Stone explained the former Facility Manager would continue to oversee construction projects in a part-time capacity to avoid problems. As a County project, the Department of Public Works also provides oversight. Merriweather is a Buffalo project and has a City employee assigned as project manager as well. On motion by Mr. Buck, seconded by Ms. Horton, the following was approved by a vote of ten to one, with Ms. Juncewicz opposing.

RESOLUTION 2005-10

WHEREAS, o n February 25, 2005 , the present Facility Manager's provisional appointment comes to an end, and

WHEREAS , given current uncertain fiscal conditions, filling this position is not advised, and

WHEREAS, restructuring duties and assignments in lieu of filling this management position will, with some sacrifice, allow the position to be eliminated, saving an annualized $65,000 per year in salary and fringe benefit costs, which may be utilized to help offset anticipated revenue shortfalls, and

WHEREAS , the unexpected timing of this change results in a need for temporary construction project support services to protect the Library's interests through the completion of this year's Central Library renovation and Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library construction projects, and

WHEREAS, to continue this support through fall 2005, a personal services contract is needed, necessitating a budget transfer from the personal services and fringe benefit lines to the Professional Service Contracts & Fees line, and

WHEREAS , this continued support will provide coordination and monitoring of construction activities and required library support in connection with the Central Library renovation and Merriweather construction projects, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees approves a budget transfer between the following accounts:

RESOLVED, that the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees authorizes the Library Director to execute a personal services contract for a term through September 30, 2005, with one option to renew, to implement the above services.

Agenda Item E.2.e – Monthly Financial Report. A preliminary year-end financial report was distributed to trustees. Mr. Stone stated Library spending overall stayed within budget, but noted that medical expense significantly exceeded budget for the year. He also explained the change in New York State 's billing cycle for retirement expense.

Agenda Item E.3 – Policy Committee. Ms. Summer reported that recent reductions in operating revenues necessitated a re-examination of the tradition of providing free library privileges to non-residents who do not contribute to the financial support of the B&ECPL. The Policy Committee proposes a fixed charge per year for non-residents. The charge would not apply to non-residents who own property, attend school or are employed in Erie County . This requires amendments to the Circulation Policy. In addition, recent migration from the DRA automation system to the Sirsi Unicorn system requires some minor changes in terminology within the text of the Circulation Policy. Changes are technical and do not alter borrower terms. The B&ECPL Board will take action on these proposed changes at the March Board meeting after receiving comments from contracting libraries. It is anticipated the changes would be implemented soon thereafter.

Mr. Connors asked if there were projections on what the revenue stream might be from a non-resident charge. Mr. Stone replied that one projection estimates $36,000 in annual revenue.

Dr. Raoof inquired whether any other counties currently charge non-residents for library service. Mr. Stone said Monroe County did something similar a few years ago. The Niagara Falls Public Library currently charges Erie County residents who borrow media. He reminded trustees that Erie County is different from many other library systems in that B&ECPL users can borrow books from any B&ECPL library in Erie County . That is not the case with many other library systems elsewhere in New York State .

Agenda Item F – Report of the Director. Mr. Mahaney reported that he and Ms. Pordum recently met with members of the New York Legislative delegation to discuss State Aid. While adequate sustained State Aid is preferable, the Library will certainly welcome individual member aid allocations as well to offset cutbacks. The Director reported the Live Homework Help program has been suspended due to lack of funding. Attempts were made to secure contributions or private grants, but those efforts have not been successful.

Mr. Mahaney advised trustees the annual Trustee Workshop will take place on March 19 th at the Central Library. He hopes to see many trustees at this event. He said the B&ECPL placed second in the WebFeat President's Innovation Award. The Director reported on a recent fundraiser held to benefit the Aurora Town Public Library. This event featured the award-winning film, James Joyce - Dublin to Buffalo , co-produced by B&ECPL legal counsel Patrick E. Martin.

The following was submitted by the Director and transmitted to Board members prior to the meeting.

Funding Cuts and Delayed Budget Resolution Affect Staffing and Library Material Purchases:  The 2005 Erie County Capital Budget includes $5 million for library materials and $600,000 to purchase library materials, equipment and furnishings for the new Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library as “bonded projects.”  This means that funds are not available to the Library until the County Legislature approves the issuance of bonds.  Given the many issues surrounding the 2005 County Budget implementation that remain unresolved, the proposed date for bonding authorization has yet to be determined.

The purchase of books, magazines, media, etc. — originally curtailed in late 2004 during the library automation system implementation and continued as the prospect of complete shutdown loomed — has been extended.  Cash flow estimates for required purchases to maintain subscriptions (e.g., The Buffalo News and online databases) through the first half of 2005 have been developed.  Remaining 2004 library materials funds will be conserved for prioritized uses, with the small remaining balance, estimated at less than $200,000, utilized for high demand new releases until such time as the County Capital funding picture is resolved.

Library patrons continue to express dismay over the lack of new titles to borrow.  Ultimately, this dearth will contribute to further declines in circulation and the resulting loss of overdue fine revenues, aggravating an already strained revenue picture.

Recognizing the impact on support service workload requirements, nine full-time and four part-time Processing Department staff were furloughed as of January 21 st , until such time as the funding situation is resolved and a more normal volume of materials starts to flow again. Substantial reductions in the System's operating budget have affected staffing county-wide.  While all contracting library personnel reductions have yet to be reported, 53 full-time positions have been eliminated.  Some positions were vacant or to be vacated as a result of retirements.  Many part-time positions also have been eliminated.  In all, 80+ positions have been affected through downgrades, hours reductions and temporary or permanent layoffs.

Governor's Proposed State Budget Retains 2004's Library Aid Cut:   Governor George Pataki's 2005/2006 Executive Budget increases school aid by $526 million, the largest increase ever proposed by a Governor. Unfortunately, the Governor's generosity does not extend to library aid.  The Governor's Budget proposes $84.4 million for library aid, the same amount included in last year's budget, which represented a decrease of 5% ? $145,000 less than the amount B&ECPL received in 2003 .   The net impact to B&ECPL would be an estimated cut of approximately $96,000 from the 2005 budget.  Efforts to educate State officials as to the impacts of these reductions, particularly in light of the County's precarious financial position, assume added importance.

The 2005 budget will be closely monitored and every attempt made to restrain spending until the State funding picture is clearer.  To that end, contracting library directors and managers have been reminded of the provision in the annual contract that requires System Board approval, in advance, for all transfers in excess of $5,000.  The Governor released his budget proposal on January 18 th .  E-mail was sent to all B&ECPL administrators and contract library directors and managers the same day to advise them of the impact.

B&ECPL Celebrates Black History Month: "Along This Way: Storytelling in the African Tradition" kicked off Black History Month activities at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Featuring Extension Services Administrator and storyteller Sharon Y. Holley , storyteller Karima Amin , vocalist Joyce Carolyn and percussionist Eddie Nicholson , this program was presented in the Central Library auditorium on Saturday, February 5 th . The Department of Extension Services and just buffalo literary center sponsored the event. Other activities and displays in City of Buffalo branches include the African American Read-in Chain at the North Jefferson Library, African American Poetry Alive at Crane Library, and an African American History Quiz at the East Delavan , Fronczak, Kensington and Martin Luther King Branches.

Popular Materials Collection Prepares to Relocate: Phase II of the Central Library renovation will transform the current first floor Popular Materials (POP) Depart­ment to a more inviting bookstore like space. By the end of February, POP will be open to the public in its temporary location on the ground floor. Fiction, young adult books, audio books, DVDs and magazines will be available for circulation from this area until the second phase renovations are completed. Target for reopening is late September.

SIRSI Automation System Update: Administrators Shirley Whelan and Ann Kling are working with vendor representatives to resolve migration issues and refine procedures as they become more familiar with the software and its capabilities. Under the direction of Administrator Carol Batt (Office of System Public Services), librarians Peggy Errington , Mary Schiffhauer, Kelly Donovan and Mary Ann Ozimek have updated the circulation training manual and prepared FAQs to share with staff at a series of hands-on training sessions. This information is also available on the staff Intranet.

Rare Book Room Hosts New Exhibit: Librarian Charles Alaimo has assembled and installed an exhibit that features the works of J. J. Lankes , a Buffalo artist and master of the woodcut. Lankes illustrated the poetry of Robert Frost, among numerous others. The exhibit, J. J. Lankes: Artist and Workingman , features Lankes' prints, Christmas cards and bookplates, as well as his first set of engraver tools and other objects donated to the Library by his brother. The exhibit can be viewed through March.

Mark Twain Interest Shines Spotlight on B&ECPL: The Winter 2005 issue of New York State Archives features the article “Mark Twain in Buffalo " by Grosvenor Room librarian Rob Alessi ." On the PBS website for Mark Twain: a Film Directed by Ken Burns ( www.pbs.org/marktwain) are links to sites of interest including the B&ECPL. The PBS site has been added to the Reference Desk on the Library's website.

“Straight Talk” Appeals to Information Seekers: On January 22 nd , Business, Science & Technology (BST) librarian Dan Caufield staffed an information table and presented a lecture at "Straight Talk 2005" at Erie Community College 's City Campus. More than 300 aspiring entrepreneurs attended the conference, sponsored by the Small Business Administration and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). Subsequently, 21 attendees have visited BST as a result of the Library's participation in this annual event.

Construction Projects Shaping Up: The initial phase of the Central Library renovation nears completion. An opening of the redesigned first floor circulation area, café and gift/used bookstore is slated to occur in time for National Library Week ( April 10-16, 2005 ). The new east side branch, named in honor of Frank E. Merriweather, Jr ., will be ready for an early autumn grand opening, just in time for the 2005 New York Library Association Conference, which comes to Buffalo in October.

2005 B&ECPL Budget Now Available in County Financial System:  As of February 9 th , all 2005 budget accounts in the SAP financial system are available for B&ECPL use.  The last to fall into place were the remaining balances in the 2004 bond accounts for library materials that had to be “rolled over” to be available for 2005 expenses.  First quarter payments to the contracting libraries were processed in late January. Since the Library's primary source of County support is the Property Tax for Library Purposes, the 2005 adopted budget's $21.7 million property tax allocation is available to support scaled back operations approved by the Board of Trustees when the 2005 budget was adopted in December 2004.  (It is important to note that the amount is $2.5 million below the 2004 allocation and $4.7 million below the Library's peak year property tax allocation in the FY 2000 budget.)

Fine Revenue Declines Sharply in January:  System-wide receipts for January totaled $94,311.71, a decrease of $18,307.80, or 16.26% less than the $112,619.51 collected in January 2004.  This reduction — slightly higher than the overall circulation decline of 15.1% — can be attributed to the County's 2005 budget turmoil, which resulted in the temporary suspension of the request system, reduced open hours throughout the System and limited availability of new library materials.   CFO Ken Stone will monitor this situation as the year progresses.   To offset some projected revenue losses, the Board's Policy Committee has begun to examine Library fee schedules and other revenue generating options.

Retrospective Conversion Continues: "Recon" of the humanities and social sciences collection is now 75% complete. It is estimated that it will take an addi­tional 24 months to convert the remaining monographs. To date, public service staff has spent 4,722 hours reviewing materials for conversion in this, the last of the monograph collections not included in the online catalog. Support staff's time investment parallels that of the subject librarians. After the monographs/book materials, another large task awaits: the retrospective conversion of the archival serials.

Miscellaneous Meetings and Appearances: The Director and Administrators Ruth Collins, Shirley Whelan and Peggy Skotnicki attended the annual mid-winter meeting of the American Library Association from January 14 th through 17 th in Boston , MA. On January 29 th , the Director, along with Deputy Directors Ruth Collins and Ken Stone, attended a meeting of the Association of Contracting Library Boards of Trustees (ACT) at the Audubon Library in Amherst . Guest speaker, Professor George D'Elia of UB's School of Informatics, discussed studies he has conducted across the United States to determine consumer preferences and customer satisfaction with public libraries.  On February 2 nd , the Director presented his "State of the Library" address to System staff, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, to afford more personnel an opportunity to attend. On February 9 th , the Director attended a meeting of Erie County commis­sioners and department heads and later appeared with library advocate Eva Doyle as a guest on "The Mary Davis Show" radio program.  On February 11 th , Chair Rebecca Pordum and the Director addressed members of the Western New York delegation of the State Legislature regarding the status of the B&ECPL and the ongoing need for additional aid from New York State.

Better Late Than Never... The B&ECPL does not purchase every book the moment it is published; that would be impossible and impractical.  Certain useful titles, however, do arrive in the proper course of time.  One such title is Dan Klein's Artists in Glass .  Published in 2001, the B&ECPL did not acquire this “coffee table” title until recently.  On page 25, the B&ECPL is featured prominently as the home of Howard Ben Tre's “Ring of Knowledge” sculpture, executed in cast glass and granite.  A photographic image appears in full color, identifying the Central Library as its home and establishing the B&ECPL as an institution that values the highest order of functional art.

REMINDER : The annual B&ECPL Trustee Workshop is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 19 th in the Central Library's Central Meeting Room. Guest Speaker: David Penniman , Dean, UB School of Informatics .

Agenda Item G – Report of the Foundation Director. Executive Director Anne Leary distributed a report to trustees that included updates on the following initiatives: Grosvenor Society; Author (Simon Winchester) visit and event pertaining to The Map That Changed the World ; the Annual Campaign, which ends in March; a new Planned Giving program; Live Homework Help; Summer Reading Programs (Tune in @ Your Library, Battle of the Books) requests; World War I posters and related documentary programs; Rare Book Room conservator contract; new collaborations with Barnes & Noble and William S. Hein Publishers.

Agenda Item H – Public Comment. ElizaBeth Berry of the Save our Libraries Coalition offered suggestions on fundraising for library operations and presented mock-ups of change receptacles and $1 donation forms for books. She also had ideas on ways to trim expenses. If service cuts are made, the most popular services should be a priority.

John Klukowski, 189 Cazenovia, Buffalo , mentioned fundraising for libraries. He feels there is a need to educate legislators and the public about how libraries are funded.

Trustee Roach left the meeting at 5:05 p.m.

Jeffrey Gauthier, 189 Cazenovia, Buffalo , stated the Cazenovia Library is now closed on Thursdays, making it more difficult for students to access materials needed to complete homework assignments. Libraries are needed to ensure educational levels of students.

Valerie Niederhoffer commented on the high E-rate discount B&ECPL receives due to the number of children eligible for free lunches in Buffalo , benefiting suburban as well as city children.

Agenda Item I – Unfinished Business. No unfinished business.

Agenda Item J – New Business.

Agenda Item J.1 – Jane Sweet Recognition. Chair Rebecca Pordum acknowledged Jane Sweet and asked her to step to the front of the room. Ms. Sweet was recognized for her years of dedicated service and hard work on behalf of the Clarence Public Library, including construction of the new building, and also for her work with the New York State Association of Library Boards. Ms. Pordum read the following resolution:

RESOLUTION 2005-11

WHEREAS, for nearly two decades, JANE SWEET has been a faithful trustee of the Clarence Public Library, and

WHEREAS, she was a driving force behind the construction of a handsome, new Clarence Public Library building, which opened to the public in 2001, and continues to provide an environment that welcomes and enriches all who visit it, and

WHEREAS, JANE SWEET faithfully represented the collective community of trustees and library advocates as Secretary of the New York State Association of Library Boards, and

WHEREAS, there has never been a task too menial or a challenge too great that she did not approach it with optimism, perseverance and care, and

WHEREAS, JANE SWEET will be remembered always by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library and the citizens of Erie County for her legacy of leadership and partnership, now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that, on the occasion of JANE SWEET'S retirement from the Clarence Public Library Board of Trustees, the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, its Board, its administration and its staff express their profound gratitude and enduring respect.

Ms. Sweet thanked the Board for persevering with the Clarence Library Board in its protracted efforts to build a new library. On motion by Ms. Horton with a second by Ms. Panty, Resolution 2005-11 was approved unanimously.

There being no further business, on motion by Ms. Summer, seconded by Ms. Panty, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Frank Gist
Secretary

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