Call to Order: President Bogue called the meeting of the Duluth Public Library Board to order at 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. On a motion by Katz, seconded by Brissett, the agenda was approved.

Members Present: Dan D'Allaird, Sister Edith Bogue, Jane Brissett, Liz Benson Johnson, Virginia Katz, Printha Markert, Peter Spooner
Also Present: Carla Powers
Excused: Frank Jewell, Andrew Slade

Approval of Minutes
On a motion by D'Allaird, seconded by Johnson, the library board minutes of the regular meeting of March 27 were approved as drafted.

Reports
A. Friends of the Duluth Public Library - Markert
Ann Robertson from the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce spoke at the last Friends meeting about the benefits of joining the Chamber. Because the library is a member, the Friends group was able to join as an affiliate and voted to do so. The annual meeting will take place May 15 and is open to all members. Three new people have expressed an interest in being on the board. A vote will take place at the annual meeting. The Northeast Minnesota Book Awards (NEMBA) will take place May 17 at UMD, and the Friends are one of the sponsors. The annual book sale will take place June 11 through 15, and volunteers are needed. A fundraiser featuring mystery author William Kent Krueger is being planned for September 17 at Fitger's. All of the tickets sold for the event will be entered into a drawing, and the winner's name will be featured in Krueger's next book.

B. Arrowhead Library System - Brissett
ALS is in the midst of transitioning to a new structure. Four counties in the region have passed resolutions approving the ALS/NCLC merger; however, St. Louis County has not yet scheduled a vote. The ALS board approved a policy change requiring all libraries to be open at least 20 hours per week in order to remain members of the system. Two libraries that have never been open 20 hours per week were grandfathered in at their current service level. This policy change is due to contractual issues between ALS and the Northeast Service Cooperative, which is installing fiber optic connections to public libraries in the region. ALS has resumed its work with consultant Marshall Breeding, who is helping the system and its member libraries choose a new integrated library system.

C. One Book, One Community - Brissett
Rebecca Skloot's program filled Symphony Hall and generated many positive comments from the public. Her interview with Kerri Miller can be viewed on the Minnesota Public Radio website. The attendance at this year's One Book events in Duluth and on the Iron Range totaled 3000 people.

D. Duluth Library Foundation - Katz
The last meeting took place April 2, and Katz was not able to be in attendance. A bequest of $69,000 was received recently. Also, Patra Sevastiades has gotten permission to reprint the library mural on coffee mugs that could be offered for sale or given away as premium gifts to donors. The board will be scheduling a couple of meetings to work on planning and visioning.

Old Business:
Plan review of library policies. Powers made some recommendations about which policies still need review and in what order they should be handled. She will draft a circulation policy and send it, along with the existing policy for reserves, with the board packets for review at the May meeting.

Set dates for meetings at a branch, tours of library service areas. Powers will check on availability of meeting space at one of the branches for the September meeting, and will arrange for a tour of the North Shore Room after the May meeting. A tour of youth services will be planned for the near future. D'Allaird will work on planning a joint meeting of the library board, foundation board and Friends board.

New Business:
Vote for public library representative on ALS board. Motion by Katz, seconded by Spooner, to vote for Powers as the public library representative on the ALS board.

Communications/Correspondence:
Manager's Report
There was a suggestion to invite the city's new volunteer coordinator to the June meeting. Powers will follow up.

The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
The next meeting will take place Tuesday, May 22 in the library's Conference Room.

6/26/12
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802