Library Commission Minutes

January 19, 2006

Location: Park Hill Branch Library

Present: Edward Schenck, K.C. Veio, Sid Wilson.

Excused: Fofi Mendez, Kevin O’Connor, Julie Rodriguez, Karen Rokala, Lois Ann Rovira.

Staff: Rick Ashton, Robert Bowles, Diane Christman, Gwendolyn Crenshaw, Elizabeth Elder, Jennifer Hoffman, Letty Icolari, Cori Jackamore, Patricia Kelly, Elaine Langeberg, Diane Lapierre, Christopher Lovejoy, Rachelle Naishtut, Jo Sarling, Sherry Spitsnaugle, Derek Wolfgram.

Guests: Hanne Lichtenfels, Denver Public Library Friends Foundation; Brit Probst, Davis Partnership; Vicki Sterling, Denver Art Museum; Sarah Hader, City Council District 5 representative; Steve Hildmann, Robin Sands, unidentified individual, community members.

1. Call to Order
   President K.C. Veio called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. He explained that as a quorum was not present, the Library Commission would not be able to take formal action on any agenda items.
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes – Will be held over until February meeting
   • The Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of December 15, 2005.
   • The Minutes of the Special Meeting of January 6, 2006.
     
     
3. Public Comment Period
   The staff and guests present introduced themselves. A few community members expressed their concerns/interests in Library matters. K.C. Veio told Steve Hildmann that there would be a written response to his specific concerns.
   
   
4. Report of the President and Members
   • K.C. Veio reported on the progress of the City Librarian search. Dubberly Garcia Associates has been hired to conduct the national search.
   • Sid Wilson and K.C. Veio reported on a meeting with Josephine Zamora concerning the feasibility of purchasing Denver Health’s Mariposa Family Clinic, which is closing, to replace the Byers Branch Library. This issue is not scheduled for a future Library Commission agenda.
   • Sid Wilson reported on the December 16, 2005 Staff Council meeting and on the January 5, 2006 Staff Council transition breakfast. Evi Klett is the new chair of Staff Council.
   • K.C. Veio reported that Lois Ann Rovira and Sid Wilson have agreed to serve on the Library Commission Task Force on Deaccession Policy.
     


5. Report of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation
   Hanne Lichtenfels reported that Walker Stapleton has been appointed to the Friends Foundation Board. He and the other two new Board members attended an orientation meeting at which Rick Ashton spoke and then led a tour of the Central Library. The next Board meeting is scheduled for February 14. Marilyn Amer will be the first recipient of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation Award, to be presented on May 16.
   
   
6. Monthly Financial Report through December 31, 2005
   Robert Bowles presented this report.



7. Presentation of the Denver Art Museum/Civic Center Master Plan
   Brit Probst of Davis Partnership presented the master plan for the Denver Art Museum and for the Civic Center area. The Denver Art Museum extension, the Hamilton Building, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2006.



8. Endowment Matters
   • Rick Ashton reported on the 2005 expenditures of the restricted and unrestricted endowment funds. The report will be forwarded to the Friends Board.
   • Approval of the proposal to the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation for 2006 distribution is held over to the February meeting.


9. Report of the City Librarian and Staff
• Staff will send a copy of the response to December 15, 2005 Library Commission meeting public comments to the community members who commented and left contact information on the sign-in sheets.
• Rick Ashton reported that the draft of the proposed Implementation Plan will be completed by February 10 and distributed with the February meeting packets. The plan will be presented at the February meeting but Library Commission adoption will not be requested at that time.



10. Rick Ashton announced his retirement effective February 28, 2006
    K.C. Veio reported that the Commission will work with a national search firm to find his successor. K.C. Veio proposed that Letty Icolari be named Interim City Librarian effective March 1, 2006. Upon motion by Lois Ann Rovira, seconded by Fofi Mendez, this proposal carried unanimously.



11. K.C. Veio adjourned the meeting at 4:50 p.m.
    Respectfully submitted, Lois Ann Rovira, Secretary

February 7, 2006

Mr. Steve Hildmann

Dear Mr. Hildmann:

At the Denver Public Library Commission meeting on January 19, 2006, Library Commission President K.C. Veio stated that you would receive a written response to your comments at that meeting. This letter is the written response.

1. You stated that the Denver Public Library’s public access computers are down too often.
   Response:
   Even though “too often” is not a measurable standard, the Library believes that any loss of service to our customers, however small or infrequent, is too often. The Denver Public Library makes every effort to have its nearly 500 public access computers, catalog access, Internet access, database access, and other online services fully available to the public. In 2005, the Library achieved this over 99% of the time. The Library and the City and County of Denver’s Information Technical Services Department constantly invest time and money to sustain and improve this performance.
   
   
2. Concerning programs for adults, you stated the following:
   a. There are fewer programs at branch libraries.
   b. Central Library programming has been increased, especially the Fresh City Life series.
   c. Program presenters for Fresh City Life are paid $3000 per event.
   Response:
   a. This statement is not accurate. The number of programs for adults at branch libraries has increased during the past year. Almost all branches host book discussion groups. Targeted programs in life skills topics, English language, and GED preparation have been added at Ross-Barnum, Hampden, Montbello, Hadley, Woodbury, Blair-Caldwell, and Ford-Warren.
   b. This statement is accurate. Central Library programming has increased. Last year 125 Fresh City Life programs included presentations by chefs, artists, business people, outdoor experts, artists, and writers. The programs were very well received. Average attendance at each session doubled in the course of the year.
   c. This statement is not accurate. Most Fresh City Life presenters are offered an honorarium of $100. Many presenters decline payment, providing their services as a gift to the Library.



3. You stated that the Library Commission and Library staff ignore comments made by members of the public at Commission meetings.
   Response:
   This statement is not accurate. Although the Library Commission or the Library staff may not agree with your comments or may not take the action that you would like to see, this does not mean that your comments have been ignored. At the Library Commission meeting on January 19, you received a copy of the Library staff’s detailed written responses to all public comments made at the December 15, 2005 Library Commission meeting. The present letter is further indication that your comments are receiving attention.
   
   
4. You stated that the Library has misrepresented the facts concerning its 2006 budget, claiming a 5% decrease when there is actually a 3.4% increase over 2005.
   Response:
   This statement is not accurate. The Library has not misrepresented its budget. Here are the facts:
   
   The 2005 City and County of Denver General Fund Budget for the Denver Public Library was $28,498,600.
   
   As part of the budget-making process for 2006, Mayor John Hickenlooper directed the Library to submit a 5% reduction proposal. With the approval of the Library Commission, the Library complied with the Mayor’s directive, proposing the following reductions:
   • Staffing: $1,099,940
   • Books and other library materials: $100,000
   • Supplies and services: $190,000
   
   After review and discussion, Mayor Hickenlooper accepted all the proposed cuts. He also added $594,115 so that the Central Library could be open seven days per week. The Mayor’s initiative was an expansion of activity that had not been included in the previous year’s budget. It did not offset any of the cuts proposed by the Library and accepted by the Mayor.
   
   In addition, the Budget Office adjusted the Library budget for built-in, unavoidable increases in employee wages and salaries, health insurance, and utilities costs. These adjustments amounted to $760,425.
   
   All of these changes, taken together, amount to a net change of $35,600. While budget increases were made for inflationary reasons and for expansion of hours at the Central Library, the cuts to branch staffing, supplies, services, and library materials were never restored.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Rick J. Ashton
   City Librarian