Library Commission Minutes

April 20 , 2006

Location: Library Commission Room, Denver Central Library, Level 7

Members Present: Kevin O’Connor*, Julie Rodriguez, Karen Rokala, Lois Ann Rovira, Edward Schenck, K.C. Veio, Sid Wilson.

Excused: Fofi Mendez.

Staff: Robert Bowles, Matthew Brandon, Joe Cahn, Peggy Combs, Gwendolyn Crenshaw, Emily Dagg, Elizabeth Elder, Iris Espino, Shelby Forsyth, Eleanor Glover, Jennifer Hoffman, Cynthia Holdeman, Letty Icolari, Cori Jackamore, Celeste Jackson, Rob Jackson, Michelle Jeske, Evi Klett, Susan Kotarba, Jim Kroll, Elaine Langeberg, Diane Lapierre, Kristen Laughlin, Chris Lovejoy, Dixie Malone, Rachelle Naishtut, Jim Pinamont, Julie Rea, Deborah Robison, Jo Sarling, Steven Schneck, Ann Schwab, Sherry Spitsnaugle, Kristen Svendsen, Rose Anne Taht, Derek Wolfgram.

Guests: Hanne Lichtenfels, Denver Public Library Friends Foundation; Steve Hildmann, James Swanson, community members

1. Call to Order
   President K.C. Veio called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes – Minutes were approved as written.
   • The Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of March 16, 2006.
     
     
3. Public Comment Period
   The staff and guests present introduced themselves. Rose Anne Taht, staff member, and Steve Hildmann and James Swanson, community members, expressed their concerns/interests in Library matters. Evi Klett, as Chair of the Staff Council, read a statement into the record.
   
   
4. Report of the President and Members
   • K.C. Veio reported that the four candidates for the City Librarian began the interview process today. Tonight there is a reception at which they will meet city officials and other invited guests. Mayor Hickenlooper will meet with the candidates at 5:15 p.m. Official interviews with the Library Commission are scheduled for tomorrow.
   • Lois Ann Rovira reported that the Eleanor Gehres Award will be presented on Thursday, June 15, from 5-6 p.m. in the Gates Reading Room in Western History. Wesley A. Brown will be the recipient of the award this year.
   • Each Commission member reported on his/her experience at various Children’s Storytimes in the branches during National Library Week.
   • Lois Ann Rovira reminded the Commission that the 23rd Rare and Not-so-Rare Book and Art Auction will take place on Friday, April 28 beginning at 6 p.m. in the Gates Reading Room in Western History.
     


5. Report of the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation - Hanne Lichtenfels
   • The Friends will distribute $186,000 from the endowment fund to the Library in 2006.
   • The display case in Schlessman Hall at the Central Library will exhibit a historical perspective of the Friends Foundation during the month of May.
   • The first ‘Friends Award’ will be presented to Marilyn Amer on May 16 at 4:30 p.m. in the Gates Reading Room on Level 5 of the Central Library. She has specified that her $2,500 award be used for preservation in the Western History/Genealogy Department.
   
   
6. Monthly Financial Report through March 31, 2005
   Robert Bowles presented his report.



7. Approval of Denver Public Library Implementation Plan (Design for a New Era)
   K.C. Veio reported that the Commission met in special session on Friday, March 17 for an in-depth look at and discussion of The Plan. The Commission has decided to postpone approval of The Plan until a new City Librarian is in place.
   
   
8. Summer of Reading
   Emily Dagg and Ann Schwab presented plans for the 2006 Summer of Reading program which kicks off on May 20 and will run through July 22.


9. 2006 Holidays and Closings Schedule – Revised
   Letty Icolari presented a revised version of the 2006 Holidays and Closings Schedule showing the Library will be closed on two pre-holiday Sundays which were not originally noted as closed.
   
   
10. Report of the City Librarian and Staff - Letty Icolari expanded on the written report as follows:
• There was extensive national media coverage (newspaper, magazine, television) surrounding DPL’s launch of eFlicks. In its first three weeks of availability with only 83 titles in the collection circulation has already reached 1,200.
• The Pioneer Fund which committed to a generous three year grant for Super Saturday programming is an “Invitation Only” fund.
  
  
11. Other Business
    K.C. Veio reminded the Commission members that they are joining Mayor Hickenlooper for lunch in the Mayor’s office on Wednesday, April 26 at 11:30 a.m.
    
    
12. K.C. Veio adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
    Respectfully submitted, Lois Ann Rovira, Secretary

*Present for items 3 - 12.

Statement of the Denver Public Library Staff Council To the Library Commission Presented at the April 20, 2006 Library Commission Meeting

In the spirit of improving communication among Denver Public Library staff, administration, and Library Commission, the DPL Staff Council recommends that the Library Commission postpone the approval of the DPL Implementation Plan for the following reasons:

1. The public of Denver has not been notified about or had the opportunity to discuss the Implementation Plan. Article III. Sec. 2-31 of the Denver Municipal code states,
   
   "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city that the formation of public policy is public business and should be conducted in public, and that the public shall be entitled to the fullest possible access to the deliberations and proceedings of public bodies."
   
   The Denver public has received no information about the major changes planned for the Central Library that are contained in the Implementation Plan.
   
   
2. Staff Council has not received a response to staff concerns about the plan that were submitted to the Library Commission on Thursday March 16, the day before the Commissions' Friday, March 17 working meeting on the Plan.
   
   
3. The Denver Public Library has already begun to implement the new library models. We have not yet had a chance to evaluate these changes quantitatively as well as qualitatively.
   
   
4. A new City Librarian has not yet been chosen. The future of the library will depend partly on the balance between moving in a general direction and allowing someone new at the helm to add their vision, creativity, and know-how to the mix.
   
   Based on these major points, the Denver Public Library Staff Council respectfully submits a recommendation to postpone approval of the Implementation Plan. We recommend that the following takes place before approval of a new plan:
   1. A new City Librarian has been hired and brought on board
   2. Recent changes have been evaluated in dialogue with staff
   3. Staff concerns about the plan have been addressed
   4. And most importantly, the Denver public has been invited into conversation about the future of the Central Library
   
   

   Respectfully submitted on behalf of Staff Council,
   Evi Klett, Chair