Item 4DLibrary Board Report
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
The Southlake Library Board respectfully submits this written report in an effort to maintain
communication flow between the Board and City Council.
The Southlake Library Board held their meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2004. Below is a
summary of the issues addressed at the meeting.
• Librarians Report — Library Administrator Kerry McGeath reviewed with the Board the
activity of the past Month and indicated that the number of items that checked out from the
Library was up 44% over the same period last year, and that Traffic was up around 42 %.
Circulation or checkouts for the Fiscal Year is up close to 25 %, and Traffic close to 35 %. We
have analyzed our priorities for developing our collection of materials, and have found that
we have been handsomely rewarded for developing a better mix of popular materials. The
only category that we did not see large increases was Juvenile Fiction (a large decrease in
fact) and it is the only area that popular materials were not purchased, and was the only area
in our collection of materials that was down. Plan, Act and Review is our motto — we
planned, acted and reviewed and are now revising the plan in Juvenile fiction to increase its
popularity and relevance. The collection of materials needs to be relevant and useful to the
community. The materials we provide are the library, and we are focused on creating value
by providing materials the community see as useful (which also includes recreational
reading). The Library is going to begin checking out issues of magazines (except the most
current issue of each) beginning in July.
The Summer Reading Club program begins in the library June 1. We anticipate anywhere
from 800 to 1000 participants. We are also including a number of performers and will have
"Freaky Friday" films every Friday through the event. We are having a number of NCL and
volunteers from other sources (6 -8 per day). We have also involved the local business
community by receiving coupons for free food and services to give away to children who
participate in the program.
• Issues before the Board — The Library Board will review our proposed budget for 2004/05
and make their recommendation to the City Managers Office, who will then recommend as
he sees fit to the Council. We are also looking at recommending the addition of four service
hours. On Wednesday and Friday the Library opens at noon, but we schedule staff from 9 to
6. We could open at 10:00 (as we do on all other days during the week). The reason we are
able to offer this is that we have created efficiencies and have a much more productive staff,
and no longer feel the need for the staff preparation and administrative periods that Weds and
Friday morning allowed. With current staffing levels we are unable to provide more hours
then the ones requested without reaching the point of diminishing return, in terms of staff
productivity and effectiveness. We are also reviewing the Computer Use policy related to
providing more comprehensive enforcement language and procedures for those who abuse
the resources. We are looking at the questions of whether only Southlake Public Library
cardholders can utilize the electronic or computer resources.
If you should have any questions please contact Kerry McGeath, Library Administrator at
817.481.8378.