MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NEPTUNE
August 11, 2004
Jill Osis called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
The following members were present: Jill Osis – Peggy Auerbacher – Joe Krimko – Luke Tirrell – Kathy Golub – Angela Ricciuti
The Summer Reading Program discussion that was tabled, should have stated the date as August 11th instead of August 14th . The motion to accept the minutes of the July 14th meeting as corrected was made by Luke Tirrell and seconded by Joe Krimko.
Kathy Golub read the treasurer’s report. Joe Krimko made the motion to accept the report and pay the bills. Seconded by Peggy Auerbacher. Motion passed.
A resolution was made by Peggy Auerbacher approving the return of Sandy Michlich on or about September 8th from FMLA. Seconded by Joe Krimko. Unanimously passed.
The library will participate in the first annual MURC/NAACP Back to School breakfast at the Early Childhood Center on Saturday, September 11th.
Participants were welcomed by Luke Tirrell, the facilitator of this event.
Mr. Richard Reiersen, resident of Neptune since 1977.
Lived in the Gables and currently Sebastian Villa.
Comments: Neptune has a very good library considering the conditions they are working under. The staff is very courteous and helpful. He knows that we are very limited for space and he knows how limited our budget is. Having taught 4th grade, he stresses the children’s library. Mr. Reiersen puts emphases on reading because he feels that if children can’t read by 4th grade, there is a problem.
Mr. Don Smith, Neptune High School Librarian past 20 years.
Comments: Public libraries are being turned into community centers and in the future public libraries will have to deal with issue they’ve never had to deal with before. The library is in a sense the “center of culture for your community” and it is very important that the people in the community do not lose sight of how important it is to keep the library fully funded. Mr. Smith stated that it is also important to expand the collection, keep the collection up to date, and to provide the services for all of the people who come here. The library services everyone. He also suggested looking elsewhere to see what works. The design of a library is very important. A survey asking the community what services they want to see is an important tool also. Mr. Smith complimented our book collection and stated that he has sat down with our library personnel and wrote grants that got things together. He would like to see that relationship continue. He is also concerned about the wonderful heritage of the history of the museum, whether it continues here or at the public schools or somewhere else within the town. The children need to know their heritage and we have it in our possession. Mr. Smith also stressed using the ALA guidelines to make the library accessible for all people. Neptune is Neptune, but it is still America.
Det. Eugene Stewart, Neptune Police Dept.
Comments: Library provides many resources and as the demographics of the town and this area in general continue to change, the evolution of the library has to change also. The library is one of the most underutilized resources that exist here in the town. Marketing strategies are key pieces to bringing the library up to where it needs to be and should be.
Mr. Earl Kebbekus
Comments: Mr. Kebbekus feels that from his previous experience in municipal libraries our abridged collection of books on tape is way out of balance compared with our unabridged tape reading books. He is appalled at the number of romance novels we have on our shelves and does not feel that the taxpayers of Neptune should support that type of reading habit. The large print book collection is out of balance with regular print reading also. If a DVD is taken out and does not play, Mr. Kebbekus feels that the person who checked it out before him should have to pay. Mr. Kebbekus was asked, how he would like to see a director handle the situations he mentioned. Response was “ I assume these are not issues unique to the Neptune Public Library and if a professional Librarian is going to be hired for the position he or she will have the knowledge and ways to deal with these types of issues. They will come in with their own assessment of what the library’s needs are.
Mrs. Patty Robinson, Library employee
Comments: She feels privileged to work for such a service oriented environment. Has been active in working with the Senior Center and would like to see that continue as well as other community outreach activities ( children programming, teens and tweens) The only way people in the community will take an interest in our library is to show them what we have to offer. Would like a director that is fair and consistent and treats everyone the same.
Mrs.Naomi LeRiche, Library employee
Comments: Naomi feels that a Library Director should be compassionate, fair and consistent, not play favorites and strive for a stressless work environment. More outreach should be done with newborns and the handicap, specifically neurologically impaired adults. The library should not be thought of as a business but a service-oriented facility.
Ms. Sue Waters, Library employee
Comments: Feels library director should be creative, intelligent, energetic and care for the patrons as well as the staff. The director should be someone who reaches out to the community and offers educational programs to all ages. They should be willing to collaborate with organizations and agencies to bring the community together.
Ms. Jeanne Ostrowski, Library patron (written response)
Comments: The director must relate to the broad population spectrum represented by the residents of Neptune. He/She must be knowledgeable about the library needs within the town. He/She must have leadership abilities, a vision for the future of the library and be an advocate for library support.
Mr. Mark Isenberg, Library patron (written response)
Mr. Isenberg feels that the library is a well run facility, but the new director will have to deal with a thirty-three year old building in need of expansion. The Friends of the Library group is a good idea to raise funds and Mr. Isenberg feels that the director should lead this effort to raise money for expansion. Neptune Day would be a good time to have a donation drive for the Friends of the Library group.
Motion to adjourn made by Angela Ricciuti and seconded by Joe Krimko.
Back to the Neptune Public Library Board of Trustees
Back to the Neptune Public Library Homepage Krista Wittenberg, Asst. Systems Administrator
Copyright © 2004, Krista Wittenberg
Revised –5/18/2004