Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 05-11 Library Minutes City of Apache Junction, Arizona Meeting Location:City Council Chambers k q at City Hall Meeting Minutes 300 E.Superstition Blvd. ,�` Apache Junction,AZ 85119 0 Library Board www.ajpl.org P:(480)474-8555 Thursday,May 11,2023 6:30 PM City Council Chambers A. Call to Order President Hall called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. B. Roll Call Present: 6- Boardmember Walters Boardmember Krause Boardmember Hall Boardmember Borey Boardmember Barker Boardmember Bigelow Absent: 1 - Boardmember Rajski C. Acceptance of Agenda This was passed Yes 6- Boardmember Walters, Boardmember Krause, Boardmember Hall, Boardmember Borey, Boardmember Barker,and Boardmember Bigelow No 0 Absent 1 - Boardmember Rajski D. Acceptance of Minutes for the February 9, 2023 Regular Meeting This was passed Yes 6- Boardmember Walters, Boardmember Krause, Boardmember Hall, Boardmember Borey, Boardmember Barker, and Boardmember Bigelow No 0 Absent 1 - Boardmember Rajski E. Call to the Public None. F. Correspondence and Communications None. G. Librarian's Report Director Harrison reviewed monthly report statistics for February through April 2023. The Mobile City of Apache Junction,Arizona page I Library Board Meeting Minutes May 11,2023 Library ribbon cutting took place on March 2nd and so far has reached 250 people with events around town. Other programs included the Preschool Egg Hunt,Air Fryer essentials and Read Better Be Better which will include a summer session from June 1 st to August 3rd.A Friends of the Library booksale took place in February and brought in over$1,000.00 along with the bookstore bringing in$689.00, and a packed house welcomed a visit and read from author,J.A. Jance in April. Summer Reading will begin on May 27th and run through July 9th.Solar panels and batteries will be installed at the library to serve as a backup to keep internet, emergency systems and communications running for the city. Library shelving was approved for the north wing of the library and will be installed after summer reading is over. The shelving will be lower then it is currently and will make the north wing area feel bigger.The new design will make better use of the space and allow soft seating and additional tables and chairs.As a result of the new shelving, the library collection will move around. DVD's will move to the north wing and the mountain view room will be all fiction including large print. In other news,two staff members retired this past month.Vicki Duraine,Adult Services Supervisor and Craig Smith, a 15 year senior library assistant.We wish them well on their new journey. H. Old Business None. I. New Business 1. 23-246 Setting of date and time in June for special board meeting to discuss and approve the 2022/2023 Library Board of Trustees Annual Report. Vice President Barker made a motion to hold the Special Meeting of the Library Board of Trustees 2022/2023 on June 8,2023 at 6:30pm.Boardmember Bigelow seconded the motion. 2. 23-260 Discussion and possible vote for a one-time courtesy deletion of all expired Apache Junction Public Library accounts 5 years or older with fees of$49.99 or less. Director Harrison is proposing a one time courtesy deletion of fines on library cards expired 5 years or more. In the library's goal to provide access and remove barriers, offering this one time deletion will bring back patrons turned away for past fines of$49.99 or less. In addition,we would be cleaning up the database at the same time. In 2020 the library board forgave all overdue fines on accounts to increase access to materials and resources. Fines were .10 cents per day for books and$1.00 per day for DVDs.All accounts with overdue fines were waived, however, patrons are still responsible to pay for replacement costs for lost items. Fees are due on items not returned or items returned with damage. Patrons may not borrow from the library if they have overdue items or a balance on their account that exceeds$5.00.A parent or legal guardian may not apply for a card for his or her child if that parent or guardian owes more than$5.00 on their own account. Library cards expire yearly for all card holders. Due to population, people moving and winter visitors,we need to keep our records as accurate as possible. If patrons do not renew their library card they cannot use library services.After 3 years of no use,the account is deleted from the system if fees on the account are less than$10. Fees totaling$50 or more will be charged an agency collection fee of$11.00 that will be added to the account.Accounts with added collection fees cannot be forgiven. City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 2 Is Library Board Meeting Minutes May 11,2023 Removing barriers to allow access has been a very popular topic among the library board. Director Harrison has researched and found that many libraries have a blanket rule after 5 years and no activity on an account,that it will be deleted. Some libraries do this because it is their policy.Some follow this guideline as directed by their state library. Other libraries do this because they have a state statute of limitations. Director Harrison has discussed this with the city attorney and he has indicated that there is no legal requirement for the library to delete these old accounts. Director Harrison would like the library board to consider that even though these patrons have lost an item, a fresh start is warranted. It's unlikely that we will collect on these replacement costs of 5 years or more. Forgiving the lost material fees on accounts with less than$50 will open the door to welcome these patrons back to the library.Accounts 5-10 years old include 2,408 accounts with a cost of$57,759.Accounts over 10 years old include 1,716 accounts with a cost of$37,492.The total cost would be approximately$95,252. A brief discussion was had by the board and it was determined that more time to consider this proposal would be needed. The board has tabled this topic for the next regular meeting in July. J. Requests for Future Agenda Items None. K. Adjournment President Hall adjourned the meeting at 7:39pm Cheryl 44all President City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 3