07-25-1988 (City Council) Minutes 48
CALLED CITY COUNCIL AND
LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
JULY 25, 1988
The City of Wylie City Council and the Rita and Truett Smith
Library Board met in a joint called session on Monday, July
25, 1988 in the Rita and Truett Smith Library. A quorum was
present and notice of the meeting had been posted in the
time and manner required by law. Those present were Mayor
Pro Tem John Akin, Council Members Jim Swartz , Bud Naish,
Ortie Messenger , Marvin Blakey and Chris DiToTa, City
Manager John Pitstick, City Secretary Carolyn Jones,
Librarian Kay Daniel , Children' s Librarian Beth Brewster and
Elizabeth Crabb from North East Texas Library System,
Library Board Chairman Robert Fultz , Members Mary Jo Smith,
Pat Zimmerman, Judy Lippe, Carol Barry, and Rita Smith.
Mayor Trimble arrived late. Library Board Member Betty
Stephens was absent.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin called the meeting to order and
Councilman Blakey gave the invocation.
City Manager John Pitstick stated that staff had received
the initial $8,400 .00 from the Meadows Grant and must spend
this plus the regular budgeted amount in order to maintain
their membership in the North East Texas Library System.
Plus the grant from the Meadows Foundation, the Library
Board has raised some $3,600 .00 . In the grant received from
the Meadows Foundation, staff requested certain things, such
as a summer Children' s Librarian and a Library Director.
The basic grant is for $8,400 . and the second phase is a
$1 : $1 match, which is to pay the librarian' s salary next
year. The Meadows Foundation expects the City to fund the
Library Directors salary in 89/90 budget year . Staff has
hired Beth Brewster as the Summer Children' s Librarian and
she will be here about three weeks . Miss Brewster stated
she has two sessions for summer reading programs. She has
registered 112 children and last week had 96 in the library.
There are prizes for the children that read the most books .
We have ages two (2) thru thirteen (13) , and there are five
(5) to six (6 ) groups a week. City Manager John Pitstick
said he had told Beth if she could get 100 kids, her time
will have been well spent. Last week it was popcorn and
movie day and there were about 40 kids. City Manager John
Pitstick said that staff needed to hire the Library Director
or an interum Library Director. It may be better if we hire
someone for the time being and try and hire the Library
Director by October 1st . '�
49
Councilman Naish wanted to know why the $59,000.00 is the
figure. City Manager John Pitstick said that it is done by
a formula over the past three years.
Ms. Elizabeth Crabb from North East Texas Library System
stated in 1969 State Legislature passed the Texas Library
System Act, this allows groups of Librarians to assist each
other and from their systems. Systems are line items in the
State budget . There is certain critia for staying in the
system. When your annual report is turned in it must have
expended an average of the last three years . If you do not
expend this, then you are out of the system. If you do not
expend $59 ,000 . you will loose your membership for at least
one year, but you also loose what NETLS has put in your
Library so far. Plus the items that you can apply for from
NETLS, we also supply large print books that are sent from
Library to Library, Video films , you get 35 of each of these
and can keep them for two months. Over the past years, the
NETLS has given to your Library approximately $2,000 . to
$3 ,000 . worth of books that your Librarian selects but NETLS
pays for, film projectors , film screen, laminator, rom
reader, overhead projector. The Library would loose these
items if they loose their membership. Ms . Crabb said there
are 79 public libraries in our area. There is also a
telephone credit card that is given to the Librarian and she
can make calls to other libraries without charge to your
City. Ms . Crabb said in talking with the Library Board, it
was decided to ask the Meadows Foundation for help in
staffing as NETLS cannot help with staffing. You can not
run a library properly without a good staff . One person and
volunteers can not run the Library , without a staff to
advertise your services, then you cannot build your library.
Ms . Crabb said Kay does a very good job, but needs help in
planning for future. I urge you to tell us to keep looking
for and to hire a Library Director with an MLS.
Rita Smith said it is really important that we have
qualified persons to tell us what we need. We are taking
Elizabeth Crabb and John Pitstick' s time to be our
Librarian.
Councilman Messenger said on the circulation report, there
needs to be a head count not book count so we know how many
people are coming in and at what hours they are coming in.
Judy Lippe said that was the shame of it, you get Beth, she
is reaching the kids but she leaves soon, then what. City
Manager John Pitstick said that is why we started staying
late on Tuesday. The problem is staffing it .
Councilman Naish said there is a lot of problems in the
Library. Maybe the volunteers could open up on Monday and
Kay could be off . City Manager John Pitstick said that was
50
a good point, but we need someone that is trained in the
library field.
Councilman Blakey wanted to know how the volunteer program
was. City Manger John Pitstick said we have about 15
volunteers, but we can not depend on them. There is just to
much going on. It has been successful but Kay wants to take
vacation and we cannot let her off when she is the only
staff .
Ms. Crabb said you have to have a library director who can
get out and visit the civic clubs, schools and etc and sell
your Library.
Councilman Swartz wanted to know if all the applicants had
the same qualifications. City Manager John Pitstick said
no, some have just gotten out of school with no experience.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin wanted to know if you have districts to
serve. Ms. Crabb said you receive money from Collin County,
you must serve Collin County as well as your City. You can
not have taxes, Texas Law does not allow the library tax .
City Manager John Pitstick said we need a strong Library
Director that will promote the library as well as the
people. --.,
Chairman Robert Fultz said until you loose the Library
Director , you don' t know what you had. The Board today
looks at the Library Director a lot different than we did a
year ago.
City Manager John Pitstick said we have a beautiful facility
and we are the only one our size with this nice of building.
We need a Director that can promote and lead our Library.
It is the personality behind the person leading us.
Councilman Messenger wanted to give consideration to have
the summer reading extended into all year, during school on
Saturday or Sunday.
After some discussion, City Manager John Pitstick was given
direction to take the name of the person that Ms . Crabb
knows and thinks will come in for a short period of time to
be the director until such time staff can hire someone.
Chairman Fultz thanked the City Council for their time and
help. Mayor Pro Tem Akin said he appreciated what the
Library Board has done. Ms. Crabb said this was one of the
hardest working Library Boards and City Managers she has
ever worked with.
There being no other discussions, a motion was made to
adjourn with all in favor .
51
John Akin, Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
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Caroly ty Secretary
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