Board of Directors

System Board Minutes - July '05

Potter-Tioga Library System
Regular Meeting
Oswayo Valley Memorial Library
Shinglehouse, PA
July 19, 2005

The Regular Quarterly Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Potter-Tioga Library System was called to order by President Jeff Wilkinson at 7:15 p.m.

Present:
Blossburg:
Coudersport: Doris Mosch
Elkland: 
Galeton: Pat Sellers
Genesee: Cherie Hobson
Knoxville: Eugene Seelye
Mansfield: Danice Trindell
Oswayo Valley: Colleen Hyde
Ulysses: 
Wellsboro: Lynne Coolidge
Westfield: Jeff Wilkinson
System Librarian: Laurie Shear

After introductions, the Minutes of the April 12, 2005, Quarterly Meeting were approved as presented.

System Librarian’s Report:
Circulation statistics and the financial report for the 1st quarter were distributed and reviewed.

All library Financial Reviews and Audits have been received except for Coudersport which is lacking both 2003 and 2004 reports.

Health insurance for system employees is still being researched.

Galeton Public Library may apply for a LSTA automation grant.  They along with Knoxville, Genesee, and Oswayo Valley are the only libraries not automated.

Each library in the system has received a Dell public use computer from the Gates Foundation.

A District grant made it possible for each library in the system to have a Website and a list of each library website was distributed.

Local effort percentages for 2006 for each library were distributed and discussed.  State libraries will receive an increase of 3.4 million dollars for 2006 which amounts to a $9,000 increase for our system.

Discussed was an appropriate memorial for the Galeton Public Library honoring Sally Crain.  Sally was an active member of the Galeton Library Board and a representative on the Potter-Tioga Library System Board.  Eugene Seelye moved that a rocking chair with an engraved plaque be purchased for the Galeton Library's Children's area.  The motion was seconded by Lynne Coolidge and carried.

Laurie expressed concern for the lack of benefits being provided for system librarians.  Following discussion she was asked to write a letter to each library Board President asking they review their Librarian's benefit policies and suggest ways to compensate librarians in ways both financial and nonfinancial for time off, sick leave, vacations, personal leave, etc.

A 2006 Budget Committee was formed consisting of Laurie Shear, Charlotte Bitler, Jeff Wilkinson, Carol Tama and Lynne Coolidge.  They will present their report at the October 11, 2005, meeting.

News from member libraries was shared, followed by a tour of the expanded Oswayo Valley Memorial Library.  The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

The next meeting will be held at the Mansfield Free Public Library, October 11, 2005, at 7 p.m.

Refreshments were enjoyed by those present.

Respectfully submitted,

Eugene Seelye, Secretary