President Jack Zumwalt called the regular meeting of the Marion Library Board of Trustees to order.
 
Guests: None
 
Present:  Jack Zumwalt, Molly Andersen, Susan Kling, Voanne Hansen, Sally Reck, Kevin Gertsen, Eileen Robinson, Irene Kincheloe, Sue Verhille, Jo Pearson, and Bob Buckley
 
Absent: Nancy Miller
 
Molly Andersen made a motion to accept the agenda with the addition of Item B. under New Business – Board member terms expiring.  Bob Buckley seconded.  Carried.  Molly Andersen made a motion to accept the minutes as emailed on 4/7/08. Kevin Gertsen seconded. Carried.
 
Correspondence:  The library received a request from Opal Williams to re-evaluate the young adult book Empress of the World by Sara Ryan.  Chris Grannis and Mrs. Kling reviewed the book.  Ms. Williams has been notified that the decision was made to keep the book in the young adult collection.
 
Committee Reports:
-Budget Committee:  None
-Personnel Committee:  Susan Kling met with the full and part-time library assistants and the board received a summary of these visits.  Jo Pearson was hired as out new Library Assistant Director. Her first day was March 19th.  She had previously worked at CFM&Z and the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
-Friends Liaison: Sue Verhille informed the board that the book sale will be held May 16, 17, and 18.  She also told the board that the Friends had four vacancies on the board that need to be filled. The author dinner will be held on April 17th.
-The Building and Grounds Committee: The committee will meet later this month with Jean Hampson.
-The Web Page: None.  The library is still waiting for the city’s decision for someone to maintain the web site.
Librarian’s Report:
-Susan informed the board that April 14-18 is National Library Week.  The staff will be handing out library card sleeves/covers with library information printed on them.  The volunteer lunch will be held on April 18th.
-Mrs. Kling reported that the library server failed and the email system was down for a week.  Discussion followed. 
-Meetings:  Jean Hampson and Susan Kling attended the PLA Conference in Minneapolis.  John Wood was the keynote speaker and talked about his charity “Room to Read”.  The staff meeting was held March 19th.
-Food For Thought:  The book The War Against Miss Winter was discussed.  Katherine Miller Haines, the author, will be the presenter at the author dinner. 
-Circulation: The total items circulated for March was 63,507.  This total included 2,559 items more that 2007 at this time.  245 new borrowers were added.   
-Budget Report: The budget is 70.20% spent at this time.  The overall expenditures are right where they should be his time of year.  Some line items may need to be adjusted to compensate for the cost of computer repairs.
-Policy Update: Jo Pearson presented the committee’s recommendations for the updated Financial Policy and Procedures and the Operating Policy.  Discussion followed.  Sally Reck made a motion to accept the recommendations for the Financial Policy and Procedures.  Molly Andersen seconded.  The Operating Policy was discussed and tabled for now. 
-The Foundation: None
-Online Catalog/Library Network Update: The email/internet troubles with the system may cause budget issues.  The Erb’s response time and technicians’ ability to get these issues resolved is a concern.
-Giacoletto Foundation:  The author presentations will include: Bruce Hale, on April 29th, Elizabeth McCracken and Edward Carey on May 15th, and John Sandford on June 19th.  All events will be held at Theatre Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. 

Old Business:
-The Long Range Planning:  The ALA Public Library Service Responses report was given to the board and discussed.  It is to be reviewed by the board and it will become an agenda item at the May meeting.
-The MPL Mission and Roles was also discussed.
-Robins Contract:  Jack Zumwalt talked with the Robins mayor and was told that the city council has not made a decision yet.  The board discussed the next course of action.  It was decided that the Marion library would send the city of Robins a letter to inform them that a decision needs to be made before May 6th.
 
New Business:  The April 23rd trustee workshop, “Governing the Library,” will be attended by Molly Andersen and Sue Verhille.
-Board member terms expiring are:  Jack Zumwalt, Bob Buckley, and Irene Kincheloe. Jack and Bob will continue on the board.  Irene Kincheloe will not continue with another term. The board is encouraged to suggest names of new board member candidates, considering needed strengths for new board members. 
-Terms of officers are also expiring.  The current officers agreed to continue.  (Jack Zumwalt-President, Molly Andersen-Vice-President, and Eileen Robinson-Secretary) The slate will be finalized at a future meeting.
 
The meeting adjourned at 6:12 p.m.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Robinson, Secretary