Citizen’s Library Advisory Ad Hoc Committee
Meeting Notes
January 3, 2008
Guanajuato Room,
4:00-6:00 pm
Attendance: Vavra, Blossom (library staff liaison), Churchman, Keil, Battistella
Absent: Burkholder, Morrison (Council liaison), Gibb, Brown, Ashworth, Seltzer (city staff liaison)
Audience: Jim Faircloth, Anne Billeter, Jim Olney, Helga Motley
Call to Order: The meeting assembled at 4:00 pm. It was noted that only four Committee members were present and that five were needed for a quorum. Therefore, the Meeting was not officially called to order, but discussion of Items on the draft Agenda proceeded with the understanding that no official business would be conducted.
There was some discussion re the Minutes from December 17. Members were asked to review their memories and notes in preparation for Approval on January 17.
Report on Study Session:
Churchman summarized the study session in a draft document which he passed out.
Keil reported on the session – bottom line, the city funding will end before something can be done countywide. Options include:
– the city could raise money to pay for the interim –
Long Term Concerns:
There are many, such as how to involve the county, when, what leadership role Ashland might take, political reaction to whatever Ashland does, who would lead a county election, getting support and much more.
Keil believes a district including
Vavra will contact Morrison to see if he can talk with mayors of Talent and
General Discussion included: Are we talking of forming a district that would act as a supplement to what the county is doing or is a district that would fund all the services? How long with the county fund the libraries, even in the minimal amount? When can districts be formed? Only in November elections or is it possible to do this in a May election, which would bring the money in a full year sooner due to tax collection policy? Do we meet our charge if the suggestion is to recommend extending the local levy until there is time to develop a long term plan for 2010? What is the best use of Ruth Metz and what should we be asking of from her?
Vavra will invite Kathleen Davis, Jackson County Library Advisory Committee chair, Colette Boehmer, chair of the Jackson County Library Foundation, and Pat Ashley, library activist from Eagle Point, to the next meeting.
Evaluation of services – what is the measurement of good library services, beyond circulation and counters? American Library Association and the Oregon Library Association have standards for libraries. Ruth Metz might suggest criteria for evaluating library services.
Anne Billeter spoke on her involvement in 2006 with forming a library district and why it got to a bad start. 1. The group hit the cities cold with the request to support this. The library staff had been working for 2 years on this, the cities were surprised.
Vavra will ask Ruth Metz if the previous feasibility study she did for
A preliminary status report to the City Council is planned for Jan 15. It will be an informal report. No recommendations are planned but an update on what the committee has been doing. Vavra will ask to be on the Council Agenda.
Next meeting – January 10 – study session Guanjauto Room,
Next Official Meeting – January 17
Meeting disbanded 5:30 p.m.
Amy Blossom, temporary notetaker.