HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-1975 Library Commission Minutes LIBRARY COMMISSION
MINUTES
MAY 28, 1975
I. ORGANIZATION
A. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Campbell, Isaak, Miller, Moss, and Olsen.
Absent: Commissioners Early and Falltrick
Guests: Mr. Robert F. Beyer, City Manager, Ms. Pamela Hook, Regional
Librarian and Miss Barbara Campbell, County Librarian.
B. Mi nutes
It was pointed out that the secretary failed to note that John Campbell
had been elected Chairman of the Commission and Mrs. Falltrick had been
selected Vice Chairman.
The minutes were l~hen accepted as corrected.
II. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST BY MRS. VERA HILSENRATH TO INCLUDE CABLE TELEVISION
PUBLIC ACCESS FACILITIES IN THE NEW LIBRARY FACILITY
Mrs. Vera Hilsenrath was introduced and discussed with the Commission the
possibility of including provisions for public access facilities in the new library
building. She felt that it was necessary to start thinking about this as public
access is one of the key elements from which the community can benefit from cable
television. She spent some time' going into l~he background of public access and what
it was.
She articulated three or four areas of community concerns. These being, the physical
facility, the lega}]framework for public access, the administrative body for over-
seeing the public access channel, and the funding problem for implementing pro-
gramming. She indicated that the facility would need approximately 800 square feet
Of space.
The question was then raised by the Commission concerning the use of community tax
dollars for this purpose and whether or not this was equitable, particularly
if people chose not to use cable television. The various advantages and dis-
advantages of Mrs. Hilsenrath's proposal were discussed. She further pointed out
that some of the issues that must be faced in dealing ~vith public access are:
l) The free §peech ~ssue, 2) (~bsenityi.~aws, 3) scheduling, and 4) The ~ssue of
Cornmerci al s.
The Commission was interested in assuring that the new library facility would provide
for CATV conduits for both transmitting and receiving purposes. This should be
tied into the meeting rooms so that the library could avail itself of the CAT)/
system once it is installed in Saratoga.
After further discussion, it was suggested that other locations be reviewed as
well as the library fadility and th~ Co~mi§sion'ihdieated to Mrs. Hilsenrath that
they did not feel additional f~nds could be spen( a~'this time for this type of
usage z!in the library facility.
III. STATUS REPORT ON PROPOSED LIBRARY FACILITY
The City Manager briefly outlined that a decision had not yet been made by
the City Council concerning the site location but negotiations were continuing.
It was hoped that a decision would be made in the very near future.
IV. REPORT FROM COUNTY LIBRARIAN
Miss Campbell started her report by indicating that the Board of Supervisors
had conmitted themselves toa no tax rate increase this year. She claimed that
if the Board did not change its position in'relation to the library program there
wouQd be problems. It was anticipated that a two to three cent increase would be
forthcoming in the County Library tax rate.
She further indicated that there is approximately ~140,000 included in this year's
Mudget f6r furniture and for full year operations for the Gilrov, Morgan Hill and
Los Altos facilities. She anticipated that the same amount of money in this years
budget for furhi~ure, would be used in upcoming years to pay for the lease for the
Saratoga facility
Miss Campbell further reported that the Board of Supervisors had approved a policy
for reciprocating services wFiti~cities that have their own l~brary systems. There
are only two exceptions to the program at this tim~ those being the cities of
Palo Alto andibes Gatos, In those cases, residents of those two cities who want
to use the County Library System will h~ve to pay a $25.00 non-resident fee.
Miss Campbell then reported on the alternatives which have been developed by her
staff for the reduced hours of operation for the Saratoga libraries this summer.
Three alternatives had been prepared and were presented to the Commission for
consideration. These included the following:
l) Quito closed Monday morning and Thursday night with Village closed
Monday night and Thursday morning.
2) Quito closed Monday morning and Thursday night with Village closed
Wednesday a~d Thursday nights.
3) Quito closed Monday morning a~d Village closed all day Saturday.
The general permmeters for the cuts in proposed hours provides that each library in the
system will close 6 hours per week thus reducing the times the library is open
from 66 to 60 hours per week. The Commission after discussing the alternatives
took no formal action on the proposal but indicated their support for alternative
#1.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
Ro§efi~-F. ' Be~'~~
Secretarv~