HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-23-1985 Library Commission MinutesSARATOGA LIBRARY COMMISSION
MEETING
23 January 1985
Commissioners Present: Beverett, Gandrud, Kanemura, Mahler, Morrison,
Moss, & Wood
Library Staff Present: Lois Thomas & Janice Yee
City Staff Present: Joan Pisani
The January 23, 1985 meeting of the Saratoga Library Commission
was called to order by Chairman Moss at 7:38 p.m. in the Community
Room of the Saratoga Library. The minutes of the November 28, 1984
meeting were approved as read.
Janice Yee was welcomed as acting County Librarian. She reported
that the job opening for County Librarian has been advertised;
the appointment will be made by County Executive Sally Reed after
the screening and interview processes are completed.
Joan Pisani reported that the parking lot addition will be com-
pleted before the next fiscal year. Plans for the parking lot were
distributed to Commissioners for modification or approval. The
following recommendations were made by the Commission: 1) use
of perpendicular parking spaces rather than angled ones for more
spaces; 2) addition of two more lights along the orchard for in-
creased visibility and safety; 3) widening of the driveway; 4)
provision of spaces for compact cars to maximize spaces; 5) dif-
fused lighting to illuminate larger areas; 6)suggestions for pre-
venting accidents at the No Parking curb by the book drop.
The Commissioners considered various methods of raising funds for
the library. Janice Yee reported that the Los Altos library has
decided to postpone for six months a tax override election to
raise monies for the library; a study group will consider fund-
raising. Suggestions and comments by the Commissioners included:
1) determining the feasibility of a phone-a-thou to raise money;
2) establishing a finance and honorary committee for a fund-raising
letter, identifying corporations, churches, clubs, individuals, and
organizations to target for mailing, and following through by
telephone; 3) developing specific fund-raising goals, since many
contributors will not fund operating expenses; 4) recognizimg~;
that large amounts of time are required to organize and carry
through any fund-raising projects. Commissioners brought up the
following considerations: 1) library should raise funds for speci-
fic projects, programs, collections, etc., and should have a
specific money goal in mind; 2) any discussion of fund-raising must
consider and identify who or what group will do the fund-raising;
and 3) Commissioners can identify projects for fund-raising efforts.
In evaluating the December G, 1984 meeting with David Jones, most
Commissioners felt that it served as a step in the right direction
of better communication between Commission and City Council members.
Mary Beth Gandrud attended the two regularly scheduled meetings of
the City Council in January as an observor for the Library Commission.
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Library Commission
23 January 1985
page 2
She reported that the Council members appeared to have appreciated
her attendance at their meetings and she recommended continuing
Commission attendance at future Council meetings. Commissioner
Mahler will observe the February meetings; Commissioner Kanemura,
the March meetings.
Janice Yee reported on the following: 1) the County Supervisors
set aside making any decision on the comparable worth salary issue;
2) the library staff has been invited to attend a county training
workshop for supervisors; 3) the Governor's budget for 1985-86
includes a 25% increase in public library funding; the County's
share would be about $40,000; 4) the County Library system has
received a $97,000 grant to fund materials, staff, and volunteer
training for an adult literacy project for Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and
Milpitas; 5) the Cupertino Library Commission asked the Cupertino
City Council to include the library in its Civic Center redevelop-
ment plans and will receive an 8,000-10,000 square foot addition
to the building; and 6) the County Library has requested a grant
for collection development to add 200 picture books and 200 business
and science titles to each library.
Commissioner Mahler asked Janice Yee to provide cost estimates
of operating expenses for Sunday hours from September 1985 to June
1986.
Janice Yee said that budget estimates for 1985-86 should be ready
by February.
Lois Thomas reported on the library's heating problem. She also
told the Commissioners that an Office Assistant has been hired for
three months with contributions provided by the Friends of the Sara-
toga Libraries to train volunteers and work on the circulation
conversion project.
Joan Pisani explained to the Commission that the library's parking
sign will be repainted to correct a mistake made by the City's crew.
The City Council has invited Barbara Campbell to the February 6, 1985
Council meeting to receive a resolution honoring her service as
County Librarian.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respec~fully~/lsubmitted,
Marilyn May Kanemura