HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-1984 Library Commission Minutes•
~SARATOG•A LIBRARY COMMISSI~
MEETING
24 October 1984
Commissioners Present: Beverett, Gandrud, Kanemura, Mahler, Moss,
& Wood
Library Staff Present: Barbara Campbell & Lois Thomas
City Staff Present: Joan Pisani
The October 24, 1984 meeting of the Saratoga Library Commission was
called to order by Chairman Moss at 7:37 p.m. in the Community Room
of the Saratoga Library. The minutes of the September 26, 1984
meeting were approved with the following changes: "According to
the division of monies after Proposition 13, about 4.1~ of every
dollar should be directed to library funding, instead of 2.6G as
preliminarily calculated. Barbara Campbell stated that special
district augmentation funds take some of the monies, which are
reassigned proportionally between the fire district and the county
library." "As an example, to bring the funding up to pre-Proposition
13 levels, raising $250,000 per year in extra revenues, the 13,000
parcels in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills can be assessed $19-$20
per year in a tax override.
Ms. Campbell distributed copies of the estimated 1984-85 operating
budget for the Saratoga Community Library, totaling $950,325 for
salaries, services and supplies, and support services.
Chairman Moss reported that the exit sign in the children's section
need not be lighted according to Saratoga Fire Marshall Ernie Kraule.
She purchased a sign for that use.
The Commission considered the question of whether to recommend to
the County Library that Sunday hours be established for the Saratoga
Library. Ms. Campbell presented the Commission with four options to
provide the funding for Sunday operations, but did not recommend
opening the library on Sundays. Commissioner Mahler reported that
the board of the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries unanimously agreed
to make up the $3108 of Option D if the Commission decided to have
a trial period of Sunday openings. Lois Thomas discussed her concerns
about Sunday openings: staff morale because of scheduling, heavy
demands placed on a limited staff, and an especially heavy workload
due to staff time required for the conversion to the computerized
circulation system. A suggestion was made to delay the decision to
the next fiscal year because the conversion project is scheduled for
completion by next May or June.
The Commissioners voiced their opinions concerning Sunday hours.
Commissioner Beverett recommended that the library open on Sundays
for an experimental period beginning in January 1985 and operating
through June 1985, with funding provided by the Friends ($3108) and
the City ($2108), or by closing the library on Fridays. Commissioner
Mahler agreed to a trial period, beginning in September 1985, with
the City Council helping to finance Sunday hours. With regard to
that option, Ms. Campbell stated that by waiting until 1985-86,
the circulation system will be operational, providing better staff
utilization and enabling more public service, and Saratoga may be
in a better financial situation.
~ ~ ~ ~
October 24, 1984 - 2
Commissioner Gandrud suggested that the Commission ask the City
Council for funds specifically designated for Sunday hours next
fiscal year. Commissioner Wood recommended that the library staff
and the Commission have facts and figures for the City Council in
early spring for the budget hearings. Commissioner Kanemura expressed
her opinion that the Library Commission concern itself with preserving
the basic levels of library service and hours of operation before
adding additional hours, and suggested that the City Council be asked
to provide the additional funding for Sunday hours.
At the close of discussion, Commissioner Mahler made a motion to
recommend Sunday services starting in September 1985, compiling the
statistics required to request funding by the City Council.-. The
motion was seconded by Mrs. Gandrud. The motion was carriedlby
a vote of 4 in favor and 1 opposed, Commissioner Beverett dissenting.
Chairman Moss will prepare a report and statement on the Commission's
decision for the City Council for the next Council meeting.
Due to the length of the meeting, discussion of other items on
the agenda was postponed until the next Commission meeting. Members
of the Commission were asked to consider methods of raising funds
for the library.
Commissioners were reminded of the Recognition Dinner on October 25,
1984, at the Foothill Club.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn ay Kanemura