2017-12-11 Minutes DENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
MINUTES OF LIBRARY BOARD
Emily Fowler Central Library
December 11, 2017
Attending: Alice Mankoff, Laura Cantu, Sherry DeBorde, Amy Taylor, Kate Margolis, Sarah
Gamblin, Sashenka Lopez
Absent: None
Student Observer: Christina Velazquez
Library Staff. Jennifer Bekker
City Staff. Bryan Langley, Deputy City Manager
CALLED TO ORDER: Called to order by Alice Mankoff at 5:30.
PUBLIC FORUM
No one present to speak.
APPROVE MINUTES
Gamblin motion to approve. Margolis seconded.
Approve Minutes from the Nov. 13 meeting.
LIBRARY REPORT
Jennifer Bekker, Director of Libraries
• Library Benchmark Report FY 2016/2017
Commentary: McKinney and Plano are the only libraries that calculated technology along
with operating expenditures per Capita.
Shorter checkout periods in other communities sometimes explain our lower turnover rate.
Strengths: customer service, collection and programming are strong.
Opportunities: growing library visits through DPL, increasing circulation, analyzing how to
find savings.
Mankoff stated the value here might increase as a similar report is created next year.
Langley stated some absolute values less significant than trends.
• Library innovation program
Modeled after city innovation program focused internally. Focus: What could we do
internally to improve operations? Open to all levels of staff to empower staff to offer ideas.
• Staff training about library budget and funding
Bekker to meet with staff to give an overview of budget so that when they have ideas, they
know the budget and funding possibilities.
We do not have a dedicated grant writer, but there is a person at South Branch(Rebecca)
who specializes in grant writing.
• Online library donation process
Process has been tested. Expect to have that up and running soon. Minimum$5 donation.
Will send thank you letters for all memorials and donations $50 or above.
Mankoff asked about the revised website. Responses were 50150 complaint/compliment.
Reached out to anyone complaining who left comments.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Jennifer Bekker
• No change. Checking account: $15,676.51
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT
Sherry DeBorde
• Meeting in January; Book Sale scheduled in February
NEW BUSINESS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Read"Hugs and Shrugs" in the Denton Record Chronicle Sunday, December 10, 2017
City Hall West: Lopez asked if there was an advocate from the library. Langley suggested we
could pass contact members of Library Board to the City Hall West committee
Next meeting January 8, 2018 at North Branch Forge.
Cantu motioned. Borde seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 6:05 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Taylor