River Forest Public Library
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Regular Meeting
May 23, 2006

Call to Order
President Molly Ryan called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.

Roll Call
Present were Director Dawn Bussey and Trustees Ryan, Coe, Soffer, Cusack, Fischer, Horstman and Daly.

Election of Officers for 2006-2007
Ms. Ryan nominated Mr. Coe to serve as President of the Board. Mrs. Daly seconded. A vote was taken: all ayes and no nays.  Mr. Coe nominated Ms. Horstman for Vice President.  Mrs. Cusack seconded. A vote was taken: all ayes and no nays.  Mrs. Cusack nominated Mr. Soffer for Treasurer.  Ms. Ryan seconded. A vote was taken: all ayes and no nays.  Mrs. Fischer nominated Mrs. Daly for Secretary.  Mrs. Cusack seconded. A vote was taken: all ayes and no nays.

Audience to Visitors, Trustee and Staff Comments
Mrs. Fischer shared a comment from the reading specialists at Willard School. These experts encouraged their students to participate in the Library’s Summer Reading Program, and they praised Mrs. Kerr’s and Ms. Cutter’s presentation at the school. Mrs. Kerr spoke about her and Ms. Cutter’s presentations.  Ms. Ryan said that the book loan at the River Forest train station was a great idea and seems to be working well.

Consent Agenda
	Mr. Coe said that as the Treasurer’s Report had not been in the Board packets, the Board would vote first on the Warrant List and the minutes of the May meeting. The  Warrant and Benefit List for the period of April 10, 2006-May 23, 2006 included checks #6183-6275 (#’s 6216 and 6254 were voided) for a grand total of $57,495.26.  Ms. Ryan made a motion to approve the Warrant List and the minutes.  Mrs. Cusack seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Soffer, Horstman, Fischer, Cusack, Ryan and Daly.
	Mr. Soffer reviewed the April 2006 Treasurer’s Report with the Board. Ms. Ryan made a motion to approve the report. Mrs. Cusack seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Soffer, Horstman, Fischer, Cusack, Ryan and Daly.
	There were no donations.

Communications
 A. Mrs.Bussey shared the following information with the Board:
	~Notes from the MLS
	~The library has received $19,125 in endowments for the Liebner Fund
	~The Oak Park River Forest Rotary is sponsoring a three year literacy project 	beginning with a Storytelling Festival
B. There were three patron suggestions, #’s 188- 190, recorded for the month of April.

Director’s Report
A. Statistical Report- Mrs. Bussey talked about programming and scheduling more effectively for better use of funds and better attendance.
B. Written Report- Mr. Coe asked that in lieu of Mrs. Bussey giving highlights of her written report, Board members come to the meeting having read the report and prepared to ask any questions they may have about the report. 
C. Departmental Reports- Mr. Coe asked if the department heads found these to be valuable. Mrs. Bussey replied that they did, especially in improving inter-departmental communication.

Old Business
Capital Improvements Progress Report – Mrs. Bussey and Mrs. Fischer
	Mrs. Bussey and Mrs. Fischer updated the Board on the Capital Improvements.
The plan for landscaping is underway.  $8,400 has been committed for an irrigation system which will be added to the Park District’s system.  The Friends have donated $500 for plant material. Mrs. Bussey is working with the Krafts who will be doing the landscaping. They are hoping to get help from the Oak Park River Forest Garden Club. Mrs. Cusack asked about a new sign for the library. Mrs. Bussey stated that the sign will be in Phase II of the capital improvements, and that she hopes to be able to install a new lawn sign with a LED.
	Mrs. Bussey and Mrs. Fischer have contacted many design and architectural firms requesting proposals for 1st and 2nd floor renovations. Mrs. Fischer read a statement of what the library wants from these firms, notably someone who is willing to work with the staff and the community. RFPs have been sent out. The hope is to interview 4 or 5 firms by July and make a decision shortly thereafter.

New Business
	The three items of new business, the Standing Committees, the RFPL Webpage Review and the MLS Strategic Planning Update were tabled.

Executive Session
	At 8:10 p.m. Ms. Ryan moved that the Board go to executive session. Mr. Coe seconded. At 9:45, the regular meeting resumed.

Adjournment
At 9:45 Ms. Ryan moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Soffer seconded.

Respectfully submitted,
Diane Daly, Secretary