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Library board sets 2006 meeting dates
By Justin Goble
Jackson County library board members determined their 2006 meeting schedule last Monday (Nov. 21).
The board, which meets quarterly, plans third-Monday sessions on Feb. 20, May 15, Aug. 21 and Nov. 20 at 6 p.m at the Jackson County Public Library.
Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, a library board member, questioned the number of meetings set up because of the numerous upcoming projects that the library faces, which include creating plans for a new library building. Though holding more meetings next year was discussed, a majority of board members concluded that the quarterly meeting schedule was sufficient.
In other business:
– Ethan Staats, chairman of the Fontana Regional Library’s board of trustees, discussed restructuring of the FRL with board members.
Staats told board members that Macon County Public Library Manager Karen Wallace will serve as an interim regional director for the FRL when current director Gail Findlay retires in March of next year.
He also reported that FRL trustees are looking into ways to make the library system operate more smoothly.
“We may farm out all of the Internet and computer services to counties that have tech support,” he said. “We could also farm out accounting services to the counties. Cataloguing would be something you have to centralize. We’re mainly looking for input on ways to streamline the process.”
At the time of the meeting, Staats said nothing conclusive had been decided, and that the trustees were mainly trying to find as many ideas as possible.
– Board members discussed whether or not Howard Allman, chairman of the Jackson County Library Board, should be replaced as the representative on the the FRL board.
Allman said that his work schedule has not allowed him to make some of the FRL meetings, which are usually held at 4 p.m.
Though the Jackson board decided to retain Allman as their representative, FRL bylaws allow trustees to vote him off the regional board if he misses too many meetings.
– Mary Selzer, representing the new library’s fund-raising and design committees, gave a report to the board about their status.
The fund-raising committee is currently talking with numerous consultants to help create a fund-raising campaign, Selzer said. They have yet to decide which consultant to employ.
The design committee has also sent out requests for library design consultants.
Selzer said that no definite schedule is set for work to begin on the new library, but she is hoping that one can be established soon.
She also reported that $20,000 have been raised for the new library fund.
– The board welcomed new member Sandra Burbank of Cullowhee, a retired Southwestern Community College teacher.
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