Min - Library Board - 1999 - 01/05 - RegularMINUTES
ALLEN LIBRARY BOARD
JANUARY 05, 1999
ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
TWO ALLEN CIVIC PLAZA
ALLEN, TEXAS 75013
I. The regular meeting of the Allen Public Board meeting was called to order at 740 p.m. by
Board Chairperson Donna Various. Members present were Various, Joe Defenderfer, Frank
Smdow, Mary Vail -Grube, John Ross, Dee Teel and Rhonda Grigg. Also present was Library
Director Barbara Buehler.
Chair Various and Vice -Chair Ross discussed their appearance before the City Council to present
the Board's recommendation for an architect for the Library Budding Expansion Project. They
said that the Council had tabled the item and that Mayor Pro -Tem David Kerr and Councilmember
Melissa Owen would be attending the meeting to discuss the City Council's concems with the
design of the library and the process.
11. The Board reviewed the draft minutes of the November 3, 1998 meeting. Vice -Chair Ross moved
approved as presented Mr. Smdow seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously
Chair Various indicated that she would be taking the agenda out of order to accommodate the City
Councihnembers who would be arriving later to discuss Agenda Items III & IV
VI. The monthly statistical report was reviewed and suggestion box input was discussed. There was
no formal action required by the Board
In other business, Ms. Buehler distributed information about the Board Business Workshop
sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Collin County and asked any Board members interested in
attending to contact her as soon as possible Ms. Buehler also inquired as to whether all Board
members were receiving NETLS and TLA publications
Chair Various reminded everyone that they should have received a letter from the City inviting
participation in the Capital Improvement Program development process and, that if they were
interested in participating they should return the form to the Community Development Department
as soon m possible as the meetings begin next week. Also, it was noted that Vice -Chau Ross is a
member of the CIP Committee and Chair of the Library and Arts Subcommittee.
V. Mr Saidow, and Ms Buehler reported on the NETLS quarterly meeting. Mr. Snidow discussed
the grant program that Bill Gates and Microsoft have instituted to fund distribution of Internet
Workstations to all public libraries in the country Ms. Buehler indicated that we have submitted
the grant fomes and that we would be eligible for 6 workstations based on population
At 8.05 p.m Councihnember Melissa Owen arrived
Allen Library Board
January 5, 1999 - Minutes
Page 2 of 2
III. Ms. Buehler reported on the Focus Group meetings that were held to gather input from the
different interest groups that use the library as to what types of facilities and services they would
like as part of the library expansion. She reported that there was good participation. There were
six groups of 8 to 11 people in each group, managed by an experienced facilitator. The groups
included: older adults, parents of pre-schoolers, parents of school age children, teenagers, business
people and community leaders. The facilitator will provide a written report that Ms. Buehler will
distribute to the Board and City Council. There was no formal action required by the Board.
Mayor Pro -Tem David Kerr arrived at 8 25 p.m.
IV. The Board moved to a discussion of the Library Expansion Project. Mayor Pro -Tem Kerr said
that the City Council would like to have a partnership with the Board in this project and that
perhaps the Council will appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to work with Ms Buehler and the Board
throughout the process Mr. Kerr went on to say that the Council is very interested in creating a
campus of buildings at the City Center site and want to ensure that the library building will be
compatible with the new City Hall that is being constructed nearby He also related some building
restrictions that the City Council has set out. The library cannot be more than two -stories and it
cannot encroach on the public walkway/plaza area to the east Mr. Kerr said that it might be a
good idea to have some preliminary design options drawn up and available prior to the bond
elections to show voters what the possibilities would be within certain budget scenarios
Councdmember Owen said that the Council is open to all kinds of ideas regarding the long term
planning for Library space and that the Board should feel free to `think outside the box" and
brainstorm. There was discussion that the City could enter into an agreement with the architect for
conceptual drawings and cost estimates for now, and leave the details of the concoction aspect of
the contract open-ended until we know how much money we have available after the bond election.
Councilmembers Kerr and Owen agreed that they would leave this item on the table at the next
Council meeting and wait for the Library Director and City Manager to develop a phased proposal
for the architect's contract for the Board and City Council to consider. There was no formal action
by the Board.
VII. The Board adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Mr Snidow moved and Ms Teel seconded the motion. The
next meeting will be on February 2, 1999
These minutes read and approved this 2nd day of February, 1999.
O�XQ,
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Donna Vinous ,�
Chairperson Mary Var Grube, Secreta