Staff Association Meeting Minutes - February 2013

Date:  February 28, 2013, 2pm
Location:  Belle Isle

Present: Brittany Barber (Choctaw) – Chair, Kevin Colwell (Technical Processing), Dave French (Belle Isle), Jerod Gerfen (Midwest City) Secretary, Tulin Lafollette (Del City), Lawanna Morgan (Ralph Ellison), Donna Morris (Guest speaker), Barb Parr (Southern Oaks), Joan Kendall (Edmond) Treasurer

Guest speaker – Donna Morris:

Per annual tradition, Donna Morris was our guest speaker for the month of February. Instead of addressing general staff inquiries about MLS policy and procedure, Donna focused on the current status of the overall MLS organization. The specific details of Donna’s address are outlined below.

• Two state questions that passed on the November 2012 ballot will directly affect library funding. There will be a cap placed on increases in property taxes, so we may not see the growth in revenue that we have enjoyed in recent years. Next year’s budget is projected to be flat, so staff raises and new capital projects may be deferred.
• An ILS task force has been created to research, select and integrate a new automated library system once Jimmy retires in July 2013. Jimmy will remain contractually employed with MLS for a number of months to ensure that the new ILS transitional process goes smoothly. Jimmy’s departure will also bring about a general restructuring of the administration hierarchy.
• The NW library is having an impact on usage statistics at other north side libraries. Some of these trends could also be a result of eMedia and other mobile technologies.
• A concerted effort to highlight eBooks and our online databases is currently underway in MAC.
• A number of capital projects that have already been budgeted for will commence in the near future. Starting in about a year there will be a major reconstruction project taking place at CH. JN has found a site for their new library. DC continues to search for a new building location.
• Donna will be retiring in December of 2014.

Brittany asked Donna what she thought the Staff Association could do to best support MLS staff. Donna thought that we should focus on informing and educating our respective staff on intra-system issues. She stressed that we should continue to review the commission packets for pertinent information and look into securing representation from the numerous internal offices within the system (i.e. MAC, BUS, OUT, etc.).

MLS meeting activities:

Tulin was unable to attend the last commission meeting at DC, but Brittany perused the commission packet and said that there was not anything imperative to report.

At the last A&P meeting, a grievance involving a former employee was discussed. No further action related to this dismissal went forward.

Brittany forgot to email Kim Terry in time to get a Liaison report from the Ad team meeting.

Treasurer’s report:

Joan reported that we currently have $361.29 in funds. We currently have 89 members with 17% of staff holding SA memberships.

Warm fuzzies:

Brittany brought multiple copies of the “warm fuzzies” poster that we will be using to market the upcoming event. Each representative should be able to take at least three copies.

Brittany will design the comment form that employees will complete and print off from the Intranet.

Doug Bentin from MAC will be contacted about placing a blurb about the program in an upcoming Shelflife issue.

Filling vacancies:

Brittany is currently striving to secure SA representatives at locations where there are vacancies. Once these positions are filled, we will need to nominate a new vice-chair and communications officer. Please begin thinking about who you would like to nominate. Brittany will be meeting with Kellie Delaney soon to learn about what types of things we will be able to post on our site and how to edit our own content. She will pass along this information to the new communications officer once he or she is in place.

Membership drive/future business:

Brittany wanted to discuss putting together some kind of concerted membership drive to replenish our dwindling numbers and to raise money for other types of future activities. Our focus in the foreseeable future may be geared towards social-type functions to bring greater attention and involvement to the Staff Association. One possible future activity could be a system-wide talent show or open-mic night. The venue and specifics for such an event will have to be fleshed out at a later date.

For our annual Staff Association dinner in June, we may try to alter the traditional format slightly in terms of the entertainment and food to see if it attracts more employees. We should all start thinking about a potential speaker for said event.

Brittany said that we could also inquire about getting Staff Association discounts like the ones offered in years’ past (i.e. JCPenneys).

We decided that our Staff Association logo could use an overall redesign. Jerod will attempt this undertaking and provide possible contenders at our April meeting.

Brittany will send everyone a link to our Intranet wiki account. We can use the wiki to log and keep track of staff concerns that may warrant our consideration.

Linda Hyams will be asked to be our guest speaker in March.

What’s happening at your library?

• Dave: BI will be getting new carpet in May.
• Joan: Melody is planning an ED staff picnic for April.
• Lawanna: RE will be celebrating Ralph Ellison’s 100th birthday tomorrow evening from 5-7pm.
• Tulin: The DC library is busy with their tax-assistance program.
• Barb: Nathan and Edie recently made the move from SO to AL, so there will be a couple of open positions at SO.
• Kevin: There is a new employee at ILL. TP is continuously working on AL materials.
• Brittany: CT recently celebrated a retirement party for Rosemary. Aaron Bluitt from LO is acting as the MLO in the interim. CT is also currently short two Library Aides.