REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR

Winnefox Library System

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

 

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS             The Nominating Committee, consisting of Merry

                                                                        Whipple (Neenah), Carole Marchant-Ferber (Campbellsport) and Jo Dell’Antonia (Oshkosh) have recommended a slate of officers for 2003.  A report from the Committee will be available at the meeting.  Discussion.  Action Requested:  open the meeting to nominations from the floor and then elect a slate of officers for 2003.

 

TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS                      On behalf of the Board, I would like to welcome back those trustees that have been reappointed,

and welcome our newly appointed trustees:

 

Fond du Lac County –Jennifer Corbin (Fond du Lac– new appointee 3 years)

                                    Lewis Rosser (Fond du Lac – new appointee 3 years)

Winnebago County -    Scott Woldt (Oshkosh – new appointee 3 years)

Merry Whipple (Neenah – reappointed 3 years)

                                    James Reiland (Menasha – reappointed 3 years)

                                    Tom Widener (Winnebago County Board – reappointed 3 years)

Green Lake County –   Kay Roethel (Berlin – reappointed 3 years)

Waushara County -      Yvonne D. Feavel (Waushara County Board – reappointed 3 years)

Marquette County -      Bonnie Dresen (Westfield – new appointee 3 years)

 

We will schedule an orientation session(s) for new trustees as soon as possible.

 

RESOLUTIONS OF APPRECIATION       We would like to take this opportunity to express

                                                                        our appreciation for the service to the Winnefox Library System by retiring trustees Stephan Kaszar (Westfield), and John Bermingham (Oshkosh`).  We have prepared Resolutions of Appreciation for each for your approval.  Discussion.  Action Requested: approve Resolutions of Appreciation as contained in Exhibit A.

 

2003 ANNUAL SYSTEM PLAN                  Exhibit B contains the letter of approval

APPROVED BY DLTCL                              from the Division of Libraries and

                                                                        Community Learning for our 2003 Annual System Plan.  We are always pleased to receive this notification since it comes with our first System Aids funding distribution which represents 75% of our total.  We will be receiving $837,003 in system aids for 2003 – 3.75% less than we received in 2001.  Discussion.  Action Requested: none.

 

 

 

Winnefox Library System                                                                                  January 29, 2003

Director’s Report                                                                                             Page 2

 

LEGISLATIVE ISSUES – WLA                  Exhibit C contains a set of issues papers prepared

2003 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA                   by Mark Arend – Stand Up For Libraries on some

                                                                        of the issues.  I will provide a legislative update at the meeting.  It appears that legislative matters are going to take center stage early and during  the rest of 2003 until local budgets are approved.  We will also try to have a resolution for you at the meeting relating to what we consider the most critical legislative priorities for Winnefox libraries.  Discussion.  Action Requested: consider approval of resolution(s) on legislative priorities for Winnefox member libraries to communicate to area legislators.

 

POLICY PROPOSAL ON                             Exhibit D contains a draft Proposal for a Drug-

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE                      Free Workplace policy.  Federal Library Services &

                                                                        Technology Act (LSTA) grants now require a sign-off that an applicant has such a policy in place.  Mark has collected samples from a number of library systems and this proposal represents a compilation of the best from what we received.  Discussion.  Action Requested: approve proposed Policy on a Drug-Free Workplace as contained in Exhibit D.

 

2002 YEAR END FINANCIAL                    The financial reports, included for your

REPORTS                                                      information, constitute the end-of-year

                                                                        close-out figures for 2002.  In general, the most significant thing to report is that for the first time in my memory, one of our budgets ended the year in operating deficit.  The primary reason for the deficits in the Winnefox budget was lower than anticipated interest revenues.  Fortunately, our prior year fund balances can cover the deficit.

In general, the Winnefox Cooperative Technical Services subprogram ended the year in a positive cash position.  WCTS spent $30,928.06 less than budgeted and took in $1,545.49 less in revenues, which contributes to a carryover balance of $29,382.80.   Most of the expenditure savings were due to one time vacancy savings the elimination of the Field Services Librarian position (for which WCTS pays 50%). 

The Winnefox budget ended the year in operating deficit.  In general, we spent $33,554.85 less but took in about $49,035.21 less than anticipated which contributes to a net operating deficit of -$15,480.   Most of the expenditure savings occurred in Personnel due to the other half of the Field Services position cut.  Winnefox Interest earnings were less than 50% of what was projected - $27,508 less.  We also received about $29,000 less in Contractual Revenue – most of that due also to the Field Services position reimbursement (50%) from WCTS.

Winnefox prior year fund equity at $162,059 is more than enough to absorb this year’s Winnefox operating deficit.  But it is important to remember that, in preparation of the 2003 budget, there were two items for which we did not budget: 1) the remaining 50% of Enrichment Grants at $29,758 and 2) any unemployment compensation payouts during 2003.  And we will need whatever is left going into the 2004 budget year.

           


 

Winnefox Library System                                                                                  January 29, 2003

Director’s Report                                                                                             Page 3

 

As far as the WALS subprogram budget is concerned, it was a complicated year but one in which we ended in a positive position.  In general, we spent about $101,000 less than projected and took in $5,431 more in revenue.  Most of the under expenditure is due to our not having spent all of the Gates server grant funds yet (we will in 2003) and lower than anticipated direct capital expenditures by the member libraries.  In this particular budget, there are many Direct accounts for equipment, supplies, etc. that are controlled by the member libraries and therefore can change greatly from our early projections.  It is also worth noting that our Interest earnings in this budget were also lower than anticipated by $25,664.  Discussion.  Action Requested:  none.

 

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS -

 

·        REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - please take the time to review Mark’s report on System activities.  It’s contained as Exhibit E.

·        TRUSTEE MANUALS – It is the time of year when we need you to bring in your     red trustee notebooks for updating by the staff.  Please try to remember to do that for this meeting.  It makes it easier for staff to do it if they have all of them at one time.  We will be asking you whether you want your notebook back or plan to rely upon the web version of the manual.  Most of you indicated you would prefer the latter when we demonstrated the online version of the manual - http://www.winnefox.org/trustees/.

·        WINNEFOX AUTOMATED LIBRARY SERVICES (WALS) REPORTS – Karen Boehning, WALS Coordinator, prepared two reports for the member library directors at our Annual Systems meeting last week.  They’re both very informative and I’ve included them as Exhibit F.  One covers an overview and tentative timetable for the upgrade of our current automation system.  The other provides a look into activities by that staff of the past year.

·        INTERLIBRARY LOAN STATISTICS – each year we prepare a report for the member libraries on the number of items borrowed from and loaned to other libraries.  It is included for your information as Exhibit G.  Over 137,000 items were moved from library to library in Winnefox through the shared automation reserve system.

·        12 WAYS LIBRARIES ARE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY – Exhibit H contains an items shared with the member libraries that is very timely as we are all asked to defend and justify the value libraries during this next year.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

John V. Nichols

Director