WINNEFOX LIBRARY SYSTEM
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
May 10, 2005
The special meeting
of the Winnefox Library System Board of Trustees was called to order at 4:05
p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2005, in the Meeting Room at the Oshkosh Public
Library by President Judy Malueg. Trustees present were: Lurton Blassingame,
John Brennan, Debra Clark, Jo Dell’Antonia, Bonita Dresen, Jackie Jurkowski,
Judy Malueg, John Muentner, Kay Roethel,
Judy Malueg called for a show
of hands from the public from those wishing to speak at the meeting. Ken Hall, Director of Fond du Lac Public Library;
Motion to have visitors
who wish to speak sign up prior to the beginning of discussions and limit
speakers to that list. Motion:
Woldt; Second: Motion died due to the lack of a second.
Presentation – Winnefox Library System Director
Questions, Comments, Discussion of Presentation
Widener:
Woldt: Disagreed with Widener. Woldt thinks the past should be taken into
consideration when making the decision.
A lot of times the past predicts the future. The judicial system is based upon the
past. Not against change but would like
a guarantee of same success at the same price.
Brennan: Six systems split their Directorship, four
during John’s tenure, what caused the splits?
Nichols: In four of the six cases, the splits were
initiated by the Resource Library Director, not the System. It was usually a director near retirement.
Whipple: Hopefully a new situation will be built on a
healthy relationship regardless of which direction we take. Trust and getting along would be
expected. We should be going in with a
positive attitude and not dwelling too much on the issue of trust.
Nichols: Renegotiating contracts can lead to conflicts
over money.
Whipple: Assume trust will be there.
Nichols: Seems easier holding one person responsible
as opposed to two.
Hall: How many shared automation systems are in the
state?
Nichols: 30 or 40
Hall: How many were started by dual directors?
Nichols: A lot.
Winnefox Library System was an early player in doing that.
Presentations/Public Comment From Others
Ken Hall, Director of
The three directors took
turns reviewing points in their memo.
The memo is available along with other documents on the Winnefox website
as part of the packet for that meeting.
Questions, Comments, Discussion of Presentations
Schoepel: What are the basic benefits/advantages of a
resource library?
Nichols: When systems are first developed, they build
a system to share resources around the largest library (funding, ILL, etc.). Sharing resources of the largest library does
not duplicate things. Because of today’s
shared computer systems, the collections of the
Resource library are not
thought to be as important by some.
Current benefits tend to be staff resources and expertise, reference and
referral services. The definition of a
resource library is spelled out in Chapter 43 of the WI Statues.
Roethel: I expected to be sold on a separate
directorship instead of refuting John.
That hasn’t happened yet. Why are
you three (
Hall: Although there have not been conflicts with
Winnefox Library System, there may be potential conflicts. I believe that in a dual directorship,
history shows the resource library gets more than other member libraries. There is concern that if another dual
director is hired he/she will favor the resource library.
Willadsen: What issues are you trying to fix? It doesn’t sound like there have been
problems between Winnefox and member libraries.
Hall: Other dual directors have padded resource
library contracts.
Dell’Antonia: Your arguments seem to be based on negative
assumptions.
Proces: Understands that the conflict raised with
hiring another dual director seems weird.
John does a wonderful job. Growth
has raised the need for a full time director.
Because the new person will not be John, there would be possible
unfairness. There will be change. Conflict of interest.
Woldt: Trust seems to be the main issue.
Willadsen: There have been 22 years of success. The burden of argument for change is on the
side which wants to split the directorship.
Tasha Saecker, Director
of Caestecker Public Library:
Widener: This is a new opportunity. We must think about what is best for Winnefox
Library System not Oshkosh Public Library.
Arguments should not be based upon “what could happen.” We don’t want to look back in a year and say
“boy did we make a mistake.” We need to
move forward and base a decision on the future and how it can be better.
Schoepel: Agreed with Widener.
Whipple: If a dual director is hired, OPL Board wants
input from WLS Board during the hiring process.
If WLS decides to hire their own director are we prepared to be 100% responsible
as a board?
Fry: John relays information to both sides. In the past, I didn’t bring unfair thoughts
to Winnefox Library System Board because I have trust in John. There is give and take on all issues.
Christine Carroll,
Co-Director of Berlin Public Library:
What is it going to cost smaller libraries? County funding is going down. To small libraries any cut is dramatic. Absorbing another reduction or increased cost
will make a difference.
Sandy Joseph; Children’s
Librarian Oshkosh Public Library:
Speaking from past experiences in being an administrative secretary for
multiple bosses, whoever has the most clout and makes life the most difficult
will usually get priority. It’s very
difficult to work under the same roof with two separate bosses. Who do you listen to first? Under dual directorship daily business runs
more smoothly.
Olson: I’m still not hearing the other side. I wanted to be convinced. There are too many assumptions and unknowns. Communication needs improvement.
Hall: Cost and shared positions. OPL doesn’t realize the access they have to
services from WLS.
Communications From Those Not Attending
Meeting was recessed for
break at 5:47 p.m.
Meeting was called back
to order at 5:55 p.m.
Discussion Among Winnefox Trustees
Blassingame: Is there a time frame we should be concerned
about in making this decision? What are financial
consequences over both choices?
Nichols: The lead-time needed is different for each decision.
OPL is currently one month behind.
A decision should be made by the next WLS board meeting.
If that happens, we
Roethel: We are an at-will employer. Does that change this? We can release a
director if we don’t like them.
Nichols: WLS can terminate a contract at any time.
Roethel: Has there been input from the OPL board? What would they do if directorship split?
Blassingame: There has been no formal discussion.
Roethel: Has OPL discussed what they would do?
Woldt: Both boards are in a holding pattern.
Nichols: OPL is waiting to hear what WLS says.
Woldt: Decision between having one or two directors
comes down to cost vs. potential problems.
Blassingame: WLS board needs to be more active.
Dressen: We are a library for libraries. That is our mission. No matter who we hire and what their
philosophies are, a hiring mistake can be made either way.
Whipple: There has been a lot said about finances, but
no facts were given. We need information
on what actual costs will be but that might not be possible in time to make a
decision.
Nichols: With a split, funds would have to be made up
on both sides. The first straw pulled
out of a contract creates a domino effect and the unraveling of shared
positions and finances begins.
Widener: Concerned about John’s comment “is it going
to cost OPL.” Could WLS be paying
someone else?
Schoepel: Have we ever outsourced?
Wade: “If it’s not broke don’t try to fix it.” Things are working fine. Having two directors is not
consolidating. This isn’t the fiscal
time to split directorship.
Dresen: Look at the bigger picture. What will give patrons the best service?
Willadsen: What is the advantage of a split?
Widener: Better way of servicing smaller libraries.
Woldt: They are feeling that they may be taken
advantage of.
Blassingame: Seems like there are feelings/suspicions of
“I’m not getting my fair share”
Motion to make a vote on
the dual directorship at tonight’s meeting.
Motion: Woldt; Second: Willadsen; Vote: Motion failed 9-7
Paul Wade left the
meeting at this time.
Roethel: I would like an educated financial guess before
making a decision.
Dell’Antonia: Agreed with Roethel. We know the costs if kept as is but we don’t
know the cost if split.
Willadsen: Can we get at commitment from the board that
a decision will be made at the next WLS board meeting?
Woldt: All members from OPL board want to work with
WLS board if a joint director were to be hired.
Board Members agreed to
vote on the issue at the next WLS board meeting scheduled for May 25, 2005.
Motion to adjourn the
meeting at 6:30 p.m. Motion:
Rosser; Second: Whipple; Vote: Unanimous.
Respectfully
submitted,
Reviewed
and approved by email from John Brennan, Secretary
Js/mc/pm