Winnefox Library System

Strategic Planning Committee

Tuesday 27 February 2007

Berlin Public Library

Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Jeff Gilderson-Duwe at 2:03 PM. Present were Mark Arend, Karen Boehning, Marie Boleman, Chris Carroll, Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, Mary Olsen, Steve Proces, Tasha Saecker, Paul Wade, Sara Wilson, Sandy Zuehlke.

No members of the public were present and there were no public comments.

There was a discussion of who should chair the committee. Sandy nominated Tasha. Paul moved a unanimous ballot be cast for Tasha. Ken seconded.

Jeff reviewed planning process.

The committee asked for information on other systems. Mark will collect the system plans and budgets for the Outagamie-Waupaca (OWLS), South Central, and Eastern Shores library systems. Jeff and Mark will work with staff to develop lists of job duties for Winnefox staff, highlighting major tasks.

Jeff moved and Ken seconded that we create a RFP for a consultant who will meet with member directors to identify strengths and weaknesses in system organization, staffing, & communication. The motion passed unanimously. Staff will draft the RFP and send it to the committee for approval.

The committee discussed consultants that had been suggested. The consensus was that 5 would be contacted: Himmel & Wilson, Deb Wilcox Johnson, Karen Krueger, Sandra Robbers, & Russell Consulting.

The committee discussed the new services brainstorming sessions which were held with member library directors at the Winnefox Annual Meeting on 16 January and with the Winnefox staff on 16 February.

There was concern that this was a list of possible services but didn’t address the issue of the system’s organization and how and to what extent libraries benefit from system services. Ken commented that we should examine what the value is for each library individually & what the value of cooperation is.

Steve said we need to examine what services Winnefox and other systems offer and their value. We also need to examine how decisions on what services are offered and allocated among member libraries are made.

The committee discussed comparing what automation services other systems offer and how they are paid for. Sandy moved and Jeff seconded that a subcommittee consisting of Ken, Chris, and Jeff would do this. The motion passed unanimously.

Steve commented that there is great difference between how different systems spend money. Staff from the Wisconsin Department of Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning (DLTCL) have created charts comparing how much systems spend on different services. Mark will locate these and send them to the committee.

It was stated that we need to examine how different systems operate and how they deal with tensions between the resource library & the system and between larger & smaller libraries.

It was decided that the committee would plan to meet monthly on the 4^th Tuesday of the month at 3 PM. The location would be Berlin Public Library. If the meeting room in Berlin was not available we would meet either in Green Lake or Ripon.

The meeting adjourned at 3:27 PM.

Respectfully submitted:

Mark Arend