HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/07/1994 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Work Session Council Meeting
MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL AND
SPRINGFIELD LIBRARY BOARD HELD
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1994
The City of Springfield Council met in a joint meeting with the Springfield..
Library Board at the Springfield City Hall, Meeting Room 2, 225 N. Fifth
Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, March 7, at 6:05 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Present from the City Council were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Beyer,
Burge, Schanz, Shaver and Walters. Councilor Maine was absent (excused).
Present from the Springfield Library Board were Chairperson Jody Arnold, and
Board members Florence Litzenberger, Kathryn Wurtz, Joe Mathieu and Bruce
Horton. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino
Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim Harold, Library Director Bob Russell, City Recorder
Eileen Stein, and members of staff.
1.
Library Board Issues
City Manager Mike Kelly reminded the Council that from time to time the
Council meets with it's various advisory boards, committees and commissions
to touch base on issues that the board, committee or commission may be
working with and to provide an important communication link between the two
bodies.
Library Director Bob Russell introduced Board Chairperson Jody Arnold. Ms.
Arnold introduced the agenda that had been prepared for the meeting and
briefly discussed the activities of the Springfield Library over the past
few years. She indicated various Board members would provide an update on
specific activities and topics.
Board member Bruce Horton discussed the status of the Library Scholarship
Program and answered Councilor's questions regarding the program. The
program utilization was specifically addressed as well as finding ways to
provide more stable funding such as through an Endowment Fund.
Board member Florence Litzenberger discussed the Library's securing a grant
from the state of Oregon to provide greater access to the Library by
families enrolled in Head Start programs.
Ms. Arnold discussed the hiring of the new Library Director as a
significant accomplishment for the Library over the past year.
Board Member Wurtz discussed future plans for the Library. She reported
the Library staff is seeking a $25,000 state grant to provide Spanish
language programs and materials in the Library. Mr. Russell discussed how
the funding would be utilized if the grant was received. He also reported
the Library is in excellent position to receive the grant.
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Work Session Minutes
March 7, 1994
Page 2
Board member Mathieu discussed the Friends of the Library program and the
upcoming plans for this group's activities. He reported he would be
regularly attending their meetings. He indicated there are 25 to 30 core
members with a total membership of over 200 people. The Council and the
Board discussed the potential for this group to become the fundraising
mechanism for the Library, including the creation of an Endowment Fund.
The Council also discussed the status of the Library Memorial Fund and the
potential for the creation of a Library Foundation.
Ms. Arnold discussed the need for an electronic card cataloging system for
the Library and the benefits of such a system. She reported that one
vendor would be on site on March 17 to provide a demonstration of a
product, and invited Council members to attend the demonstration.
Ms. Arnold handed out the Library's gold stars for 1993 and she pointed out
the staff productivity gains over the past few years. This issue was
specifically focused on. Mr. Russell indicated that beginning next week,
he and the Library staff would begin a series of meetings designed to focus
on enhancing productivity given the Library's limited staff resources. The
computerized cataloguing system was again discussed in relation to
enhancing staff effectiveness.
2. City Council Issues
Councilor Walters asked whether plans were being made to connect to the
emerging information "superhighway" through some network link. Mr. Russell
responded it was something that was being looked at. He discussed the cost
and other implications of doing so.
Councilor Shaver stated he had checked with Library staff members and was
pleased to learn how pleased they were with the selection of Mr. Russell as
the new Library Director. He reported Mr. Russell received glowing remarks
from the Library staff.
Councilor Shaver asked if the Library had any CD Read Only Material (ROM)
data retrieval software. Mr. Russell replied the Library does have access
to some data bases through CD ROM diskettes.
3. Update on Videotape Circulation Policy
Mr. Russell gave a report on the City Attorney's opinion regarding the
Library videotape circulation policy. He provided background regarding the
Library's past practice of loaning videotape materials and reviewed the
City Attorney's opinion regarding the loaning of these materials under the
new policy of restricting access of "R" rated videos to minors.
Mr. Russell proposed an alternative policy that could be put in place which
the City Attorney has said would mitigate the legal issues raised by the
new policy. He said the alternative policy would require parents to
indicate that they did not want their minor children to have access to "R"
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Work Session Minutes
March 7, 1994
Page 3
rated videotapes. This indication would be done either at the time of
renewal of a Library card or as soon as the parent made notification to
Library staff. Council asked questions about how the alternative policy
would work.
Councilor Walters expressed frustration over how this issue has been
handled in the courts and how judicial interpretation has limited a
community from determining what is best for the community. The Council
discussed the City Attorney's opinion and what the Council's options were
for responding to it. City Attorney Tim Harold discussed why he felt the
recommended solution would pass legal challenge, as had already been
indicated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
COUNCILOR SHAVER MOVED, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BURGE, TO DIRECT STAFF
TO IMPLEMENT THE ALTERNATIVE VIDEOTAPE CIRCULATION POLICY, AS PROPOSED BY
STAFF, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FREE ACCESS TO VIDEOTAPES, PARENTAL RIGHT TO
RESTRICT ACCESS TO MINORS, CLEARLY SPELLED OUT ON THE RENEWAL FORM, THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF WHICH SHOULD BE WELL PUBLICIZED.
Councilor Schanz indicated he would vote for the motion, but he wouldn't
vote to defend any legal challenge to the new policy.
THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Council Business
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein
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Mayor /
ATTEST:
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City Recorder
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