Library Minutes 2009 01-26-09 (District Committee) Yorkville Public Library
District library Fact Finding Committee
1/26/09
The District Library Fact Finding Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room of
the Yorkville Public Library. The following members were in attendance: Joanne Garder, Barb Johnson
and Judy Somerlot.Absent: Beth Gambro,Wammeca Rodriguez, and Shawna Watkins.
Review of Committee Assignments:
1) Woodstock library system: Barb Johnson reported on the Rural Woodstock Public Library
System. Barb interviewed the director of the library, Maggie, who described the unique contract
system that provides library cards to Haul residents. Currently under this system residents living
within the city limits pay a much higher tax than the people who live in the Waal areas. Maggie did
not recommend that we pursue their model and also recommended that we concentrate our efforts
on becoming a library district.
2) Oswego Library District: Joanne Gamer presented information on the Oswego District Library.
The committee discussed the Oswego budget and the additional staff that would be required if we
went to a district model. Joanne will review the budgets from Oswego and Plano and report back at
our next meeting.
3) Naperville: Judy Somerlot reported on the Naperville Public Library. Naperville is not a district
library and every year they investigate converting to the district model. The Fact finding
committee reviewed the packet(Conversion of City Library to Library District) that was given to
the Naperville Board of Trustees at their April 8, 2008 meeting.
4) City Clerk: Judy reported on her visit to the County Clerk's office. There are 14,964 Taxable
units and the library currently receives revenue from 9, 456. Approximately 63% of the parcels are
within the school district. Judy also reported that if we placed the district conversion on the ballot
there would not be a cost to the library. Tax payers would pay for this.
5) City Utilities: Barb presented a letter written by Susan Mika to Sandy and Michelle about the
electrical provider and the contact person. Barb will contact this person before the next meeting to
discover the rates if the Yorkville Library converts to a district library.
Additional Topics for discussion:
1) Initial discussion about how the committee and board would approach incorporation.
The fact-finding committee will complete a report and present this to the Library Board as a whole
as the first step.
2) Discussion about services provided by the city. Michelle Pfister reported to the committee on the
list of services that are now provided. The services appear to be in the following categories:
Technical support, business management, health/life/dental insurance benefits for employees, full-
time maintenance, and audits.
Assignments and questions for future meetings:
1) We need to check with a health insurance providers to receive bidstestimates of services. We also
need to check with the city to see who currently provides health benefits.
2) Judy Somerlot will check with Shane English to get a bid on snow removal and landscape
expenses. We also need to talk to Tom Lindblom about other bidders.
3) We need to check on the expenses incurred with an audit.
4) We need to check with Tom Lindblom on the salary of a full time maintenance employee.
5) We need to check on the salaries of business managers in neighboring district libraries(Oswego,
Plano, Plainfield).
6) Barb will contact Exelon Energy to find out the rate of electricity if we go to a distrcit library.
Adjournment at 8:15 p.m. Next meeting at 6:00 before the regular board meeting on March 9'