Chair Jon Littlefield called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. in the Cedar Room. Board members present were Curt Benward, Joyce Day, Jeannette Owens, Steve Metz, and Rondi Potter. Larry Plews and Roger Gould were unable to attend. Marie Benton was present representing the Friends of the Coos Bay Public Library. Staff members present were Ellen Thompson and Carol Ventgen.

2.    MINUTES AND CIRCULATION REPORT

Rondi moved, Joyce seconded, approval of the minutes for the January 12, 2006 meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. The circulation report for January was discussed and accepted as mailed.

3.     TREASURER’S REPORT The report was accepted as mailed.

4.     CORRESPONDENCE

No correspondence was received but a very positive letter to the editor appeared in the January 23 issue of The World entitled “Another good year, thanks to so many” submitted by Marie Benton.

5.    PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments

6.     LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

The February report was distributed and discussed. Also distributed: Lists of new books, print and audio; a January 20, 2006, Eugene Register Guard article about Google’s refusal to comply with a White House request for user records; a flyer on new library hours; a January 27, 2006 World article about library circulation along with a contrasting February 6, 2006, Eugene Register Guard article about the Eugene Public Library; a copy of two screens from the library’s web page showing that Reference Librarian Dolores Knight has added a link to Google; and a handout entitled “Always a River, Sometimes a Library” from a recent teleconference.

7.     FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT     Marie reported that the February book sale netted $2,693.43, $936 of which came from the Cedar Room. The next sale is March 4 and 5.

8.     OLD BUSINESS

a.     2006-2007 Library Budget – Carol distributed copies of a draft budget. It was noted that carryover from 2006-2007 is estimated to be $306,000 compared to $333,182 received so far for 2005-2006 and actual carryover from 2004-2005 of $329,639. Also, while library revenues are estimated to rise next year, expected personnel costs exceed estimated revenues. That results in contingency funds, i.e., 2007-2008 carryover, showing a decrease from previous years. This means, overall, that despite cutbacks over the past three years, the library is again budgeting expenditures to come out of funds needed to cover expenses at year’s beginning prior to receipt of new tax revenues. After discussion, Curt moved, Joyce seconded, approval of the budget as presented for submission to the City of Coos Bay. The motion was approved unanimously.

b.     Library Planning Process – There was a general discussion about patron circulation of various materials, the Library Board’s Collection Management Policy, and the methods used by staff to acquire materials. It was Board consensus that as part of the library’s goal to increase awarenenss of library services, providing the Board with the opportunity to meet with staff in various library divisions, including materials selection and acquisition, would be valuable. Such a session will be arranged for the next Board meeting. Jon also asked that a final report from the planning process be drafted for Board approval.

9.     NEW BUSINESS

a.   There was no new business.

10.    ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

11.     ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. The next meeting will be Thursday, March 9, 5:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol Ventgen, Secretary