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November 2012 Board Meeting Minutes


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Prince Rupert Library Board Meeting Minutes

November 19, 2012

Present:

Adrienne Johnston(AJ), Paul Kennedy(PK), Helen Moore(HM), Tim Macdonald (TM), Joy Thorkelson(JT), Joe Zelwietro (Chief Librarian) (JZ)

Regrets: John Martinson

  • Board members accepted the Agenda with 1 addition.
    • JT will comment on the City Council's lack of comment on the Library Board's request to submit an Expression of Interest to the PRPA. Moved by AJ, seconded by PK. Passed.
  • The Minutes of the October 15, 2012 Library Board Meeting were accepted. Motion AJ, seconded by HM. Passed
  • Report from Librarian. October Statistics provided to Board members. Informed Board that City Council has approved Brent Patriquin as the newest Library Board Trustee. There was further conversation re: City's understanding of the number of trustees on this Library Board and the Library Act's wording. Joe will continue to clarify this with City staff.
  • Our Board wants to work toward having a BCLTA Training session in the Spring/Summer of 2013. Perhaps we could combine this with the the Spring NCLF meeting. Joe will talk to the other Librarians in the NCLF and get back to the trustees.
  • JT updated other Trustees about City Council's non-answer to the Library Trustees' request to submit a Expression of Interest. City Council is concerned with the possible Emergency Services Building, wondering what would become of the present building if the Library did move, and will wait for a new CAO to get up to speed. As well, City Council understands that the PRPA may not move as fast on the Cow Bay Development as first thought. So City Council does not want to be rash in its answer to the Library Board.
  • Motion that Joe or AJ (or both) speak to the PRPA and let them know that the Board would like to keep a placeholder for the Library in the Cow Bay Development. Depending upon what comes out of that conversation, the Library Board &/or AJ should write a letter to Council informing City Council that an answer to the Board's request is pressing.
  • Librarian or his designate should go to City Council (separate time than the Expression of Interest) and demonstrate various electronic resources, perhaps focusing on Zinio.
  • There was a discussion amongst the Board members about the importance of attending monthly meetings. There has been a difficulty in getting trustees to show up regularly and sometimes the business of the Library is delayed because a quorum is not obtained. The Library Act [RSBC 1996] is clear on the importance of being present. It states in Section 6(1):
    • β€œOn receiving a report from the library board, the municipal council may remove a member of the library board for cause, including if the member: a) fails to attend 3 consecutive regular meetings of the Library board without its written approval.”
    • Board directed Joe to find the official definition of quorum during the discussion of 'the number of Board members'. The relevant definition is found in the Library Act, Section 8(2):
      β€œA majority of all the members of the Library Board is quorum.” So, if there were 9 trustees 5 would be quorum, if there are 13 trustees then 7 is quorum
  • The Friends of the Library Novel Idea Auction on November 9, went well. Approximately $5000 was raised and a good time was had by all.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 pm. Next Meeting at 7pm Monday December 17.