1. Approval of Minutes from the March 4, 2009 Library Commission Meeting

Commissioner Moriarty moved with Commissioner Givens providing the second, to accept the minutes of the March 4, 2009 meeting of the Springfield Library Board of Commissioners following one amendment. On page two, fourth paragraph, state that Commissioner O'Connor recommended inserting a word, such as fund, after "Annie Curran."

The motion passed.

2. Library Advisory Committee Reports

None.

3. Commission Sub-Committee Reports:

It was reported that everything is on schedule for the lift project at Forest Park Branch Library. Using the current proposed schedule, the Library will need to be closed June through August. This timeline is subject to change.

4. Chairman's Report:

Chairman Cary made a request for a new appraisal of the Mason Square Branch Library , and conveyed that the Library Foundation is "pushing this along." Mr. Givens asked if there had been any response from the Urban League. Ms. O'Connor reported that she had recently been in the Mason Square Library building.

5. Director's Report:

Ms. Bader discussed the library budget/staff reorganization meeting that had taken place on Wednesday, May 13th in the Community Room at the Central Library. The FY09 original cut was predicted to be $455,000. In reality, the final 9c cut was $311,000. 17 library employees were laid off and four vacancies are not being filled. Ms. Bader stated that the Library Director's Office had three goals:

• to keep all libraries open
• to position the Library to be eligible for State Aid next year
• to create a new branch structure so that no two branches in the same work team would be open at the same time.

The impact is that branch library weekly open hours were reduced from 24 hours over 4 days to 18 hours over 3 days. Central Library's hours were reduced 12 hours per week, from 67 to 45 hours. The Central Library is now closed on Fridays .

The library's materials budget was reduced by $54,000, about 10% of the budget. Technical Services staff was cut by 30%. There will now be fewer new materials and they will take longer to get to the shelves to be circulated. There will be a reduction in public programs. Ms. Bader then explained the new staff and department structure. The Mason Square Branch Library is now managed by Judy Cmero, Manager of Public Services, and staffed by the Central Library staff. This may change when the Mason Square Branch is a full service library again. The 8 library branches are divided into two clusters, two teams in each, with their own supervisor on site. When questioned about closing on Sundays, Ms. Bader explained that Sundays are not paid with city funds, but WMRLS monies.

As far as the FY10 Budget Ms. Bader stated that all 9c cuts have been carried over, leaving a proposed budget of $3,550,287.City budget hearings are upcoming.

Ms. Bader reminded the Commissioners to consider scheduling the election of officers for their next meeting.

Election of Officers

6. Other Business:

Ms. O'Connor reported that she had attended the recent Control Board meeting and had spoken out in support of the Library, stressing its importance. At that meeting, also attended by Ms. McElwaine, both Ms. O'Connor and Ms. McElwaine were asked about funding to maintain/sustain the Mason Square Branch Library.

A Mason Square timeline was discussed.

Ms. McElwaine made a motion that the Commission draft a letter to be sent to the employees that had been laid off, "expressing regret that the layoffs were necessary and thanking them for their service to the library system." Mr. Moriarty seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

7. Adjournment:

Chairman Cary adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m.