Past Library President Shares Thanks
By Lamont Neal on Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 |
Dear Editor:
It has been my privilege to serve on library boards in Illinois and Indiana for a total of eighteen years. Sixteen of those years have been here in Roanoke and for roughly eight of those years, I have been the Board’s president. My current term as library board trustee concluded December 31, 2010. I decided not to request a renewal appointment to the board, believing I have provided adequate time and service as a library trustee.
I thank those who first encouraged me to be involved in libraries and those who entrusted me with an appoint-ment to the board. It has been an honor to serve. During my tenure as president and trustee, the Roanoke Library has taken huge steps forward with my encouragement.
In the early 1990's, the first computer was purchased and installed to access data from SIRS (Social Issues Resource Services) before internet service was available to us.
The library began cataloguing electronically its materials in the late 1990's and has now completed that process in 2010.
Oversaw the installation of the first direct library telephone line, fax machine installation, purchase of multi-function copiers, and installation of internet access and computers for use by patrons.
Procured a $32,000 grant that allowed us to transfer historic Roanoke newspapers to computer CD’s from older microfiche formats.
Established the Library Improvement Reserve Fund in order to build a new Roanoke library building.
In the last four years, my emphases as Board President and trustee included:
Terminating duplicate filtering/screening software costing $800 per year for that which was no cost through ENA, our interenet provider, saving taxpayers $3200 over the last four years.
Initiating spending plan budgeting which has resulted in spending only monies available on a cash flow basis, thus putting the library on a financially sound basis for the first time in years.
Administering four budgets within the Department of Local Government and Finance Growth Quotient guidelines which has resulted in a 17% increase in total cash flow to the library from 2007 of $71,578 to a projected $83,439 in 2010 in spite of property tax caps.
Cutting phone costs in 2010 by nearly 2/3rds by changing service provider and reducing the number of phone lines to essential services which will save taxpayers about $1080 per year.
Upgrading computer equipment so that the library has replaced four of its seven patron and circulation computers in the last two years with new rather than used, hand me down equipment.
Becoming an Evergreen Indiana Library which provides patrons access to 90 Indiana library systems with over 5.5 million items for checkout, delivered locally to our library at no charge to library or patrons.
Utilizing Evergreen Indiana software for circulation checkout and cataloguing, saving the taxpayers $8000 in 2010 and roughly $2500 per year thereafter for software costs.
Building the Library Improvement Reserve Fund for a new Roanoke library from $4238 in 2007 to $21,431 at the end of 2010. This will save taxpayers money when a building is finally constructed.
During my service, my goal and practice has been to look out for the welfare of the citizens who pay the bills and to provide enhanced access that makes a library competitive in the world of information retrieval.
Libraries are not optional benefits to living in society but essential institutions that, when administered rightly, can maximize services with minimal dollars and offer high quality opportunities to citizens seeking the delights that come from reading and accessing information in this wonderful information age that identifies our world.
I thank the citizens of Roanoke and Seneca, all fellow trustees and the four librarians with whom I have worked to provide quality library service for your support and help. It has truly been an honor to serve.
Sincerely,
Brian W. Secor
Past President, Roanoke Public Library Board
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