A meeting of the Board was held on February 19, 1998 at Tansley Woods Branch Program Room.
| Present: | Board | Staff |
| R. Bisson | W. Schick | |
| N. Gibson-MacDonald | S. Lewis | |
| G. Lawson | R. Craig | |
| S. Lawson (left at 6:58 p.m.) | J. Walker | |
| J. MacFarlane | A. Gordon | |
| R. MacIsaac | M. Barry | |
| L. Morrison | G. Forsyth | |
| M. Quinn | L. Arkell | |
| J. Sweetlove | ||
| J. Taylor | ||
| S. Weatherill | ||
| Absent: |
The Chair, S. Lawson, called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
Motion 98-07 Approval of the Agenda
MOVED by R. MacIsaac,
SECONDED by G. Lawson that
the revised agenda be approved as presented.
CARRIED.
None.
S. Lawson welcomed those in the audience and briefly reviewed the agenda for this item. She asked if there were any delegations from the floor wishing to address this item. No delegations came forward.
S. Lewis presented a Staff Report on Internet Access at Burlington Public Library. The presentation included an overview of the Internet service now in place at Burlington Public Library and provided staff responses related to the concerns about the availability and public display of inappropriate material on the Internet. These ideas were discussed under the following headings:
Staff reported that the overwhelming majority of our Internet users do not abuse the service. Any measures we implement must recognize this and be directed at the few individuals causing the problem, rather than at the whole library community. Questions and discussion followed the presentation.
Hilary Bates Neary, Interim Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Ontario Library Association
Ms. Bates Neary spoke about the need to balance the concerns about offensive material on the Internet with the rights to free access of information. The Chair, again asked if there were any delegations from the floor wishing to address the Board on this topic. Mr. David Auger asked to address the Board. Before recognizing Mr. Auger, S. Lawson indicated that she would have to leave at 7:00 p.m. and turned the Chairmanship of the meeting over to the Vice Chair, J. MacFarlane.
Mr. David Auger, 52-544 Sheraton Road, Burlington, L7L 4B2 expressed his continued concern that those under 18 should have to present a library card to a staff member to be logged on to the Internet. Mr. Auger agreed with the actions in the staff report but felt additional action was required.
S. Lawson left the meeting during this discussion at 6:58 p.m.
Motion 98-08 Staff Report on Internet Access at Burlington Public Library.
MOVED by J. Taylor,
SECONDED by J. Sweetlove that
the Staff Report on Internet Access
at Burlington Public Library be received and accepted.
CARRIED.
Motion 98-09 Applicability of Internet Policies of Both Halton District School Boards.
MOVED by J. Taylor,
SECONDED by G. Lawson that
the staff be directed to analyze the Internet policies
of both Halton District School Boards for users under 18
and report back to the Board on how these policies
could be adapted for use at the Burlington Public Library
and the applicability of this policy at the library.
J. Taylor requested a recorded vote.
Voting In Favour: J. Taylor, J. Sweetlove, G. Lawson, R. MacIsaac
Voting Against:
L. Morrison, R. Bisson, S. Weatherill, M. Quinn,
N. Gibson-MacDonald, J. MacFarlane
The motion was DEFEATED.
The Board discussed the need to improve the wording of the Internet acceptable usage guidelines.
Motion 98-10 Enhanced Wording of Burlington Public Library's Internet Guidelines
MOVED by R. MacIsaac,
SECONDED by J. Sweetlove that
review the wording of Burlington Public Library's
Internet use guidelines and registration form and report back to the Board.
CARRIED.
The Vice-Chair J. MacFarlane thanked the staff, and in particular S. Lewis, for their efforts in the development of this report and in making this presentation.
The Vice-Chair J. MacFarlane, called for a short break at 7:35 p.m. J. MacFarlane called the meeting back to order at 7:58 p.m.
Motion 98-11 Move In Camera
MOVED by J. Sweetlove, SECONDED by R. MacIsaac that
the Board move In Camera.
CARRIED.
The Board moved In Camera at 8:00 p.m. to discuss a confidential item associated with the 1998 budget.
The Board moved Out of Camera at 8:31 p.m.
Motion 98-12 Move Out of Camera
MOVED by J. Sweetlove,
SECONDED by R. Bisson that
the Board move Out of Camera.
CARRIED.
Motion 98-13 Approval of the Minutes of January 29, 1998
MOVED by G. Lawson, SECONDED by N. Gibson-MacDonald that
the minutes of January 29, 1998 be approved as presented.
CARRIED.
None.
Motion 98-14 Receipt of February's Correspondence
MOVED by L. Morrison, SECONDED by S. Weatherill that
the correspondence for February be received.
CARRIED.
Although the Chair, S. Lawson, left the meeting prior to this agenda item, J. MacFarlane reported that this is the last meeting of the current Board. Recommendations for membership on the Board for the term 1998 -- 2000 will be made at the Administration and Finance Committee meeting February 25th and to Burlington City Council on March 2nd.
W. Schick presented her report.
L. Morrison expressed the hope that other comparable sized libraries would undertake a similar study. This would assist us with the benchmarking of various services. J. MacFarlane noted that the raw data in the report would be put into the context of various reports over the next few months.
J. Sweetlove presented this report.
Information items as described in the Finance and Administration Committee Minutes were reviewed.
The Capital budget was passed by the City's Administration and Finance Committee on February 17th and will be considered at the March 2nd Council meeting.
Motion 98-15 All Information Items for the Month of February be Received.
MOVED by J. Sweetlove,
SECONDED by G. Lawson that
all the Information Items for February be received.
CARRIED.
None.
Thursday March 19, 1998
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.