WYOMING CHAPTER of ARMA
Chapter Meeting
May 6, 2008 11:00 a.m.
Laramie County Library, Cheyenne, WY

Please Note: These minutes are abridged.

Members Present: Tony Adams, Mary Bausserman, Mark Browne, Ramona Christensen, Donna Crock, Lisa Hastings, Wendy Kinkade, Darlene Kinnison, Debbie Leonard, Pat Newbern, Vicki Seals, Barb Thomasee, Tim Tyler, Deanne Widauf

Guests: Lisa Lane, Jennifer Mickle

Speaker: Lucy Osborne, Laramie County Librarian

Topic: “Tour Laramie County Library”

Members and guests met in Windflower Room of the Laramie County Library, where everyone enjoyed a relaxing lunch of Pizza and chicken wings, beverage, and conversation prior to the tour. Donna welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. Tim Tyler, membership chairman then presented new members, Lisa Hastings (WY Archives), and Darlene Kinnison (City of Cheyenne), their new member packet.

Lucy Osborne, the Laramie County Librarian was then introduced and she began sharing information about the new Laramie County Library (as Lucy spoke, she supported her topics with four separate pamphlets handed out to everyone). Ground was broke in March of 2005 and the new Library was officially opened Sept. 8th of 2007.

As Lucy reviewed the history of how this beautiful new facility became a reality, she reflected on the dates and importance of the tax ballot of 2004 that set the stage for the building of the new library. Lucy explained the qualifications of the LEED program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings), and that upon final approval; the new Library will be a Gold LEED Certified organization/facility.

After sharing general information on the actual building/contracting process and follow up by FCI (contractor for the new Library) with the CMGC (Construction manager General Contractor with guaranteed maximum price), Lucy described the financial process of building the Library as a positive and financial-cost effective and “green construction” success.

Lucy then described the WYLDCAT database (housed and administered by the Wyoming State Library data services) and how this database is a consortium between other libraries in the state as well as serves as resource throughout the world. The Library’s databases are made up of two separate systems: The actual holdings (WYLDCAT), and the patron/user side. These two databases now communicate with each other with the electronic records system allowing for statewide searches and requests as well as assists in gathering statistics regarding the media (books-hard copy or electronic, movies, electronic games, etc.) patron use and other important information that serves to assist the Library in many-many functions. The patron side of all Library information is maintained per extreme privacy statutes and policy. Lucy then explained there are separate rooms in the Library that hold servers for electronic data and each floor houses telephone rooms (telecom rooms). The radio frequency Identification chips (RFID) in place with all holdings (registers location, holding of items, and patron use & return of various media) has been an incredible assistance in slashing manpower and manual processing time. However there has also been unanticipated dishonest pulling of these chips and thievery of holdings resulting in a different storage of certain holdings now. The new conveyer system for check in of books and media is an incredible aid to assist in check in and sorting of return of all items coming back into the Library.

Following Lucy’s presentation, she led everyone on a floor-by-floor tour of the Library. Today’s Laramie County Library tour and presentation by Lucy Osborn was exceptionally interesting and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:
Pat Newbern, Vice President