HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-13 JM CommentsNovember 13, 2018, BLT Agenda Comments
These comments on Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees (BLT) agenda items are submitted by:
Jim Mosher (jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229)
Item IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS
I am a bit puzzled why the BLT is meeting today (Tuesday, November 13), at the same time the
City Council will be conducting a study session. Both the BLT Bylaws available to the public in
the City Clerk’s office (as required by City Charter Section 704), and the Trustee’s own meeting
date review approved by the BLT as Item 6 on January 16, indicated the BLT would be holding
its regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 19. Normally, if a regular meeting of a Brown
Act body cannot be held on its normal date due to a lack of quorum, it would be adjourned to a
later date, not an earlier one.
I am also a bit puzzled not to see the outcome of the November 9 administrative staff retreat
clearly listed as an item for discussion. At the BLT’s October meeting, the Board saw a number
of initiatives to be considered at the retreat. And as Item 11 on the present agenda, the Board
is being asked to approve a delayed opening of all branches so the results of the retreat can be
presented to the full library staff on December 5. I would think the Trustees would want to know
and discuss what new directions are going to be presented then.
Item 1. Minutes of the October 15, 2018 Board of Library Trustees
Meeting
1. Page 4 (handwritten 7), Item 8, last paragraph before vote: “Motion made by Board
Member Coulter, seconded by Board Member Johnson-Tucker, and carried (4-0-0-1) to
submit a request to the Friends of the Library for an Opening Day collection for
$110,000, and for teak patio furniture for of $6,400.”
Item 5. Board of Library Trustees Monitoring List
It would seem good to add the BLT Bylaws to the “Policy Review” section of the Monitoring
List. The copy on file with the City Clerk (dating from 2014) may or may not be the most recent
version, and whether it is, or not, this seems a foundational document that the Trustees should
both be familiar with and periodically review for currency.
Item 6. Media Lab Use Policy
1. The last sentence of “4” was probably intended to read something like: “Reservations will
be held for 10minutes after they are scheduled to begin and, if not used, will be
considered canceled at that time.”
November 13, 2018, Library Trustees agenda comments from Jim Mosher Page 2 of 2
2. The second sentence of “6” appears to contain a redundancy: “Customers using the
Media Lab portion of the Media Lab for audio projects must use headphones.”
3. “7” could, likewise, be shortened: “The workspace area of the Media Lab is reserved
for customers using Media Lab software or who are working on digital media projects
(videos, music, websites, photo editing, scanning). Users who want to browse the
Internet or use Microsoft Office products should use the public computers in other areas
of the building or check out a laptop. For group study, please reserve one of our three
study rooms.”
4. “13” is no longer necessary given the verbiage that follows it.
5. The final sentence of that verbiage would be much more helpful if it said simply “Last
amended on November 13, 2018” or “Last reviewed and amended on November 13,
2018.” If approved as suggested in the staff report, it will be impossible to tell what, if
anything, happened on November 13.
Item 7. Sound Lab Use Policy
1. “3” : same suggestion as for “4” in agenda Item 6 (first suggestion, above).
2. “7” : Since the room is soundproofed, it is not clear why cell phone conversations by
users in it are prohibited. Who would they disturb?
3. “8” : same suggestion as for “7” in agenda Item 6.
4. “9” : Is there more than one computer so that assignment is required? And if so, why
are users not allowed access to all the equipment in the room?
5. “14” and beyond : same suggestions as last two for agenda Item 6.