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Home My WebLink About02-21-2023-BLT-PUBLIC COMMENTS February 21, 2023, 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 1. Minutes of the Jan 17, 2023 Board of Library Trustees Meeting Suggested corrections: The passages shown in italics below are from the draft minutes with suggested corrections indicated in strikeout underline format. Page 1 (page 5 of agenda packet), Item II, Staff Present: “Rebecca Lightfoot, Adult Services Coordinator/Acting Lib Library Services Manager” Page 2 (page 6 of agenda packet), Item 6, paragraph 1, sentence 3: “Circulation and Technical Processing Coordinator Kachaturian reviewed it, and his work was commended.” Page 2 (page 6 of agenda packet), Item 6, paragraph 3: “Chair Watkins called for a Motion motion to approve the Circulation Policy as amended and presented.” Page 3 (page 7 of agenda packet), Item 7, paragraph 4: “Chair Watkins called for Trustee and public comment but heard none, so he received and filed the report and called for a Motion motion to approve the Internet Use Policy with the minor revisions described.” Page 3 (page 7 of agenda packet), Item 7, paragraph 5: “Motion made by Trustee Glabman, seconded by Vice Chair Ray, and carried (4-0-0-1) to approve the Internet Use Policy.” Page 4 (page 8 of agenda packet), Item 9, paragraph 2, sentences 3 and 4: “The Library discontinued using Lynda.com and when the terms of service were changed. She said staff decided to not require requiring patrons to create a LinkedIn account in order to use it. That is no longer required and staff felt comfortable using Lynda.com again.” Page 4 (page 8 of agenda packet), Item 9, paragraph 2, sentence 8: “She said that in 2020, there was a 38,000 difference between checkout of eBooks and eAudiobooks, which dropped to 26,000 in 2021, and 14,000 in 2022.” Page 5 (page 9 of agenda packet), paragraph 8 : “Chair Watkins heard no other comments and called for a Motion motion to accept the Krueger Family Foundation and Harbor View Elementary donations.” Page 6 (page 10 of agenda packet), Item 12, paragraph 1: “Vice Chair Ray asked for Library Services Director Hartson to give the report because Vice Chair Ray and Trustee Glabman are on an ad hoc subcommittee, which has not yet met recently.” [?] Page 7 (page 11 of agenda packet), paragraph 3 from end, sentences 2 & 3 (should be one): “He said since there was this near tie between the architect who was selected over the one that had experience designing the CdM Library/Fire Station. It , it would be good to know what considerations were involved in choosing COAR over PBK.“ Page 7 (page 11 of agenda packet), last paragraph: “Chair Watkins said we made it clear that these Trustee Glabman and Vice Chair Ray are to be involved in the design and he offered to call Public Works Director Dave Webb, or someone at Public Works.” February 21, 2023, Library Trustees agenda comments from Jim Mosher Page 2 of 3 Page 7 (page 12 of agenda packet), last full paragraph: “Library Services Director Hartson said there are a number of things listed in the wheelhouse list for this upcoming month before the next Board of Library Trustees meeting.” Page 9 (page 13 of agenda packet), last sentence: “He asked if it is currently budgeted but not permanently filled.” Page 10 (page 14 of agenda packet), Item 14.B, sentence 2: “The Since the February 23 Library Live presentation by Mr. El-Akkad had only sold 48 tickets they are reaching out to others to try to get more sold.” Page 12 (page 16 of agenda packet), paragraph 6: “Ms. Rhonda Watkins, Newport Beach resident, asked if it would be possible to reach out to UCI to see if there's any people in their graduating Graduate School of Business that are in marketing that might want to do internships for a reduced rate?” [?] Page 12 (page 16 of agenda packet), Item 16, paragraph 1, sentence 4: “Donations were received from the David William's William Upham Foundation for $10,000, and the funds of $43,000 were received from the California Library Literacy Services, which is an annual gift.” Page 13 (page 17 of agenda packet), second full sentence: “It would be funded by CLLS California Library Literacy Services, but it may not be a fit with the programming that we have.” Page 13 (page 17 of agenda packet), Item VIII, paragraph 1: “Vice Chair Ray asked about how the passport business is going.” Page 13 (page 17 of agenda packet), Item VIII, paragraph 2: “Library Services Director Hartson said the passport business is doing very well.” Item 3. Library Activities Regarding the reinstatement of the Library Services Manager position (agenda packet page 22), see my comment under Item 8, below. On page 23, under “Youth Services,” paragraph 2, is “SLS” an abbreviation for the “Santiago Library System”? Or something else? Item 6. Display and Distribution of Materials Policy (NBPL 8) Since it is not clear from the staff report, the present Board should at least be aware the current policy is much more restrictive than it once was, and the decision to make it so is probably one that should be revisited from time to time. As I would guess is still the case with many other libraries, the display and distribution of materials from community organizations and non-profits was allowed, as well as some free publications (such as the Newport Beach Independent and the now-defunct OC Weekly). Some libraries also provide community bulletin boards, which would come under this policy. February 21, 2023, Library Trustees agenda comments from Jim Mosher Page 3 of 3 I seem to recall a few years ago that the City Council received a presentation from a doctor at Hoag Hospital about stroke prevention and response, and it seemed odd the free literature he was trying to disseminate could not be displayed at the City’s libraries under this policy. Item 7. Annual Budget - Preliminary Review Judging from Attachment A, it appears the first paragraph on page 39 of the agenda packet (second page of staff report) was intended to read “The Library also requested an additional $25,000 for Cultural Arts Grants.” There also appears to be a $38,653 increase in anticipated “Internal Service Funds” expenses, as well as increases of $21,305 in utilities, $1,513 in supplies and $2 in general operating expenses – and a $308 decrease in professional services expenses -- which are not mentioned or explained in the staff report. Meanwhile, the expenditures on library materials are requested to be increased by only $15 or 0.002%. Wouldn’t a larger inflation-related increase be necessary to maintain a constant volume of purchases? More generally, shouldn’t the Board have access to a more detailed breakdown of where the expenditure totals come from (more similar to Attachment B, where revenue sources are listed in great detail)? For example, at the February 14 City Council meeting, Library staff requested and received authorization to purchase up to $300,000 per year of print materials from Bodart (Council consent calendar Item 11). Should the board be asking how the remaining $369,755 requested for the acquisition of library materials is expected to be allocated? Also, wouldn’t it be helpful for the Board to see how the budget allocations in the various categories have varied over a longer timeframe than just from the current year? Item 8. Arts and Culture Update The staff report recognizes “Cultural Arts” as a “division” within the Library Services Department. Most divisions within City departments are overseen by a manager-level employee. Within the Library Services structure, the Board may or may not know that at one time the City employed a Cultural Arts Coordinator, comparable in status to the coordinators of the regular library divisions. It now has only a Cultural Arts Assistant to the Library Services Director, which may place an unexpectedly large burden for running the program on the Director. The Board may wish to ask if any change to this structure is anticipated, particularly in light of the requested reinstatement of a permanent Library Services Manager position, which will presumably be under the Director and above the coordinators. Or more generally, what the organization chart for the coming year may look like.