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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-2024-BLT-PUBLIC COMMENTSSeptember 16, 2024, BLT Agenda Item Comments These comments on Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees agenda items are submitted by: Jim Mosher ( Item No. SS1. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Library Review The “goals for Fiscal Year 2024-25,” which the agenda says staff will be presenting to the Board, appears to be something the Board has not previously reviewed. It is less clear if the “statistical overview of Fiscal Year 2023-24 Library Operations” mentioned in the same agenda topic notice is also something new, or will simply be a review of the statistical information that appears at the end of each month’s Library Activities report – in particular, the report presented at the July 15 meeting, which gave statistics through June 2024 (the last month of the 2023-2024 fiscal year). With regard to that report, and specifically the “NBPL Website Usage” report, the draft minutes of the August 19 meeting indicate I asked about the high percentage of new users. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the report showed that of the 277,282 website “Total Users,” 25,0070, or 90%, were classified as “New Users.” Closer examination shows that 97% of the July and August 2023 users were classified as “new,” falling fairly steadily to 74% of the June 2024 users. Chair Rief explained that with individuals connecting to websites with different devices and via different networks, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish repeat visitors from new ones. But however the “newness” is measured, it seems reasonable to ask how far into the past the metric is searching to decide if a user is “new.” It appears that at the start of each fiscal year, the metric may be erasing all past visitor history and regarding everybody’s first visit after July 1 as representing a “new user.” That does not seem to me to be the most useful statistic. It would, for example, be more interesting to know the number of times the same contact information was seen various numbers of times (once, twice, three times to some maximum) during the year. Item No. 1. Minutes of the August 19, 2024 Board of Library Trustees Meeting The passage in italics is from the draft minutes, with a correction suggested in strikeout underline format. Page 4 (page 8 of agenda packet), full paragraph 3, last sentence: “Two questions submitted included if the ILS system can send an advance notice an item cannot renew when something it is close to being due, rather than when an item is due; and if WIFI service can be extended to the outside patio area at the Central library.” September 16, 2024, BLT agenda item comments - Jim Mosher Page 2 of 2 Item No. 6. Expressive Use Areas Policy (NBPL 9) Googling for other public libraries with similar policies, I notice they are much more commonly called “Expressive Activities” or “Expressive Activity” policies. Compared to those, NBPL 9 seems ambiguous as to some possible activities. For example, it is unclear if a fundraising drive for a non-profit organization would be regarded as an “Expressive Activity” at the NBPL, and if so, whether it is allowed or prohibited. Those that mention fundraising seem to generally prohibit it. Likewise, it is unclear if something similar, like Girl Scout cookie sales (allowed in the expressive activity areas of most shopping centers) is prohibited by condition 7. Other common features not found in NBPL 9 include prohibitions against use of amplified sound, attaching objects to library property and engaging in expressive activity on library property outside of normal library business hours. Regarding the specifics of NBPL 9 as proposed to be revised, referring to staff report Attachment E: 1. The diagrams (“A” and “A2”) for the Lower and Upper Levels of the Central Library (agenda packet pages 28 and 29), unlike most of the other diagrams, do not indicate the address of the facility depicted. 2. In the lower left of the diagram (“B”) for the Mariners Branch Library, an area is labeled “WALKWAY” that appears to actually be a landscaped strip between the circular oak tree planter and the parking lot curb. I don’t believe there is a walkway in most of that location. In addition to more accurately depicting that feature, it might also be useful to indicate the relation of the Expressive Use Area to the bike rack closest to it and to the bollards in the entry plaza, and showing it more accurately to scale. 3. In the revised diagram (“C”) for the Balboa Branch Library, it would be useful to label the dot below the Expressive Use Area as “FLAGPOLE” (assuming that is what it represents) and the bar below that as (“BENCH”). Similarly, it would be useful to label the bar to the right as “BIKE RACK.” 4. The diagram (“D”) for the Corona del Mar Branch Library, unlike all the others, does not provide the dimensions of the Expressive Use Area. Like “A” and “A2” it also fails to provide the address of the facility pictured (part of which is the first floor of the fire station). Item No. XI. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS The Trustees are probably aware of California Assembly Bill AB-1825, currently awaiting the Governor’s signature or veto, which would set minimum standards for public library collection development policies, and limit the grounds on which it can remove or restrict access to materials based on their content. If not, they may wish to review it.