HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/4/2013 - Board of Library Trustees (25)DRAFT
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CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
Board of Library Trustees MINUTES
Regular Meeting
October 7, 2013 – 5:00 p.m.
___________________________________________________________________________
The agenda for the Regular Meeting was posted on Thursday, October 3, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. on the
City's website; at 4:16 p.m. on the City Hall Electronic Bulletin Board located in the entrance of the City
Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive; and at 3:40 p.m. in the Meeting Agenda Binder located in
the entrance of the City Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive.
CONVENED AT 5:00 p.m.
1) CALL MEETING TO ORDER – Chair Johnson-Tucker called the meeting to order.
2) ROLL CALL – Roll call by Administrative Assistant Elaine McMillion.
Trustees Present: Jill Johnson-Tucker, chairing the meeting
Jerry King
Eleanor Palk
Robyn Grant
John Prichard
Staff Present: Tim Hetherton, Acting Library Services Director
Melissa Kelly, Support Services Coordinator
Debbie Walker, Youth Services & Branch Coordinator
Natalie Basmaciyan, Reference Supervisor
Elaine McMillion, Administrative Assistant
Rebecca Redyk, Human Resources
Cherall Weiss, Literacy Services Coordinator
Literacy Council
Present: Jason Brady, President
Public Present: Jim Mosher
Marnalee Lopez
3) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS
Prior to this meeting Jim Mosher emailed four pages of type-written remarks on seven agenda items.
Mr. Mosher noted the meeting format only allowing public comments on agenda items at the
beginning of the meeting, and that this is one of the very few meetings that do not allow the public to
comment after each agenda item is presented. He verbally commented on agenda items B.3
Statistical Reports and B.6. Update on Library Services Director Recruitment.
Chair Johnson-Tucker thanked him for his comments.
4) APPROVAL OF MINUTES – September 4, 2013 Regular Meeting.
It was moved, seconded and passed (Trustee Prichard/Trustee King) to approve the minutes from
the Wednesday, September 4, 2013 Board of Library Trustees meeting as amended:
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Page 2 - Add the word “are” after the word “There” in the last sentence in the first paragraph.
Page 3 - Agenda item B.3. remove the decimal point in front of “.25 cents per day”.
Motion carried by all Board of Library Trustees present.
C. MONTHLY REPORTS
6. Update on Library Services Director Recruitment – Chair Johnson-Tucker asked the Trustees to
move this item to this portion of the meeting in order to allow Rebecca Redyk, Human Resources
Supervisor time to give this update, and so that she could attend another City meeting that also
began at 5:00 p.m. Rebecca distributed the official brochure for this recruitment which was officially
launched last week. Over 350 brochures have been mailed to Library Services Directors and
Assistant Library Services Directors across the country. Social media, an email campaign, and
various websites and magazines which Rebecca noted are being utilized to promote this recruitment.
Twenty applications have been received so far. After her review at approximately 5:07 p.m.,
Rebecca excused herself to attend the Civil Service Board meeting.
5) CURRENT BUSINESS
A. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Customer Comments – Monthly review of evaluations of library services through suggestions and
requests received from customers.
2. Library Activities – Monthly update of library events, services and statistics.
3. Expenditure Status Report – Monthly expenditure status of the Library’s operating expenses,
services, salaries and benefits by department.
4. Board of Library Trustees Monitoring List – List of agenda items and dates for monthly review of
projects by the Board of Library Trustees.
The two Board of Library Monitoring lists provided in the meeting packet were reviewed and discussed,
one showing entries from the September meeting and the other with additions which included the
suggested scheduled agenda dates. It was noted that when the individual branch updates are given the
Board meeting would be held at the pertinent branch location and noted adequately through the website
and media. The revision to the October 7 Review of Library Expansion Donor Wall Naming / NBPL
Foundation will be made. Support Services Coordinator Melissa Kelly noted that on the Foundation gift
list that the $5,000 Balboa print material entry does not belong on this list as it is being discussed at this
meeting under Item B.5. Clarification was made on the order in which the items are listed and reviewed,
and may be revised as needed. The issuance of the lifetime library card to past Library Services Director
Cynthia Cowell was noted.
It was moved, seconded and passed (Trustee Grant/Trustee Prichard) to approve the Consent
Calendar Items as presented. Motion carried by all Trustees present.
B. ITEMS FOR REVIEW AND POSSIBLE ACTION
1. Literacy Program Update – Literacy Council President Jason Brady introduced himself and gave an
overview of the core areas of focus of the Literacy Board. These include fund raising, operations,
programming, community outreach, and building strong relationships with the Library and the City.
He gave examples for each of these areas. He complimented the Literacy staff and looks forward to
working with the new Library Services Director.
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Literacy Services Coordinator Cherall Weiss gave an overview of the past year in which 192 learners
and 132 volunteer tutors and board members went through the program last year. She noted that the
tutors contributed over 8,100 volunteer hours which equates to approximately $22 per hour which is
quite significant. The October monthly calendar was distributed. There is a waiting list for the learner
program and more tutors are needed.
Cherall introduced the winner of the 2013 Rochelle Hoffman Memorial Award, learner Marnalee
Lopez and passed a copy of The Currant front-page news article around that had noted her
achievement, and a follow-up article in the Orange County Register. Marnalee spoke highly of the
Literacy program that she found out about this program twenty years ago in a flyer, and how this
program has changed her and her family’s lives tremendously. She thanked staff for the opportunities
provided by the Literacy program.
Trustee Grant requested brochures and information for this program be emailed to them so they may
help to promote this program. Trustee Palk attended the September 12, 2013 Annual Literacy event
and commented on how inspirational it was. The Trustees thanked Jason Brady, Cherall Weiss and
Marnalee Lopez for their presentations before they left the meeting at approximately 5:25 p.m.
2. Early Closure on Monday, December 23 and Thursday, December 26, 2013 for all Library
Locations – Acting Library Service Director Tim Hetherton presented a written staff report and
outlined the reasons for the request to close earlier on December 23 and December 26, at 6:00 p.m.
instead of at 9:00 p.m. Staff is pleased that there is a demand for Library services and want to be
available to the community and feel that this early closing request would have minimal impact in
providing services during the holiday. The Library would still adhere to the City holiday closure at
1:00 p.m. on December 24 and all day on December 25. The past holiday closures were discussed.
Adequate notice would be given through the website and media. Trustee King offered that a
standard closure during the holidays may be something that could be discussed in more detail in the
future. Staff will report to the Board on the reduced hours of operation after the holiday.
It was moved, seconded and passed (Trustee King/Trustee Palk) to approve the adjusted public
service hours and close at 6:00 p.m. instead of 9:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23 and Thursday,
December 26. Motion carried by all Trustees present.
3. Statistical Reports – Support Services Coordinator Melissa Kelly reviewed the written report and the
proposed format. Entering the statistical graphs and charts on the same page allows for a better
overview of the information. The eBook and eMagazine circulation statistics needed to be added into
the circulation statistics, so this created an opportunity to look into revising the format.
Staff would like to group the database statistics into categories instead of alphabetizing them as is
currently being done. Staff also discussed streamlining the monthly report into one combined report
instead of as individual reports. The Board asked whether or not the eBook and eMagazine
circulation and other online services negatively affect how the Library Journal Award is determined.
Staff noted that due to our large eBook, eMagazine, and other online resources, and our ability to
calculate this online data, does not negatively impact the statistics that are forwarded to the state.
Due to the meetings being held on the first Monday of the month, statistics for the month prior to the
meeting date could be reported at the meeting on a computer. However, they could not be provided
in the packet prior to the meeting due to time constraints in how the information is collected and then
formatted into graphs and charts. There was discussion on considering an alternate meeting date to
enable month-prior reporting instead of two- months prior as is currently being done. The Board
asked staff to provide an informal survey of alternate meeting dates later in the month that would
work for everyone in order to provide more time for processing the reports and statistics. If an
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alternate day is decided upon, the By-Laws would have to be revised and sent to City Council for
approval before a new date could be implemented.
4. Laptop/iPad Borrowing Policy – At the September Board meeting Trustee John Prichard was
asked to work with staff and revise the Laptop/iPad Borrowing Policy in order to create a more
cohesive format. The order and wording in each section were discussed for more clarification.
Various scenarios were considered and discussed to ensure the policy was clear. Sections 5, 6, 7
and 8 were revised and combined into one section 5 as follows:
Customers must present a valid NBPL card and be current in the Library's circulation system. All
customers will be required to provide a valid photo identification that will be held at the desk
where the customer checked out the laptop or iPad. Student IDs will be accepted as valid
identification as long as they have a photograph and are current.
Section 3 was reworded:
The loan period for iPads is 2 hours. iPads may be renewed for additional 2 hour periods as long
as one iPad is available for check out.
It was moved, seconded and passed (Trustee Grant/Trustee Prichard) to approve the Laptop/iPad
Borrowing Policy as revised. Motion carried by all Trustees present.
5. Allocation of the $5,000 Balboa Branch Library Donation – Tim Hetherton recommended that we
use this donation to purchase a RFID self-check kiosk at the Balboa Branch Library. The goal is to
eventually install self check machines at all of the Library locations. Currently they are installed at
only the Mariners Branch and the Central Library. The amount of self check traffic and circulation
volume at Balboa was discussed. The kiosk would be set up away from the circulation desk noting
on a placard that it was purchased with donated funds, so that others would see the services that
these donations provide to the Library.
It was moved, seconded and passed (Trustee King/Trustee Palk) to approve using this donation to
purchase additional RFID hardware in order to provide the purchase and installation of a self check kiosk
at the Balboa Branch Library. Motion carried by all Trustees present.
C. MONTHLY REPORTS
1. Civic Center Update – The Bistro 24 Express grand opening that was held at the Central Library on
Monday, September 30 went smoothly. The Bistro is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00
p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Bistro staff members have been very accommodating to Library staff to help
ensure a successful operation. The Bistro is under the City’s jurisdiction. Staff has not heard of any
definite plans on the type of business that may be located across from the Bistro. This agenda item
will be removed from future agendas.
2. Library Services Director Report – Acting Library Services Director Hetherton reported on activities
held over the past few weeks. Library staff hosted a booth at the Orange County Children’s Book
Festival which provided a great opportunity to interact with the community and to help promote
Library services for National Library Card Month. Last week the first of ten (Service Corps of Retired
Executives) SCORE seminars was held at the Library. This alliance provides informative workshops
dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses start and succeed. Martin Brower, author
of the book, The Irvine Ranch: A Time for People: A 50-Year Overview of the Development of the
Irvine Ranch lectured on the history of the Irvine Ranch at the Central Library the evening of
September 24.
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3. Friends of the Library Liaison Report – Trustee Grant reported that the Friends are using the
internet for book sales and are doing well. Their annual lunch will be held on Monday, December 9,
2013 at 11:30 a.m. This Friday and Saturday they are holding their book sale. They will host a booth
on the Civic Center Green at the Art in the Park event where they will sell arts and craft books.
Trustee Grant noted that she will take over as the NBPL Foundation liaison. The Foundation Board
meetings are held on the second Monday of each month. Trustee King will take over as the Friends
of the Library liaison and attend their Board meeting that are held the second Tuesday of each
month.
4. Library Foundation Liaison Report – Trustee King reported that the budget was one of the topics
at their last meeting where new ideas and giving opportunities were discussed.
5. DSLS Liaison Report – Trustee Palk noted that she arrived at the Central Library for the last DSLS
Committee meeting which was cancelled and unfortunately that information did not get to her prior to
the meeting.
6) BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH
MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION
OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM)
Donation and Gift Amount Thresholds
Library Material Selection
Arts and Cultural Update
Review of Library Expansion Donor Wall Naming / NBPL Foundation
Youth Services and Branch Coordinator Debbie Walker distributed to each Trustee a Summer Reading
Program (SRP) gift bag with sample items that were given to SRP participants.
7) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Mr. Mosher advocated posting of the meeting recordings online so that individuals who wish to hear what
was said at the meetings could do so if they are interested. Mr. Mosher noted that it would be nice if the
Library provided information on free literature that is also available online for eReaders. He also
suggested putting the vacant space located directly across from the Bistro on the agenda so that others
may share and discuss possible uses for that area.
8) ADJOURNMENT – 6:33 p.m.
Submitted by: _____________________________________________________________
Chair Approval of Minutes