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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Library Trustees 2017-11-14 MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SAN RAFAEL LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017 DOWNTOWN LIBRARY MEETING ROOM 6:00 P.M. CAROL MANASHIL, CHAIR, PRESIDING MEMBERS PRESENT: CAROL MANASHIL, CHAIR JOSH LIBRESCO MELANIE LEAVITT CANTARUTTI JAIMI CORTES DOUG VAN GESSEL OTHERS PRESENT: SARAH HOUGHTON, LIBRARY DIRECTOR HENRY BANKHEAD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PAM KLEIN, DOWNTOWN LIBRARY ADULT SERIVCES SUPERVISOR MIRIAM WALLEN, DOWNTOWN LIBRARY ADULT SERVICES LIBRARIAN APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was amended to include approval of the September 2017 meeting minutes, and unanimously approved on a motion by Cantarutti and a second by Libresco. APPROVAL OF MINUTES September minutes were approved unanimously on a motion by Van Gessel and a second by Libresco. October minutes were approved unanimously on a motion by Cantarutti and a second by Van Gessel. PUBLIC COMMENT Sally Seymour introduced herself and stated that she was interested in how the parcel tax funds were being spent. Houghton relayed the basics of the measure’s budget and funding priorities, and suggested the annual Parcel Tax Committee’s report to City Council as a way to review expenditures over time. STAFF PRESENTATION Pam Klein introduced the Downtown Library’s new Adult Services librarian, Miriam Wallen. Klein also reported on some of the recent and upcoming programming coming out of the Adult Services division. CORRESPONDENCE None REPORT FROM LIBRARY DIRECTOR Personnel Updates The library has three new staff members! Peter Warden and Cheryl Meeker are working as part- time Library Assistants in the Downtown Circulation Services division. Miriam Wallen is working as a full-time Librarian in the Downtown Adult Services division. City Council Actions • On September 18, City Council approved establishment of the Kenneth Edlin Memorial Fund in the amount of $385,000. • On October 16, City Council approved establishment of the Robert and Lorraine Joses Memorial Fund in the amount of $1,282,726. Reading Buddies The Reading Buddies program has started back up for the school year at both libraries. Reading Buddies pairs adult and teen volunteers with elementary school aged youth (grades 1-3) for 20 minute appointments. During the appointment, the child will practice reading with their Reading Buddy one-on-one, and receive help and guidance with difficult words, comprehension, and other reading skills. Math Club Join us for Math Club at the Downtown Library! Math club provides students the opportunity to practice and train their math skills in a fun and non-competitive environment. Students work on level-appropriate assigned work to strengthen their foundation and learn useful tricks. On-going on Thursdays* @ 4-5pm, 9/28-12/14. For students in grades 4-7. 3D Printers @ the Library The Library received two Lulzbot Taz 3D printers through a grant from the California State Library. Library staff is currently developing a policy to govern the public use of this equipment but hopes to launch a series of programs at both libraries in the very near future. Virtual Reality – It’s Back The Library received a Vive virtual reality system (this is in addition to the Oculus Rift we already had). Both were funded through a grant from the California State Library. Staff is being trained on how to use the new equipment, but the hope is to re-launch a series of virtual reality events using both sets of equipment. REPORTS FROM LIBRARY SUPPORT GROUPS AND OTHER RELATED GROUPS Friends of the Library: The Friends Board approved two requests for children’s programming funding at their November meeting. They are planning for the Rare and Special Book Sale in January. The Friends Board’s December meeting has been canceled. SRPL Foundation: The Foundation’s annual meeting took place last month and was well- attended and well-reviewed. Sean Reinhart from Hayward Public Library spoke about their library’s process to build a new 21st century library. The Foundation’s annual funding appeal is being sent out this week. Special Library Parcel Tax Committee: The new committee met with two members from the previous committee and three new members. New members were oriented to the committee’s responsibilities and library operations. Brinckerhoff and Lee are drafting the annual report to City Council. The committee will meet again in late November. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Library Facilities Planning Project Update Libresco and Houghton discussed the selection process for the architectural firm for the next phase of the project—producing bird’s eye views of a Pickleweed Library expansion, three different Downtown sites, and three different Terra Linda sites, including cost modeling for capital, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and any additional operating costs. After interviewing the top three of the six applicants, the City will be contracting with Noll and Tam for this project. A draft contract has been sent to the City Attorney’s Office for review. Houghton hopes to have the contract to City Council in January. An unidentified member of the public raised concerns about the existing Downtown Library structure and trees, and questioned library use levels and how the money from the Special Library Parcel Tax was being spent. Houghton answered his questions as best as the time in the meeting allowed for. Quarterly Budget Report from Q1 2017/2018 The fiscal year is 25% elapsed, and 25% of the budget (both general fund and special library parcel tax) has been expended. Spending in all areas is on target. Houghton answered questions about how the City is ensuring that the special memorial funds are remaining with the library for library use. Quarterly Strategic Plan Report from Q1 2017/2018 The Library’s achievements and progress on strategic plan initiatives to date through September 2017 were presented. This plan runs through the end of the 2018 calendar year. Quarterly Outreach Report from Q1 2017/2018 The Library’s outreach initiatives to date through September 2017 were presented. Much time was dedicated to outreach at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:09pm. Respectfully submitted by Sarah Houghton