Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04 21 2022 LAB Library Advisory Board April 21, 2022 Assembly: The Library Advisory Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, at 2:30 pm at the Main Library, 201 Chestnut Street with a remote option via WebEx. Board Members Assael, Shaun EXCUSED Baish, Mary Alice PRESENT Conlon, Dennis PRESENT Dodd, Scott PRESENT Grant, Amy PRESENT Guenther, Joy PRESENT Kozik, Lynn EXCUSED Maurer, Kevin PRESENT Miles, Linda PRESENT Montwieler, Katherine PRESENT Smith, Ida PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna PRESENT Staff Members & Board Reps. Leigh Thomas (NE Branch Mgr.), Yvette Mays (Library Admin. Coord.) Not Present: Paige Owens (Library Director), Tom Brimberry, FOL Rep Welcome Chair Scott Dodd convened the meeting at 2:30 pm. Public Comment No public comments. Agenda Review No changes suggested. Approval of Previous Minutes The minutes from the last board meeting on March 17, 2022, were sent to the board prior to the meeting for review. Motion: Dennis Conlon MOVED, SECONDED by Katherine Montwieler, to accept the minutes of the 3/17/22 meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Correspondence None Friends of the Library Tom Brimberry was not at the meeting. However, he did submit the following email that was received after the board meeting. I cannot attend the meeting right now, my apologies, but I'm still in training for the Arboretum Plant Sale next week, which you should put on your calendar. Kathy Sartarelli, our President, will preside for the last time at our May meeting. We will celebrate her several years on the board. She has led the LEAD awards to library staff for innovative trial projects and stipends, birthed our downtown historic walk which now has a drafted brochure leading a self-guided stroll around Wilmington, and facilitated greater collaboration among Friends, the Advisory Board, and the Foundation. Margie Hickman, our President-Elect, has provided a career to support libraries, and led the Board in many functions over the past several years, and currently leads our 3 books clubs, Friends’ participation with Rotary to award Outstanding Williston Middle School students, and long-forward planning to assist the NHC Library and its staff. Many others on the Friends Board watch our revenue and expenses, keep track of membership, record our meetings, promote us on Facebook, Instagram, email, and on WHQR - Happy National Librarians Day. Not unlike all of you on the Advisory Board, and the Foundation as well, we look forward to supporting the library and its staff that provide it all. Library Foundation None Director’s Report Library Director Update April 2022 COVID Update • New Hanover County COVID community level: Low Staff • Hired (to be announced soon) o Local History Librarian (starts June 14) o Pine Valley Branch Manager (starts June 28) • Posted: o Reference Librarian (Main) o Associate (Northeast) o Casual Part-time, Northeast • Assistant County manager Shery Kelly retires May 6 o Lisa Wurtzbacher, current NHC Chief Financial Officer, will be new Assistant County Manager Facilities • Northeast: new teen area furniture ordered and arriving. Sponsored by Foundation. • Main Library plumbing failure April 14. Library closed at 3:45. Clean-up and repairs completed before reopening from the holiday (Easter) weekend. Budget • Commissioners held budget work session April 14. County manager will make recommendation to Commissioners May 16. Programs • Titles chosen for Read across the County Sponsored by the Friends. Adult title is Hell of a Book by Jason Mott • Summer Reading Club is June 1 – August 13. Theme is Oceans of Possibilities • The first post-COVID Cape Fear Fandom Faire will be held June 18 at the Northeast Library • NHCPL is participating in the North Carolina Humanities’ statewide book club, North Carolina Reads with monthly programs related to five books that explore issues of racial, social, and gender equality and the history and culture of North Carolina. Library Director Projects and Goals • Project Grace planning o Construction documents are at 50% completion and were provided to library and museum for review • Northchase Library on track with RFQ release planned in July • Digital Inclusion initiative: o A kickoff meeting was held April 20 with the software and payment equipment vendor, Comprise o CopyPro replacement copiers and printers on track for delivery and installation late April • Continued policy review and strategic plan update o Internet Safety Policy draft on today’s meeting agenda o Strategic Plan update pushed to next fiscal year • American Rescue Plan Adapting Technologies Grant application awarded o $40,000 for installation of holds-pickup lockers at the Senior Resource Center by June 30, 2022 o Waiting for NHC to process vendor contract • LSTA Planning Grant application submitted 2/25/22 for Archival management assessment for Local History. Awards to be announced in June. Committee Reports None New Business Budget Presentation Leigh Thomas delivered the budget presentation that Paige Owens had delivered to the County Commissioners. A copy of this PowerPoint will be sent to the board via email. Policy Update: 4.2 Internet Access and Safety Policy Leigh Thomas presented the updates that have been made to the policy. It was 3 separate policies that are now merged into one. Rules are set under the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Changes made were to remove outdated procedures. With no questions or concerns the policy was accepted. Little Free Library Boxes Scott Dodd reintroduced the Little Free Library Boxes to the board. After the last meeting, there were many email exchanges on the subject. Some board members stated that this is not an appropriate role for the Library Board. The LFL are a homegrown project, and we are not hearing an outcry from the public requesting them. Others feels that as a board we can encourage neighborhoods to add them. Leigh said the library already supports the boxes in our NHC parks. Staff is stretched thin with current projects, but we can support with books. After much discussion, Scott asked that the topic be added to the next meeting Old Business None. Final Comments • Dennis would like County Commissioners to reconsider the Project Grace name to honor Alexander Manly. • Katherine asked if the library has been affected by local censorship (Proud Boys, etc.). o Leigh said we have not. Our collection policy is clear on materials that we carry. Adjournment Scott Dodd adjourned the meeting at 3:25 pm. Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board meeting. The next meeting on May 19th will be in person at the Main Library and will start at 2:30 pm. A WebEx video link will also be sent to those who prefer to meet remotely.