Minutes 08 18 2022 LAB
Library Advisory Board
August 18, 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 Zoom.
Board Members
Assael, Shaun PRESENT Baish, Mary Alice PRESENT
Conlon, Dennis PRESENT Dodd, Scott PRESENT
Grant, Amy EXCUSED Guenther, Joy PRESENT
Kozik, Lynn PRESENT Maurer, Kevin PRESENT
Miles, Linda EXCUSED Montwieler, Katherine EXCUSED
Smith, Ida PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna EXCUSED
Staff Members & Board Reps.
Present: Paige Owens (Library Director), Yvette Mays (Library Admin. Coord.), Leigh
Thomas (NE Branch Mgr.)
Absent: Tom Brimberry, FOL Rep,
Welcome
Chair Scott Dodd convened the meeting at 2:30 pm.
Guest – Margot Note
Paige Owens introduced Margot Note to the board. She is the library’s Archival Management
Consultant. Margot explained how she will be working with the library’s local history team to assess the
collection. The internal focus will be on policies, needs and workflow. The external focus will look at
how the library can provide the best services of the collections. These materials exist to be used.
Since Margot is based in NY, Jimi Rider and Local History Librarian Jennifer Finlay took her on a virtual
tour of the local history room and their collection.
Her 5-step process consists of:
1. Needs Assessment
2. Collection research and development
3. Policy analysis
4. Services and work processes refinement
5. Functional space recommendations
Public Comment
No public comments.
Agenda Review
No changes suggested.
Approval of Previous Minutes
The minutes from the last board meeting on June 16, 2022, were sent to the board prior to the meeting
for review.
Motion: Mary Alice Baish MOVED, SECONDED by Dennis Conlon, to accept the minutes of the 6/16/22
meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Correspondence
None received.
Friends of the Library
Tom Brimberry was unable to attend the meeting, but sent the following email to the board:
I won’t be able to participate with your meeting this week but know Friends of the NHC Library continues
to support your work and that of the library staff. We met last week and had a successful membership
drive with the book sale and look forward to collaborating with you in the future.
Library Foundation
No report
Director’s Report
Library Director Update August 2022
Staff
• Hires
o Reference Services Librarian, Tina Viglucci
o Main Library Assistant, Trina Coyle (transitioning from weekend 20-hour asst., Pleasure
Island)
o Pine Valley Young Adult Associate, Ezra Letson (formerly hourly part-time at Northeast)
• Transitions
o Library Associate, Pine Valley, Mike Tomaselli, moved to Raleigh area
o Joe Sheppard, Local History Associate, moving to Pine Valley Library Associate
o Shannon Vaughn, Main Library Associate, moving to Local History Associate
o Jay Pinson, Tech Services, retiring August 22
o Vanessa Causey, Tech Services, retired June 30
o Jaimie Harwood, Children’s Associate, Pine Valley, accepted job with NHC Schools
o Library Director retiring effective October 1, 2022
• Posted:
o Library Associate, Main
o Casual Part-time, Northeast; Pine Valley; Pleasure Island
o 20-hour permanent assistant, Pleasure Island
o Tech Services Associate
o Tech Services Assistant
o Pine Valley Children’s Associate
o Library Director
Facilities
• New Hanover County administration working to reduce impact of unsheltered living on the
block of Main Library
• Caution tape reducing goose poop issue at Pine Valley
Budget
• FY23 budget now activated
o Eliminated overdue fees
o Eliminated Interlibrary Loan fee
Programs
• Read across the County and Summer Reading Club continue through August
• Author visit: Jason Mott, Hell of a Book, at Northeast Library Saturday 8/20
Library Director Projects and Goals
• Project Grace
o Awaiting approval from state Local Government Commission
• Northchase Library
o Received 7 Statements of Qualification (design)
o Selection process underway
o Design begins mid-September
• Digital Inclusion initiative—new computers and software for public use
o Equipment now onsite
o Software for time management and printing being tested
o Completion a few weeks out
• American Rescue Plan Adapting Technologies Grant—Holds Pickup lockers at Senior Resource
Center
o Delivery and installation expected November (supply chain snags)
• LSTA Planning Grant Archival management assessment for Local History—began work in July;
visit from consultant at Library Advisory Board meeting 8/18/22.
Committee Reports
No report
New Business
Nominating Committee for New Slate of Officers
Scott Dodd & Ida Smith will be the nominating committee.
Policy Updates
Prior to the meeting, the board was emailed two policies for review.
Leigh Thomas presented the updates as follows
5.0 Programs Policy Overview
1. Updated Purpose statement to refer to county’s shared values and strategic objectives. Added
statement about offering programs that reflect the interest of our “growing and diverse
population.”
2. Reorganized Scope section to flow more logically. Simplified introductory statement and moved
relevant points from original statement to numerical bullet point section.
3. Updated Scope section to reflect current practices. Updates include:
a. Stating that library programs are free of charge unless otherwise stated. Previous
statement said “generally free of charge.” Library programs are generally always free.
b. Stating that program attendance may be limited by factors such as room capacity or
supply availability.
c. Added reference to the Partnerships, Collaboration, and Program support policy for
community members and organizations that are interested in partnering with the library
for programs.
d. Added reference to Reconsideration policy to address program objections.
10.0 Partnerships, Collaborations, and Program Support Overview
1. Grammatical fixes throughout.
2. In Purpose statement, changed “In order to provide a higher level of service to the community
than it could otherwise deliver” to “In order to provide an enhanced level of service to the
community.”
3. Added reference to NHC Shared Values and Strategic Plans to Purpose statement.
4. Throughout document, changed “public library community” to “community.”
5. Throughout document, changed “project” to “initiative.”
6. In Partnership and Collaboration sections, changed “significant recognition” and “limited
recognition” to “recognition,” as the definitions of what was considered limited or significant
was not clear.
7. In Program Support, changed listing of various acceptable forms of support to “resources” for
the sake of simplicity.
8. In Program Support, removed original point 3 “All programs, activities or events soliciting
support will be posted on the library’s website with the specific guidelines established for each
event.” Not all program support is solicited through the website.
9. Removed section F. Protocols and moved all protocols to relevant Partnership, Collaboration,
and Program Support sections.
Both policies were accepted as written.
Old Business
None.
Board Member Recognition
Paige Owens thanked the following board members for their service. She has selected a book for each
member that will have a book plate inside to recognize them for their years of service on the LAB.
• Joy Guenther – What the Ermine Saw, by Eden Collinsworth
• Ronna Zimmer – Nigel and the Moon, by Antwan Eady Eden
• Katherine Montwieler – My Hands Tell a Story, by Kelly Starling Lyons
Adjournment
Scott Dodd adjourned the meeting at 3:30 pm.
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board meeting.
The next meeting on November 17th will be in person at the Main Library and will start at 2:30 pm.
A video link will also be sent to those who prefer to meet remotely.