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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes 05 15 25 LABMinutes 05 15 2025 LAB Library Advisory Board May 15, 2025 Minutes Assembly: The Library Advisory Board met in the Regular Session on Thursday, May 15th at 1:30 pm at the Main Library (3rd fl. Board Room). Board Members Assael, Shaun EXCUSED Carbone, Liz PRESENT Clinton, Ann PRESENT Colin, Emily PRESENT Dodd, Scott PRESENT Haragan, Ellen PRESENT Kozik, Lynn EXCUSED Lawler, Patricia PRESENT Niggl, Paul PRESENT Salter, Tiffany PRESENT Smith, Harriet PRESENT Staff Members & Board Reps. Conners, Dana ABSENT Loeper, Jessica PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna (Foundation Rep) EXCUSED Petcovic, Monica (Friends Rep) EXCUSED Mays, Yvette PRESENT Rider, Jimi (MN Branch Mgr.) PRESENT Susan DeMarco (Library Supervisor) PRESENT Welcome Patricia Lawler convened the meeting at 1:32 pm. Public Comment None Agenda Review Approved Approval of Previous Minutes The minutes from the last board meetings on April 17, 2025, were sent to the board prior to the meeting for review. Motion: Ellen Haragan MOVED, SECONDED by Harriet Smith, to accept the minutes of the 04/17/25 as written. Upon voting, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Minutes 05 15 2025 LAB Correspondence None Friends of the Library FOL Representative, Monica Petcovic, was unable to attend the meeting. She submitted the following report via email. The FOL subcommittee reviewed six LEAD grant award submissions and approved funding in full or part for each at a grand total of $6,000. Library Foundation The board met today and will be reviewing retention plans and recordkeeping. Director’s Report Project Grace (Jimi Rider reporting) • Library staff toured the site last week. • Flooring is being installed. • Landscaping will start soon. • Lots of natural light in the children’s area. • Movers have been hired to handle the archival collection • Public art honoring the Michael Jordan family will be located in the plaza. Northchase (Susan DeMarco reporting) • Steel structures are up • Beginning on framing interior wall • On track to open January/February 2026 Staff (Susan DeMarco reporting) • Full-time Library Assistant at Pleasure Island opening will be posted next week. • Ken Wagoner started on 5/13 as part-time Monday Courier. Customer Survey (Susan DeMarco reporting) • May 1 – May 31 • 5 minutes (Display topics and program time preference) • Last year less than 200 • This year already 253 Minutes 05 15 2025 LAB Summer @ Your Library – Beanstack (Susan DeMarco reporting) • Read 300 minutes and completed one activity • New logo S@YL • Preregistration is open in Beanstack o 170 total (last year 456) o 103 kids (last year 327), 58 adults (113 last year), 9 teens (16 last year) • Flyers went out this week to PreK and elementary NHCS • Color Our World – Kids & Teens. Runs June & July o Kick off at Long Leaf Park • True Crime Summer for Adults. June – August o Author Visit Valerie Bauerlein ▪ The Devil at His Elbow: Alex “Murdock”. Saturday, August 21 @ 2:00 @ NE ▪ She is from Wilmington, went to Duke, and lives in Raleigh o Panel discussion and book discussions ▪ Careers in justice system – Public Defender’s Office ▪ NHCSO – Frauds, Scams & Cons, Keeping Yourself Safe Online ▪ NC Dept. of Justice – keeping kids safe online ▪ Podcaster discussions from those active during the trial Memories of 201 Chestnut (Jimi Rider reporting) • May 31st 10:30 – 12:30, public invited to come and share stories and memories of the main library. • Postcards will be available for guests to record their memories of the main library. These will be kept in the local history archives. • Past staff members will attend a private event that night to share their memories. Paul Niggl asked about efforts to get the word out about closing the Main library during the move. People he has spoken with are aware of the new site, but not of when the Main branch will close and reopen. • NHC communications will be putting out messages closer to the closing and again for the reopening. • A grand opening will be planned once the library opens and then a gala to celebrate the opening of both the library and museum. • We are also spreading the word during library programs and in press releases. • Signage is going up on empty shelves to make patrons aware that we are preparing to move our collection • Staff is spreading the word at all programs and will include updates in our newsletter. Project Grace (Jimi Rider reporting) • Construction is still on time. • The Certificate of Occupancy should be received in July. Minutes 05 15 2025 LAB • In August we will begin moving in. Opening is scheduled for October. • The County Commissioners have recently awarded additional funds to the project. These funds were for the Museum, furniture and public art. NHCPL Strategic Plan: Target #4 (Jimi Rider reporting) • Target #4 is the increase the number of library card holders who utilize online databases remotely by 10% annually. o 561 recorded last month: 194 student cards, 40 City of Wilmington card holders • Educating staff on all databases to provide our patrons additional resources they may not be aware of. • Improving website presence and layout • Rebranding Databases to Research & Learn Database Spotlight Jimi Rider, MN Branch Manager, spotlighted ABC-CLIO’s American Mosaic collection which is actually 5 databases: Daily Life Through History, Pop Culture Universe, The African American Experience, The American Indian Experience, & The Latino American Experience The American Mosaic research databases help people learn more about U.S. history by focusing on the stories of groups that are often left out of traditional history books. Each database includes: • Primary and secondary sources – like historical documents, photos, and articles that show what life was really like during different times. • Expert opinions and essays – that explain the history and give deeper insights. • Research tools – like citation help and ways to organize notes and information easily. These resources are used in schools and libraries to help people learn about U.S. history in a fuller, more inclusive way. Designed for middle and high school students. New Business LAB By-Laws The LAB By-laws were updated in 2020 but were not forwarded to the NHC County Commissioners for approval. The last approved by-laws were from 2011. At the April meeting, Dana presented the board with the 2011 approved by laws and highlighted suggested wording and changes. These recommendations were presented and discussed by the board. Minutes 05 15 2025 LAB There was a change In Article VI of the bylaws, order of business. Instead of “Friend’s”, it should be “Friends of Public Library”. Please forward any additional changes to Dana and Patricia Lawler. We will vote on the new by-laws at our next meeting. Paul Niggl submitted the following changes in writing to the board: TO: The New Hanover County Library Advisory Board FROM: Paul Niggl, New Hanover County Library Advisory Board Member DATE: 15 May 2025 SUBJECT: Library Bylaws Recommendation Regarding Strategic Planning Problem: The current and proposed New Hanover County Library Advisory Board bylaws do not articulate a role for the Board in strategic planning. Background: The library has a history of strategic planning, with two previous plans developed for 2012–2017 and 2018–2023. Work on the Library’s current plan began in fall 2023 in collaboration with the NHC Strategy Office and was finalized in March 2024, with an official start date of July 2023 to match the County’s timeline. The Strategy Office staff led the planning process and included input from the Library Leadership Team, staff, the Library Advisory Board, and library patrons through surveys and feedback sessions. The finalized plan serves as a guiding document for Library operations and decision-making, with progress reported regularly to staff and the Library Advisory Board. Formal adoption by oversight bodies was not required, and the process is expected to be repeated for future plans to maintain alignment with broader County objectives. Recommendation: Add the following to the Library Advisory Board’s purpose in the bylaws: “To provide input to the Library’s strategic development process." Strategic planning involvement enables the other three purposes and keeps the board members thinking at the long-term strategic level rather than the near- term operations level. This purpose is similar to the first purpose in that we support the Library Director’s policy-making process; however, support for strategic planning allows the Board to provide recommendations for the long- term direction of the library system. The proposed purpose is also distinct from the other two in that it directly supports the Library Director rather than externally promoting the system and providing recommendations to the Commissioners. Minutes 05 15 2025 LAB The board discussed the proposed recommendation presented. Motion to amend Article 1 purpose to add point #4 "To provide input to the Library’s strategic development process." Motion: Harriet Smith MOVED, SECONDED by Emily Colin. Upon voting, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. A vote to accept the amended LAB By-Laws will be held at the next meeting. Adjournment Motion: Liz Carbone MOVED, SECONDED by Ellen Haragan, to adjourn the meeting. Upon voting, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The board adjourned the meeting at 2:52 p.m. Next Meeting on June 19, 2025, at the Pleasure Library 1401 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach, NC 28428 Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board meeting. Future Meetings June 19, 2025 Pleasure Island Library, 1401 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach July 2025 No Meeting August 21, 2025 Main Library, 201 Chestnut Street September 18, 2025 Pine Valley Library – Pelican Room. 3802 S. College Rd. October 16, 2025 Main Library, 230 Grace Street November 20, 2025 Main Library, 230 Grace Street December 2025 No Meeting