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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01 21 2010 LAB 1 Library Advisory Board January 21, 2010 Members Present: Rick Andrews, Kemp Burdett, Bettie Harrison, Mary Hatcher (Chair), Conrad Luhmann (Secretary), Marilyn McConnell, Ellen O’Malley, Gwen Rohler Staff Members: Harry Tuchmayer Absent Members: Carroll Jones, Jacqueline O’Grady (Vice Chair), Evelyn Smith, Paul Walker Meeting began at 2:05 PM The meeting was called to order by the presiding officer, Mary Hatcher. Public Comment & Agenda review: No public comments this month. The January Agenda was approved. Minutes: The November 2009 minutes were approved with a correction to the Director’s report. CORRESPONDENCE Mr. Tuchmayer reported that two visitors to the Carolina Beach and Myrtle Grove libraries sent in a note to praise the service they had received at these branches. A staff member sent out an email regarding the CD & DVD savings since the library has purchased the Disc Repair Machine. Repair of these items has eliminated the need to replace scratched items. Both letters were distributed to the board for review. FRIENDS REPORT Anne Langan, President of the Friends of the Library, submitted the following report: Friends of the Library LAB Report – January 2010 The Friends Board is off to a great start for 2010. Our five new members are fully engaged and full of new ideas to energize the Friends. Anne Dols, a Board member, volunteered to chair the Spring Book Sale. We are still looking for a Chair for the fall sale. 2 We plan to have a table at the Conscience Fair, Feb. 6th, to promote the Friends and hopefully add volunteers and members. One of the goals for 2010 is to increase our membership. Another is to stabilize the leadership for the Book Sale and create a more sustainable model for the sale. We also plan to review our by-laws and create a Mission Statement. The gift from David Paynter has been designated to assist with the landscaping plan for the park adjacent to the Main Library, and if possible, add several trees at the NE Branch. We look forward to working in concert with the Library Advisory Board and the Foundation. NEW BUSINESS Maintenance & Renovations Harry Tuchmayer stated that the library periodically goes thru specialized cleaning, such as carpets and furniture. We are currently scheduled to have some of the chairs at Main professionally cleaned and Property Management will be replacing damaged carpet tiles. The library is looking at the possibility of having to move the Law Library out of the Court Court House and into the Main Library at the request of the Clerk of Courts. This move will require the re-figuration of the space at the Main Library, so we have asked Jennifer France to present designs ideas. Mary Hatcher stated that we need to be mindful of the Medical Library space due to funding that the Library received for this space. New iron work was installed on the windows of the Main Library. They were designed to prevent the public from sitting in the windows and are low enough to discourage leaning against the railings. The design also allows for a planting to be place in between the railings in a premade basket. The board discussed the types of plantings that would work in these baskets. Ellen O’Malley, Marilyn McConnell, Bettie Harrison and Conrad Luhmann all offered ideas. They included suggestions such as decorative grasses, varieties of sedums and seasonal flowers. He asked that the board please notify him directly of any specific issues that need to be addressed. Budget Harry Tuchmayer reported that the County is still facing a budget shortfall this year. County Managers are making every effort to eliminate employee furloughs for the next fiscal year. The Library will be requesting that our Part-time budget be restored to allow library hours to increase. Rick Andrews asked if there were any standards the library could use to help make decisions of services priorities. A discussion followed. We have seen a 50% increase in circulation, door counts and computer usage and need additional staff to meet the needs of the public. 3 We have requested to fill the Medical Librarian position that is currently on hold. This position is necessary as part of the Medical Library requirements. Security Harry Tuchmayer stated that the Main Library now has two Sherriff deputies that patrol the library each morning on their way to the Court House. We are looking in the possibility of the County assigning the library as Resource Officer on site daily. There are no security cameras on the parking deck or in the park area. Conrad Luhmann asked about the possibility of adding security camera. Jerome Fennell, Property Management Director, will be meeting with Harry Tuchmayer to further discuss the needs. OLD BUSINESS Grounds Enhancement Committee Kemp Burdette reported that the committee will be meeting today at 3:30 with Jim McDaniel, NHC Airlie Gardens/Parks Director and a local landscape architect. The meeting will determine how the group can create a native plant exhibition place in the Courtyard Park at the Main Library. The Board would like to to see the Stage worked into the plans so that this area can be better utilized for library programs and other events. The Stage Area has not been utilized since the parking deck was built. The committee will look at alternatives to the Fountain area. Possibilities would include feature that would conserve water and would not become a congregational/seating space. Past Library Director, David Paynter, has donated money towards the purchase of live Oaks at the Northeast Branch. County and numerous local organizations will be looked at as avenues to meet the goals and objectives of the committee. Strategic Planning The Strategic Planning Committee is now meeting twice a month for the next 6 months. Everyone in the committee will be submitting their ideas on what they think the library should be doing over the next 10 years. Users Survey The first step of the Strategic Planning process is to collect data from the staff, board members and the public. A Users Survey has been created and distributed to the staff and board members. Surveys are also being posted on our website for the public and handed out to our regular library patrons. 4 All Surveys are to be turned into Harry Tuchmayer by the end of February. These will be reviewed by the Committee’s focus groups. The Board brainstormed ideas on how the Library could get the word out about their services and offerings. Suggestions such as Face book, NHCTV, newspaper, webpage and local universities were made. Joint Meeting with Ms. Elkins @State Library Ms. Elkins will meet with the Board at our next meeting on February 18th. The meeting will begin at noon and lunch will be served. DIRECTORS REPORT Harry Tuchmayer report below was presented to the board. With the help of an LSTA Grant (Library Services and Technology Act), the Friends of the Library and a team from IT, Carolina Beach and Myrtle Grove Branches are now offering expanded Internet access for the public. The grant has made it possible to replace all the outdated public access computers and add 5 new Internet terminals for Carolina Beach and 8 new computers at Myrtle Grove. The North Carolina Public Library Directors Association (NCPLDA) recently recognized our very own Rita Lewis as Library Friend of the Year. Paige Owens submitted the winning nomination that recognized Rita for her hard work with the Book Sale and her time as President of the Friends. Rita received her award at the NCPLDA Banquet held in Winston-Salem, NC last week. In addition, David Paynter was awarded one of the Lifetime Achievement Awards. David was recognized for his contribution to the profession at the local and state level during his time as Director. The Main Library Reference department is partnering with United Way to bring Generations Online software to the citizens of the county. Generation’s online software teaches e mail for seniors as well as having a “Memories Component” that encourages correspondence with classroom children to engage in conversation of real life experiences. Computer literacy training is available Monday – Thursday 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM on the third floor of the main Library. Amy Read and Scooter Hayes with the library’s Smart Start Program kicked off “Raising a Reader” last month at two community daycare centers. Raising a Reader is a family literacy program that encourages parents to read with their children. The first two workshops were a hit with over 80% of the parents participating in the program. The Reference staff hosted a volunteer appreciation luncheon for all volunteers contributing their time and talents at the Main Library. Commissioners Thompson, Barfield, Davis and Caster joined the staff in thanking them for their hard work and dedication. This year to date, 2,644 hours of shelving, processing, research, filing, searching and other tasks were performed by these volunteers at the downtown library. The IRS uses $20.25 per hour as value for such work, (a total of $53,541). The library considers it PRICELESS. The Local History department of the Main Library was the subject of an article in the Summer 2009 issue of the Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists. Historian David Cecelski’s “Love in the Archives: Archives: A Historian’s Journey Through 5 America’s Great Libraries” features as his first stop, a visit to the North Carolina Room where he is assisted in his research by Beverly Tetterton. The exterior of the Main Library has a new look. With the help of Property Management Director, Jerome Fennell, the Main Library was able to add decorative ironwork in the window bays surrounding the building. Once the weather warms, we will be able to add plants to the fixtures to further improve the Library’s appearance. Story time activities resumed at all library locations. Three 30 minute theme-based programs are presented every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings consisting of Baby lap-sit, Toddler Times and Pre-School story times. On average over 150 parents and their children participate each week. A complete schedule of story-time activities can be found on our website Calendar of Events. Business Librarian Susan Wood attended a GW CORP (Greater Wilmington coalition of business resources partners) planning meeting. One suggestion was to hold monthly public meetings at the library to showcase their activities in aiding small business growth. The library’s North Carolina Room recently received Jenny Henderson’ Filmology Collection Files. These materials cover films made between 1905 and 2000. The criterion for inclusion in this index is that ANY PART of the film, no matter how sort, was filmed in North Carolina. Library staff attended the unveiling of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Kiosk at Orange Street Landing (Water and Orange Street). The kiosk depicts the story of the 22 slaves who escaped via Underground Railroad from this site during the Civil War. The New Hanover County Public Library’s staff and local history collection were involved in making this designation possible. Mark Your Calendar March 19-25 Friends of the Library Booksale Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 18th at noon at the Main Branch. The Foundation & Library Advisory Boards will have a joint meeting with Ms. Ms. Elkins from the State Library.