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2006 8-10Library Advisory Board August 10, 2006 Members Present: Lynn Browning, Liz Bryan, John Gangemi, Eleanore Lipscomb-Warren, Roberta Penn, Allison Rankin, Elizabeth Stanfield-Maddox, Paul Walker Friends of the Library: None Staff Members: David Paynter, Harry Tuchmayer Absent Members: Dean Gattone, Conrad Luhmann, Frank Oddo, and Jacqueline O’Grady Public Comment: None Minutes approved. Correspondence: Thank you from New Orleans Public Library Foundation for donation Thank you from Mindy Totton to Dorothy Hodder reference Scuttlebutt Director’s Report: The Cameron Art Museum and the New Hanover County Public Library is sponsoring a writing workshop on contemporary art issues; this is a grant based on a PBS program called Art 21. David Paynter shared the drawings of the art piece designed by Fritzi Huber. The piece will replace the banners in the Main library between the first and second floors. Automatic doors have been installed at the Northeast Regional branch for the handicapped. Tables and chairs have been ?been ordered for the lobby area too. Jennifer France of Big Sky Design is the designer. The statistics reflect a decrease in circulation statistics in juvenile and non-fiction areas -possibly due to the availability of Internet materials. It was mentioned that the price of gas might also be a factor. Efforts are being made to strengthen the young adult section. The Main library is developing a plan in a new materials display area with new furniture. The reserves are increasing and a public self-service area for reserves has been created at the Northeast Regional library. Next Reads is a new service available to (get Next Reads article from DP for copy in LAB book) advertise new and interesting book titles; librarians are responsible for updating the Next Reads Internet site for the newsletter. We are in the process of advertising this service, and have had over 50 individuals sign up so far. The Spanish collection consists of materials for all ages. The library receives most of its Spanish books from the Foreign Language Center. A new phone system has been installed at all library branches and the staff has been trained on the new system. The new system provides options to transfer patrons between branches and to leave messages for reference services. The new budget provides funding for additional parking at the Northeast Regional branch in the lot between the rear of the library and the fire department. The air conditioner at the Carolina Beach library malfunctioned and the library was closed for one day for repairs. Work on the Main Library elevator will begin in mid-August. This will necessitate the closing of Chestnut Street to allow a crane to lift heavy mechanical equipment to the roof of the library. Friends Report: The book sale will be October 14-19. The acting chair of the book sale will be resigning after the fall book sale. A nominating committee has been formed to assemble a slate of officers for 2007. The Friends have commissioned the artist Fritzi Huber to create an original work of art to commemorate the Library’s Centennial. This work of art will be hung in the Main Library and unveiled at the annual meeting on November 30th. Committee Report: Centennial Committee: Elizabeth Stanfield-Maddox reported on the next three events planned. Deloris Jordan will be at Thalian Ballroom with a reception at the library after the event. Other events include Kathy Reichs Oct 26 and Andrew Revkin – Nov 30. Currently on sale are centennial book bags and T-shirts available at all branches. Golf shirts are also available for order. A calendar of library history will also be available for the November 30 event. Policy Committee: Liz Bryan reported on the status of updated library policies, which will be available in October for the board to review. Strategic Committee: John Gangemi reported on the next Library Foundation event – “Savannah to Venice” by author John Berendt scheduled for January 19 at 6:30 (author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). Tickets are on sale at Thalian Hall. Tickets will be $25 for the speaker event plus another cost for the after event party. Old News: The County increased the temporary salary budget to enable the Main library to remain open on Thursday evenings until 8 PM. The staff from Technical Services will no longer work evenings at the Main Circulation desk, but will now work on the third floor either in their office or at the reception desk when meetings are scheduled. Library Day was not very successful. Legislation passed for an additional $800,000 in State Aid; these funds are non-recurring. E-rate money will be used to replace some of the public access computers in the library. David Paynter will be meeting with Ruth Haas, Museum Director; Pat Melvin, Assistant County Manager; and Bruce Shell, County Manager regarding a new property site for the Myrtle Grove library. One site located south of Monkey Junction called Battlefield Park. The bond referendum requires a library will be built in conjunction with a park. The other option is to build a library near Murrayville Road in the northern part of the county. The board will be involved in the process of reviewing library expansions options. There will be a reception on August 20 for the Cape Fear Camera Club at the Main library. The club will provide exhibits quarterly. The library website has been significantly enhanced. There is now an option for submitting reference questions. Board members suggested an acknowledgement be automatically generated. We will look into a general response that states the library will respond with an answer within a a certain time limit. Due to some color blindness issues, we will be making some minor changes to make the site easier for patrons. New Business: David Paynter reported on the Public Library Trustee Conference that is sponsored by NC State Library, and this is scheduled for December 12 at the Pinehurst Resort. Each public library will send two trustee representatives who will be involved in working on library strategic issues. John Gangemi appointed Paul Walker and Allison Rankin to serve on a nominating committee to recommend a slate of officers for the LAB for Board approval at the September meeting. John Gangemi requested to move the September meeting to September 14 instead of September 21. The board approved this change. Eleanore Lipscomb-Warren has utilized Tutor.com and uses this new library resource with her school programs. Harry Tuchmayer will be doing a story with the news to promote this product also. Meeting adjourned at 4:09 PM.