Minutes 02 18 2021 LABMinutes 02 18 2021 LAB Page 1
Library Advisory Board
February 18, 2021
Assembly:
The Library Advisory Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. via WebEx.
Board Members
Baish, Mary Alice PRESENT Brewington, Jan PRESENT
Chadurjian, Denise EXCUSED Conlon, Dennis PRESENT
Damutz, Amy PRESENT Dodd, Scott PRESENT
Guenther, Joy PRESENT Maurer, Kevin PRESENT
Miles, Linda PRESENT Montwieler, Katherine PRESENT
Smith, Ida PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna PRESENT
Staff Members & Board Reps.
Tom Brimberry (FOL Rep), Paige Owens (Library Director), Melody Loomis (Admin)
Welcome
Chair Jan Brewington convened the meeting at 2:01 p.m. The meeting was conducted
remotely via WebEx.
Public Comment
No members of the public present
Agenda Review
Agenda accepted.
Approval of previous minutes
The minutes from the last board meeting on January 21, 2021 were sent to the board prior to the
meeting for review.
Motion: Ronna Zimmer MOVED, SECONDED by Katherine Montweiler, to accept the
minutes of the 01/21/21 meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Correspondence
Paige Owens shared a letter from Assistant District Attorney Connie Jordan thanking the library
for services offered during “this difficult time.” She wrote that “The system the library put in
place to facilitate checking out books during the pandemic has been a god send [for her
mother].” She recognizes “the inherent risks your staff has faced.”
Friends of the Library
Tom Brimberry presented the following report:
The board continues to meet on zoom.
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Friends continues to collaborate with Downtown Rotary Club to recognize outstanding
students at Williston School.
Book sale carts in library branches have been doing very well.
LEAD award application process staff programs and projects is open and the Friends are
continuing to seek proposals. Deadline is the end of March.
Friends are working with Susan DeMarco on enhancing Story Walk opportunities at 4
locations.
The board provided holiday brunch for staff at all library locations for Valentine’s Day
Library Foundation
Ronna Zimmer reported on end of year fundraising as documented by Yvette Mays:
$5,000 Pine Valley
$3,288 General Fund, including $2,000 from the Adele Paynter trust
$2,171 Children’s Programs
$200 Endowed book fund
The board plans to grant approximately $50,000 to the library in 2021.
Director’s Report
Paige Owens presented the following report:
Health and Safety
One library employee was hospitalized in December due to complications from COVID-
19 but is fully recovered and back at work
Operations
Service model remains the same for the foreseeable future.
o Schedule: M-Th 10-6; F 10-5
o Curbside and limited indoor services with no seating
o Computer use limited to one hour
Staff
Staff are being called up for emergency assignments related to the vaccination effort.
Vacancies:
o Program Manager: Interviewing underway
o Reference Services Librarian: Interviewing underway
o Marketing and Technology librarian: interviewing underway
o Library Assistant: decision made, waiting on paperwork
o Library Associate: will post after Program Manager hired
Facilities
Pine Valley
o Contracted for automatic doors to adult reading room using McCartney Trust
funds
o Design started on performance deck and walkway to be paid for with funds from
Foundation Pine Valley fundraising
o EcoExplore
North Carolina Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting
Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) initiative for children in
grades K-8. Children make photographic observations of plants and
wildlife, and upload their findings online, in order to earn prizes, badges.
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Main Library
o Third floor staff areas undergoing a major rearrangement (3rd floor space flip)
o Basement clean-up: items going to auction in March
o Story Park: Master Gardener program interested in partnering
Northeast
o Status quo
Pleasure Island
o New tenant next door (an online business)
Budget
FY20-21 spending is on-track
FY21-22 proposed budget due January 22. Will cover in new business.
Library Director goals FY20-21
Community survey: Suspended until Program Manager on board
Main Library basement clean-up: Continues
Social work internship: will be responsibility of new program manager
Fine relief: Budget request for elimination of overdue fines on children’s materials
LSTA grant application: Applying for funds to support online programming--
APPLICATION DUE MARCH 1, 2021
Pine Valley landscape: underway
Policy review: Team led by Leigh Thomas is developing recommendations
Contract with new public printing vendor by end of FY SPRING 2021: Included in
county’s RFP for a new copier/printing vendor.
Committee Reports
None.
New Business
Scott Dodd asked if the library needs advocacy to benefit from the funds earmarked for the
community following the sale of the hospital. Paige explained that there is a community
foundation handling the grant funds, and there are strict guidelines for how that money can be
used. Paige said the process is just getting started and she’ll be able to share more in the future.
Project Grace
Paige shared new developments regarding Project Grace. A memorandum of understanding
between Zimmer Development and New Hanover County has been published. A public hearing
and possible vote by the commissioners will take place March 15, 2021. Paige gave a brief
history of the redevelopment project which spans the downtown block that houses Main Library.
Jan reminded the board that there is a Project Grace committee, and the committee will be
responsible for taking next steps.
Kevin Maurer mentioned that he is on the Cape Fear Museum board, and that the museum is
concerned about parking and space issues. He volunteered to communicate between the boards to
coordinate a response to the commissioners.
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Jan said that we have limited information at this point, so the board should wait for the
committee to meet.
Paige expressed the desire for enhanced library services downtown and said museum staff feel
the same way about the museum. The wording of the memorandum of understanding raises come
concerns about whether the library and museum needs will be met in the project. A primary
concern is that the MOU leaves out 8,000 square feet in shared space between the library and
museum. Another concern is that by building on Chestnut Street, the library will be displaced
during construction. There is also concern about the library and museum functions that were left
out of the original plan with the understanding that they would be housed somewhere else.
There’s no accommodation in the plan for these spaces.
Joy asked if there is a public library standard for square footage. Paige said she will research that
question.
Paige explained that the county will own the ground and lease the library and museum spaces to
the developer. The developer will build the library and museum and sublet the buildings back to
the county for 4.5 million a year for 20 years. At the end of 20 years, the facilities will revert
back to the county.
Jan said she is concerned that this process is moving too fast. She said she will communicate
with the Project Grace Committee and the committee will decide on how to proceed by early
next week.
Old Business
None.
Adjournment
Chair Jan Brewington adjourned the meeting at 3:1pm.
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board
meeting.
Next meeting will be held on March 18, 2021