Minutes 06 17 2021 LABMinutes 06 17 2021 LAB Page 1
Library Advisory Board
June 17, 2021
Assembly:
The Library Advisory Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. in person and via
WebEx.
Board Members
Baish, Mary Alice PRESENT Brewington, Jan PRESENT
Chadurjian, Denise PRESENT Conlon, Dennis PRESENT
Damutz, Amy EXCUSED Dodd, Scott PRESENT
Guenther, Joy PRESENT Maurer, Kevin EXCUSED
Miles, Linda PRESENT Montwieler, Katherine PRESENT
Smith, Ida PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna PRESENT
Staff Members & Board Reps.
Tom Brimberry (FOL Rep), Paige Owens (Library Director), Sheryl Kelly (Asst. County
Mgr.), Yvette Mays (Library Coordinator)
Welcome
Chair Jan Brewington convened the meeting at 2:05 p.m.
Public Comment
Not present.
Agenda Review
Agenda accepted.
Approval of previous minutes
The minutes from the last board meeting on May 20, 2021 were sent to the board prior to the
meeting for review.
Motion: Ronna Zimmer MOVED, SECONDED by Dennis Conlon, to accept the minutes of the
05/20/21 meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Correspondence
None at this time.
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Friends of the Library
Tom Brimberry submitted the following report:
• Downtown Historic Libraries Walking Tour has been photographed in
preparation for filming.
• Friends Night at the book sale is Friday, August 20th, 5:30 – 9:00pm.
Membership can be purchased at the door.
Library Foundation
No report at this time.
Director’s Report
Paige Owens presented the following report:
Operations
• Reopening update:
o Meeting rooms now available
o Full open hours begin August 2: M-Th 10-7; Fri-Sat 10-5; Sunday 1-5
Staff
• Staff celebration held June 8 at Northeast Library for team building after difficult year.
• Interviews concluded and hiring underway for 3 vacant positions at Pine Valley and
Main
• Just received news that our Law Librarian, Natasha Francois, is leaving July 2
• Interviews underway for hourly part-time employees to be trained in July.
Facilities
• Pine Valley
o Expecting installation of playground climbing pyramid by end of month
o Goose droppings a problem on the new deck and sod. Visits by Airlie dog, Reilly, helping.
o Interior wayfinding signage installed.
• Main Library—Project Grace. Updates in today’s meeting.
• Northeast
o Book sale scheduled August 20-29
• Pleasure Island
o Busy!
Budget
• Spending ahead of June 30 cutoff
• NHC Commissioners adopted recommended budget.
o Includes request for new public access computer solution.
o Overdue fines on children’s materials will be eliminated.
o Eliminating $2 charge for internet only card
Programs:
• Summer reading Tails and Tales underway
• Read across the County underway. We’ve had 2 author visits and a book discussion so
far. We have received additional partner requests from Cape Fear Audubon and LINC.
• In person programs back. Starting with outdoor programs for kids.
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Library Director goals FY20-21
• Community survey: questions to be added to our annual survey this month to help inform
Project Grace planning
• Main Library basement clean-up: Substantially done. Next step: trash removal
• Social work internship: MOU signed with UNCW. Ready for fall.
• Fine relief: Overdue fines for children’s materials eliminated in FY21-22 budget.
• LSTA grant application: Awarded (equipment to support virtual programming)
• Pine Valley landscape: Continues.
• Policy review: Conduct policy came back from Human Resources review with suggestions which
we are working on. Other policy review continues.
• Contract with new public printing vendor: will be accomplished next spring in conjunction with
our extensive public access computer solution.
The LAB asked the following in questions:
• Has the County experienced any cyber security issue?
o The County has a very strong plan implemented to monitor, identify and address
any issues. Our public access computers are on a separate server and not on the
county’s network.
Committee Reports
Intellectual Freedom Committee
The committee, consisting of Jan Brewington, Joy Guenther, Ronna Zimmer, Dennis Conlon and
Paige Owens, met prior to today’s meeting.
Although we do not have any challenged materials at this time, we discussed the need to be
ready in the future. The committee has reviewed the American Library’s Bill of Rights. We have
a responsibility to look at all points of view.
The committee also suggested that all library casual part time staff attend a training session on
library ethics so they can answer patron questions/concerns if asked.
Paige Owens stated how much she appreciated the committee’s point of view and the research
they have put into this project.
In addition to the ALA Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read statement explains the ALA stand on
censorship.
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
The Freedom to Read Statement | Advocacy, Legislation &
Issues
Minutes 06 17 2021 LAB Page 4
The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. Private
groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove or limit
access to reading materials, to censor content in schools, to label "controversial" views, to
distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries.The freedom to
read is essential to our ...
www.ala.org
New Business
Terms ending Aug. 2021.
We have several board members who have terms ending in August of this year. Please be sure
to encourage others you know who have a desire to be on the library board to apply through
the NHC website.
Nominating Committee to select Slate of Officers.
Jan Brewington selected Scott Dodd, Ronna Zimmer and Ida Smith as the Nominating
Committee. They will present their recommended Slate of Officers at the August meeting.
Chair, Vice Chair & Secretary
Ronna Zimmer was excused from the meeting at this time.
Old Business
Project Grace Update
Jan Brewington reported that she had attended the recent Project Grace meetings. The
Discovery Team has presented their initial floorplans for the Library, Museum and shared
spaces. These spaces were based on the square footage submitted by each department.
Paige Owens told the board about the Library’s idea for an automated materials handler.
Reference the Chapel Hill Library’s Bookie Monster: http://chplfoundation.org/otto-bookie-
monster/
Jan stated that she felt as though the Discovery Team is hearing us, but she is still concerned
about green space. She would like to see public art in the new site.
Scott Dodd suggested we research T-Coil copper wiring for those with hearing aids. (Possible
McCartney Trust funding).
https://assist2hear.com/loop-systems-residential-commercial/
July 2nd is the end of the discovery period. The next step is to begin the schematic design plans.
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Adjournment
Chair Jan Brewington adjourned the meeting at 3:00 pm.
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board
meeting.
Next Meeting is August 19th