Minutes 01 20 2022 LAB
Library Advisory Board
January 20, 2022
Assembly:
The Library Advisory Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, at 3:30 pm via WebEx.
Board Members
Assael, Shaun PRESENT Baish, Mary Alice PRESENT
Conlon, Dennis PRESENT Dodd, Scott PRESENT
Grant, Amy PRESENT Guenther, Joy PRESENT
Kozik, Lynn PRESENT Maurer, Kevin PRESENT
Miles, Linda PRESENT Montwieler, Katherine NOT PRESENT
Smith, Ida PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna PRESENT
Staff Members & Board Reps.
Paige Owens (Library Director), Sheryl Kelly (Asst. County Mgr.), Melody Loomis
(Library Admin. Coord.) [Tom Brimberry, FOL Rep, not present)
Welcome
Chair Scott Dodd convened the meeting at 3:33 pm.
Public Comment
No public comments.
Agenda Review
No changes suggested.
Approval of Previous Minutes
The minutes from the last board meeting on November 18, 2021, were sent to the board prior to the
meeting for review.
Motion: Ronna Zimmer MOVED, SECONDED by Lynn Kozik and Dennis Conlon, to accept the minutes of
the 11/18/21 meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Correspondence
Paige Owens reported we had a letter from Legal Aid of NC about successful open enrollment. Thank
you letter was addressed to LaCretia Keith.
Friends of the Library
Tom Brimberry not present to report.
Library Foundation
Ronna Zimmer reported:
• Nothing new from the Foundation except if anyone is interested in donating, we had a brochure
that went out during the holidays, and we’re still accepting donations.
Director’s Report
Paige Owens presented the following report for January 2022:
Library Director Update January 2022
Operations & COVID Update
• New Hanover County COVID test positivity rate went from 2.7% in my last report (November) to
31.7% this week
• Health and Human Services Board met Jan. 18 and did not reimpose mask requirements
• COVID exposures and illness is impacting library staffing
Staff
• Vacancy: Reference Librarian at Pine Valley. Interviews underway
• Interviewing for Senior Librarian (Main) and Local History Librarian
• Just posted openings for casual part time (hourly) pool
• Pine Valley Supervising Librarian Patricia Dew has accepted the position of Director of Brunswick
County Public Library. Her position is not yet posted.
Facilities
• Installation of new public access computers at PI, PV, NE. Soon to be installed at Main.
• New placement of public computers now enables setting up children’s program room and teen
area at NE
• Entry landscaping at NE to begin January 24
• Educational signage for native landscapes at PV now installed
• Entry doors at NE malfunctioning. Replacement the likely solution in the next few months
Budget
• Final budget requests and documentation were submitted today (January 20)
• Library requests 3 enhancements and 2 fee changes
o Northchase build (completion 2024)
o EDC remodel for Northeast staff (2027)
o Teen Librarian, Main Library
o Eliminate Interlibrary Loan fee
o Eliminate all Overdue Fees
Programs
• Storytimes still outdoors. Protocol to be reviewed each month.
• Book sale January 14-23. First weekend went very well.
o Due to ice storm weekend of January 21-23 the sale will be open Monday only, January
24, 10-7.
Library Director goals FY21-22
• Project Grace planning
o Design development phase ended. Commissioner review underway and then
construction design phase.
• Northchase Library request for qualifications—according to county Project Manager, we’ll begin
process July 1
• Digital Inclusion initiative: Bidding for login and print management software solutions closed
January 14.
• Continued policy review and strategic plan update
o Collection Development policies ready for Adv. Board review next month
o Strategic Plan work group likely begins February. Waiting for availability of NHC Office of
Strategy staff.
o Library Key Performance Indicators are being revised and updated with Office of
Strategy.
Committee Reports
None.
New Business
Scott Dodd thinks we should continue virtual meetings and go month by month to decide as things
change or stay the same.
Old Business
Project Grace Update
Sheryl Kelly says we are on schedule and the library and museum continue to be engaged that the
designs meet the needs of the community. Paige says the weather has postponed the next Project Grace
meeting.
Final Comments
• Paige gave a weather update. Staff are on standby for emergency operations.
Adjournment
The February meeting will continue to be virtual and future meeting locations will be determined at that
time.
Scott Dodd adjourned the meeting at 4:50.
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board meeting.
Next meeting is February 17th via WebEx. Starting at 3:30 pm