Minutes 05 19 2022 LAB
Library Advisory Board
May 19, 2022
Assembly:
The Library Advisory Board met in Regular Session on Thursday, at 2:30 pm at the Main Library,
201 Chestnut Street with a remote option via Zoom.
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 EXCUSED
Miles, Linda PRESENT Montwieler, Katherine EXCUSED
Smith, Ida ABSENT Zimmer, Ronna PRESENT
Staff Members & Board Reps.
Paige Owens (Library Director), Tom Brimberry, FOL Rep, Yvette Mays (Library
Admin. Coord.)
Welcome
Chair Scott Dodd convened the meeting at 2:30 pm.
Public Comment
No public comments.
Agenda Review
No changes suggested.
Approval of Previous Minutes
The minutes from the last board meeting on April 12, 2022, were sent to the board prior to the meeting
for review.
Motion: Dennis Conlon MOVED, SECONDED by Mary Alice Baish, to accept the minutes of the 4/12/22
meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Correspondence
None
Friends of the Library
Tom Brimberry submitted the following report:
• Grants to library staff for leadership, experimentation, advocacy, or development (LEAD) were
awarded in May for $6,200. Funding for homeless assistance, carpool cinema, 3D printer
updates, and Chamber of Commerce community leadership school participation.
• Awarded Williston Middle School student’s books and school supplies with Rotary Outstanding
Student recognition ceremony.
• Friends Book Club led by Margie Hickman has three books selected with first one distributed and
meetings scheduled through summer.
• Downtown Historic Libraries stroll has drafted self-guided walking tour brochure for future use.
• Margie Hickman elected President and Kathy Sartarellli past president.
Library Foundation
Ronna Zimmer reported the board had met earlier today.
Plans are underway for a Fall Fundraiser.
Director’s Report
Library Director Update May 2022
COVID Update
• New Hanover County COVID community level: Low
Staff
• Six library employees were recognized for stellar performance at the April 18 Commissioners
meeting for their actions during an emergency at Main Library on April 2.
• Hired
o Local History Librarian, Jennifer Finlay from Chowan County, NC (starts June 14)
o Pine Valley Branch Manager, Stacia McGourty from Anchorage (AK) Public Library (starts
June 28)
• Interviewing:
o Reference Librarian (Main)
o Associate (Northeast)
o Casual Part-time, Northeast
• Posted:
o Casual Part-time, Main
• Assistant County manager Lisa Wurtzbacher, former NHC Chief Financial Officer, started May 9
Facilities
• Northeast: new electric doors expected to be installed in June (current doors are original to the
building)
• Northeast: Paynter Room was One-Stop voting site through May 14
• Pine Valley: additional shelving on order to expand capacity in adult reading room and Large
Print area
Budget
• County manager made recommendation to Commissioners May 16
• Commissioners’ decision expected June 20
Programs
• Titles chosen for Read across the County Sponsored by the Friends: adult title is Hell of a Book
by Jason Mott.
o Logo designed for current and future RaC
• Summer Reading Club is June 1 – August 13. Theme is Oceans of Possibilities
• The first post-COVID Cape Fear Fandom Faire will be held June 18 at the Northeast Library
• NHCPL continues to offer programs through June in conjunction with the North Carolina
Humanities’ statewide book club, North Carolina Reads, exploring issues of racial, social, and
gender equality and the history and culture of North Carolina.
• A mix of indoor and outdoor programming is being offered for children
• A Pride Storytime will be held on June 21st at the Pine Valley Library. Today we have started
receiving phone calls from citizens who feel this type of program is inappropriate. NHC Chief
Diversity Officer and the Communications Director has been made aware.
Library Director Projects and Goals
• Project Grace planning Interior space design continues with construction documents at 50%
completion
• Northchase Library design budget in recommended budget for FY22-23. RFQ release planned in
July
• Digital Inclusion initiative:
o Copiers and printers have been delivered by the new vendor, CopyPro
o New time and print management equipment and software expected mid-June. Vendor:
Comprise Technologies
• Continued policy review and strategic plan update
o Strategic Plan update pushed to next fiscal year
o Next policy update: 10.0: Partnerships, Collaboration, and Program Support
• American Rescue Plan Adapting Technologies Grant
o $40,000 for installation of holds-pickup lockers at the Senior Resource Center
o Equipment on order from vendor (D-Tech). Delivery and installation expected mid-
summer
• LSTA Planning Grant Archival management assessment for Local History: decision expected June
2.
Committee Reports
None
New Business
Current FY22 Budget Progress Report
Paige Owens reported the library’s current budget fiscal year ends June 30th. Cut-off dates for
requesting purchase orders is May 27th. (POs are required for any purchases over $1,000.) We are
watching our materials and operating budget closely to ensure that we spend down all available money
properly.
Security & Incident Reporting
Paige Owens reported the library had been using a vendor site for incident reporting. We have recently
moved the online reporting form to our SharePoint site which allows us more options. Through
SharePoint we can set up alerts to all county staff when an incident report is submitted. It also allows
staff to easily find past reports and sort as needed.
Recent media coverage regarding homelessness in NHC also addressed those surrounding the Main
Library. Despite the coverage, the library and their staff were not part of a proposed ordinance against
sleeping on county property from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.. We were unaware of the proposed ordinance until
the topic hit the news. County Commissioners voted against the ordinance. The NHC Human Resources
dept is aware of safety issues at the main branch and is looking at possible solutions.
Little Free Library Boxes
Scott Dodd reached out to the Little Free Library organization via email. They were able to provide him
with information on other locations that would be suitable models.
After board discussion, it was decided this would not be a LAB project.
Anyone interested in this project outside of the board can contact Scott Dodd and Shaun Assael.
Old Business
None.
Adjournment
Scott Dodd adjourned the meeting at 3:48 pm.
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board meeting.
The next meeting on June 16th will be in person at the Main Library and will start at 2:30 pm.
A video link will also be sent to those who prefer to meet remotely.