Minutes 06 16 2022 LAB
Library Advisory Board
June 16, 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 EXCUSED Guenther, Joy PRESENT
Kozik, Lynn PRESENT Maurer, Kevin PRESENT
Miles, Linda ABSENT Montwieler, Katherine PRESENT
Smith, Ida PRESENT Zimmer, Ronna PRESENT
Staff Members & Board Reps.
Paige Owens (Library Director), Yvette Mays (Library Admin. Coord.)
Absent was Tom Brimberry, FOL Rep,
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 May 19, 2022, were sent to the board prior to the meeting
for review.
Motion: Dennis Conlon MOVED, SECONDED by Ronna Zimmer, to accept the minutes of the 6/19/22
meeting as written. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Correspondence
Paige Owens shared a letter she received from a patron regarding the wonderful staff at the Pine Valley
library and how helpful they had been to her.
Friends of the Library
Tom Brimberry was unable to attend today’s meeting but sent the following update:
Friends of the Library continue to support your work enhancing NHC Libraries. We met Monday and
monitor activities previously reported on, as well as look ahead to Preview Night for Friends at the Fall
Book Sale at NE on August 5.
Library Foundation
No report
Director’s Report
Library Director Update June 2022
COVID Update
• New Hanover County COVID community level: Low
• 19.3% positive test rate
Staff
• Hires
o Local History Librarian, Jennifer Finlay from Chowan County, NC (started June 14)
o Pine Valley Branch Manager, Stacia McGourty from Anchorage (AK) Public Library (starts
June 28)
o Reference Services Librarian, Tina Viglucci (starts July 26)
• Interviewing:
o Library Assistant (Main)
o YA Associate (Pine Valley)
o Casual Part-time, Main
• Retiring:
o Library Assistant (25 years) Vanessa Causey (July 1)
Facilities
• New Children’s Program Room now in use at NE—Sapling Room
Budget
• Recommended budget approved by County Commissioners
o Eliminates overdue fees
o Eliminates Interlibrary Loan fee
o Architectural design fee for Northchase Library FY22-23
o Design consultation for Executive Development Center at NE in 2027
o Does not include funding for teen librarian at Main Library
Programs
• Read across the County launch was held June 7
• Summer Reading Club kickoff was Saturday June 11
• Cape Fear Fandom Faire to be held Saturday June 18 at the Northeast Library
• Pride Storytime June 21 at Pine Valley Library
Library Director Projects and Goals
• Project Grace—construction documents at 80% completion; interior planning continues
• Northchase Library design moves forward in FY22-23. RFQ planning underway
• Digital Inclusion initiative—new computers and software for public use
o Copiers and printers in use
o Software for time management and printing being tested
o Project expected to wrap-up in July
• 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—Holds Pickup lockers at Senior Resource
Center
o Equipment on order from vendor (D-Tech)
o Delivery and installation expected mid-summer
• LSTA Planning Grant Archival management assessment for Local History—Awarded! Work
begins in July
Committee Reports
No report
New Business
Board Terms
Board Terms end on 8/31/22 for 4 members. Two are eligible to accept a 2nd term.
Update Reconsideration Policy & Form
Paige Owens reported the library’s old reconsideration policy & form focused on objections to library
materials only. However, in today climate, we’ve had some citizens contact us regarding displays, story
times, etc. To become adaptive to these concerns, we have updated the forms to library resources and
experiences. This will allow us to consider all challenges the same way we would a book challenge.
Paige went over the old and new documents to point out all changes and why they were made.
Discussions to both were made at length. The board also made suggestions that were accepted.
Motion: Mary Alice Baish MOVED, SECONDED by Joy Guenther to request the LAB vote on principle to
accept the updated Request for Reconsideration form and the 13.8 Reconsideration Policy with updates
made by the board today. Upon vote, the MOTION WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
eResources Error
Paige Owens made the board aware of a recent incident with one of the library’s eResources that are
provided through NC Live. Due to errors in the MARC records provided by the vendor, eFilm content for
adult audiences was appearing in searches for children’s content. As soon as we were made aware, the
vendor was contacted and work began immediately to find the problem and fix it. The issue has been
resolved. This vendor’s content is no longer searchable through the library catalog, but it remains
available to New Hanover County Library cardholders from the library’s website through our
subscription to NC Live.
Intellectual Freedom Committee
The committee is currently made up of 2 members, Joy Guenther & Dennis Conlon. Members Shaun
Assael, Mary Alice Baish, Scott Dodd & Lynn Kozik requested to be added to the committee.
Old Business
None.
Adjournment
Scott Dodd adjourned the meeting at 3:55 pm.
Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the Library Advisory Board meeting.
There is no meeting in July.
The next meeting on August 18th 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.