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10/26/1979 \~\::::(:' :,""r',;:-.':L, .,. ." ..... , ".1: . . ~/~ .' . i;.. C . " . .. > .. , , " . ..' . ' <' . . ~ : .' .c._ ," Ie;'": '. , :'''',:;, " . ...~ . '.. . ~ . ~, : <~.; . ,~ , .' ' ''''', : , ' , ',' , . " ,'.. " '.", ",. ., '. ' . . ' ~ \: . I',' ~. . ,', ;::",' < " ':', < . I L . . :' " ,\,"'.".' .'~""'L''''''_''''':~:'':''''' ,': '.~J fl"~\...... J.... ~~_.~....-,o:._:-., .........",...... .-: ,.:.. . '>;.'<' . """., ., , ' , ,.' ,.', ..<" : ,',: ":,:",,;. :~",~~,(:,:,i:;~i~1f '. ,- , , .... . , ' " LIBRARY BOARD . - " MINUTES DATE l2!ft1h~." /1,.9 '..',',', , , .1- /5 0/ ,'. '~I, ~. .-., t.', ~ . . . ~-r~, ~ ~.' < ....~' . " CLEARWATER PURl,Ie r~IBRARY BOARD MINUTES OF THE MEETING 26 OCTOBER 1979 Mayor's Conference Room 0:30 AN - 10:15 AM PRESENT: ABSENT: Mr. Homer Royer) Chairman Ms. Candace Gardner, Vice-Chairman ~tr. Curtis G. Barre Mrs. Herbert E. (Helen) Diller Mrs. Arta Gates Mr. George E. Harris Mrs. Arlyn Hutt Mr. Fred Korosy Mrs. Lucile Williams Mrs. Nancy Zussy. Library Director Mr. Walter A. Krick Mrs. Ann Wickersham (excused) (excused) GUESTS: Mrs. Rita Garvey Mrs. Jan Regulski Chairman Horner Royer called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM. Mr. Royer asked about the progress of the appointment of a student ex-officio member to the Board. Since the City Manager's office has not notified us of an ex-officio candidate and the Board has no recommendations for one. Mrs. Zussy agreed to contact the City Manager's office again to see if an appointment would be made by the next meeting. Mr. Royer asked Mrs. Zussy to report on the progress of the Main Library construction project. To date almost all of the foundation has been poured; the walls for the multi-purpose room are up; the electrical and plumbing have been roughed in; interior equipment rooms are being constructed; the roof drainage system is being improved. Construction is about l~ weeks ahead of schedule at this point. Mrs. Zussy invited Board members to tour the area. The only public complaints to date have been minor traffic problems on Sunset Court. ~fr. Royer opened discussion ~o the proposed branch libraries/bond referendum questions raised by the Board at the last meeting and answered by Mrs. Zussy in a subsequent report. Several Board members expressed concern over the possibility of a referendum in November) when property taxes are due. Mrs. Zussy encouraged the Board to make their opinions known to the Commission regarding a referendum. It was also noted that due to inflation many young people as well as the elderly may vote down a referendum. Mrs. Zussy noted that in truth building branch libraries in an area with only one main library is extending an existing service into that area. rather than expanding services. a concept which might meet with more voter approval if well promoted. Mr. Royer asked if there are any "Butler" buil:dings constructed as libraries in the area that Board members might look at before making any type of recommendation to the City Commission. Mrs. Zussy distributed brochures showing Butler buildings used for various businesses. Mr. Barre ..".,'!."., ..I CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIDRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting October 26, 1979 Page 2 asked if this type of construction could be used for a 30,000 square foot library building. Mrs. Zussy stated that the buildings could be used for virtually any size structure nceded. Mrs. Gates felt that the building planned for East Clearwater should be bigger than the one planned for Countryside. Mrs. Zussy explained that this type of construction could.be added to very easily. Mr. Barre asked how the City Manager felt about "Butler" buildings; f.frs. Zussy stated he was in favor of exploring the possibility. Mr. Royer stated the Board must weigh the possible success or failure of a bigger bond issue and its cost to the taxpayer as compared to a structure of the "Butler" type which the City Commission may build without a bond issue if under $1,000,000. Mrs. Diller questioned whether the City Commission has approved the proposal (for branch libraries). There then followed general discussion about the fact that in 1976 as part of a Federal Grant Application the concept of two branch libraries was approved for that purpose by the City Commission. However, any alternative means of financing branch libraries would probably require that the Commission restate an intention to do so. (NOTE: City's recently adopted 1979-85 Capital Improvement Project program budget calls for a Starcrcst branch in FY 1980-81 and a Countryside branch in FY 1983-B4--both financed through General Obligation Bond issu~s.) Mr. Royer stressed that "if \"'e go to a bond issue~ every effort must be made to see that it does succeed, because if it should fail, then we are doomed for some time to come." Mrs. Diller questioned whether the branch libraries being discussed would be full-service facilities and could they be in "Butler" buildings. Mrs. Zussy stated that the branches would be full-service facilities in that most tyPcs of materials currently at the Main Library would be duplicated--enough for student researcll needsj however, materials such as those for intense genealogy work would not be duplicated because of the expense involved. ~tts. Hutt stressed that the Board must decide what their goal is and educate themselves as to the needs of the area and type of building necessary to fill that goal--only then can the Board members recommend to the City Conunission what is needed. Mr. Royer suggested finding a "Butler" building in the area that the Board could tour to see exactly what the structure can offer. The figures for proposed branch libraries would include shelving and equipment with the structure cost but not books. Books could be purchased through other means, such as Capital Improvement Program item or a one-year temporary tax increase. Mrs. Diller asked Mrs. Zussy to explain the possibility of a joint venture with the St. Petersburg Junior College library on the Clearwater campus. ~Irs. Zussy reported that the venture would mean adding onto the existing library facility or' building a separate facility on the same site. .' . , CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting October 26, 1979 Page 3 The Junior College administration is not necessarily in favor of this idea. Mrs. Diller mentioned that the Hunt site would be quite accessible to the Junior College librnry. Mrs. Zussy noted that oi ther the Hunt 01' Starcrest site would enable us to save on duplicating some reference materials, as the Junior Colle~e library is close to both sites--therefore enabling the two institutions to purchase some things cooperatively. ,An inter-local agreement could be made between the two entities so that under certain conditions students and the public could use each facility without additional fees, providing they are City residents. City residents could conversely use the St. Petersburg Junior College library at no additional charge. Mr. Barre asked if the Board could go on record asking for a 30,000 square foot library for the Starcrest site. Mrs. Zussy explained that with the new construction, the Main Library will be operating in about 36,000 square feet with 7,400 additional unfinished square feet which could be completed at a future time; therefore the 30,000 square feet for Starcrest would make a branch library almost equal to the Main Library facility. The space at the Main Library includes administrative offices and technical processing areas which take up at least 4,000-5,000 square feet and would not be in the branch library. Given the projected population of approximately 46,000 for the Starcrest area, the American Library Association standards call for a branch facility of 18,000-20,000 square feet to adequately serve that area at Starcrest. Mrs. Diller felt that the Starcrest area is in need of a full service library and not a branch. Mrs. Zussy explained that the 18,000-20,000 square feet would be a full service library having all materials necessary~ but not duplicating very specialized materials such as some genealogical and some financial materials. Mrs. Diller stated she would like to see the Board go on record as asking for a 30~000 square foot library in East Clearwater. ~frs. Zussy stated that based on projections given to the Board in the presentation by Mark Tritschler of the City Planning Department, an 18,000-20,000 square foot building is all that is needed for the Starcrest area, based on projected population figures for the year 2,000. ~fr. Royer asked if Mr. Barre would like to make a motion on the square footage for a Starcrest branch. Mr. Barre suggested the Board hold off on such a motion until the Board has more information on this issue. ~trs. Zussy noted that she could not justify the figure of 30~OOO square feet for the Starcrest branch based on any standards--those set by the American Library Association or projections set by the City Planning Department. Mr. Barre stated he would like to see the computerized circulation system taken out of the referendum, as he feels we would have a better chance of success with the bond issue if it were not included with branch libraries. S~veral other Board members agreed. ~.;:.: '.:>-~. .fJ: ~c~ , , : , : .:: ~!';:'.~" ~~.15:'~'" ..:~pp. .- , ~ '. \ .' I , CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting October 26. 1979 Page 4 Mrs. Diller asked if the price of the "Dutler" buildings includes the metal structure and the facing or just the metal alone. Mrs. Zussy stated that each building has its own price depending on how elaborate an exterior is desired. i.e., the more elaborate a facing. the greater the price over a simple metal structure alone. ~trs. Hutt made a motion that the Board find an office building of the "Butler" type structure in the area that the Board could look at before making a recommendation. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Williams and approved unanimously. Mr. Royer noted that the decision regarding the use of nButlerU type structures in lieu of a bond issue will help determine the Board's recommendation. Mrs. Gardner asked if Mrs. Zussy could provide rough figures for the "Butler" buildings with separate facing costs so that the Board could get an idea of the cost of this proposal for branch libraries. Mrs. Gates felt that the Board cannot really make any decisions until the actual sites for the two branches have been determined. Jan Regulski extended an invitation to the Board from the Friends of the Library for a luncheon on Wednesday, October 31. 1979. at 11:30 AM at the Countryside Country Club. The speaker will be Jeanne Malchon on '.'Regional Sharing." Mr. Royer also stated that any input on the issue of branch libraries from the Friends would' be welcome. ,. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 ~J. Susan Doel. Secretary 31 October 1979