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04/18/1980 . ' , . I ,.' . . ......... '., . . ~. ,. ~(~{~' 'c .:;,:....:w./''-' ',,',_. . " " ' w > . I ' ',' , '.,' , , ~, . '. .' " , , ~ 1 )t.: .'< ' ,. ",,, ". ~.. . " " '. ~ ' :"-',. .; t'.. Ie,' ;,1 .' ", ',. f'>.,:, , ~-' " . I.' , . :; ~ '; ': ;. ( ..1 ' .0."' .' .. T ~ ~. < " .oO)..' , , I 1..' < ,- ' ~ \'/.' '~ ; :. , '. c , ". ,~. ' , ~',: ~~ . '," . , " , . , , ' II' , ~-,' , :' :. .' t, :~'. .,; , ~ < ': ,c. ' <'" c ,'. ,...;"..;; , . . . c . +, ..,..... .',......,....~' ~'lHI'~~;' "'~."i.",..,' : '". , "., H" ", ",":' ;':;:.':~ ,:::';?:',i:I~~l " .' J ~, ,'. , LI'BRARY BOARD " ' , ' . ' MINUTES , , . . DATE IIp,rl/ t ~. I',t? .., f- /3 ?~ r:: . ,', .r~ 'i~t.. ~ .'~: ,', ~ ~, : .. ,J:c CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES OF THE MEETING 18 APRIL 1980 Mayor's Conference Room 9:30 AM - 10:40 AM PRESENT: ABSENT: Mr. Homer Royer, Chairman Mr. Curtis G. Barre Mrs. Herbert E. (Helen) Diller Ms. Candace Gardner, Vice-Chairman Mrs. Arta Gates Mr. George E. Harris Dr. Georg Lowenstein Mrs. Ann Wickersham Mrs. Lucile Williams Mrs. Nancy Zussy, Library Director Mr. Walter A. Krick (excused) Mr. Fred Korosy GUESTS: Mr. Charles Finton, interested citizen The meeting was called to order at 9:30 AM by Chairman Homer Royer. Mr. Royer introduced Dr. Georg Lowenstein as a new Board member replacing Mrs. Arlyn Hutt who has moved from the Clearwater area. ~fs. Gardner and Ms. Williams have both been reappointed to three-year terms. Mrs. Zussy reported on her trip to Tallahassee for Library Day on April 15, 1980, to testify before the Senate Judicial-Criminal Committee concerning Library legislation. At least three issues are up for discussion. The issue which Mrs. Nancy and the Clearwater City Attorney's Office helped originate through Senator Mary Grizzle concerns the theft, mutilation, or willful retention of library materials. Existing legislation as such is open to much interpretation. Mrs. Zussy has examined that legislation in 32 states which makes theft, mutilation, or willful retention of library materials a second-degree misdemeanor. Mrs. Zussy explained that at the Clearwater Public Library approximately $15,000-$20,000 is spent per year to replace stolen, mutilated or overdue books which are never returned; the figure includes processing costs, staff time in notifying patrons, postage, and costs to withdraw and reorder materials. The bill before the Legislature does contain such safeguards as: 1. If the mateTials are returned or Testitution is made within 30 days of instituting charges, the Library must stop prosecution against the person(s) involved. 2. If mutilation is of an accidental nature, i.e. by child or dog, no prosecution will be made. 3. Accidental removal of book(s) without its being properly checked-out does not constitute a misdemeanor. The bill is being sponsored locally by Senator Mary Grizzle and Representa- tive Dennis Jones. At this time the bill has been heard and passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 3 to 2 vote. It must pass the House Governmental Operations Conunittee and be placed on the calendars of both houses. The bill asks for no money or enforcement power on the part of the State. l' :~ :' CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the ~lecting April 18, 1980 Page 2 Senator Dempsey Barron, Speakcr of the House) has withheld support of this bill because he does not agree with legislation that takes (what he sees as) a civil matter and makes it a criminal offence. Mrs. ZUS5Y suggested that the Board could write to members of the Legislature in support of the bill if they 50 desired; she will supply the necessary information to the Board. M\en asked why patrons can check out materials worth 50 much without being detected, Mrs. Zussy explained that the current circulation technology in use in most libraries does not make constant monitoring of patrons' check-out habits possible; that a computerized circulation system can be programmed to restrict the number of books checked out to any patron by setting a dollar limit. Once the patron has reached that limit, the computer signals that information to the staff person at the check-out desk. Mrs. Zussy explained the other issues up for discussion by the Senate: 1. A resolution restating Florida Library Association's stand on intellectual freedom 2. Full funding of State Aid for county library systems Mrs. Zussy reported on the progress of the Main Library construction project. She explained that the contractor is a few days behind schedule due to a few unforeseen but minor problems. The Library will be closed for one week (May 12th - 19th) to move from the 1960's addition into the new two-floor addition. The contractor will then renovate the 1960's addition. The branch libraries will remain open during this week. Staff members will accomplish the actual move, and Friends of the Library members have volunteered to answer the phones during that week. The full project will be, completed by September 3, 1980. The penalty to the contractor if completion is later than that date will be $100 per day. The tentative ground breaking/dedication ceremony date is Sunday, September 7. 1980. The architect and contractor have offered to sponsor this ceremony. The Library plans to have a special "happening" on each day of the first week after the grand opening. Mr. Royer discussed the possibility of using the new Library conferencc room for the next Board meeting; but due to lack of furniture and sufficient parking, it was decided that the Board will meet at City Hall as usual in May. Mrs. Wickersham reported on a request at a Friends of the Library luncheon regarding the erection of signs on proposed library branch sites to generate support for those branches. The signs would be paid for by the Friends of the Library and made by the City of Clearwater. Mrs. Zussy explained that such a request must come from the citizens, according to her discussion with City staff on this matter. ~frs. Diller felt this idea would be "frivolous and misleading" to the public. She moved that the Library Board not propose any signs at the present time for either site. The motion was-5econded by Mr. Barre, and, after further discussion, was approved unanimously. There was further discussion regarding the square footage proposed for an East Clearwater branch, with Mr. Barre and Mrs. Diller again strongly suggesting more square footage than has been recommended by the Library staff. II :' J ~ , CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting April 18, 1980 Page 3 Mrs. Diller remains particularlY concerned that future branches be lIfull service" in nature. Mrs. Zussyagain assured her that the service parkage of each branch will be tailored to the needs and desires of the citizens served, but that realism dictates care in not building a facility strictly based on square footage. Operating costs for libraries, she stated, are considerable, and too many cities, like St. Petersburg recently, have built libraries which they find citizens cannot or choose not to support. She reiterated that quality of service is far more important than the number ,of square feet in a building; that excellent service delivered in a modest building would please the service-consuming public far better than mediocre or poor service delivered from a larger one. She concluded by reminding Mrs'. Diller that the ~lain Library has been serving the entire City with a full range of.services for many years from an 18,000 square foot building-- the size proposed for the two branches. Dr. Lowenstein explained his experience with library systems using bookmobiles. He also questioned the Library's policy of non~renewal of library materials. Mr. Royer suggested the Board might begin to formulate its recommendation to the City Cornmission'regarding branch libraries at the May meeting. Mrs. Zussy offered to prepare an outline of the basic concepts that have been discussed over time by the Board that will be helpful in formUlating a recommendation to the City Commission. Dr. Lowenstein asked'if signs could be provided to condominium libraries explaining that condominium r~sidents can get more information at the area public libraries. Mrs. Zussynoted that a fact sheet is available explaining what materials and services are available at the Clearwater Public Library. She offered to mail this information to condominium owners' associations. Mrs. Diller feels that until the Main Library's new addition is dedicated, she does not see the point in the Board making a recommendation to the City Commission at all. Several Board members felt that a recommendation should be prepared if the Commission is going to set a date for a referendum in FY 1980-81 as scheduled. The Board agrees that 1980 is not the time for a referendum, and this feeling could be noted in their recommendation to the City Commission. There was further dis~ussion regarding American Library Association and Florida Library Association standards for branch libraries. Mrs. Diller and ~fr. Barre felt those standards are not appropriate for the service area needs of East Clearwater. Mrs. Zussy offered to share those standards with the Board again, although she reminded them that they arc somewhat complicated and must be used in the context of the total library service package and must be used as guidelines only. ";>.1" ;':~ ',~ ~ '. : :' . .~. '. i'~ 't ~,.{, , , .: 'l, 1 ~if?':":'::,,:',, ;",; , . , ' ,t /}~\;. ,.'.:' ~""\r-;. ...~. ~ .J,..""",'~, ...~.........~~_"."...'" ~+:"I ~,~",I,~,l,....'1~''!.:l,''''~I~lt~1 "d~-"~ '~;,,"'.~ "..~,I" .'...1: :.t::l,>;~ .' .." ...1.. ..-t<,' ~ '... . , '!fit,x',' .",'r'I 'f--'" " .,., ',>" , , J.'l7:~t~~'~~ ~: ,":' . ."";,1 .. > ':.\'t.~J~'~,i.'~" ., ,p'.' ".." " , ' tit..:' "'- ~ ' . {'I,.; : ' ~.:~:.~ . .. " r:: . I~~:}' : , , (, ~: " I: ' h: . . ' ,'T. .: ./ . . , ,~: ;:". ,',~ "~'~.~I?:: . { .,' "~,' ., T , . . c ,~,'.; . .: '. ,~ ~,,',; ; . " . I I , '{ ." l .: ~- r c ,. ~ ' ...,.:.,.i. " (' ,.- I'" " ' , , . .l~ ,,1 ~ c '.' .. , ' . ~ ~ '+' " , , .' , .. ':\''', , .,' ;t)!-'!1.. ,.".",~,,:,,,,,~~"'h!, 'r . : ":';L;~+:::',.~;l1: " \~ ~.~. ; ~~: ,I '~.I. ,.;t\" \T~ ~ ra.; .....<;,~ ,.I'.~.l~ "~l..:~'- , ,'._' c " 'd', . l ~.'~ " CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting April 18, 1980 Page 4 Mrs. Wickersham noted that ,the Library Board has a responsibility,to . serve the total City in this and all other library matters; a number of members agreed with her. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 AM. Susan Doel, Secretary 25 April 1980 ~:', ~{~~~.