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05/16/1980 ~tf?""..;':::>",' ,,'. ". " . I,'" t. .. \ '. . , '. ~. > , . . . . . .., . ""'.':';' ,:!"::'::/',::(( . . , :.:", . . ." , '. .' , .... . . .< :'1 '. . . , . . t. " . .' . '. ~.. .' , . Ie \. , LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES DATE "'IlJi I~ 19,d -1- /3 S lj, .,' c, , CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES OF 11m MEETING 16 MAY 1980 Mayor's Conference Room 9:30 A1>1 - 10:20 AM PRESENT: ABSENT: Hr. Homer Royer, Chairman Mr. Curtis G. Barre ~Irs. Herbert E. (Helen) Diller Ms. Candace Gardner, Vice-Chairman ~frs. Arta Gates ~tt. George E. Harris ~fr. Fred Korosy Mr. Walter A. Krick Mrs. Ann Wickersham Hrs. Lucile Williams Mrs. Nancy Zussy, Library Director Dr. Georg Lowenstein (excused) GUESTS: Mr. Charles Finton, interested citizen Chairman Homer Royer called the meeting to order at 9:30 A~J. Mr. Royer distributed a working copy of a'recommendation from the Board to the City Commission regarding library facilities. He stated that the City Manager and the Mayor both encouraged the Board to make their recommendations beforc the Board adjourns for the summer months. Mr. Royer read the working copy and asked for discussion. Several changes were made in the working copy; a final copy will be prepared and distributed with the Board minutes. Mrs. Wickersham commended Mr. Royer for "a job well done." Mr. Barre presented figures based on his research concerning the size of proposed branch facilities for East Clearwater and Countryside. Mr. Bnrre compared the two facilities as follows: East Clearwater (Hunt site) Countryside 20,000 sq. ft. 14,000 sq. ft. =: =: 1.1 sq.ft. per registered voter 1.95 sq.ft. per registered voter Mr. Barre recommends increasing East Clearwater's square footage to 25,000 sq. ft. and decreasing Countryside's square footage to 9,000 sq.ft. giving 1.198 sq.ft. per registered voter and 1.25 sq.ft. per registered voter respectively. Mr. Barre is basing the Countryside area as that area north of Sunset Point Road. Mr. Royer noted that the East Clearwater area has very little construction underway, while Countryside is "totally alive" with building projects. l>~r. Barre noted that the City Manager stated that East Clean~ater is the fastest growing area in the City. Mrs. Zussy and Mr. Royer felt that the City Manager was refel'ring to both the East and Countryside areas as "east." Mrs. Zussy notcd that children arc not registered voters, and therefore, are not being counted in Mr. Barre's projections. Mr. Bnrre stated that there arc children allover the City for that matter. Mrs. Gates fecls that north of Sunset Point Road is not necessarily Countryside, and that many people use the Northeast Branch on Palmetto which is closer to Sunset Point Road. Mr. Barre's figures were based on Clearwater residents onlyj Mrs. Gates noted that non-residents also use the library faci Ii ties with payment of non-resident fees, and therefore should bc included. She feels all voters " c CLEARWATER PUBL.IC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1980 Page 2 must be counted. Mr. Royer reported that the Stnte Legislature is considering a law now that would make it easier for incorporated cities to annex enclaves; if that measure is passed, areas such as Top of the World could be incorporated, therefore changing service populations by several thousands of people. Mr. Royer feels that the recommendation currently before the Board states that the population figures should he restudied when the time comes to proceed with these library fnci 11 ties; he feels such an approach is better than trying to determine square footage at this time. Mrs. Diller suggested that a written definition is needed for "full service." She does not feel that providing a book for a patron in 24 hours from another library facility is full service. Discussion returned to Hr. Barre, as he still had the floor. Mr. Barre stated that Mr. Stierheim promised a library in East Clearwater when he was City Manager (approximately 6-7 years ago) and the City still has not built a library facility for that area. Mr. Barre feels the 20,000 square feet proposed is not adequate to meet the needs of the East Clearwater area, and asked Mrs. Zussy to reconsider 25,000 square fect. Mrs. Zussy stated that she cannot recommend what the square footage for either facility should be until she has seen the results of both the 1980 Census and a needs assessment survey which is planned next year by the Library staff. The needs assessment survey will better identify ,,,hat people want in their libraries. Mrs. Gites emphasized that the Board's recommendation asks that the City Commission make a careful restudy of population trends. Mrs. Wickersham noted that it will be the Library Board's job to fight for the needs of these areas when the Commission begins studying the population distribution. Mr. Korosy stated that the important thing to consider is the size of the facility that is best and.most efficient to give the people the service they need. ~fr. Barre concluded that he will be happy if the Commission will give the number of square footage commensurate with the population of East Clearwater. Mr. Royer (previous to the Board meeting) asked the Mayor if the Library Board should make 'a reconwendationt and if SOt should the Board stipulate the exact square footage. ~lr. Royer reported that the Mayor felt the Board should make a recommendation, but asked that the Bonrd not be inflexible as to square footage. He said the Commission wants to build to provide services adequate to meet the needs of the target populations for the two facilities, as determined by careful study. Mrs. Diller felt that the Library Board shOUld ask the Commission to consider a minimum of 25,000 square feet in the recommendation to the Commission. A number of other Board members opposed this idea. Mr. Barre felt that if a referendum is to pass, the citizens must be given something to vote for and asked that they be given more than what was offered in the last referendum. Mr. Royer did not favor taking square footage away from Countryside to give to the Hunt site because he is convinced that eventually Countryside will have as many people or more than East Clearwater. CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutes of the Meeting May 16 t 1980 Page 3 Hrs. Diller asked if buses are being proposed to deliver children downtown to attend classes and lectures. ~trs. Zussy said at the present time there arc approximately two such visits every three weeks at the Main Library. Mrs. Diller asked where the buses park; ~trs. Zussy said they park down in the lower parking area of Maas' parking lot. Mrs. Dill~r asked if buses would be used at the proposed East Clearwater facility. ~frs. Zussy said she assumes so, but the needs assessment survey would help determine whether that need exists. ~rrs. Diller feels that the space necessary for the children's programs should not be included in the East facility because it would cut down on space for readers. Mrs. Diller feels the East facility should be equal to the Main in regard to the number of books and shelves. ~frs. Zussy said she does not intend to exactly duplicate the ~fain Library at any other facl lity, since many books at the Main arc out-of-print and cannot be purchased. ~frs. Diller asked if the East Clearwater facility would contain a large children's area like the downtown facility. Mrs. Zussy explained that given population trends, the East facility could possibly have an area for children even larger than the downtown facili ty' s and that the Main Library I s chi ldren' s area might be scaled down proportionately. Mrs. Diller said that children could be bused downtown, but that East Clearwater wants books for readers more than they want a children's program area. Mrs. Diller said she wants all the same books at the East site as there are downtown. ~frs. Zussy again explained that many books cannot be duplicated and therefore there will not be the same number of books at either of the other facilities. Mrs. Zussy emphasized that the needs of that area would be served. Mrs. Zussy explained that stocking each facility with a full complement of books right away would cost millions of dollars. Mrs. Diller said that people would not know that books are available at the Main Library. Mrs. Zussy said that patrons can ask at the desk for those books to be delivered from the Main to the other facilities. Several Board members suggested the patron could ask a librarian, check the card catalog, or check by phone to locate books at another faciIi ty and that the patron could either travel immediately to the l--fain Library if his/her need is great, or request that the books he or she needs be brought to the nearest outlying facility. ~1r. Royer stated tha.t the size of the facility does not determine the quality of the services offered. Mrs. Gates said that we should not cut down on the younger generation for more shelves for adult readers, when we should be encouraging the younger generation to use the Library. ~frs. Diller again said that readers would not be aware of the total range of books available at the downtown facility. Again, Mrs. Zussy said patrons could ask the librarians to check to see what books are available. Mrs. Diller said that the reader would not be able to see the books and pick out the one that suits his need. Mrs. Diller said that if the reader has to go downtown to look at books, then his needs arc not bei~g served. ~fr. Krick remarked that the downtown facility is not that far from the other proposed facilities, if the patron wanted to look at more books on a subject. Mrs. Diller feels the ~lole purpose of a facility in East Clearwater is to avoid a trip downtown. Mrs. Diller continued to suggest that children should be bused to the downtown library for programs. She feels that space set aside for film programs for children cuts dmm on adult reader space. Several Doard members voiced II . "I, :'". :. <:>' \<. CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD ~finutes of the Meeting May 16, 1980 Page 4 disapproval of this idea, stating the East facility should serve children's needs as well as adults. ~frs. Diller does not think the proposed square footage is adequate for the Enst faci Ii ty to include children's programs. Mrs. Zussy pointed out that operating costs would triple if two facilities were built triplicating the Main Library's holdings; this could as much as double the taxpayers' total current property tax millage. Mr. Royer returned to ~rr. Barre's request for a statement of square footage in the Board's recommendation. Mr. Royer asked the Board to vote on the request: those in favor nuniliered two (Mr. Barre, Mrs. Diller); those in favor of keeping the generalized statement which does not specify square footage already in the recommendation numbered 8 (all other Board members present). ~Ir. Korosy moved that the Board adopt the recommendation as it has been changed; motion seconded by Mrs. Wickersham. There was no further discussion on this matter. The motion was approved unanimously. The final approved recommendation will be typed and distributed with the minutes. ~frs. Wickersham asked if'Mr. Royer would be presenting the reconnnendation to the Commission at a particular time, and if Library Board members should be present. Mr. Royer said he will notify members regarding this matter. Mrs. Diller asked that in the future the Board work together on formulating their recommendations in the form of a special subcommittee. Mr. Royer agr.eed with this idea. Mrs. Zussy reported on the move into the new quarters The move was completed during the week of May 12-191 1980. will reopen to the public on Monday, May 19th as planned. on the shelves; the elevators are working. of the Main Library. The Main Library All books will be Mr. Royer attended the annual Friends of the Library dinner (guest speaker Leonard Mosley) at the Clearwater Yacht Club. ~fr. Royer encouraged the Board and the Friends of the Library to work together for the needs of the Library. There will be no Board meetings for the summer months of June, July, and August. The September meeting will be held at City Hall, as Board members do not wish to pay for parking in the Library's parking lot. Mrs. Diller asked that the Board minutes reflect more clearly all the ideas and statements presented instead of being edited. TIle meeting was adjourned at 10:20 AM. Susan Doel, Secretary 28 May 1980 (.... -, "'c ,,~ . ,"' ...~- .' ~ " . ",,'~{K[~;:,~~; . /~ ~ _...~~/~\ l2:j(' ': f{' ~~ ,~. ~~ ~'~I ", :~~ \~' /~l'\ ..?'"~, "- _.~~/ --...?l TE\1-. ,.,1' ........ ,#,~,J' C I T Y J.IDRARY HOARD OF CLEARWATER POST OF"FICE BOX ..748 CL.EARWATER, FLORIDA 331518 O~~ICC Q~ l.'p"....n Ot".~TQ" ~ ' To The ~tembers of Clearwate'I' City Commission The Clearwater Library Board wishes to commend the City Commission for its commitment to the cultural arts in Clearwater as demonstrated by: (a) Prompt completion of the present beautiful addition to the Clearwater Main Library on Osceola Avenue as a first step toward a quality library services system for the City of Clearwater. . i " (b) By encouragement and support of the proposed new performing arts center (P.A.C.T.). (c) By your definitive statement in the City's FY 1979-80 Capital Improvement Budget to construct and furnish two additional library facilities in central and northeast C1earwater--the first to be funded in 1980-81. The, Library Board feels that 1980 is probably not a propitious year to attempt to float a General Obligation Bond Issue~ due to present economic conditions. This yeaT should. however. serve as a time of study. preparation and planning for this important project. The Board wishes to restate its strong recommendation that the Commission continue to proceed with all possible speed as soon as the next phase of the project does appear economically feasible. The Library Board approves of the recent real estate tradeJ which resulted in the acquisition of the Hunt site for a library facility, and feels that this site should be the location of the next library to be built. should the construction of both proposed facilities simultaneously not be possible. I The Library Board feels that each of the next two libraries must be able to offer a full range of library services. The buildings should be completely adequate to meet the needs and wishes of the areas they will serve. We also feel that at the time of developing and building the Hunt site librarYJ a definite commitment should be made to the Northeast ("Countryside") area as to a specific time frame for the library fad Ii ty for that area. The Library Board has spent considerable time in studying and analyzing alternative construction techniques and pre-engineered structures. We are not convinced of the wisdom of building such structures as compared with more traditional types of building methods, even though the cost may be less. , -4fM(1 ". .. . , , ," " ... . ' {". ." . -C , '., , . i , ...' '+ . '.~ - . ~,:.,.., c , , I < .' ~, / '... ~ ,.. Members of the Clearwater City Commission ; May 21, 1980 .1 Page 2 ~ We will be building for the future and anything built should be designed for long-term intensive use. However, the Commission may wish to consider this aspect of the project to ensure the best use of the taxpayers' dollars before making a final decision. 'j ~ ~f " The Library Board is convinced that the new library facilities must be fully adequate for the current and future needs of the areas they will serve. Since efficient library services reflect and enhance those needs and desires, the Board strongly suggests careful restudy of population trends, both in numbers and in composition, for both the current time and for the future. Anticipated land usages, zoning determinations, CUrTent and anticipated community needs, national and state library standards, standards of access by handicapped persons, and other requisite considerations should all be taken into account as guide lines for the planning of both libraries. Recognizing that the best designed facility is no more efficient or effective than the quality of the service package funded from it, we strongly urge that the City Commission continue its excellent support for library services with funds sufficient to ensure the high quality of service in the facilities which the citizens of Clearwater have come to expect and which they certainly deserve. f; I '1 ~, " -~ . I .' , '. II., , . \~ We appreciate the willingness of the present and recent Clearwater City Commissions to listen to and consider the opinions and recommendations of an advisory board such as we are. Be assured that we are not attempting to dictate pOlicy, but are a group of sincere and dedicated citizens attempting to keep in touch with the pulse of thel community, anticipate its educational and cultural needs, and recommend such action as will bring about that development. We consider it a privilege to serve you and the citizens of Clearwater. ~~ ,I Sincerely, J Homer Royer, Chairman Clearwater Public Library Board The above recommendation was unanimously passed by the L~brary Board at its official meeting on May 16, 1980. \ ~ " ,., t.' f I ~ " ., t . . ,I . t \ ?~;.;~,~'.;" .,' ~E~;':'..; , ';:". " ,; . ~', ~ ',I, C',4:. . C.' U ~'~~~;, '.' ~'~'.:,:,}i:~~\J{, .~:'" ',: ',I-'c ~~. . !:'~ .' <l,i:' ~'. . , (',.'. /.1, ,'-I ,/.~ ~: .;'. . r-:.,~ 1~;:, . ;-t' ~ . ,:,::,.:'.' ' :~ . T.'; I,., ~:t ,,), :~" ~'c \-.... K:;~~ ~" 4::;: i~{:: ~,.: i ,;. J.1~~j 't....~,',b'...',~.~. ", >.+.h.'~ ,"'.,;,; ~" . i~ li, L r L j I: ,\ )' ,. t'. '\I /. + '. .