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11/21/1980 ti(r;~<,,<' .',. :d~"'; '\,c-:-.~,.. " .-/': '.,' ' , .. . " + , /' c . .',,: /,~. ':>:"',': ./~~!):~ . '.' " ,. .: ,), '~r , . . " '.'., , '. ~':'. ' " . ,\ ';\.: " , , ,", .'," , . ., ' ,., . . " -...'..... ,. .'. '" ':.' . n" " r', ,,,v,,",,~ .,. ..,',....... .....'. '.,..' ".,~. . . LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES . . DATE nlJ!/.tltl~" ~ 19p() '$--/ L/O 3 I ,. . '. -:: :;.~.:: "t:'""r' ". c .." H' . . '" CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES OF WE MEETING 21 NOVBtBER 1980 Mayor's Conference Room 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM PRESENT: ABSENT: Mr. Homer Royer, Chairman Mr. Curtis G. Barre Mrs. Herbert E. (Helen) Diller Miss Fredericka Dixon, student 'ex-officio Ms. Candace Gardner, Vice-Chairman Mrs. Arta Gates Mr. George E. Harris Mr. Fred Korosy Dr. Georg Lowenstein Mrs. Ann Wickersham Mrs. Lucile Williams Mr. James Davis, Acting for Library Director Mr. Walter A. Krick (excused) Mrs. Nancy Zussy (excused) ,> Chairman Homer Royer called the meeting to order at 9:30 AM. The Board discussed the procedure for replacing Board members whose terms have expired. It was noted that names could be submitted to the City Manager or City Commissionerst and that additional names of interested persons are always needed. James Davis presented a staff report on the Library Dedication Ceremony on October 19, 1980. Board members offered their comments. The general feeling was that the ceremony was well attended and that the proceedings went well. Mr. Royer introduced and welcomed to the Board Fredericka Dixon, a Clearwater High School senior, as the new student ex-officio member recently appointed to the Board. Mr. Davis reported on the on-going events at the Main Library. He also reported on the staff's findings on the use of volunteers to staff libraries in the absence of adequate funding. Although this option offers advantages in salary savings and promotes good public relations) the disadvantages include insurance coverage in case of accident) no leverage with absences) and the fact that once volunteers take the place of permanent employees, City officials are often reluctant to replace volumteers with needed permanent positions. The Library must therefore De cautious when using volunteers in place of regular employees. Dr. Lowenstein noted that volunteers are used in the biggest libraries and that individual volunteers must be excluded if they cannot follow strict rules and perform under stated regulations. (His earlier request was intended to use volunteers to help staff future branches rather than existing facUi ties.) Nrs. Wickersham agreed that this could be explored if necessary. Mrs. Di lIer remarked that the Library Director wants the "greatest budget possible;" that she doesn't necessarily want volunteers. Mrs. \~ickersham suggested the Library Director would want the greatest amount of service for the communi ty rather than the greatest budget. , " . , .' -. CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Minutcs of the Meeting November 2l, 1980 Page,2 Mrs. Diller stressed that "the greatcst budget is very important to all the people who operate a particular system within the municipal budget." Mr. Royer statcd that the Board would discuss the matter of voluntcers later, since there aTC no proposed branch facilities to staff as yet. Concerning the Howard Johnson~s Restaurant building on Cleaniater Beach, Mr. Royer pointed out that the City Conunission will advertise for bids on the lease for the building. If the lease goes for too high a charge, the Beach Chamber of Commerce may not be interested; thercfore the small Chamber office in the r-femorial Civic Center would not be vacated. However, Mrs. Zussy has informed the Parks and Recreation Director, Ream Wilsont that the Board is interested in expanding the Beach Branch into that space, should it become available. Regarding the upcoming City Conunission election, Mr. Royer stated that the Board can question candidates and express their concerns regarding library service and expansion. Mrs. Diller noted that the Mayor spoke of future "Twigs" for library expansion; the Board is not in favor of any more "Twigs." Mrs. Gates suggcsted the Board should ask the City Commission to go for an election on a bond issue for this coming year because of escalating construction costs. Mr. Barre moved that this Board propose to tho City Manager, the Mayor, and the City Commission of this City that a 22tOOO square foot full-service library be constructed on the so-called Hunt site on Drew Street as the fi.rst step in the library extension program of this City. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harris. Discussion on the motion included concerns that the Board is not qualified to determine the size of the branch facilities; that size should be determined by professionals and the City Commission. Several Board members felt the motion lacked. background information as to why such a motion is being made. Mr. Barre remarked that he is assuming the Board is familiar with the statistics he has given in the past. Mrs. Diller noted tllat east Clearwater has the most people, the most readers, and the most school children; therefore that is where the greatest need for a full-service library exists. She feels the Board should disband if it isn~t qualified to recommend the size of a library at a site. Several Board members felt the motion should state a "minimum of 22,000 square feet." Mrs. Wickersham expressed concern that nothing is said about the Countryside Branch in the motion and felt the Board should not support one section of the City over another section. She also felt the Board should not express specific square footage because thc Board does not have the final decision-making powers in that matter. Mrs. Gates noted that the motion states that it is the first step in library extension; therefore including Countryside. She also remarked that during Board meetings the proposed square footage for the east branch is dropping gradually while the square footage for Countryside is increasing. She feels the people in cast Clearwater have asked for a library for years and have never gotten one. Therefore they don't want the square footage lowered any more. ~Irs. Diller asked for a vote on the motion. 1be motion WaS re-worded to say that this Board propose to the Ci ty ~fanager, the Mayor, and the Ci ty Commission of this City that a minimum of 22,000 squarc feet full-service library bc constructed >::-,~ ~-:'.. ,,' , "'y~<:i;::'":>'". .<..,.."". ..,....,.t<.... ,- t '.' ,'" .,",.,. .', ,'''' l .,. ," > " ..',1' 'c CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD Ninutes. of the t-recting November 2l, 1980 Page 3 on the so-called Hunt site on Drcw Street as the first step in the library extension program of the City. The motion carried by a vote of 7 to 2. , Mr. Royer noted that onc segment of a community can defeat a bond issue, and Countryside could defeat a bond issue,on this motion. Mrs. Diller felt that Countryside would be delighted that a full-service library would be in east Clearwater. Mrs. Gates noted that when bonds would be sold, the first would be for the east site and the later bonds for Countryside; therefore the bond issue would be for both sections. Mr. Barre asked that a hip or tile roof be used for branch libraries rather than a flat asphalt roof to prevent leaking. Regarding county library service progress, Mr. Royer stated that, according to a County Commissiont it may be possible under the new Charter to contract for library services for certain areas of the county that are not receiving library service now except on a fee basis, although service may have to come as the result of a request by people in these areas. Mrs. Wickersham reported that a county library service committee (chaired by Barbara Skubish) met last week and formed a six member steering committee to make a listing of options availablc to provide library service to county residents. TIle steering committee will meet again in January to present this list to the larger committee. Mr. Royer suggested exploring terms of financing for library expansion at the next meeting. Board members unanimously agreed not to meet in December because of the hOlidays. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM. Susan Doel, Secretary ~'~:/'::1;~:~': ~ ~ . < >' . ......1.. " ~,....... .'". . , 'J;":"~~'~ , ~rf!~~J~~: '; !.. ,. ;~<',~.""T' .' . " .... /. '1" :. .. ,.' ~ ,. . ~ . ~. . '+.< .' , .r .\. \, ,. ~ ..,." l.'~~ . ,," ::./ !~ :~>.:i ;'nJo.. ~:". :'.: , .1.. . :'~~;"",""'r.t"':-~'l: "t....'i'.~. /~..:..~ \;:.~.'.~. .. ,\.~. '..,':. " . . .' ~:J:;>\j~:M;I. ., . u.. r!.I. + i ~,.v'ih... , :' '\~ :"'~ .:t.; :,': ":;!C'~':):I:,,~:':::~jC: :i~' . :~~T:.~ :. $. ,~., " :":. ,. ,.\ " .\ ,., ., " . .. r'>' .~ ;':', i.e, L ,', ~ ~ ,~..,".'\~' .-.' " ll~~JL ~~ 1\' ("~ " .