01/18/1985LIBRARY BOARD
MINUTES
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CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
MINUTES OF THE MEE'T'ING
18 JANUARY 1985
Clearwater Public Library
9.30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.
PRESENT: ABSENT:
Mr. Pate Hutchens, Chairman Mrs. Herbert E. (Helen) Diller (excused)
Mr. Frank Barnicle Mrs. Ann Wickersham (excused)
Mrs. Susan Hyman Mrs. Linda Mielke, ex-officio (excused)
Mr. Fred Korosy Mr. C. Melvin Douglass (excused)
Mr. Bernard Panush
GUESTS:
Ms. Margot Pequignot
Mr. Theodore Serrill Mrs. Carolyn Moore, CPL Staff
Mrs. Faye Sollid Mrs. Linda Lange, CPL Staff
Mrs. Diane Vollbracht
Mrs. Lucile Williams
Chairman Pate Hutchens called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. The
minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
New members to the Library Board were welcomed: Mrs. Susan Hyman
and Mr. Bernard Panush. Mr. C. Melvin Douglass was also recently appointed
to the Board but was out of town.
The first order of business was the election of officers for the next
year. Mr. Hutchens stated that Susan Doel has already agreed to serve as
Secretary. The floor was opened for nominations for Chairperson.
Mrs. Williams nominated Mr. Hutchens, seconded by Mr. Korosy. Mr. Barnicle
moved that nominations be closed, seconded by Mrs. Sollid. Mr. Hutchens
was unanimously appointed Chairperson. The floor was then opened for
nominations for Vice-Chairperson. Mr. Korosy nominated Mr. Barnicle,
seconded by Mrs. Williams. Nis. Pequignot moved that nominations be closed,
seconded by Mr. Korosy. Mr. Barnicle was unanimously appointed Vice-Chairperson.
Mr. Hutchens reported on a recent memo from City Attorney Tom Bustin
regarding voting conflicts by advisory board members. A new law does not
allow an advisory board member with a conflict of interest to vote. Prior
to this law, an advisory hoard member could choose to vote or abstain on
potential conflicts. Mr. Hutchens suggested copies of this memo be mailed
to each Board member with the minutes.
In discussing the recent vagrancy incident at the Main Library, Mrs. Moore
reported to the Board that the Clearwater Police Department is responding very
quickly to calls for assistance.
CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
Minutes of the Meeting January 18, 1985
Page 2
Mr. Hutchens asked Mrs. Moore to present a program on Intellectual
Freedom to the Board at the February meeting. Mrs. Moore will discuss
how materials are selected and what guidelines are provided for libraries
to achieve a balanced collection.
Mrs. Moore outlined the elements in the Librarians' Task Force Plan
for library service, and discussed Clearwater's approach to the
Plan. The Librarians' Task Force Plan establishes a voluntary cooperative
public library network in participating municipalities and county government.
The Plan elements are as follows:
1. Governance: legal entity governed by a committee of
library directors and representatives from
unincorporated areas.
CLEARIVATER OBJECTIONS: the governance represents
a lack of strong, centralized leadership for
long-range planning. 'T'here is also a question
of whether the structure as outlined by the
Plan is legal.
2. Funding: each municipality would budget funds as always;
the County in addition would collect $9.41 per
capita from unincorporated people and redistribute
the funds according to local appropriations by
percentage.
CLEARWATER OBJECTIONS: Clearwater residents would
be paying $13.87 per capita while unincorporated
people would be paying only $5.37 back to Clearwater
for library service.
3. Construction: there were no plans provided for construction in
the Plan.
CLEARWATER OBJECTIONS: with no facilities in the
North County area (the growth area) Clearwater
feels at least two buildings must be provided for
to cleviate some of the impact on the Clearwater
Public Library System.
4. Computerization: mentioned in the Plan in very vague terms.
CLEARWATER OBJECTIONS: Clearwater has taken a major
leadership role in automation with circulation,
cataloging, and acquisitions systems. The 'T'ask
Force Plan does not take into consideration the
computer as a tool for unity in resource sharing.
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CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
Minutes of the Meeting January 18, 1985
Page 3
Clearwater's approach is a step-by-step approach to cooperation,
starting with a special Palm Harbor library district and resulting in
a contract with Clearwater for service. The Council of Mayors decided
to support the Librarians' Task Force Plan in concept at their January
meeting after presentations from the librarians for the Task Force Plan
and Clearwater approach by Linda Mielke. Mrs. Mielke then met with
the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation and presented Clearwater's
approach on January 17, 1985. The Delegation will meet together in
February to decide what bills to submit.
There was discussion on this issue and questions asked on the
following subjects: other opposition to the Task, Force Plan from
other libraries; funding for the Palm Harbor Library; State Aid to
participating libraries; and County Commissioners' participation in
this issue. Mr. Panush asked that documentation on this issue be
supplied to each Board member. Mr. Hutchens encouraged the Board's
input on this matter to present to Linda Mielke, A few Board members
asked if the City Commission had asked for the Library Board's opinion
on this matter.
There was discussion on what changes would occur in the day-to-day
operation of the Clearwater Public Library System if the cooperative system
were approved, such as availability of materials, re-alignment of jobs,
possibility of a Countryside branch.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Susan Doel, Secretary