01/17/1997 (2)
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Date
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LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 17, 1997
Present: Marshall Bennett
Estelle Dunn
Joanne Laurenti
Christine Morris
Dr. Arlita Hallam
Susan Hackett
Dr. David Berry
Fred Dunn
F,
Absent: Wilbert Bacon
Tom Leavy
Thalia Kelsey
Judy Melges
Dr. William Raffaniello
2 vacant seats
Attending Board members and two guests
between 6:10 am and 7:00 am on Friday, January 17,
FL, to tour the Leon County Public Library.
Member
Member
Member
Member
Library Director
Acting Board Reporter
Former Board Member
Former Board Member
Chair
Member
Member
Member
Member
were picked up by Dr. Arlita Hallam
1997, to travel by van to Tallahassee,
Board members and Dr. Hallam discussed the current vacancies on the Library
Advisory Board.
Discussion followed concerning two possible sites for a Main Library in Clearwater:
a? the bluff site where the present Main Library sits or immediately next to
Harborview Center
b) the East end property Jold Annex site) at the corner of Cleveland St. and
Missouri Ave.
Two members favored the bluff site and two members favored the East end property.
Pros and cons of both sites were discussed.
Board members stopped for lunch at 11:30 am before arriving at the Leon County
Public Library at 1:00 pm.
Helen Moeller, Director of the Leon County Public Library, greeted the Clearwater
group. She introduced Andrew Welch of Welch & Ward Architects, Inc., designer of the
Main Library, anal Leonard Gray, project manager for construction of the building. Ms.
Moeller led the group on a complete tour of the library building. Dr. Hallam took pictures to
be developed into slides for future presentation to Board members unable to attend the field
trip.
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01/17/47
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1]
Specific areas within the library building that have proved to be problems for staff or
were perceived as possible problems by some members of the Clearwater group are:
a) stationary, circular public service desks which can never be
moved
b) location of circulation desk too far removed from entrancelexit
doors (security problem)
c) atrium with curved staircase located in the center of all floors,
limiting direct access to materials across the room
d) noise from a wooden play area in children's area
e) numerous staff work areas located around the perimeter of the
building posing security problems
f) two separate entrance/exit areas servicing two different street
accesses (duplicate security gates)
g) access to administrative office area from public staircase
without good visibility from inside the offices
The following were of particular interest to the group:
( I'D
a) sound baffles used throughout the building on walls for limiting
noise are also used to display art work from local schools; art
displays are also mounted on 3-fold wood panels covered with
carpeting
b) shelving ranges were numbered
c) staff work rooms were away from public view but close enough
for quick response to staffing needs
d) meeting rooms were located near the entrance with separate
hallway for use after hours
e) f=riends' giftshop (called Friendshop) offered new gifts for sale as
well as used books
The tour ended with questions and answers. Members of the Clearwater group left
the Leon County Public Library at 4:00 pm to return to Clearwater. During the trip to
Clearwater, members discussed visiting other libraries similar in size to the proposed new
Main Library for Clearwater.
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01/17/97
M1• r :Members returned to Clearwater by 10:00 pm.
Chair
Library Advisory Board