02/07/2013LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 7, 2013
Present: Judith McSwine
Mary van Weezel
Rosalie G. Murray
Judith Blanton
Barbara Ann Murphey
Barbara Blakely
Absent: Paul F. Brown
Also Present: Barbara Pickell
Patricia O. Sullivan
Chair
Vice -Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Library Director
Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2 — Approval of Minutes — November 1, 2012
Member Murphey moved to approve the minutes of the November 1, 2012, Library
Board meeting, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
3 — Library Director's Reports
2.1. Countrvside expansion
Library Director Barbara Pickell said the City Council has not reached a decision
regarding the construction or rehabilitation of the Countryside branch library.
2.2. East Branch landscaping
Ms. Pickell reported the East Branch landscaping project is complete and thanked
former Mayor Rita Garvey for her generous contribution to the project.
2.3. East Branch /SPC joint use
Ms. Pickell said the joint -use East Branch /St. Petersburg College Library project is
moving forward though neither the City Council nor St. Petersburg College Board of Directors
has approved the project. A City /College committee will review the 13 responses to the
college's RFP (Request for Proposals) and choose an architect. The architect's role includes
providing sufficient information for the City and College to move forward with separate
agreements on projects costs and library operations. Ms. Pickell discussed operations at other
St. Petersburg College joint -use libraries and anticipated challenges to manage separate
automation and material classification systems and to mesh the dissimilar needs of the
communities to be served.
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It was felt the concept is exciting but will take a significant amount of hard work to
achieve.
2.4. Main Library courtyard
Ms. Pickell said all permits for the courtyard have been issued. The DDB (Downtown
Development Board) purchased six dolphins and will display in the courtyard the one themed
Where the Wild Things Are.
2.5. Reference renovation
Ms. Pickell reviewed plans to renovate the Main Library's reference area and add study
room space where small groups can meet and work collaboratively.
It was recommended that the library support literacy tutoring.
2.6. Amnesty program
Ms. Pickell said the amnesty program during November and December was a huge
success; almost 6,000 food items were donated to the food pantry. Amnesty applied only to
fines, not to losses. With their accounts cleared, many families and their children were able to
reconnect with the library and again check out items. The loss of fines was estimated at $2,700.
The program was complimented as a way for the library to reclaim its materials and
reengage with families.
2.7. E- content in libraries
Ms. Pickell reported the countywide collection has approximately 8,500 eBooks. The
American Library Association is working on issues related to the unwillingness of major book
publishers to provide libraries with eBooks; some restrict circulation, charge triple costs, or do
not sell them at all. While the Douglas County, Colorado library is able to download eBooks to
its server and then lend them to patrons, associated computer equipment costs are high. That
library also connects its patrons to Smashwords, which provides self publishing tools.
Clearwater Library card holders can download three songs per week and soon will be
able to access the 100 most popular downloadable magazines via computer, smartphone, or
tablet.
4 —Unfinished Business
It was reported the current PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) agreement
expires in September. Discussion ensued regarding equity issues related to adding the East
Lake Library to the new agreement. It was stated that the fund distribution formula needs to be
updated; smaller libraries did not build their collections as anticipated when originally awarded a
larger share of the funds. It was recommended that funding to Clearwater should be increased
as the City provides more services than it receives and supports the largest collection.
5 — New Business: None.
6 — Reports
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5.1. Library Foundation: None.
5.2. Friends of the Library
Friends of the Library Representative Rosalie Murray reported the Friends of the Library
book sale is scheduled for March 21 — 23, 2013. She requested help with set up on March 20.
Former Mayor Rita Garvey encouraged residents to shop at the Friends of the Library
Book Store which has newly stocked jewelry.
7 - Board Comments:
Member Blanton reported she did not seek reappointment; today is her last meeting.
Members thanked her for her service to the board.
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:33 a.m.
The next meeting will be on May 2, 2013
IA
Chair U
Library Board
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