08/07/2014 LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 7, 2014
Present: Chair Judith McSwine, Vice-Chair Mary van Weezel, Board Member Rosalie G.
Murray, Board Member Barbara Ann Murphey, Board Member Paul F. Brown, Board Member
Barbara Blakely, Board Member Elizabeth W. Folk
Also Present: Barbara Pickell - Library Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
Acting Chair Blakely 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
2.1. Approve the minutes of the February 6, 2014 Library Board meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member Murphey moved to approve Item 2.1. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3 —Citizens to be Heard re Items Not the Agenda: None.
4— Library Director's Reports
4.1. Countryside Expansion
Library Director Barbara Pickell said funding for construction of the Countryside Library was on
that night's City Council agenda. At recent Council meetings, a library patron objected to the
new location. The City did its due diligence to gather public feedback; this patron did not attend
any of those public meetings. The majority of the public supported the park location.
Chair McSwine, representing the Library Board, and Board Member Murray, representing
Friends of the Library, will participate in the library's August 29, 2014 groundbreaking. An
equipment rodeo also is planned. The library should be completed in September 2015; the
current library building will close next August.
Discussion ensued regarding benefits of the new location and the multiple opportunities the
public had to comment on the project.
4.2. East Branch/SPC Joint-Use
Ms. Pickell said she and Board Member Murphey served on the 11-person selection board that
reviewed the proposals and chose the four most qualified contractors for the joint-use library
project. The City Manager and college principal will make the final selection tomorrow.
The 30-year interlocal agreement between the City and college re the creation and funding of
the joint-use library structure was under final review. It will be possible to close off the City and
college sections. The City wants some control over shared meeting rooms. Study rooms are
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planned. The shared joint-participation space will house City and college staff, library
computers, and the circulation area; this section will be open during all library hours.
The operating agreement will be a separate document. A co-management model was proposed.
In response to questions, Ms. Pickell said a cafe was being considered. The children's area will
be in the City's section. The building will be closer to Drew Street than the college's current
library. The parking lot at the corner of Drew and Old Coachman Road will be designated for
library parking; parking may be a problem. The collections and circulation will remain separate.
City and college library patrons already have borrowing privileges at both libraries. In response
to a recommendation that library catalogs be integrated for research purposes, Ms. Pickell said
the college shares its catalog with other Florida public colleges and universities. Staff will report
re ability of City library patrons to order interlibrary loans from other colleges.
The Board complimented Ms. Pickell's efforts.
5— Unfinished Business: None.
6 — New Business: None.
7 — Reports
7.1. Library Foundation: None.
7.2. Friends of the Library
Board Member Murray said the Friends of the Library earns several thousand dollars a month
from sales at bookstores in five City libraries to support library activities. Ms. Pickell said the
new Countryside Library will have a shelved area inside the front door for Friends of the Library.
Staff collects money for bookstore purchases when Friends' volunteers are not present.
Board Member Murray said the October book sale was scheduled for October 22—25, 2014.
Board Member Murray discussed the Friend's summer intern program. Ms. Pickell said summer
interns and teen volunteers facilitated training sessions for parents at the Countryside Library on
computer applications, such as Pinterest and Instagram. Staff planned additional sessions.
Items not on the Agenda
Ms. Pickell discussed challenges re installation of the sorting machine and return book slot in
the Main Library lobby. A wide, deep trench was necessary for installation of computer conduit.
Special precautions were recommended if rebar is exposed during trenching. Ms. Pickell
anticipated the project would be completed within 6 weeks; an alarm will sound when
unchecked material is carried through the new gates. Branch gates were working.
In response to a question, Ms. Pickell discussed local efforts on behalf of the homeless. The
library removed soft seating and limited wall outlet access to the atrium and upper level desks.
People have a legal right to be in the library when doing library-related activities and acting
appropriately.
In response to a question, Ms. Pickell said Calls to Artists would be released soon for public art
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at the Main and Countryside libraries.
Ms. Pickell said groups have requested extending hours for City swimming pools and libraries.
The City Council scheduled a discussion on reinstating some services cut during the economic
downturn.
Consensus was to agenda a discussion re library hours at the November meeting. Ms. Pickell
will provide information re current hours and staff recommendations.
Ms. Pickell reviewed summer programming and said the science program was popular with
children and all branches experienced outstanding usage. Zumba classes at the Main and East
libraries are popular and free.
It was stated a Florida Orchestra program coordinated with libraries introduces children to
musical instruments.
Ms. Pickell said staff wanted to start an adult summer reading program but needed a successful
formula. It was noted many residents leave town during summer. It was suggested staff contact
book groups for input.
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:26 a.m.
Next meeting will be on November 6, 2014 at 10:15 a.m.
4
Ch
Library Board
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