01/16/2004
..
.
.
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 16, 2004
Present:
Judy Melges
Tom Leavy
Howard Adler
Frederick Dunn
Katherine Merriam
Glenn Garte
Chair
Vice Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Absent:
Jan Regulski
Board Member
Also Present:
John Szabo
Susan Doel
Library Director
Administrative Analyst
Chair Judy Melges called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. at the Main
Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #1 - Welcome
ITEM #2 - Minutes
Member Katherine Merriam moved to approve the minutes of the November
21, 2003 meeting as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Library Director's Report
Library Director John Szabo gave the following report:
a) Main Library Project Update
Some of the latest work completed includes carpet, lighting, and door lock
installations. Work is ongoing with the installation of pavers and welding of the
trellis on the rooftop terrace. Both the architect and contractor have completed
their portion of the punch list. The owner's punch list will be completed in an all-
day session next week. Metal shelving to accommodate the entire collection will
begin arriving the following week. Turner Construction will be off site by the end of
February. Furnishings including soft seating, lounge chairs, side chairs, computer
chairs, children's seating, and 320 custom wooden end panels for the metal
shelving are on order following Commission approval.
Library Advisory 2004-116
1
1/16/04
.
.
.
A Request for Proposal for an operations agreement for the cafe is being
finalized. Interested parties for the cafe operation should contact Assistant Library
Director Laurel Gustafson.
The move into new Main Library will take place in March. Mr. Szabo
expects to announce a grand opening date very soon. Robert A.M. Stern sent
copies of his most recent book of architectural projects from 1998 to 2003, which
includes renderings of the new Main Library.
Board members discussed the use of the rooftop terrace.
b) Staff Changes
Mr. Szabo announced recent professional staff additions and promotions.
c) ILL Team
A three-member team at Main Library responsible for processing Interlibrary
Loans along with other duties was recognized with a bimonthly Team Award from
the City of Clearwater.
d) Beach Branch Library
Mr. Szabo noted that negotiations for a Beach Branch Library lease continue.
The owner has stated his willingness to reinforce a second floor space with the
intention of leasing that larger, less expensive space to the City for the branch
library.
ITEM #4 - Unfinished Business
a) USA PATRIOT Act
Member Glenn Garte retracted his objection voiced several months ago on
the issue of supporting the American Library Association's position on the USA
PATRIOT Act.
After much discussion, Member Fred Dunn moved that the Board support the
resolutions adopted by the American Library Association Council on January 29,
2003. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #5 - New Business
Vice Chair Tom Leavy asked if the Library's mystery books could be
separated from general fiction into one section. Mr. Szabo explained that there are
two schools of thought on that issue: 1) shelve everything in fiction by genre, i.e.
Westerns, Romance, Horror, Fantasy, etc., or 2) file everything together as fiction
so that readers will be introduced to other authors and genres as they browse, as
well as the fact that some books are a combination of more than one genre making
Library Advisory 2004-116
2
1/16/04
.
.
.
it difficult to separate. Clearwater currently shelves paperback fiction titles by
genre, but not hardback titles.
Member Garte asked if the May 21, 2004 Board meeting could be
rescheduled one week earlier to May 14. Board members agreed to reschedule.
ITEM # 6 - Reports
a) Foundation
Chair Melges reported a First Night in the Stacks event is being planned
along with a new all men's cookbook entitled First Night in the Stacks Served by
Men In Black. The Light Your Library campaign continues to be successful.
b) Friends
Chair Melges commented that the Friends Holiday Gala on December 11 th at
the Carlouel Yacht Club was well attended.
ITEM #7 - Board Comments
Member Adler reported that Hospice of the Florida Suncoast is building a
library and thanked Mr. Szabo for working to get other Pinellas libraries to establish
links to Hospice. Clearwater established a link several months ago.
ITEM #8 - Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11 :50 a.m.
Attest:
A~~'
Library Advisory 2004-116
3
1/16/04