05/07/2015 LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 7, 2015
Present: Chair Barbara Ann Murphey, Board Member Rosalie G. Murray, Board Member Judith
McSwine, Board Member Paul F. Brown, Board Member Elizabeth W. Folk, Board Member
Rosemarie Kibitlewski
Absent: Vice Chair Barbara Blakely
Also Present: Barbara Pickell - Library Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - 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
2.1. Approve the minutes of the February 5, 2015 Library Board meeting as submitted in written
summation.
Member Brown 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 reviewed progress on the Countryside Library project and
anticipated the CO (Certificate of Occupancy) would be issued on August 7, 2015. The current
branch will close August 22, 2015. Branch staff will work at the Main and East libraries during the
move. Countryside's collection will be frozen. Patrons will be encouraged to use nearby libraries or
to hold materials until the new facility opens; Countryside will not have a book drop during closing.
The Library Foundation will acknowledge donors with a Night in the Stacks on October 3, 2015.
The Grand Opening is on October 17, 2015.
It was suggested that book marks with the closing/grand opening dates be distributed to
Countryside Library patrons prior to the closing.
4.2. East Branch/SPC Joint-Use
Ms. Pickell said St. Petersburg College requested minor changes to the interlocal agreements for
the East Branch/St. Petersburg College joint-use library. Staff is meeting with the architect and
college representatives. Issues being deliberated include funding, telecommunications, parking
lots, etc. The project should be completed in 2017. Having to rely on temporary patches until then
to continue operations at the 30-year old East Library will be difficult.
The two-story, joint-use library will be in front of the current library, which will be razed along with
the administration building. Administration functions, a large meeting room, computer labs and
learning centers will occupy the first floor. Space where people can work together may have
vending machines. Upstairs, the library will have two meeting rooms, separated collections, a
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children's area with computers in Clearwater's section, and shared space for circulation and
computers for student and public use. City and college staff will work together on reference and
circulation.
Disappointment was expressed that meeting space will be limited. Ms. Pickell said with high
square-foot construction costs, it was more important to invest in space for children than space for
public meetings.
4.3. Maker Space Movement
Ms. Pickell said the ULI (Urban Land Institute) project will fund maker space in the Main Library: 1)
2nd floor children's area - STEM, robotics, other activities and 2) 3 d floor - educational space, 3D
printers, video and audio recording space. Classes will be offered on a range of subjects, including
basic social media, starting a business, advertising on social networks, water color painting,jewelry
making, etc. The library does not want to compete with private businesses or Parks & Recreation
programs and will not charge for classes. Staff is developing partnerships with art groups and the
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and downtown entities re economic development that
emphasizes technology. The Library will use its expertise to organize programs and people to
administer them.
Ms. Pickell said the Library's proposed Fiscal Year 2015/16 budget increases operation hours and
includes a position to oversee maker space. The Council will finalize the budget in September.
PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) is the local recipient of State library money. Pinellas
County funds the City's book budget, which is almost 20% of the library's budget. The Library
budgets for programming; Friends of the Library also support programs.
Support was expressed for maker spaces. Concern was expressed that participants will need to
know in advance the cost of class supplies.
4.4. Centennial Anniversary of Library/Celebration
Ms. Pickell said based on Sunshine Laws, only one Library Board member can serve on the
Library's Centennial Committee; Vice Chair Blakely will represent the Board.
Member Murray said Friends of the Library will not publish a calendar. Members expressed interest
in organizing a historical collage, perhaps as a semi-permanent display on moveable panels.
Assistant Library Director Jen Obermaier said staff had suggested a display featuring Clearwater
Library through the years. It needs to be decided if the centennial anniversary will be a yearlong
celebration or one major event. The celebration's structure and incorporating branch libraries into
the event needs to be determined. A budget will be established.
Suggestions were made: 1) contact art groups for input re celebration ideas; 2) contact private
entities for sponsorships, especially businesses that expanded beyond Clearwater roots and
Scientology; 3) book popular author to attract people to library who are unfamiliar with the facility,
hold a meet and greet to raise money, and coordinate the appearance with the Festival of Books;
4) have fireworks cap the event; 5) schedule celebration for concentrated time rather than
spreading it out; 6) winter visitors will not be in town for the Library's September 26, 2016
anniversary date; and 7) branches could host mini centennial festivals for their local communities.
Ms. Pickell said a benefactor would be needed to fund an appearance by a famous author.
Televisions can be set up throughout the library for event viewing by overflow crowds. Traditionally
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women's clubs host luncheons featuring local authors. A spring concert in Coachman Park will
coincide with Fun 'n Sun.
4_5. Library Future Direction — ULI Report
Ms. Pickell said the ULI Report focused on downtown economic development and charged the
Main Library with creating space people want to frequent and partnering with economic
development interests. The bluff's long range plan will affect the library. The Comic -Com event
attracted about 1,200. This summer's SPARK event will introduce children to large scale robotics.
In response to a question, Ms. Pickell said the library is the only place some students have to go
after school; the library has computers available for homework assignments. Since the two closest
schools closed, the Main Library attracts few after - school students. East Library attracts some.
Students visiting the Countryside Library usually are accompanied by adults.
5 — Unfinished Business: None.
6 — New Business
6.1. Request from PPLC to provide presentation
Consensus was for PPLC Executive Director Cheryl Morales to address the Library Board on
August 6, 2015. Staff will determine if the board's August meeting can be scheduled at PPLC.
7 — Reports
7.1. Library Foundation
Ms. Pickell said Clearwater Library Foundation Executive Director Judy Melges is retiring. It was
stated that Ms. Melges usually worked full -time in the part-time position and recently oversaw a
major capital campaign mailing. Ms. Pickell reported the campaign raised more than $100,000 for
Countryside Library. The Foundation's Board of Directors will appoint a new Executive Director.
7.2. Friends of the Library
Member Murray reported the Friends of the Library presented a $10,000 donation to Countryside
Library. The second half of their commitment will be donated as they are able. Ms. Murray
reviewed summer programming, interns, and scholarships funded by the Friends. She said the
Mayor and Vice Mayor attended the Friends' annual meeting which recognized library volunteers;
local businesses donated more than $1,500 in gift cards. She said the Friends' April book sale
raised several thousand dollars.
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Next meeting on August 6, 2015 at 10:15 a.m. tentatively
Cooperative, 1330 Cleveland Street.
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