02/04/2016 LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 4, 2016
Present: Chair Barbara Ann Murphey, Vice Chair Barbara Blakely, Board Member Rosalie G.
Murray, Board Member Judith McSwine, Board Member Paul F. Brown, Board Member
Elizabeth W. Folk
Absent: Board Member Rosemarie Kibitlewski
Also Present: Barbara Pickell — Library Director, Jennifer L. Obermaier—Assistant 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 November 5, 2015 Library Board meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member Blakely moved to approve the minutes of the November 5, 2015 Library Board meeting
as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3 —Citizens to be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4— Library Director's Reports
4.1. East Branch/SPC Joint-Use
Library Director Barbara Pickell said the 75% construction design for the East Branch/St.
Petersburg College Joint-Use library should be completed in 2 weeks.
4.2. Maker Space—The Studios at Main and Countryside
Ms. Pickell said the new Countryside Library was functioning well.
Ms. Pickell said the Main Library wanted to be a destination space, attracting people to visit the
library and also enjoy downtown. Once the play room is carpeted, new furniture and a boat,
commissioned for the space, will be installed. A younger children's play area was being
developed.
Ms. Pickell said the North Greenwood Library attracted many latchkey kids and nearby
preschool and private school students but was not overwhelmed with teenagers. Staff was
planning a contained activity space for children to enjoy after finishing their studies. Assistant
Library Director Jen Obermaier said the other branches also had increased numbers of after
school students.
Discussion ensued re maintaining germ free environments that were easily sanitized.
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4.3. NEH Grant— Community Heritage
Ms. Obermaier said the library was awarded a NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities)
Community Heritage grant to digitize local history stories. With most local history stored in area
homes, the project will encourage residents to share their histories with the world. Old family
movies and photos will be scanned and digitized. Participants will receive a copy of their
audio/video recordings. With participant permission, recordings will be posted to the Pinellas
memory website. An array of outreach methods will encourage residents to attend recording
events, to be scheduled at all branches. Although busy raising funds to establish South Ward
School as its headquarters and gathering its documents, the Clearwater Historical Society will
partner with the library to review materials obtained through the grant and help organize the
community's history. The board congratulated Librarian III Linda Rothstein for winning the grant.
Library staff will oversee volunteer efforts.
5— Unfinished Business
5.1. Centennial Anniversary of the library/celebration
Ms. Obermaier said staff had scheduled events for the library's yearlong Centennial Anniversary
celebration and continued to plan programs. A large turnout was anticipated for Garth Stein,
author of The Art of Racing in the Rain, at Countryside Library on March 13, 2016.
Ms. Obermaier said staff badges sported the Centennial design. Patrons could replace current
cards with the Centennial design for $1; new cards will feature the design this year.
Compliments were made re the "birthday cake" in the main lobby built by the volunteer
coordinator's family. It was stated books in the "cake" were attracting new visitors to the
bookstore.
Ms. Obermaier said a staff committee was coordinating an afterhours reunion with former staff
members to share stories and celebrate the Centennial. Staff was brainstorming for the main
Centennial celebration event on September 17, 2016.
6 — New Business
6.1. Election of Officers
Member Murray moved to appoint Paul Brown as Chair and reappoint Barbara Blakely as Vice
Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Legislative Session
Ms. Pickell encouraged members to contact their State and Federal representatives in support
of library funding. Rural libraries depend on state aid to remain open. Discussion ensued
regarding local legislators and the importance of contacting them personally, acting positive,
and thanking them for previous assistance.
7 — Reports
7.1. Library Foundation
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Ms. Pickell reported the Library Foundation had met its goal to raise $200,000 for the new
Countryside Library.
7.2. Friends of the Library
Member Murray said Friends of the Library raised between $35,000 and $45,000 annually for
library services and programs. She said the Friends advertised in a local paper the special sale
of 2 large donated Civil War collections; 9 tables of books sold within 90 minutes. She said
crowds of book vendors attended and second day visitors were disappointed.
Member Murray said the Friends agreed to raise $20,000 for the Countryside Library and
donated $10,000 so far, with $5,000 donations planned for this year and next. She said the
Friends' Volunteer Appreciation event on April 10, 2016 will honor the efforts of approximately
150 volunteers. She said many gift cards were donated for last year's event. It was commented
how well the Friends' treat library volunteers.
Member Murray said Friends will fund the internship program again this year.
Member McSwine reported the St. Petersburg League of Women Voters had scheduled
international women's rights advocate and Human Rights Watch researcher Nadya Khalife to
speak on February 20, 2016 at the Pinellas Park Public Library.
In response to a question, Ms. Pickell discussed charter amendments on the March ballot re the
Main Library and vicinity. She said the amendment to allow commercial use of the Main Library
probably would have little impact. The Library Foundation opposed a nontraditional use of the
library. She said the library was not part of the Charter Committee discussions and the library's
communication with the Foundation should have been better regarding this issue. She said
increased marina activity may attract more patrons to the Main Library.
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.
Next meeting will be on May 5, 2016 at 10:15
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Chair — Library Board
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