11/03/2016 LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
November 3, 2016
Present: Chair Paul F. Brown, Vice Chair Barbara Blakely, Board Member Rosalie G. Murray,
Board Member Judith McSwine, Board Member Barbara Ann Murphey, Board Member
Rosemarie Kibitlewski
Absent: Board Member Elizabeth W. Folk
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 August 4, 2016 Library Board meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member Blakely moved to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2016 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
As a citizen, Chair Brown complimented Assistant Library Director Jennifer Obermaier's
presentation to the Citizens Academy and the tour that followed.
4 — Library Director's Reports
4.1 East Branch/SPC Joint-Use
Library Director Barbara Pickell said construction began on the East Branch Library. The current
branch will close after Thanksgiving 2017 for the move. The new branch library will open early
2018.
4.2 Facilities upgrades
Ms. Pickell said the North Greenwood Library soon will feature an educational play area. Main
Library upgrades will include: 1) smart televisions; 2) new technology with broadcast capabilities
in the meeting room; 3) new carpet squares; and 4) gates by 2nd and 3 d floor stairways. Staff
was working on a plan to also block access to 1 st floor library space when after hour events
occur. The public art piece, Centennial Oak, was installed in the courtyard.
Discussion ensued with comments that the new artwork was attractive and visitors stopped to
be photographed next to it, and a suggestion to station a reader under it..
4.3 Belleair Elem/South Greenwood partnership
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Ms. Pickell said Youth Services was leading a maker space reading and book discussion
activity every other week at Ross Norton Recreation Center for Belleair Elementary School
students and providing students with books, some bilingual, for their home libraries. Another
book bag, school supplies, and book giveaway was planned. Staff was working to improve the
library's relationship with the school, its students, and their families.
Ms. Pickell reviewed local efforts to provide books, school supplies, after-school tutoring, and
weekend meals to Belleair Elementary students. This large Hispanic community was not within
walking distance of a library; many parents worked multiple jobs and families lacked
transportation options. Staff outreached to parents, encouraging reading, and worked with the
Media Specialist to prepare educational packets for easy distribution to the students.
Discussion ensued regarding difficult circumstances faced by many of the school's students.
4.4 Staff Development Day Report
Ms. Pickell said all branch libraries were closed on Columbus Day for the annual mandatory
staff development day. Training included customer service and defusing disruptive situations.
4.5 Retirement Plans
Ms. Pickell announced her retirement from the City on January 20, 2017. The City Manager will
name her replacement. She recommended Assistant Library Director Jennifer Obermaier for the
position and reviewed her qualifications.
Consensus was to support appointment of Jennifer Obermaier as the next Library Director.
Ms. Pickell discussed library directors' efforts to manage the PPLC (Pinellas Public Library
Cooperative) and difficulties faced in providing consistent quality library services across the
County. Clearwater's materials were borrowed at a higher rate than any other library. Under a
pilot project, every participating library will have standing orders for the 100 most locally read
authors and will have new releases available on the same date. Most eBooks were purchased
through a countywide pool and the collection was shared throughout the County. Hillsborough
County's centralized library system was more efficient.
The difficulty of creating strong relationships between County libraries was noted. This year,
Belleair Shore withdrew from the PPLC.
Ms. Pickell said the Internet caused a dramatic decline in use of travel and medical books and
youth nonfiction. EBook use plateaued. Books on hobbies, self-help, biographies, knitting
patterns, and cooking remained popular. DVD, CD, and AV material circulation was strong.
5— Unfinished Business: None.
6 — New Business
6.1 Advisory Board report to Council
Members were invited to attend the Chair annual presentation of the Library Board's report to
the City Council at the December 15, 2016 meeting, which begins at 6:00 p.m. Suggested topics
included the new maker space, library staff efforts on behalf of the Historical Society, the
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Library's Centennial celebrations, downtown community outreach, programming for autistic
children and their families, the library's developing relationship with Belleair Elementary, and its
awareness of community needs and efforts to meet them.
6.2 Annual Plan of Service
Ms. Pickell distributed the Library's annual plan of service, which was budgeted and included
anticipated outcomes. More flexible and user - friendly space was planned for the Main Library.
The plan's format was complimented for its clarity.
7 — Reports
7.1 Library Foundation: None.
7.2 Friends of the Library
Member Murray, Friends of the Library Chair, said the group continued to receive thousands of
book donations. She said the Library Director submitted an annual budget request to Friends.
She reviewed programs and scholarships funded by the Friends' annual contribution of more
than $40,000.
8 — Board Comments
Members spoke with appreciation of Ms. Pickell's accomplishments as Library Director, thanked
her for her service, and wished her a happy retirement.
9 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Next meeting will be on February 2, 2017 at 10:15 a.m.
Chair — Library Board
Board Reporte
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