02/11/2005 - New Member Orientation
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 11, 2005
Present: Jan Regulski Chairperson
Elizabeth Drayer Member
Marilyn Garte Member
Clorinda Gilreath Member
Also Present: John Szabo Library Director
Holly Ausanio Administrative Analyst
The new member orientation commenced at 10:35 a.m. at the Main Library.
Library Director John Szabo welcomed new board membersElizabeth Drayer,
Marilyn Garte and Clorinda Gilreath.
Mr. Szabo presented each new member with a notebook and reviewed its
contents including Board Member Handbook, policies and ordinances, City and library
system organizational charts, and minutes and agendas of previous meetings. Mr.
Szabo also explained the purpose and general guidelines of the Sunshine Law.
In response to a question, Mr. Szabo stated the Library Board could make
recommendations to the City Council regarding library policies or any issues affecting
the library.
If a patron challenges the inclusion of an item in the collection and is not satisfied
with the Director’s response, it can be appealed to the Library Board, which will make a
recommendation.
Library Director John Szabo reviewed information about the Clearwater Public
Library System including location and size of the branch libraries, staff classification
responsibilities, size of the collection, computers offered to patrons, and other facets of
the library system.
Mr. Szabo stated the Clearwater Public Library System is the Federal
Government Documents Depository for the Ninth Congressional District. There are
several special collections including the Clearwater Sun archives and Leadership
Collection at the Main Library, Christine Wigfall Morris African-American Collection at
North Greenwood Branch Library, and the Wickman Nautical Collection at the Beach
Branch Library.
Library Director John Szabo reviewed funding sources including Pinellas Public
Library Cooperative funds, which come from taxes from unincorporated areas, and State
Aid funds.
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Mr. Szabo reviewed the purpose of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Florida
Library Association, Friends of the Clearwater Library and Clearwater Library
Foundation.
In response to a question, Library Director John Szabo stated allocation of
materials to branch libraries is based on the size and needs of each branch. The
materials budget is managed under centralized services and funds are spent centrally.
Responding to questions regarding the Beach Branch Library, Mr. Szabo stated
nd
the City Council approved a 5-year lease for 2 floor units at Pelican Walk Plaza. The
move into the space and the beginning of the lease is contingent on structural
improvements being made. They have not yet begun.
Library Director John Szabo stated meeting and event spaces are heavily used
at the Main Library, noting several special events that have occurred and other
successful library-sponsored programs
The work session adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
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