02/01/2018 LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 1, 2018
Present: Chair David Loyd, Vice Chair Barbara Blakely, Board Member Barbara Ann
Murphey, Board Member Donna Dennis
Absent: Board Member Elizabeth W. Folk, Board Member Rosemarie Kibitlewski, Board
Member Amy Wallon
Also Present: Jennifer L. Obermaier— Library Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board
Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m. at the Main Library. New Board
Member Donna Dennis introduced herself.
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 2, 2017 Library Board meeting as
submitted in written summation.
Member Murphey moved to approve the minutes of the November 2, 2017 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 Jennifer Obermaier said the college library was open. The City's
parking lot will be installed once the old library and administration building are razed.
Invitations will be sent for April's Grand Opening of East Community Library.
The East Library will close in late February, providing 6 weeks for the move and for staff
to transition to the new facility. The City Council had not determined the future of the
East Library property; it may be put up for bid/sale.
4.2 Imagine Clearwater
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Ms. Obermaier said the feasibility study to enhance uses of the Main Library was
underway. Last week the architects presented an ambitious scenario based on staff and
stakeholder input. After additional tweaks, the architects will meet with staff.
4.3 Maker Studio Grand Opening
Ms. Obermaier said last week's Grand Opening of the Main Library's Maker Studios
was well attended and attracted good media coverage.
4.4 Main Library Enhancements
Ms. Obermaier said Building & Maintenance was managing installation of carpet tiles,
which will occur in the spring or fall. Carpeting the 90,000 square-foot building will take
time and require moving furniture. In response to a question, she said technology had
improved and new carpeting was no longer problematic. It was stated new carpeting
was low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Ms. Obermaier said to close off portions of the library during special events, gates were
installed on the 2nd and 3rd floors near the stairway with CIP (Capital Improvement
Project) funds for alternative uses of the library.
Ms. Obermaier said Information Technology was managing installation of technical
upgrades to Meeting Rooms A & B. The 2 — 3 week project will begin mid-February.
4.5 North Greenwood Local History Project
Ms. Obermaier said as part of Black History month's celebration, the North Greenwood
Library would begin to capture the community's history using Heritage Studio equipment
that converted old photos, videos, and audio recordings to a shareable digital format.
4.6 Digitization Project
Ms. Obermaier said the systemwide preservation of local history was now possible at
the Heritage Studio on the 4t" floor. Studio equipment enabled residents to make
digitalized copies of their treasures, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, microfilm, 8 mm film,
and vinyl records. A genealogy component will be added.
FY (Fiscal Year) 2018/19 Budget
Ms. Obermaier said next year's budget would be status quo with no changes to funding
levels.
5 — Unfinished Business
PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative)
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In response to a question, Ms. Obermaier said the PPLC interlocal agreement was
expiring; revisions considered for the 10 -year renewal agreement included adopting the
State's funding formula. All PPLC member libraries had different budgets. State funds
also were used to support the Deaf Literary Center and other services.
Concern was expressed that Clearwater was not compensated adequately for loaning
more materials than other PPLC member libraries. Ms. Obermaier said early in this
year's Florida Legislature session, the Senate considered reducing State aid for
libraries. Rural libraries depended on the aid to stay open. The City has advocated
increasing State aid for many years. Publicity on the issue was recommended as
libraries were important to society. It was hoped Imagine Clearwater would identify
compatible uses at the Main Library, such as art shows, that would increase City library
revenues.
6 — New Business
6.1 Election of Officers
Member Murphey moved to reappoint David Loyd as Chair. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Murphey moved to reappoint Barbara Blakely as Vice Chair. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
7 — Reports
7.1 Library Foundation
Ms. Obermaier said Volunteer Coordinator Shauna Palmer had been hired.
7.2 Friends of the Library
Ms. Obermaier said the Friends of the Library Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event was
scheduled for April 8, 2018 at the Main Library. A Book Sale was scheduled in spring.
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
Attest: Chair — Library Board
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Bard Report
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