04/21/2000LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 21, 2000
Present: Judy Melges Chair
Tom Leavy Vice Chair
Katherine Merriam Board Member
Glenn Garte Board Member
Howard Adler Board Member
Rhonda Smith Board Member
Absent: Jill Perrino Board Member
Also Present: David Frisbie Renaissance Partners
John Szabo Library Director
Juliet Lewis Foundation Executive Director
Susan Hackett Administrative Analyst
Chair Judy Melges called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #1 – Welcome
ITEM #2 – Downtown Development Update
David Frisbie of Renaissance Partners summarized the preliminary plans for the downtown development project from citizen input. Town meetings have been scheduled over three days, April
27, 28, and 29, 2000, at Harborview Center for the presentation of these preliminary plans. A referendum is scheduled for July 11, 2000. To assist in promoting the project, the developers
will, in effect, run a political campaign with mailings, pins, etc., to encourage people to vote.
If the referendum passes, the following six months will be spent on working drawings and plans. Construction of phase one, which includes the Main Library, should take place in 2001.
Discussion followed on the size and funding available for the Main Library. When asked if the original building plan would be upgraded to accommodate the additional population anticipated
with the new downtown development, Library Director John Szabo responded that available funding at this time is not enough to build the square footage in the original building plan.
ITEM #3 – Approval of Minutes
Member Glenn Garte moved to approved the minutes of the regular meeting of March 17, 2000, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #4 – Library Director’s Report
Clearwater Writer’s Workshop
Mr. Szabo reported the Clearwater Writer’s Workshop on April 1, 2000 at
Harborview Center was an astonishing success, netting $1,250. The Library hopes to repeat this event next year and possibly host a screenwriting workshop in the fall.
“Open a Book. Change a Life.” Family Literacy Grant
The Clearwater Public Library submitted an LSTA grant through the State
Library of Florida in the amount of $77,000 for staff and operating expenses targeting at-risk families in Clearwater. The project emphasizes reading to small children, but also contains
an adult literacy component and a small ESL (English as a second language) component. Grant award notification is expected in July.
Staff Changes
Mr. Szabo distributed a revised organization chart for the library system and
mentioned that Holly May and Linda Hamrell have switched places to return to former positions each of them held in the past. Holly is now a cataloger in Technical Services, and Linda
is now branch manager at the Beach Library.
Legislative Update
The North Greenwood Library construction grant is funded in both the
House and Senate at $300,000. After final notification is received at the end of legislative session, the project will be brought to the City Commission. Construction should begin
in January, 2001, with completion during the summer, 2001.
New Initiatives in Budget
Mr. Szabo reported three new initiatives were submitted with the Library’s
operating budget requests for fiscal year 2000/2001:
Additional staff for North Greenwood Library (3 full time staff);
Sunday hours at Countryside Library (4 part time staff);
Technology Training Coordinator (1 full time staff).
Pinellas Public Library Cooperative
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative and PSTA have published a joint
brochure, “Take the Bus to the Books”, promoting library programs and bus routes to area libraries. The Cooperative office has moved from Largo to 1330 Cleveland Street in Clearwater.
ITEM #5 – Unfinished Business: None
ITEM #6 – New Business
Chair Melges received a letter from City Manager Mike Roberto stating the Main Library is a high priority project, the size of the Main Library will be determined by available funding,
and the City is committed that funding now available for a new Main Library will remain available for that project.
ITEM #7 – Reports
Foundation
Foundation Executive Director Julie Lewis reported David Frisbie spoke at the
Foundation’s annual meeting on April 20. The Foundation received $1,200 from an auction bid on Indianapolis 500 tickets, and a $1,000 charitable contribution from the Reading Is Fundamental
contest winner. Ms. Lewis reminded the Board of the Cognoscenti Golf Tournament and dinner on May 12, 2000.
Friends
Chair Melges noted the Friends of the Clearwater Library will begin their
scholarship award program in the next few months. A total of $2,000 will be divided among deserving library staff applicants in a four year degree program, and a $1,000 Althea Andersen
scholarship will be awarded to one graduate school recipient. The Friends would like to recognize recipients at a City Commission meeting. A number of current library staff, several
of whom are now in professional positions, have benefited from Friends scholarships in the past.
ITEM #8 – Board Comments
Member Howard Adler requested that library staff attend Board meetings in the future and explain their qualifications.
ITEM #9 – Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.