05/19/2000LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 19, 2000
Present: Judy Melges Chair
Glenn Garte Board Member
Katherine Merriam Board Member
Howard Adler Board Member
Absent: Tom Leavy Vice Chair
Rhonda Smith Board Member
Jill Perrino Board Member
Also Present: John Szabo Library Director
Juliet Lewis Foundation Executive Director Marsha McGrath Collection Development Manager
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 – Approval of Minutes
Member Glenn Garte moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 21, 2000, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
Member Howard Adler expressed his need to clarify his comment made at the February 18, 2000, Board Meeting under Item #7 - Board Comments in reference to suggesting questions be researched
by volunteers. Member Adler meant to say volunteers would assist the reference staff in researching questions, not replace them. Member Adler was absent from the March board meeting
when the February minutes were approved.
ITEM #3 – Library Director’s Report
a) Downtown Redevelopment/Main Library Referendum
Library Director John Szabo reported the City Commission approved a referendum to be held on July 11, 2000, with three questions addressing downtown redevelopment, bonding of money
for a new Main Library, and a land transfer between the City of Clearwater and Calvary Baptist Church.
Mr. Szabo discussed the proposed location of the new Main Library as part of a likely four-story building at the southwest corner of Drew Street and Osceola Avenue, if the redevelopment
plan is approved. Available funding of $15,000,000 will build 55,000
square feet of completed Library space on the second floor with 50,000 square feet of unfinished but designed Library space on the third floor. Retail/restaurant space and 10,000 square
feet of Library service/delivery area will fill 50,000 square feet on the first floor. City Hall offices, City Commission Chambers and meeting room space will complete the fourth floor.
Mr. Szabo noted the contracted library architect will be used for the Main Library building.
$4 to 5 million would need to be raised by the Foundation to complete the third floor shell for Library use. Foundation Executive Director Juliet Lewis noted the Foundation would hire
a capital campaign consultant who has the knowledge, experience, and intellect to create the structure for a capital campaign. Naming opportunities will be available for both the second
and third floor areas. Naming rights will not necessarily be tied to the cost of the room being furnished.
b) East/SPJC Joint Use Library
A proposed East/SPJC joint use library may be proposed as part of the St. Petersburg Junior College’s 2001 legislative package. In anticipation of that, Mr. Szabo visited the Broward
County/North Regional Library with City Manager Mike Roberto and City Commissioner Ed Hart on May 5. The next step will be Clearwater library staff meeting again with St. Petersburg
Junior College staff to resolve some issues, such as automation. A final proposal will likely be presented to the Clearwater City Commission for approval.
c) Legislative Issues
Mr. Szabo reported the Senate and House did approve $300,000 for the North Greenwood Library project. A bill requiring all libraries receiving State Aid to have Sunday hours died.
Clearwater did submit a new initiative for Sunday hours at the Countryside Library with the 2000-2001 operating budget. A decision on that new initiative request is not known at this
time. A second bill requiring all libraries receiving State Aid to filter the Internet did not make it to the floor before the Legislative session ended. This was good news for libraries.
d) New PPLC Headquarters
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative headquarters is now open at their new location at 1330 Cleveland Street. The Talking Book Library shares the same facility.
Mr. Szabo noted both Largo and Oldsmar would be looking at building new library facilities in the future.
ITEM #4 – Unfinished Business: None
ITEM #5 – New Business
Chair Melges asked if any Board members wished to change the Advisory Board meetings from 10:30 a.m. beginning in September when the Board resumes after summer adjournment. The Board
agreed to leave the meeting time at 10:30 a.m. If a situation arises during the summer, a special meeting may be called. The Board will be included in any informational mailings regarding
the upcoming referendum issues.
ITEM #6 – Reports
a) Foundation
Foundation Executive Director Julie Lewis reported the Cognoscenti Golf Tournament was quite a success, netting over $13,000 and reaching an entirely different group of people. Golfers
were extremely complimentary of the gifts presented to them. The Foundation Board would like to continue with the golf tournament next year in addition to the regular Cognoscenti Auction
and dinner. However, Ms. Lewis noted the possibility of a capital campaign may influence the direction the Foundation staff must focus.
b) Friends
Member Katherine Merriam reported the Friends Board is interested in participation by two students, one high school and one middle school from the Youth Advisory Council, on the Board
next year.
The Friends Scholarship Committee has received applications from Library staff for consideration for scholarship awards.
At this time, Library staff member Marsha McGrath gave a presentation of her duties as Collection Development Manager.
ITEM #7 – Board Comments
Member Adler questioned whether a patron’s social security number could be used when reserving a book on the new Polaris system, since the patron’s individual library card number contains
so many numbers. Mr. Szabo will inquire if the system can be programmed to require only the last part of the library card number, since the first part of the number is the same for
everyone.
ITEM #8 – Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.