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04/20/2001LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER April 20, 2001 Present: Judy Melges Chair Tom Leavy Vice Chair Howard Adler Board Member Fred Dunn Board Member Glenn Garte Board Member Rhonda Smith Board Member Absent: Katherine Merriam Board Member Also Present: Linda Lange Library Division Manager Julie Lewis Foundation Executive Director Jan Nickols Community Services Librarian Susan Doel 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 Chair Melges reported that Member Katherine Merriam was hospitalized for an illness and is home recuperating. ITEM #2 – Approval of Minutes Member Glenn Garte moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 23, 2001 as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 – Library Director’s Report – Linda Lange, Division Manager Library Director John Szabo was in Nashville, Tennessee examining the new Nashville Public Library designed by the firm of Robert A. M. Stern and due to open in June. In Mr. Szabo’s absence, Library Division Manager Linda Lange provided the following report. Mr. Szabo is continuing to look for temporary quarters for Main Library during construction. Twenty-one construction management firms have been shortlisted to six. The final selection process will be completed in early May with a recommendation to the City Commission later in the month. Board members are encouraged to attend a press conference planned for May 9th at 10:00 a.m. at Harborview Center when Robert A. M. Stern will unveil the design for the new Main Library. The public will be invited. A presentation will be made to the Library Advisory Board at the May 18th Board meeting. Following two public meetings in May, the final design will be taken to the City Commission in June. Estimated start date for construction is March 2002. The City’s Development Review Committee has approved the site plan for the new North Greenwood Library. Groundbreaking for the new North Greenwood Library is estimated for late June or July, with a projected spring, 2002 opening. 2.5 additional staff has been requested in next year’s budget. Due to a grant requirement, Mr. Szabo is working on a restrictive covenants resolution for City Commission approval that guarantees the new North Greenwood Library facility remain a library building for twenty years. Mrs. Lange expressed Mr. Szabo’s thanks to Judy Melges and Fred Dunn for their attendance at Library Day in Tallahassee. ITEM #4 – Unfinished Business - None ITEM #5 – New Business Nomination of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson for Sept. – May 2001/02 With both Chair Melges and Vice Chair Leavy agreeing to be nominated for the same offices for the coming year 2001/02, Member Garte moved to accept the same slate of officers, Judy Melges as Chair and Tom Leavy as Vice Chair, for next year. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #6 – Reports Foundation Foundation Executive Director Julie Lewis reported that Jim Harper has agreed to be volunteer chair to raise $5 million for the Main Library campaign. A leadership committee of high profile, philanthropic individuals is being assembled to solicit funds. In addition to the Foundation’s public goal of $5 million, their private goal is to raise $2 million as an endowed fund controlled by the Board of Directors of the Foundation to provide funding for programs beyond the Library’s budget. Ms. Lewis reported Chair Melges has accepted the Chairmanship of the community phase of the campaign. Chair Melges stressed the importance of getting everyone in the community involved in this project. Chair Melges has also been hired as a part time Office Assistant for the Foundation. Friends In Member Katherine Merriam’s absence, Chair Melges reported the Friends are going to close the Main Library book store this summer due to volunteer staffing problems. Member Garte suggested using an honor system when volunteers are not on duty. ITEM #7 – Board Comments Vice Chair Leavy expressed concern about the poor binding of new books and asked if library binding is used. Mrs. Lange noted that library binding is expensive and not available on trade books. With multiple copies of books ordered, a volunteer mending staff does an outstanding job keeping materials in circulation. Chair Melges reported new Friends President Tony Bacon wants a major push for membership. Mr. Bacon will have membership forms at the next Board meeting for Board members, friends and relatives. ITEM #8 – Presentation: Jan Nickols – Clearwater Sun Archives Community Services Librarian Jan Nickols discussed the history of the Clearwater Sun until it ceased publication in 1990. The Hearst Corporation made a gift of the Clearwater Sun archives to the Clearwater Public Library System in 1991. Mrs. Nickols shared some famous headlines as well as interesting memorabilia and pictures from the archives. ITEM #9 – Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.