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01/18/2002LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER January 18, 2002 Present: Tom Leavy Vice Chair Howard Adler Board Member Frederick Dunn Board Member Katherine Merriam Board Member Rhonda Smith Board Member Absent: Judy Melges Chair Glenn Garte Board Member Also Present: John Szabo Library Director Susan Doel Administrative Analyst In the absence of Chair Judy Melges, Vice Chair Tom Leavy called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. at the East Library. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #1 - Welcome ITEM #2 – Minutes Member Katherine Merriam moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 16, 2001 as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 – Library Director’s Report Library Director John Szabo announced the appointments of Kathy Dort, Division Manager beginning January 28, 2002, and Laurel Gustafson, Assistant Library Director beginning February 11, 2002. Main Library Project Update Mr. Szabo reported the design development drawings are completed. Construction documents are scheduled to begin. Demolition is currently scheduled for April with construction beginning in May. After renovations in February, Main Library will move into the Colliers Arnold Building in March with the use of a professional moving company with experience in moving libraries. North Greenwood Library Project Update Mr. Szabo noted a pre-construction meeting was held January 14. Construction should begin soon with completion projected around the end of 2002. Privatization of Public Libraries Serving as Chair of Florida Library Association’s Legislative Committee, Mr. Szabo reported that privatization of public libraries is being debated in Tallahassee. The Florida Library Association and several unions oppose privatization. Only five libraries in the nation are currently privatized. ITEM #4 – Unfinished Business Mr. Szabo answered Board questions from the November meeting on the following issues: 1) TBLC Tampa Bay Library Consortium is an organization that receives grant and state funding and acts as facilitator of reciprocal borrowing. TBLC provides continuing education courses for librarians and paraprofessionals; many are technology related. TBLC is responsible for the e-book project initiative and maintains SUNLINE, an online catalog. Time capsule Mr. Szabo is not aware of plans for a time capsule. Plaques and historical materials will be displayed in a prominent way in the new Main Library. Every effort will be made to locate and preserve the cornerstone of the original Carnegie Library. Main Library groundbreaking Mr. Szabo anticipates there will be a formal ceremonial groundbreaking in May. Computer System in Main Library There are no plans currently to acquire a new online computer system for the new library. Assistant Library Director Laurel Gustafson will be responsible for resolving existing problems with the current system. Discussions are underway on issues of cabling, lap top plug-ins, and the computer lab for the new Main Library. Viewing Clearwater’s online collection from other libraries and vice versa Mr. Szabo reported Clearwater will soon join Alleycat (anywhere, anytime library) maintained by TBLC. This service will enable patrons to use one database to look at all holdings of area libraries and initiate a request for materials. Use of terms “reference” and “information” in library service Mr. Szabo explained that these terms are often interchangeable in libraries; however, the Information Desk is often a source for general and directional information rather than research assistance. The new Main Library will have a service desk on the first floor and a desk on the third floor in the Reference area. Future location of Answer Center The Answer Center is a service of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative funded by State Aid dollars and started when libraries could not afford expensive database resources. It is currently housed in the Main Library. There will be space in the temporary facility. Member Howard Adler suggested he would like to see volunteers with degrees, though not necessarily in Library Science, working at the reference desk under staff supervision. ITEM #5 – New Business Mr. Szabo discussed an idea brought up at the last Friends Board meeting to name the new North Greenwood Branch Library after Christine Morris, former Librarian for that facility, former Library Advisory Board Chair, and long-time volunteer. This would be an exception to the existing city policy that library facilities be named after function or location only. Mr. Szabo commented that library managers felt there were other opportunities to give recognition to Mrs. Morris other than naming the building, such as naming the African American Collection. Mr. Szabo reported that he had discussed the idea with City Manager Bill Horne and that Mr. Horne saw no compelling reason to alter or make exception to the policy. Mr. Szabo did emphasize that he, library managers, and Mr. Horne believed Christine Morris’ contribution to the library certainly warranted significant recognition; e.g. the African American Collection. Vice Chair Leavy noted that Christine Morris served on the Library Advisory Board when the existing naming policy was recommended. Member Fred Dunn moved to name the North Greenwood Library after Christine Morris, the person whose experience with that library has been critical to its success. The motion was duly seconded. After discussion, Members Merriam and Dunn voted “Aye”; Members Leavy, Adler, and Smith voted “Nay.” Motion failed. Member Dunn moved that Christine Morris should be clearly recognized in the new North Greenwood Branch Library. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #6 – Reports Foundation The Foundation is continuing work on raising $5 million for the new Main Library. Bricks are being sold for $35 for the new North Greenwood Library. Friends The Friends are aggressively working on their membership drive. Mary Jo Melone is guest speaker at the Friends’ Winter Luncheon at Harborview Center on Friday, February 22, 2002. Susan Doel is accepting reservations. Member Merriam noted the Friends have scheduled several authors to speak at the Countryside Library in the next few months. ITEM #7 – Board Comments At this time, Mr. Szabo reviewed the floor plans of the new Main Library and noted Board comments. ITEM #8 – Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.