05/17/2002LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 17, 2002
Present: Judy Melges Chair
Howard Adler Board Member
Frederick Dunn Board Member
Glenn Garte Board Member
Katherine Merriam Board Member
Absent: Tom Leavy Board Member
Rhonda Smith Board Member
Also Present: Laurel Gustafson Assistant Library Director
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 welcomed Assistant Library Director Laurel Gustafson attending in the absence of Library Director John Szabo.
ITEM #2 – Minutes
Member Katherine Merriam moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 15, 2002 (regular meeting of April 19, 2002 was cancelled due to Main Library move). The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 – Library Director’s Report
Main Library Relocation
Mrs. Gustafson reported the Main Library relocation process went smoothly
with much assistance from library staff, Friends, City staff, and movers. Staff and patrons are getting acclimated in the temporary building at 121 N. Osceola Avenue.
Main Library Project Update
The Main Library construction project in on schedule. Demolition scheduled
to begin on May 20th at 8:00 a.m. will take several weeks to complete. An excavating machine with grapple will begin in the southwest corner of the building near the entrance. Media
coverage is anticipated. A formal groundbreaking is set for Friday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. Mrs. Gustafson thanked both the Clearwater Library Foundation and Friends of the Clearwater
Library for their work on the groundbreaking celebration.
Member Glenn Garte volunteered to clean some of the salvaged Carnegie Library bricks when the cleaning process begins.
North Greenwood Library Project Update
Mrs. Gustafson reported in addition to the poured foundation, structural steel
is now in place on the North Greenwood Library site. Blocks, roof and drywall will occur in the next 10 to 12 weeks. This project is on schedule.
ITEM #4 – Unfinished Business
Chair Melges discussed a letter directed to all City Advisory Boards from Mayor Brian Aungst expressing disappointment in attendance at the annual Advisory Board Recognition Dinner.
Chair Melges noted that the Library Advisory Board was well represented at this event with only one member absent. In response to Mayor Aungst’s request for suggestions to improve
attendance, Board members suggested the following:
present a video of new City projects;
offer a “state of the city” speech, addressing the City’s plan for the coming year;
provide a quick overview of responsibilities with highlights from a select number of boards each year which may encourage members to lend service to other boards in the future;
refrain from any public reference to religion (invocation).
Chair Melges will include these suggestions in a letter to Mayor Aungst.
ITEM #5 – New Business
Nomination of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson for 2002/03
Member Garte moved the Board keep the same slate for Chairperson and
Vice-Chairperson for 2002/03, namely Judy Melges and Tom Leavy respectively. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Meeting Location
Board members agreed to meet at the temporary Main Library for all future
Board meetings.
ITEM #6 – Reports
Foundation
Chair Melges reported the Foundation is undergoing significant changes now
and more are forthcoming. The primary consideration will be raising funds for the capital campaign, with a commitment to raise $5 million to enhance the 90,000 square foot new Main
Library. At this time pledges and donations total more than half of the $5 million commitment. Through the tremendous work of Rita Garvey, garage sale proceeds totaled almost $8,000.
Foundation budget restructuring will eliminate the Executive Director position on May 31, 2002. Tribute/memorial funds will move forward. The North Greenwood Library brick campaign
will continue.
Friends
Member Merriam reported Dr. Pat Bauer from the University of South
Florida’s School of Library and Information Science gave a presentation on scholarships to the Friends Board on May 9th. The Friends have contributed $25,000 to the Main Library’s capital
campaign and $5,000 to the North Greenwood Library project. Member Merriam commented there are approximately 118,000 items housed in the temporary Main Library and approximately 96,000
items in storage.
ITEM #7 – Board Comments
Chair Melges noted the “Fairwell to Main Library” on April 28th was a nice event attended by 150-175 people. Refreshments and music by disc jockey were provided.
Mrs. Gustafson clarified that a $115,000 bequest from the Field Estate left to the City of Clearwater for the benefit of the Library will be held in abeyance for the Main Library project.
Members of the Field family were Beach Library patrons.
The Library Advisory Board will adjourn for the summer months of June, July, and August, resuming on September 20, 2002 at Main Library. Member Garte requested a monthly update to
Board members during the summer.
Vice Chair Tom Leavy arrived directly from vacation at 11:15 a.m.
ITEM #8 - Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.