02/07/2019 Library Board Meeting Minutes February 7, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 7, 2019
10:15 AM
Council Chambers - Main Library
Library Board
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City of Clearwater
Library Board Meeting Minutes February 7, 2019
Roll Call
Present 5 - Acting Chair Barbara Ann Murphey , Board Member Donna Dennis,
Board Member Elizabeth Folk, Board Member Rosemarie Kibitlewski,
and Board Member Kelly McLeay
Absent 2 - Chair David Loyd, and Vice Chair Barbara Blakely
Also Present - Jennifer L. Obermaier— Library Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board
Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Acting Chair called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve November 1, 2018 Library Board Minutes
Member Dennis moved to approve the minutes of the November
1, 2018 Library Board meeting as submitted in written
summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Election of Officers
Member Kibitlewski moved to reappoint David Loyd as Chair and
Barbara Blakely as Vice Chair. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
4.2 Discuss Future Library Closure for an Event Details
Library Director Jennifer Obermaier reported the Main Library would be
closed on March 2, 2019 for Wild Splash and all libraries would be closed on
April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday,.
4.3 Events Calendar
Ms. Obermaier said data was being migrated to the new user-friendly
library calendar which will replace current interactive programming and
events and room management software. The new calendar will
appear on the library's website and go live next week.
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Library Board Meeting Minutes February 7, 2019
4.4 Discuss Library Program
Ms. Obermaier said the Main Library will be open for Comic-Con on March
17, 2019 but library services will be shut down during the event, 2,000
participants attended last year. The Clearwater Arts Alliance recently
partnered with the Library to display local artists at the Main Library, an
event that aligned well with the library's Maker Studio.
4.5 Review the crafting of FY 19/20 Budget Season
Ms. Obermaier said the FY(Fiscal Year) 2019120 budget would be status
quo. The library was doing more outreach and pop up library events.
Some CIP (Capital Improvement Project) projects would be developed:
1) department van (prior to recession, the library had 2 vehicles) and
2) to benefit the community, a small 2— 3 day a week presence at Ross
Norton Recreation Center was being explored.
It was recommended that book pickups be scheduled at Ross Norton. It was
stated the proposal was an excellent idea.
Ms. Obermaier said recreation center hours were limited. Plans were for
some computers, programming and books, pickups could be requested. She
did not anticipate a need for additional staff.
4.6 Discuss FLA Award
Ms. Obermaier said the library was applying for the FLA (Florida Library
Association) Award based on its prison letter program for an underserved
population. The library responded to an average 80 letters a month from
incarcerated people with basic research questions. She said the program did
not take up much staff time and was growing.
5. Old Business Item
5.1 Discuss Current Main Library Renovations
Ms. Obermaier said all 4 restrooms were renovated with new countertops,
resealed floors, and new the on the walls. Installation of the new carpet
tiles went smoothly.
6. Director's Report
6.1 Discuss New Council Chambers
Ms. Obermaier said for the next 5 years, Meeting Rooms A & B would be
used for Council Chambers. Half the room could be used for library
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City of Clearwater
Library Board
Meeting Minutes February 7, 2019
events when meetings were not in session. The Chambers' location
increased the number of people who came through the library's doors
and provided an opportunity to engage the community.
Future Library Board meetings would be held in Chambers and may be
broadcast.
6.2 Discuss Career Online High School
Ms. Obermaier reviewed the countywide State funded Career Online High
School Program launched last September to offer adults an opportunity
to earn an accredited high school diploma. The Library promoted the
program in Clearwater Magazine and via word of mouth, traditional
media, and social media advertising. Staff was researching the cost of
post card outreach to nearby residents. The Library provided almost 10
scholarships; the State Library reserve granted 10 additional
scholarships that must be distributed by the end of March. Following a
pre assessment, staff interviewed applicants at the library and
determined if a scholarship would be granted. The program had 9
enrolled students and has had 12 inquiries. Depending on the number of
transferable credits, some students were almost complete when they
started the program. Academic help was available.
It was suggested board members spread the word.
6.3 Presentation on Library Foundation
Ms. Obermaier said the Library Foundation held its annual meeting in
January. The foundation continued to fund the part-time volunteer
coordinator position and special programs.
6.4 Present a Friends of the Library Update
Ms. Obermaier said the Friends of the Library book sale, scheduled for 4
days in March, will be impacted by the Chambers location in the meeting
rooms. Some books for sale will be set up in the cafe area.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
Attest 2
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Chair — Libra
Board iter
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City of Clearwater