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11/07/2019 Library Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2019 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 tl e Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 7, 2019 10:15 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Library Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Library Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2019 Roll Call Present 6 - Chair David Loyd, Board Member Barbara Ann Murphey , Board Member Donna Dennis, Board Member Elizabeth Folk, Board Member Rosemarie Kibitlewski, and Board Member Kelly McLeay Absent 1 - Vice Chair Barbara Blakely Also Present - Jennifer L. Obermaier— Library Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter 1. Call To Order The 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 Approval of August 1, 2019 Library Board Minutes s Member Dennis moved to approve the minutes of the August 1, 2019 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 Provide 2020 Schedule of Library Board Meetings Library Director Jennifer Obermaier reviewed the 2020 Library Board meeting schedule: February 6, May 7, and August 6. After the meeting, the November meeting was rescheduled to October 29 due to a scheduling conflict in Chambers. 4.2 Discuss Library Closures Ms. Obermaier said on November 27 and December 24 and 31, 2019 the Beach Library will close all day and other City libraries will close at 2:00 p.m. All library branches will close on November 11, 28 and 29 and December 25, 2019 and January 1 and 20, 2020. 4.3 Discuss CRA Funding for Maker Studio FY19/20 Ms. Obermaier thanked the CRA's (Community Redevelopment Agency's) continued support of the library's Maker Studio for FY(Fiscal Year) 2019/20. The $97,000 contribution will fund a full-time programming Page 2 City of Clearwater Library Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2019 specialist, part-time intern, equipment and services. The CRA did not fund the discovery arts and heritage studios. 4.4 Discuss Heritage Studio Main Library Ms. Obermaier said reservations for Heritage Studio equipment increased from 192 last year to 1,612 in FY 2018/19. The library added additional stations, computers, and hard and software. Use of the audio/visual studio also increased. In response to a question, Ms. Obermaier said the library had partnered with the Clearwater Historical Society to digitize its materials and Clearwater High School yearbooks and post them on the web. The library was actively searching for historic photos and articles to scan and post. 4.5 Discuss Food for Fines/Fine Amnesty Ms. Obermaier said the staff driven food drive benefited RCS (Religious Community Services). For approximately 6 years, patrons have been able to clear their library card fines by donating nonperishable food items between Thanksgiving week and Christmas. The City Manager approved this year's fine amnesty for fines, not charges for lost and damaged library materials. Library fines, capped at$10, generated money for the General Fund not the library. It was suggested the library consider discontinuing fines as the cost to collect and record them is greater than their value. It was stated the national trend was to cease charging library fines as many counties determined that collection costs were not worth the effort. 4.6 Discuss FY19/20 Library Budget Ms. Obermaier said the City Council strongly supported the library and approved the status quo budget which was increased by 6% due to merit increases. The PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) advocated an increase in State aid that has remained stagnant for years. 4.7 Discuss Classification and Compensation Study Ms. Obermaier reviewed the yearlong Citywide Classification and Compensation Study approved by City Council. Some job titles were changed. Some staff received pay increases. Job descriptions will be updated next month. 5. Director's Report 5.1 Update Library Foundation Page 3 City of Clearwater Library Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2019 Ms. Obermaier said the Library Foundation had canceled its Mark Twain Storytelling fundraiser at Ruth Eckerd Hall due to poor ticket sales. Concern was expressed that marketing efforts for the fundraiser could have been improved. Concern was expressed that Library Board members, who were potential attendees and may have encouraged others to attend, did not receive invitations. Ms. Obermaier said the library was grateful for the foundation's support which funded the part-time volunteer coordinator who did a great job managing and recruiting library volunteers. 5.2 Update Friends of the Clearwater Library Ms. Obermaier said the Friends of the Library held its fall book sale last week. A local bookstore closed and donated 150 boxes of books. The Friends donated remaining books to the Salvation Army. In response to a question, Mr. Obermaier said Friends reviewed donated materials for gems which they looked up on Amazon to determine value. Friends received a portion of the sale price of books sold through World Books. A fewdonations were added to the library's collection. 6. Old Business Item 6.1 Discuss Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) Countywide Development Day Ms. Obermaier said the library typically scheduled staff development on Columbus Day. This year on that date, the PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) held a countywide development day which attracted 350 attendees. The event provided a great opportunity for countywide library staffs to meet. The $20 registration fee covered breakfast and lunch. She complimented City Library staffs presentation of 4 programs. Future PPLC development days may be scheduled annually or biannually. 6.2 Discuss Imagine Clearwater Main Library Renovation Ms. Obermaier said elevations of Main Library renovations were displayed on easels by the front door. The project manager and architect met twice a month to discuss preliminary plans. City Council approval was necessary for staffs selection of Skanska as the contractor for Imagine Clearwater construction at Coachman Park and the Main Library. Ms. Obermaier was confident that library renovations could be done in phases and would begin in 2020. Public meetings in December were listed on the City's website to review up to date Imagine Clearwater plans. Page 4 City of Clearwater Library Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2019 6.3 Update Career Online High School Ms. Obermaier said the legislature had not approved $750, 000 in funding to continue the career online high school program. The library was evaluating funding sources to purchase $1,200 scholarships and pay a platform fee; no decision had been made to move forward with the program. In support, the Florida Library Association was including program funding in next year's advocacy packet. Ms. Obermaier said 7 Clearwater participants had completed the program and 8 were at least 70% finished. Staff was encouraging 4 or 5 students to continue the program. Students had to complete their studies by March 2020. A March graduation ceremony was being planned for those who had completed at least 90% of the program. Discussion ensued with disappointment expressed that the small amount of funding had not been renewed. Board members were encouraged to send letters and emails to the legislature advocating for the program which positively impacted the community. It was stated that correspondence on specific issues was effective. It was suggested a letter from the library board body may be constructive. It was suggested that board efforts be coordinated with other library boards. In response to a question, Ms. Obermaier reviewed library efforts to market the program, which also permitted students to be certified in fields of study. In February, library and PPLC staff and library representatives will travel to Tallahassee to meet with as many legislators and aides as possible to advocate an increase in State aid to libraries. 7. Board Members to be Heard 8. Adjourn Board members shared good wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m. /61 W,/* Attest: / Chair — LFSrary Board oard Repo City of Clearwater Page 5