05/06/2021 Library Board Meeting Minutes May 6, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 6, 2021
10:15 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Library Board
Page 1
City of Clearwater
Library Board Meeting Minutes May 6, 2021
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Donna Dennis, Vice Chair Kelly McLeay, Board Member
Barbara Ann Murphey, Board Member Rosemarie Kibitlewski, Board
Member Helen Amburgey, and Board Member Timothy Promen
Absent 1 - Board Member Andrew Lorenti
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 February 4, 2021, Library Board Minutes
Member Kibitlewski moved to approve the minutes of the February 4,
2021 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
Councilmember Kathleen Beckman introduced herself and thanked the
board for serving. She said she was present to listen and learn.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Main Library Redesign
Library Director Jennifer Obermaier said in December the City Council
removed Main Library renovations from Imagine Clearwater. There was an
opportunity to reimagine and redesign the library which was built in 2004 as
a traditional library. Staff was working with a design consultant to make the
space more versatile and functional with more seating areas and small
meeting spaces as requested by the community. The main focus was to
reactivate the 1st floor, the 3rd floor also will be redesigned. Once the cost
estimate is submitted, staff will present the plan to City management and
then to City Council.
In response to questions, Ms. Obermaier said the board could help by
supporting renovations. Staff is evaluating the bookstore which cannot be
expanded but possibly could be relocated to the cafe area, the
partnership with the school board for the cafe had ended. Friends of the
Page 2
City of Clearwater
Library Board Meeting Minutes May 6, 2021
Library have resumed accepting donations for future book sales and
to restock their bookstores. When available, the redesign plans will be
distributed to the board.
4.2 Maker Studio Enhancements
Ms. Obermaier said a special budget funds the Maker Studios which
require constant enhancements, new items and upgrades, especially for
tech based equipment. The library's Maker Studios are very popular.
4.3 Robotics Team Sponsorship
Ms. Obermaier said for the past few years the Library has sponsored a
middle school robotics team in support of STEM curriculum. The team
worked hard. Due to COVID, last week's national competition was held
virtually, the Library's team won 1st place and will compete internationally.
Most team competitors were from Clearwater.
It was stated the City should honor the team.
4.4 Clearwater Sun Photograph Negatives
Ms. Obermaier said a Library priority is to preserve local history. The
Library owns the rights to Clearwater Sun's photograph negatives and is
digitizing the collection. The Library will send its collection of 130,000
photograph negatives of Clearwater and Pinellas County history out to be
digitized. The Beta catalog will list all available information for each photo;
the many photos without information will be included. Images of Pinellas
County memories will be available online. Staff is working with the
Clearwater Historical Society to reach out and obtain historical photos and
documents and Clearwater and Pinellas County yearbooks to digitize.
Heritage Studio visitors can digitize their own materials for free. The
Library continues to offer a popular free service digitizing patrons'films,
photos, etc.
4.5 Summer Reading Program
Ms. Obermaier said the Summer Reading Program begins in mid-June
and will be held virtually due to COVID, the Library has hired presenters
for virtual programs. Participants can visit the library to register for an
online program using a new software program that will create custom online
tasks for reading program participants and issue badges.
In response to a question, Ms. Obermaier said CDC guidelines were
changing; all day cleaning of the facility continued. Programming was fluid
and the library was reopening in stages. Some furniture had been returned
Page 3
City of Clearwater
Library Board Meeting Minutes May 6, 2021
to public spaces and staff was contemplating bringing out some toys. It
was hard to plan, but she anticipated inhouse programming, volunteer
participation and normal hours would begin in September.
Ms. Obermaier said the Library was partnering with the Suncoast Animal
League for the summer program "Tails and Tales." The Library will serve
as a collection site for animal shelter donations, a list of needed items was
available.
4.6 Online tutorials for library databases and electronic resources
Item 4.6 was continued to the August meeting.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Discuss Library Operations and Programming
Ms. Obermaier said the Library had stopped closing for one hour midday
and stopped quarantining library returns. Patrons were not required to wear
masks. The Library continued to operate in a virtual environment but
hoped to open fully in September. She complimented staff for developing
creative educational programs for the Library's YouTube channel.
Staff was commended for their hard work providing Library services during
the pandemic while keeping patrons safe.
6. Director's Report
6.1 Update Library Foundation
Ms. Obermaier said the Library Foundation was not meeting in person
but continued to communicate virtually. The Foundation was planning this
year's backpack giveaway. During the last few years, the Foundation
distributed 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and free books
each year before school opened. The program will be held during the
first week in August.
6.2 Update Friends of the Clearwater Library
Rita Garvey with Friends of the Clearwater Library said the organization
had been unable to do programs during the pandemic and was waiting until
members could meet in person again. She said donations were being
accepted but due to social distancing requirements, only the Countryside
and East Community libraries were able to sell books. She said sales of Civil
War books had been popular in the past and Friends was considering
making more of them available in the bookstore for a few hours a day.
Page 4
City of Clearwater
Library Board Meeting Minutes May 6, 2021
7. Board Members to be Heard
In response to questions, Ms. Obermaier said the Library partners with
the Literacy Council of Upper Pinellas for English for Speakers of Other
Languages programs. Previously, the Library hosted a language cafe but
sessions have been virtual during the pandemic. COVID vaccine access
information was available on the City's website; staff has helped several
patrons register online for vaccines. She encouraged the board to support
the PPLC (Pinellas Public Library Cooperative) proposal to eliminate
overdue fines countywide when it is presented to the City Council in
September. Next year's budget will be more detailed by September.
The Board welcomed Member Timothy Promen who provided a summary of
his background.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.
Chair— Library Board
Attest:
Board Reporter
Page 5
City of Clearwater