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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Minutes: 01/16/20CALL TO ORDER — Chair Barbara Delphey called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. in the Library Conference room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Trustee Janet HasBrouck ROLL CALL: Chair Barbara Delphey, Trustees Miriam Carter, Janet HasBrouck, Elizabeth Renfrew, and Alice Wang; Director of Library & Museum Services Darlene Bradley (Secretary); Library Services Manager Roger Hiles. REPORTS FROM LIBRARY TRUSTEES / LIAISONS Chair Delphey announced that a special Friend's half-price Book Sale would be held on April 20, and also that the Friends are sponsoring two Classical Kaleidoscope concerts this year. Trustee HasBrouck expressed thanks for the updated policy manual binders the Board has received. Trustee Wang reported that the Arcadia Chinese Association would be holding a gala on January 18 to raise funds to renovate the Trask Boy Scout camp in Monrovia. REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTOR Announcements/Statements/Reports Director's Update: Director Bradley stated that the new caseworker for the homeless would be starting work next week, and will be working at the Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. Director Bradley also reported that the Mayor's Breakfast will be held on February 21, the first of the year's classical concerts will be on March 11, and that the City's Silver Circle event will be on March 12. She also announced that the Cay Mortenson auditorium will be used as a Voting Center during the upcoming California Primary election from February 29 through March 3. Monthly Statistical Report: November and December 2019: Director Bradley noted that the gate count is down from last year, though circulation is up slightly, and shelving numbers are up due to an ongoing weeding project that pulls some books from the shelves for evaluation by staff. A corrected version of the November Statistical Report was distributed at the meeting. The corrected October report will be distributed at the next Library Board meeting. Monthly Report Narrative: November/December 2019: Chair Delphey commented that the Smart Squad sounded like a good idea. Trustee Renfrew added that the teens build up their own interpersonal skills by helping others. Chair Delphey asked for an update on the Chinese club, and Director Bradley stated it was being run as a class through the Community Services and Recreation Department, adding that the Library will again start up its bilingual Chinese/English storytime on January 27. Trustee Renfrew asked if the Library likes the new demonstration landscaping in front of the building, and Director Bradley said that more plants would be added shortly and that a pergola was being planned. Trustee Renfrew asked if the donation for the new bench in front of the entrance had gone to the Friends, and Director Bradley stated that as the Friends had turned down the initial offer to consider memorial benches as a potential fundraising opportunity but would bring it back to them for consideration. Currently, the Library accepted the cash donation on behalf of the City. The donation covered only the cost of the bench and plaque. No additional proceeds were received. Trustee Carter asked if the Library had considered offering a special "Centennial Bench" donation opportunity. Director Bradley stated that was an interesting idea and would look into it. Trustee HasBrouck commented favorably on the research assistance provided by the History Room librarian for the Mayor's Breakfast. Director Bradley added that she had represented the Library (and the City) at the recent Equest Fest in Burbank and that the History Room librarian and Museum Curator provided much assistance in researching Arcadia's participation in the Tournament of Roses parade as well as providing artifacts and photos. Trustee Renfrew concluded by stating that the report showed that the Library was a busy place. Financial Report: November 2019: Director Bradley noted that spending is on track for the year. She noted that the tuition reimbursement fund is in the black because several staff members had received reimbursements that they had to repay when they moved on from employment with the City. Library Website Demonstration: Manager Hiles reviewed the Library's pages on the City's new website. Trustee HasBrouck noted that it seemed complete. Library Video Clip Presentation: Principal Librarian Danielle Guerrero was unable to attend the meeting to present this, so the item was postponed until a later date. Staff Training Day: Director Bradley reminded the Board that the Library's Staff Training day would be on January 20, and invited them all to attend. Library Board Field Trip Suggestions and Dates: After a discussion of various possibilities, it was moved by Trustee Renfrew, and seconded by Trustee HasBrouck, to visit the Altadena Main Library on a date to be selected later, and carried on a voice vote. Director Bradley will try to schedule a visit on a Friday in April or May, and will notify the Board. AYES: Chair Delphey, Trustees Carter, HasBrouck, Renfrew, and Wang NOES: None ABSENT: None Staff Update: Director Bradley reported that Library Technicians Daisy Chan and Sugey Iribe resigned from their positions in the Children's Library for full-time Librarian positions elsewhere and have been replaced by Desiree Coleman and Linda Dang. Jasmine Fischetti has resigned from Account Services, again for a full-time position at a nearby library, and has been replaced by Claire Read. Three new Library Aides have been hired: Daniel Royster for Information Systems Services, and Clarissa Heslop and Viridiana Gonzalez for Account Services. Two other Aide recruitments are in progress. Staff Reports: Director Bradley reported that a donation had been received from the Seaver Endowment in the amount of $5,000 and another in memory of Jackie Faust -Moreno in the amount of $1,000. Staff Reports for the City Council were prepared for each and the donations were formally accepted by the City. In addition, a Staff Report was prepared for the Human Resources Commission to request that a Library Technician Eligibility list (which was down to a single remaining candidate) be abolished so that a new recruitment could be made. it Museum of Arcadia Heritage: Director Bradley reported that there would be a Coffee Talk on Saturday, January 11 presented by Lee Shimmin about the Rose Parade, and a Coffee Talk on April 18 presented by Dr. Edward Wong about the history of the Arcadia Chinese Association. Director Bradley also reported that the Museum had placed a Tournament of Roses display in the 4isplay case at Upper City Hall and the Arcadia Band in the City Council Chambers exhibit space. Calendars of activiti es/F lye rs/Arti c I es/Attac h me nts: Director Bradley commented that the newspaper articles presented good summaries of the ongoing dispute between publishers and libraries. CONSENT CALENDAR a. Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2019 Recommended action: Approve The motion to approve the minutes was moved by Trustee HasBrouck, seconded by Trustee Renfrew, and carried on a voice vote. AYES: Chair Delphey, Trustees Carter, HasBrouck, Renfrew, and Wang NOES: None ABSENT: None ADJOURNMENT Chair Delphey adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m. to Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Library, 20 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia. Approved: Barbara Delphey, Cha'6 \5d L Darlene Bradley, Secretary Minutes prepared by: Roger Hiles