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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Minutes: 10-19-23LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023 CALL TO ORDER – Chair Miriam Carter called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m., in the Conference Room of the Library. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Trustee Pardha Akalamkam ROLL CALL: Chair Elizabeth Renfrew; Trustees Miriam Carter, Pardha Akalamkam, Carlton Seaver; Councilmember Michael Cao; Director of Library & Museum Services Darlene Bradley (Secretary); Library Services Manager Samantha Alba ABSENT – Trustee Connie Liao PUBLIC COMMENTS – None REPORTS FROM LIBRARY TRUSTEES / LIAISONS Trustee Carter reported that the ECC (English Conversation Class) is going very well. There are about 15 participants. ECC takes place every Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tutors help students with their daily conversational skills. She also met with the Community Outreach Program – LACADA who work with unhoused. The Library has a caseworker on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Caseworkers can match unhouse people with services. They accept walk-ins and appointments. Councilmember Cao added that LACADA is a county wide service organization, every city counts how many unhoused members are in the city. Arcadia’s hard number is 39 individuals, physical line of site count. There are transients who are in Arcadia, Monrovia, Temple City, etc. Unhoused/homelessness is a big issue in the state of California. In Arcadia the numbers have not gone up. LACADA’s contract was renewed in the most recent budget. Sixty to seventy percent of unhoused/homeless are unhoused due to mental illness or drug/alcohol addiction. The majority of the unhoused do not agree to help, it takes multiple attempts by the caseworker. Councilmember Cao has been a cardiologist at USC Arcadia Hospital for 12 years. He added that we have more drug addicts that use more hospitals. Conservator court is being piloted in Orange county. The program is not going so well right now because individuals must have a dual diagnosis to qualify for conservator court. About thirty percent of unhoused/homeless do not want help. Case managers try to initiate contact and connect them with their families. Case managers arrange transportation to reunite individuals with families that are willing to help. Many of the issues we have are unique to the state of California. A discussion followed about current situations and individuals. Trustee Akalamkam discussed PMI-LA organization, will host a presentation on artificial intelligence. Registration fees apply, it will be open to the public but with prior registration. He would like to use the Auditorium to make a connection with the Library. Chair Renfrew talked about the jazz concert last month, fifty people attended and the concert was paid for by the Friends of the Library. An author talk will take place next month. The author, Dr. Shan Woo Liu wrote a children’s book titled Masked Hero. It is a free event that will take place on November 4 in the Library Auditorium. The bookstore will have a book sale November 17-18, an outside and inside sale. The flyer for the book sale was made by a student volunteer and it will be translated to Chinese. The book sale will be the same weekend as the Festival of Bands and a Cat show at the Masonic Temple. Panda Express fundraiser made a little over $170. Chair Renfrew presented a check for $30,000 to the Library at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 17. Not to much happened at the Friends of the Library board meeting last month. The purpose of the Friends of the Library is to try to raise money to make programs possible at the Library. REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTOR Announcements / Statements / Future Agenda Items Director’s Update: Director Bradley reported that November 4 is the Breeders Cup. The City will offer free transportation in town for those attending. The Third Annual Community Clean-up Day will also take place on November 4 at the Library from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monthly Statistical Report: September 2023: Director Bradley reported that the Library’s gate count continues to grow. The Library is fully back in service and you can feel it in the afternoon, especially after school, which is busy. Trustee Akalamkam asked if we still offer 3D printing and how do people know about it. Director Bradley mentioned that the printer is currently broken, but a new machine has been ordered. Designs are submitted by the public but made by Library staff. Trustee Pardha mentioned that if we had a conversion service like CVS it would be welcomed by the community. Director Bradley mentioned that we have the Memory lab that does just that. Monthly Report Narrative: September 2023: Chair Renfrew mentioned that the narrative is a summary of all the things that the Library staff has done. A 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program has started. Chair Renfrew asked if our Narrative is placed on our website. Director Bradley added that we can add a section for Library Board on the Library’s site. Trustee Akalamkam mentioned that Monrovia Library is doing a lot for Veterans and asked if the Library was doing anything. Director Bradley mentioned that we have resource handout available and the Museum is working on the banners for Veterans. Trustee Akalamkam mentioned that he has done a cloud migration for Veteran’s and knows policies and is able to assist. The Museum will oversee the program. Councilmember Cao mentioned that Veteran banners will be placed where the City has the most traffic on Baldwin Ave. and Huntington Dr., for next year’s Veteran’s Day 2024. Arcadia really has to honor our veterans. There are one-hundred registered Veteran’s that the city is aware of to date. Financial Report: September 2023: Director Bradley went over the financial report. She asked the board members to look at the far-right column which shows our spending percentages. She mentioned that we should not be at one hundred percent spent since we are early in the year. The Director gave a brief overview of the budget process. The Library is very lucky to have the Friends of the Library who help raise money for the Library. Director Bradley mentioned her appreciation for Friends of the Library. Chair Renfrew mentioned that the amount of book donations received has decreased since Covid. Also, certain subjects are lacking, and the bookstore needs donations that are in good condition. Trustee Seaver likes the new expenditure report. Security Update: Library Services Manager Alba gave an update on security. The Library currently only has one security guard, Jonathan, who is covering all open hours at this time. Citiguard is still looking for a second guard to cover evening and Saturday hours. Staff Update: Director Bradley announced that Pat Smith will be retiring on Dec 2. And Principal Librarian for Adult and Teen Services Danielle Guerrero’s last day was Oct 7. She accepted a position at the Altadena Library. Part-time Librarian II for Adult and Teen Services, Scott Gurrola accepted a full-time position at the City of Whittier Library. Part-time Technician in Children’s Services is also vacant. Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage: The Director reported that the Curator Stevy Acevedo oversees the Art Preservation for the City. The Walk of Champions cleaning will be completed by