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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Board of Trustees - 05/11/2023 - Board of TrusteesApproved Minutes South Burlington Library Board of Trustees Thursday, May 11, 2023 5:30 pm Location: Boardroom – South Burlington Public Library and Virtual online Members Present: Lauren Ballard Hatch, Patrick Leduc, Ted Lenski, Anne Gilson LaLonde, Holly Painter, Rebecca Stazi, Donna Swartwout, Penelope Tompkins Members Absent: Kevin Morgenstein Fuerst, Stacey Pape, Margery Vagt Staff Members Present: Jennifer Murray Friends of the Library Present: Sue Raatikainen The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 5:34 pm Library exits were reviewed. Additions and deletions to the posted agenda Review the Advocacy Committee’s revised statement of purpose Comments and questions from the public not related to items on the agenda None Approval of regular board minutes of April 13, 2023 Upon a motion made by Trustee Anne Gilson LaLonde and seconded by Penne Tompkins, the Trustees voted unanimously to accept the minutes with edits of the April 13, 2023 Board of Trustees Meeting. Vice Chair’s report The Trustees reviewed and discussed the proposed updated South Burlington Public Library’s Board of Trustees By-Laws. No substantial changes were proposed to the draft document. Upon a motion made by Patrick Leduc and seconded by Rebecca Stazi, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve with suggested minor edits to the updated Library By-Laws. Friends of the Library report April Events ● State Library Conference-provided snacks after the conference. ● Marje VonOhlson Caldecott Collection- Dedication ceremony ● Final Concert for the season- Trifolium ● To celebrate Library week decorated with poster and balloons Booksale ● 270 people attended over 3 days. ● $3000 in sales and $245 on the raffle! Our best sale yet in the new library. ● Donated some leftover books to JP from the UVM Book Nook; article in Seven Days: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/uvms-book-nook-enters-a-new-chapter/Content?oid=38144816 Bookshop ● March $384.45, April $380 Committee Reports Advocacy Committee The library staff provided their input on the window clings. The committee will come back to the Board with a review of the design and budget discussion. Upon a motion made by Rebecca Stazi and seconded by Ted Lenski, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve the Read Local slogan for the window clings. The Trustees reviewed the proposed name change for the advocacy committee and its revised committee purpose and description. Upon a motion made by Rebecca Stazi and seconded by Patrick Leduc, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve the newly named Communications Committee and its purpose. Finance Committee The final payment to the city was made. On going conversations with the Foundation Working Group continue to happen. The Treasure of the Foundation approved $2500 to be moved to the Library’s gift account for the summer reading bags. Governance and Nomination Committee The committee continues to review and work on several policies. The Collection Development Policy should be ready for review and approval for the June Board meeting. Foundation Working Group The Foundation will be sponsoring the Summer Reading Bags. The next meeting is scheduled for May 17, 2023. Director’s Report (written report submitted by Jennifer Murray) FY23 Policy Priorities & Strategies. I updated our progress on the City priorities with the following information: Affordable and Community Strong *Library outreach to various agencies and non-profits to create collaborative relationships towards planning and promoting programs to their service populations; in conversation with service providers for disabled adults regarding collaboration on a regular program; tenant skills workshop; DIY Bike repair; planning financial skills workshops with CVOEO; working with Howard and UVM to secure a social work intern in Fall. Opportunity Oriented *Library space is being used for a men's group and staff continue to make individual contacts that may lead to hosting additional groups. Focus on Equity and Inclusion * The Library is sponsoring their own review and discussions of "The Most Costly Journey", one with City employees and one with citizens. * Library has secured with Howard and UVM a social work intern for 10 hrs per week in Fall. *Library outreach to various agencies and non-profits to create collaborative relationships towards planning and promoting programs to their service populations. (SB Food Shelf, Spectrum, AALV, CASAN, Mercy Connections, Vermont Adult Learning, CVOEO, Howard, CCS) *New additions to library collections continue to be inclusive and representative of diverse cultures - see new book displays. *Library staff training on unhoused populations, Narcan, using displays to recognize and welcome people from all backgrounds, censorship trends. Highlights from Children’s 1. The construction area next door is garnering a lot of attention from library patrons! We have regular visitors who park themselves by the windows to watch and talk about the big trucks. Jennifer has reached out to the construction companies to see if anyone wants to come and talk to us about diggers and city planning may participate as well. 2. We are finalizing our Summer Reading 2023, “All Together Now” programs and prizes for our June 1st soft launch. Lyric Theatre’s Theatre for Young Audiences production of “Elephant and Piggie: We are in a Play” opens the festivities on Saturday, June 17th with a performance at 10 am and 3pm. The 3pm performance will be ASL interpreted, and both will be “sensory-friendly” with no lights or sound amplification. Actors will be available for photos and autographs after the show. 3. We’ve also booked Kevin Clarkson and his pythons for a Saturday, August 19th show. Always popular, Kevin and his 802 reptiles show will be in the Community Room at 10am. He always lets every visitor hold a python! 4. One more possible highlight—we may be doing a giant community LEGO build in August with help from City Planning. Stay tuned. Highlights from Circulation and Cataloging 1. Finished training new library sub 2. Moved the paperback collection to the first floor for more visibility & checkouts and saw immediate uptick in use 3. Numerous items added to the Library of Things Collection that will enhance peoples’ lives. Latest additions include crutches, karaoke machine, post hole digger. Check the LoT page for more. 4. Kathryn, the Circulation Librarian, handles our FB. She says: “We do appreciate when members of the board and City Council… like and share Library Facebook posts.” 5. Julie has completed the update of subject headings to “Indigenous Peoples” for children’s books, large print, and young adult and will now move to handle the adult books and AV. She attended a couple of courses and is excited about a new movement to “decolonize the 200’s”, basically giving religions their own numbers instead of having only Christianity, Judaism and Other. Highlights from Adult and Teen Services 1. Amanda is enticing teens back to SBPL. First meeting of the Teen Advisory Board is this Thursday. Four teens joined the most recent craft event (she's been building it and they are coming). SBPL met and chatted with 200 teens from all over the county last week at SBHS. The event was Teen Lit Mob and we were 1 of 2 outside organizations there so lots of eyes on the library. Amanda will be offering tours for 4 high school classes in June. 2. Gesine Bullock-Prado drew a crowd of 99 thrilled fans at her talk & book signing last week. Natacha (from Children’s) is a treasure for the library with her bookselling and author contacts and her event-planning expertise. Kelly generously let Natacha do this thing that she loves (and that was huge for adults). 3. SCORE Vermont will host a Speed Mentoring program at the library on 5/23, 4-6:30 pm to support adults seeking career change/entrepreneurship. From Jennifer 1. I have offered the position of Digital Specialist and am waiting for a response. In other staffing news, our new sub, Mae, is doing a terrific job and will be able to cover lots of needed hours in the first 3 weeks of June. Then she will be available only minimally until August due to a class. Alyssa in CH is getting married and taking a trip from 6/15-6/30. Julia in AS will be off June 9-Aug 14 to study Shakespeare in England. For fun, Yitzi will be back from Israel in late June and will fill in as a temporary sub until he goes to rabbinical school in August. Please note that I will be off 6/17-6/24 & 7/7 and working 6-hour days 6/19-7/6. Last day of public school is June 16. We will be very busy! 2. Supervisors have been taking care of the 6-month reviews and goal setting. In Aug we will revisit all staff goals for FY 24. 3. After testing the people counter against the manual clicker, we have concluded that on average the counter is close to accurate. We will use those stats in future reports. 4. After an initial complication around use of the catering kitchen, staff now have access as needed to use the refrigerator for kids cooking supplies and the dishwasher. 5. Library, Rec and Community Development staff met with reps from hotels to talk about the April 8, 2024 eclipse and its likely effect on the community. FYI, thousands of people will be here from Sat. April 5 to Tue. April 9 because we are in the path of the full eclipse. Kelly has already purchased glasses for library events, but this is a regional planning issue. Hotels are almost fully booked and are requiring a 3-night stay with no cancellations. Other visitors are likely to camp in any spot they find. The Library is planning to run movies in the auditorium constantly on Friday, Saturday and Monday just to offer something for folks to do who are waiting for the big moment. 6. Mike in IT continues to reach out to area community members and organizations to find people with whom we can contract to run the auditorium lights and sound for concerts and the like. We had someone for one of this year’s concerts and it adds a $200-300 fee…something we have to consider in future planning. 7. Staff and some city employees joined in a Narcan training session with Grace Keller from the Safe Recovery program. We will have Narcan on both floors with easy access for staff while hoping that we never have to use it. 8. Coin op for print jobs keeps breaking down. The City has started using Square for credit card payments and we have access to that but it comes with additional charges. Staff will be discussing next steps. Buying a new coin op is pricey; not having one excludes certain users. 9. I met with someone from Signarama about a list of sign additions/updates that I’d like to see. No quote yet, but funds will have to come from the Foundation/gift account. During the meeting, Jennifer discussed a proposed update to the Room Rental & Procedures Policy. The change would provide clarity to the public on the number of room rentals is two from the same organization, regardless of who makes the reservation. The policy will clarify that donations are not permitted to the entity that is renting the space. Upon a motion made by Patrick Leduc and seconded by Penne Tompkins, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve the proposed clarifications to the Room Rental & Procedures Policy. Other Business: Ted Lenski and Jennifer Murray will work to get all committee descriptions on the website with logo and content all looking similar. A reminder to please take Library fliers and post them at your spots around town. Adjourn Seeing no other business, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:39 pm.