HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-17; Library Board of Trustees; MinutesITEM # 2 I
,-
MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING:
MINUTES
Appf‘Oved: LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
October 17,2001 f l-I&n,
TIME OF MEETING: 4:OO PM
PLACE OF MEETING: Library Board Room - 1775 Dove Lane
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman William Kamenjarin called the meeting to order at 4:OO PM.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Library Board Trustees, Baron, Gleason Huss, Kamenjarin, Page
and Tarman.
Absent: None
Also Present: Cliff Lange, Library Director
Geoff Armour, Assistant Library Director
Heather Pizzuto, Principal Librarian, Dove Lane
Chris Holt, Principal Librarian, Cole Library
Dana Hartshorn, Library Management Analyst
Bee Koons, NSDCGS Liaison
Arthur Wood, Friends of the Library Liaison
Anne Sypien, League of Women Voters Observer
-
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the August 15, 2001 meeting were approved as submitted.
MONTHLY LIBRARY DIVISION HEADS REPORTS:
Trustee Page asked if there had been any resolution to the Adult Learning computer
problems and was told that the City’s Information Systems has resolved the major
portion of the problems.
Trustee Page asked for an explanation of the reference to “security reasons” for the
Children’s Librarian’s office redesign at the Cole Library. Cole Manager, Chris Holt,
responded that the office space is located between two doors, one in the Children’s
library and the other an emergency exit. Both doors must remain unlocked during
business hours making it impossible for the librarian to lock her office. r
r Library Board of Trustees Page 2
Minutes of October 17, 2001 Meeting
Trustee Tarman wanted to pass along a compliment to the Reference Staff members at
both the Cole and Dove Lane locations. He said a patron had taken the opportunity to
express how pleased he had been with the service. The staff had been very helpful
with his research on several occasions.
Trustee Tarman also offered congratulations to Chair Kamenjarin regarding his
daughter, Melissa, being named as a semi-finalist National merit scholar. Melissa
works for the library as well as volunteers at the Centro.
Trustee Page asked what enhancements were being considered for the Young Adult
Area at the Dove Lane location. Principal Librarian Heather Pizzuto responded that
plans are to take the area on the northwest corner upstairs, next to the adult computer
lab, for the Young Adults. Currently the area designated for them is very small and by
enlarging their “space” and including some additional computers, the young adult
portion of the collection, and the young adult periodicals, the teenage patrons will
congregate in that area of the library especially for studying and working on small group
projects. The main purpose is to give them a space of their own.
CENTRO DE INFORMACION UPDATE:
,- Assistant Library Director Armour provided an aerial photograph of the Pine School
property to show the proposed location for the modulars for the Centro. He said that
the City has approved the larger modular (24’ x 60’) to be located towards the rear of
the basketball court facing Harding Street. The committee has now decided to change
the direction of the modular and have it face the parking lot at the Senior Center, down
Walnut Street. Positioning the modular in this way will prevent any denied access
during the demolition of the existing structures, and will also have the front door more
readily accessible and visible to the neighborhood.
He said they are also looking into the possibility of moving the Centro to the one of the
newly acquired residential lots across the street from the park property.
The low-bidder on the proposal for providing the modulars has them in stock and as
soon as the agreement has been signed they can deliver them to the site; however, the
demolition of the structures is not scheduled until next Spring and will take two to three
months to complete.
He also reported that the City staff has prepared an agenda bill asking the City Council
to form a Steering Committee of Carlsbad residents and various commissioners to
facilitate communication between the community and the City Council on the final park
design.
P Trustee Page asked about access to the modular since the new orientation faces the
fenced parking lot of the Senior Center. Assistant Library Director Armour responded
.c- Library Board of Trustees Page 3
Minutes of October 17, 2001 Meeting
that the existing fence and shrubbery will be removed and there will be additional
signage.
Chair Kamenjarin asked about the scheduled demolition for the two residences located
on the other property as it would ideal to locate the Centro outside the seven acres
under contention for the park.
Assistant Library Director Armour said the plans are for all the demolition work to be
done at the same time; however, there have been complaints by the adjoining property
owners and reports of vermin infestation, which might impact that decision. Best-case
scenario would be the demolition of those structures first, moving the modular for the
Centro onto one of the lots, and utilizing the existing infrastructure.
LIBRARY PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR 2001 -2002:
Library Director Lange reported on the performance measures being used by the
Library. According to the Hennen American Public Library Ratings (HAPLAR) the
Carlsbad City Library ranks tenth in the nation among the cities of 50,000 to 99,999
populations.
F Additionally, the library is currently collecting information on the “fill rate” by customer
satisfaction survey cards. Principal Librarian Holt added that the survey cards were
available starting Monday and for the most part the response has been favorable.
Principal Librarian Pizzuto reported that in the Library on Dove Lane there were 75
cards completed and turned in on the first day. This initial survey will be conducted for
two weeks and thereafter the survey will be repeated on a quarterly basis.
Trustee Baron asked if the information from these cards would be a factor in our
national rating and Library Director Lange responded that the fill rate information is not
part of the HAPLAR.
NOISE ISSUES AT THE DOVE LANE LIBRARY:
Principal Librarian Pizzuto explained the noise summit meetings held at the Dove Lane
location and attended by approximately sixty-five staff members. The primary purpose
was to identify the issues and what is behind the perception that we have a “noise
problem”. The basis for the meetings was the twenty-five patron complaints and
suggestions on this subject. Results of the meetings were a list of challenges and
some suggestions for solutions. Those suggestions and challenges were then
developed into four initiatives as follows:
0
0
Identifying and reducing library-produced noise
Developing an education communication program for patrons and
staff about the issue
c Library Board of Trustees Page 4
Minutes of October 17, 2001 Meeting
0
0
Reviewing our rules of conduct policy for possible modifications
Identifying and implementing physical modifications to reduce noise
The next step is to identify and recruit staff members who are interested in working on
the initiatives.
Chair Kamenjarin asked if we had contacted other libraries with regard to cell phone
abuse and the possibility of a “jamming device” which would prevent sending and
receiving signals within the building.
Principal Librarian Pizzuto responded that we are hoping to be able to take some sort of
middle ground by identifying appropriate behavior and use of the cell phones. She
continued that the library is a gathering place for the community and that often
conversations between patrons are much louder than some of the cell phone users.
Trustee Tarman asked about the number of complaintslsuggestions and Principal
Librarian Pizzuto responded that the twenty-five collected were over a twelve-month
period.
Both Library Director Lange and Assistant Library Director Armour reported that noise is
universally the most significant issue for libraries. *-
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE LIBRARY:
Chair Kamenjarin questioned the number of borrowers in the report as down
significantly and Assistant Library Director Armour explained that “borrowers” translates
into “cardholders” and that the library had recently purged the database of inactive
cardholders.
Library Director Lange advised the Board that the Library’s Annual Report would be
available sometime next month.
STATE OF THE CITY VIDEO:
This item tabled until the next regular meeting.
CO M MU N ITY S E RVlC ES VIDEO :
This item tabled until the December meeting.
- Library Board of Trustees Page 5
Minutes of October 17,2001 Meeting
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Computer Virus - As a result of the computer virus that infected the City’s network
and therefore made the library catalog unavailable, the IT staff is initiating more
safeguards for the system.
Library Strateqic Plan - The Board approved plan was presented to the Leadership
Team this morning along with the Community Services Video. The video was produced
for two reasons, first as a vehicle that will help people understand what Community
Services encompasses, and second to showcase the goals and strategic plans of each
one of the departments. The Leadership Team response was favorable and the plan
and video will go to City Council on November 20.
50th Anniversary Book - Funding for the history book was approved by the City
Council and we will begin pre-publication sales promotion in January 2002.
RFP for Consultant for new automated system - The RFP was sent to six potential
consulting firms. The deadline for submittals is Monday, and we know of at least two
firms thatare submitting proposals.
September lIth - The most significant impact on library services as a result of the
terrorist attack was the decrease in patrons in the building. As a result of the anthrax
mail scare there have been new procedures initiated as directed by the Governor. The
City’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has been set up at the Safety Center and
the CMAT team is meeting regularly to assess the situation. The Library Director is the
Public Information Officer for the City during any emergency situation. The Carlsbad
Police Department is receiving regular briefings from the FBI and the County Disaster
Group. The library has developed a web page link for sites relative to the disaster.
r
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY:
Arthur Wood reported that the Friends’ met in September and decided to eliminate one
of their annual book sales and replace it with two silent auctions. The next silent
auction will be at the Cole Library on November 17‘h and 18‘h. The net proceeds from
the book sales from July to September were over $21,000. He also reported that the
Friends have decided to focus on the Homebound Program offered through the Library.
They are actively recruiting volunteers to provide the service as well as trying to identify
residents who would benefit from this service.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY:
- Bee Koons reported that their seminar is scheduled for October 20th in the Schulman
Auditorium. The Society officer election will take place next month. The current slate of
officers have all agreed to serve again and expect to run unopposed. Several members
- Library Board of Trustees Page 6
Minutes of October 17, 2001 Meeting
of the society are taking part in the DNA study on November 17'h, sponsored by the
Mormon Church and Ms. Koons has completed writing the teacher's manual for
children's genealogy classes. She has submitted it to several editors and will seek to
have it printed after the first of the year.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
LIBRARY BOARD COMMENTS:
The Board discussed the approaching holidays and decided to cancel the November
2001 meeting, as there will not be a quorum available. In addition, the December
meeting will be moved forward a week to December 12'h.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 450 PM.
/- Res pectfu I I y sw i~p,
Cissie &ton
Administrative Secretary