HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-15; Library Board of Trustees; MinutesMINUTES
MEETING OF:
DATE OF MEETING: May 15,2002
TIME OF MEETING: 4:OO PM
PLACE OF MEETING:
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Library Board Room - 1775 Dove Lane
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman William Kamenjarin called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Library Board Trustees Gleason Huss, Kamenjarin, Page and
Swette.
Absent: Trustee Tarman
rc Also Present:Cliff Lange, Library Director
Geoff Armour, Assistant Library Director
Heather Pizzuto, Principal Librarian, Dove Lane
Dana Hartshorn, Library Management Analyst
Bee Koons, NSDCGS Liaison
Arthur Wood, Friends of the Library Liaison
Bill Richmond, Media Programming Specialist
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the April 17, 2002 meeting were approved as submitted.
MONTHLY LIBRARY DIVISION HEADS REPORTS:
Trustee Page asked if the installation of the INLEX computer for Adult Learning was
completed and was told that it was.
Trustee Gleason Huss asked if the rabbit problem in the Children’s garden had been
solved and Principal Librarian Pizzuto replied that the matter had been turned over to
the Parks Department.
Trustee Page commented on the cleverness of the “Check-it-out Yourself’ campaign
organized by the Circulation Staff at the Dove Lane facility and asked if they had won
anything in the contest. Principal Librarian Pizzuto responded that they had sent in the
report for the judging, the third week in April but have not heard back.
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Minutes of May 15, 2002 Meeting
Trustee Swette asked if the increase in patron count at the Cole could be attributed to
anything in particular. Principal Librarian Pizzuto reported that seasonally March and
April are extremely heavy months for school reports.
Trustee Page commented on the continual high numbers for new registrations at both
facilities. Library Director Lange responded that there is a continued stream of new
Carlsbad residents moving into the new housing being built, and that we have a large
number of Encinitas residents applying for cards.
There followed a discussion of the number of residents versus non-residents who utilize
the library and the state reimbursement for non-resident use. Library Director Lange
reported that our revenue from the State Library for this year would probably reach
$350,000.
Trustee Kamenjarin asked if that revenue had remained consistent over the last five
years and Library Director Lange responded that it dropped for awhile when the Cole
Library was under remodel, and had been cut 10% for a couple of years when the State
did not have sufficient funds.
F LIBRARY AUTOMATION SELECTION SYSTEM:
Library Director Lange had intended to provide a demonstration of the new system but
due to problems with the laptop the demonstration was postponed to the June 2002
meeting.
He distributed some printed information from SIRSI, the company selected, and
reported that the City is in the finishing stages of finalizing the contract language in
hopes of getting the contract on the June 25~‘~ City Council agenda for approval.
The tentative schedule would have the system operational by early December of this
year. Library Director Lange explained that we would have to migrate all the existing
data to the new system and there are requirements for intensive staff training both here
and back in Huntsville, Alabama, at the SIRS1 home office. He complimented the staff
involved in the evaluation of the proposals, and the amount of time devoted to the
decision. The final cost for the SIRS1 product was $1 50,000 less than the second
choice vendor.
Trustee Swette asked if the library would move gradually into the new system , operate
parallel systems or just “cut the cord”, and Library Director Lange responded that there
are no plans to run parallel systems at this time.
Library Director Lange said there would be a test database, which we would use as a
training database and also as a test site for software upgrades to the system. e
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Minutes of May 15, 2002 Meeting
Trustee Swette asked if there would be training for library patrons and Library Director
Lange responded that we would provide training for library users but that the new
system is web-based and would not create a challenge for routine Internet users.
Additionally, the library will have the option of customizing the screen and plans to
subscribe to the enriched content which provides not only the information available now
in INLEX but also pictures of the book, table of contents for some, book reviews and
other websites for additional information on your search.
Trustee Swette asked if there would be any tech support for patrons accessing the
system from home. Library Director Lange said tech support would be available to the
remote user either via e-mail or telephone.
Trustee Swette asked about policy changes and Library Director Lange responded that
the library would be reviewing current policies regarding circulation with the installation
of the new system.
AUDITORIUM AND MEETING ROOM USAGE REPORT:
Trustee Swette commented that the report was very well done and asked if the fee
structure was intended to make a profit or break even. He also asked if there was a fee
for cancellations, noting there were several cancelled events shown in the report. c
Library Director Lange responded that all the fees were modest and might need to be
readdressed in view of the proposed increase in fees for the City’s Recreation
Programs. He continued that the fee schedule was not intended to make money but
rather to discourage no-shows for reserved dates.
Media Programming Specialist, Bill Richmond, explained that the current policy includes
a fee for cancellations of less than 2 working days prior to the event. He also explained
that what appears as a high rate of cancellations is actually the result of a City
department practice of block booking the locations while developing their programs.
Once the programs are finalized, they would then cancel the reservations for the dates
they did not need.
Trustee Page asked if these policies and fees applied to the community room at the
Cole and was told that both locations were included in the agenda bill and the policies
and fees approved by the City Council applied to both.
CENTRO DE INFORMACION:
/z Assistant Library Director Armour reminded the board that the Pine School property is a
Park issue, but that we are interested because the Centro is currently located on the
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Minutes of May 15,2002 Meeting
site. The City Council and Parks Department have scheduled two community forums
for the development of the property. May 28’ at 6 PM is a special council meetin
where the council will adopt some guiding principals for the park and the June 17
community forum will be at the Senior Center. Flyers in both English and Spanish have
been distributed throughout the neighborhood and are also available at City Hall,
Centro, Cole Library, and Lola’s Market, and there will be an interpreter for the Spanish-
speaking attendees.
t?
The biggest challenge for the park development for this site is the size of the property,
and the neighborhood does not necessarily want the Centro on the park site, but they
do want the facility to remain in the general area. Once the City occupies the recently
acquired Farmer’s Insurance building, there will be several city-owned properties left
vacant, and Assistant Library Director Armour explained there is a committee of city
staff working on a reuse plan for the vacant properties. One consideration might be the
Harding Community Center.
Current plans are for the Centro to be closed the week of June 17-21 and reopening on
Monday, June 24‘h. The shelving installation is scheduled for the week of June IOth.
The actual move has three components: the existing furniture, including the circulation
desk, which will be accomplished by the City’s facilities staff; the collection itself which
will be moved by library staff; and the IT component which includes the computers and
telephones and the cabling and wiring required. Assistant Library Director Armour
explained that the original time frame was to complete the move one week earlier since
the Summer Reading Program (SRP) begins on Monday, June 17‘h; however, we
decided to delay the move one week to give facilities and IT a little more flexibility. The
SRP at the Centro will begin one week later than at the Cole and Dove Lane facility.
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Assistant Library Director Armour also explained the plans to announce the re-opening
of the Centro, including flyers throughout the neighborhood and also a large banner that
will be hung along the back of the modulars and clearly visibly from Harding Street. The
current monument sign will be relocated but signs in both English and Spanish will be
placed along the fence, near the current entrance, explaining the move and dates. Also
additional signs with arrows will point to the new facility’s entrance.
Trustee Kamenjarin asked if the date for the move could be moved out another week if
necessary without interfering with the scheduled demolition of the buildings on the site
Assistant Library Director Armour said the demolition was scheduled for sometime in
July or early August.
Trustee Swette asked if the Centro was in jeopardy and Assistant Library Director
Armour explained that it was up to the City Council. They could elect to build the park
around the Centro or they could elect to move it, and the park development process is
expected to take at least two years. /-
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There was some discussion of the handout, which had been prepared for the public
hearings and showed all the different components residents have asked be included in
the new park, including the approximate square footage each would require. It was
obvious that the requests exceed the space available many times over.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Governor’s May Revised Budget - The director advised he has received information
from the State Library that the governor has removed significant amounts of money
from three library programs. The Library of California had a budget of $3.9 million but
he has cut that to $990 thousand dollars for the next fiscal year. The State Library has
called a special meeting of the network contacts to discuss how to deal with the cut. He
also cut $660,000 out of the CLSA (California Library Services Act) funds, which
support the existing library systems, like the Serra Cooperative Library System. Thirdly,
he has almost cut in half the money for the PLF (Public Library Foundation) fund, which
is the per capita money we receive from the State Library. The only direct impact on
the Carlsbad City Library will be in the reduction of the PLF Fund, but indirectly, what
happens to the Serra and Tierra del Sol networks could be significant in relation to the
services they provide.
Trustee Kamenjarin asked if it would be appropriate for the library to publicize the
impact of these budget cuts and provide the names and addressed of the governor and
legislators for those patrons who may wish to contact them. Library Director Lange
responded that only the State Library personnel are restricted from that type of action.
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History Book - The publisher has notified the library that the book will probably be
shipped somewhere around May 25‘h and will arrive here probably the first week in
June. We will continue to sell them for $27(the pre-publication price) until June 30th
after which the price will be $32, as previously advertised.
Personnel Issues - Library Director Lange asked Principal Library Heather Piuuto,
from the Dove Lane facility, to report on the personnel changes at that facility. She
advised the board that following the resignation of our Technology Librarian, Human
Resources initiated a recruitment to which they received 26 applicants and have
scheduled two days for screening and interviewing the most qualified. Additionally,
another reference librarian has resigned, effective in mid-June, and Human Resources
will be looking for his replacement from the same group of applicants who responded to
the recent recruitment. Also this month, the Senior Librarian and Reference Division
Head has announced her intention to retire in June, after 24 years.
Assistant Library Director Armour interjected that currently at the Cole Library they are
recruiting and interviewing for the Senior Librarian for the Genealogy Division full time
position. Interviews for the top nine or ten applicants have been scheduled for May 23
and the board includes the current President of the North San Diego County
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Minutes of May 15,2002 Meeting
Genealogical Society as well as the previous full time, now retired, Carlsbad City Library
genealogy librarian. He continued that many of the applicants are from out of state and
will take part in telephone interviews.
Arts Director - Library Director Lange announced that Peter Gordon has accepted the
position of Arts Office Manager and will start on July 1 5‘h. He is currently the executive
director of the Evanston Arts Center in Evanston, Illinois.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY:
Liaison Arthur Wood reported that the Friends’ have not had a meeting since the last
Library Board Meeting but that the Book Sale on the lawn at the Cole raised $2,900.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY:
Liaison Bee Koons reported that although their annual yard sale did not make as much
as it had in previous years, when it was reported to the membership, they received
several donations, which made up for the profit shortfall. Junior genealogy classes
have been scheduled for June 23-28 at the Cole and Intermediate classes will be July
8-12. She was pleased that the problems previously encountered over her book have
been resolved and she is ready to meet with a publisher. Margaret Reed from the
society will be teaching the adult beginning classes starting in June. The society is
hosting a free lecture on Saturday, May 18th on Islam in the Middle Ages and a
beginning computer class is being offered on June 2gfh. The fee for the computer class
is $9.00 and seating will be limited to 94. She also reported that the society seems to
have outgrown the City Council Chambers and may be moving their programs to the
Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium for future programs.
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PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Assistant Library Director Armour reminded the board that the annual Hourly Employee
Recognition Event will be this Friday night, May 1 7th, at the Faraday Center at 530 PM.
Trustee Gleason Huss announced that she and Trustee Page would be attending the
conference in Sacramento at the end of the month together with Friends’ of the
Carlsbad City Library President, Carolyn Taylor.
/-- Trustee Kamenjarin asked for the meetings to be moved to the Cole Library or another
meeting facility in the north end of the City occasionally. Staff will research possibilities
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Minutes of May 15, 2002 Meeting
for July as the June meeting needs to be in the Board Room for the technology
necessary to run the SIRS1 demonstration.
Library Director Lange announced that election of officers for fiscal year 2002-2003 will
be on the agenda for next month.
AD J 0 URN M ENT:
By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 505 PM
Res pectfu I I y s upm itted ,
Cissie Sdton
Administrative Secretary