HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-21-2008
St. Lucie County Library Advisory Board
Minutes
April 21, 2008
The St. Lucie County Library Advisory Board meeting was called to order at 5:23pm in
nd
the 2 floor Conference Room of the Fort Pierce Branch Library by Chair Rudy
Widman.
Members present: Michael Bausher, Carol Clover-Dawkins, Carnelle Clifton, Linda
Hudson, Allen Miller, Eloise Cumings, Ethel Rowland, Rudy Widman and Susan Kilmer
Member absent: Marjorie Harrell
Minutes of the February 18, 2008 meeting were approved with additions.
Linda Hudson-Bailey was introduced as the new Library Advisory Board member
appointed by Commissioner Chris Craft.
Old Business:
Susan gave a report from the County’s Strategic Planning Session as it related to Library
operations. The BOCC did tentatively agree to the reduction of service hours, the
elimination of the Bookmobile service and a change to the Books-by-mail service. The
reduction of service hours will relate to any potential lay-offs that may occur before the
end of the fiscal year. The Bookmobile service was already slated to come off the road
for three months in the 07-08 budget year so the vehicle will just remain off the road
from that point on. Staff will look at other County’s Books-by-mail service to see what
adjustments we may be able to make to better accommodate those who will be impacted
by the loss of the Bookmobile.
The 08-09 Budget review went as expected with no new staff, no equipment, no new
capital projects and the reduction in operating funds for the upcoming year. Staff will
have to tighten their belts and find ways to be more economical in spending. We did go
in with a reduced capital budget (books, audiovisual and subscriptions) but were reduced
additional operating funds (we went in with a 3% reduction but came out with an 8%
reduction).
Thus far the public response to the proposed budget cuts has been minimal with the
public mostly complaining about the elimination of the Bookmobile service. We won’t
know the full impact until much later in the year.
The Advisory Board discussed the need to perform Library Advocacy as they have in
previous budget years when the library’s budget was being threatened with cuts. The
message should be: “we care, we are aware and we will be back” when the economic
future is brighter. Allen suggested that each Board member either have a telephone
conversation or send an email to their respective Commissioner to let them know the
importance of the library.
New Business:
Susan discussed the proposed reduction of library service hours. Port St. Lucie,
Lakewood Park, Hurston and Morningside Branch will be considered for closing one day
per week which includes one night. At this time the Fort Pierce Branch is not being
considered for closing. We don’t want to close more than one branch per day and we
want to alternate locations so that there are no back-to-back closings in one section of the
county (i.e., Morningside and Port St. Lucie branches closed two days in a row).
Statistics on usage are being pulled together to best determine the days least used at each
location. No date has been set at this time to take this item back before the Board of
County Commissioners.
Friends of the Library President’s Report:
Carnelle reported that Pat Giordano is a new Board member for the Friends of the
Library; she represents the Treasure Coast Genealogy Society and has been a resident of
St. Lucie County for many years. The Friends of the Library set up a booth at Zora Fest
at Lincoln Park Academy and had the concession on the books by the authors in
attendance and books written by or about Zora Neale Hurston. The festival was well
attended and the author reception at the Pelican Yacht Club was excellent. The Friends
annual volunteer luncheon was held today with 60+ in attendance. Commissioners Smith
and Lewis were on hand to receive the check for library hours. The event was held at the
Backus Gallery and it was just as nice if not nicer than last year’s event.
Library Director’s Report – see attached.
Board comments
Next Board meeting – June 16, 2008 with Allen Miller offering to host (the meeting was
postponed and will be held June 30, 2008 at Fort Pierce Branch Library)
Susan Kilmer
Acting Secretary