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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09262013Library Advisory Board Minutes Thursday, September 26, 2013 Chairman, Dr. Rudy Widman, called the meeting to order at 5:05 PM in the Fort Pierce Branch Library Conference Room. Members in attendance: Rudy Widman, Marjorie Harrell, Eloise Cumings, Eulceba Jones, Jewel Player and Carnelle Clifton. Also in attendance were Susan Jacob, Library Manager & Nancy Witham, Senior Staff Assistant. The minutes from the last Board Meeting dated 06/20/2012 were distributed. Eloise Cummings made a motion and Marjorie Harrell seconded the motion to accept the minutes as distributed. The motion was passed. Old Business: a. The Library Manager (LM) announced that the County had closed on the property at 2950 SW Rosser Blvd. in Port St. Lucie, the location to be the newest branch Library. She gave a brief history of the property and noted it that was a former police sub-station. She said that there would be a budget of two million dollars to renovate the property, to furnish it and purchase books and technology equipment. Estimated date for opening the new branch is 2016. b. LM gave an update on the Library Community Survey that is currently up and running on the Library home page. There has been response and the survey will be up for six months. LM indicated that the survey results will be very useful in designing the upcoming long range plan, providing guidance from public input. New Business: a. LM asked if the Board wants to review Library policies before they are put into place. For example, the Library has a collection development policy that explains the guidelines that are followed before a DVD is purchased. Dr. Widman responded that yes, this would certainly be appropriate and that the information should be distributed in advance of a meeting where it could then be discussed and voted on. LM stated that the Board of County Commissioners would also need to approve any new or revised policies. b. Election of new officers took place. Chairman reminded the Board that the bylaws state that new officers are to be selected every year. Eloise Cummings made a motion that they keep the same officers as the past year. Carnelle Clifton seconded the motion. The motion passed. The position of secretary had been vacant. Eukeba Jones was nominated and elected as Secretary. She will assume the responsibility of maintaining the Library Advisory Board dedicated file space that is located in the second floor conference room. Friends of the Library Report: a. Carnelle Clifton reported that the Friends of St. Lucie County Library have been very busy with planning of the 33`d Annual Dinner Meeting to be held at the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce on November 9`h. The speaker is to be Florida author Tim Dorsey. They are actively seeking sponsors for the event. She distributed invitations and sponsorship information to the Library Advisory Board members and invited them to attend the event at the reduced staff rate of $20. Library Managers Report: a. LM reported that the BOCC has passed the budget for FY2014 and that the Library's bottom line is improving slightly. Full time salaries went from FY12 $1,338,021 to FYl4 $1,435,234. Part time salaries went from FYl2 $54,849 to FY14 $103,100. Total general fund budget is $3,139,780. b. LM expressed concern over book, dvd and subscription budget. The general fund used to fund $250,000 per year for print books. In the past several years it has been determined that impact fees can be used for capital expenditure including tangible print materials needed due to county growth. With the directing of remaining zone B funds toward the Rosser project the coffers will be emptying. This means that beginning as early as FY15 the Library may need to request around $200,000 from the general fund once again. This will come at a time when the Library will also so be asking for increased budget to fully staff PSL, Hurston and Rosser branches. Unless we see improvements in County properly taxes, the Library will have to fight for this increase. c. The LM reported other Library news including the retirement of the Librarian at Fort Pierce Branch Marilyn Mittleman, the promotion of Kathleen Flynn from MS to Librarian III supervisor of the Express Team. She reported that she is also expecting retirements of approximately 40% of staff, including Dr. Ed Werner, whose skills are irreplaceable. She expressed that she hoped the Library could use this opportunity to bring some new ideas and skills into the system to head the Library into a more modern system. d. LM reported that the application for State Aid is in and that we are on target for about $95,000 which is a fraction of what the Library has received in the past. e. LM reported that she is going to Tallahassee next week for the State Library's annual Library Directors Meeting. Board Comments: a. None Next meeting scheduled for December 5, 2013. The meeting was adjourned by Chair, Dr. Rudy Widman, at 5:45 PM. Minutes approved by Library Advisory Board on December 5, 2013.