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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-09-28 BOLT MINS ^,fig' .✓' MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES September 28 , 1994 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3 : 03 PM BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Donovan, Vice Chair Clover-Byram, Trustees Alexander, Viesca, Romo BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Trustee Williams CITY STAFF PRESENT: Library Director Palmer, Deputy City Manager Thomson, Principal Librarians Barrow and Blue OTHERS PRESENT: Marge Clarke, Robert Coye, Bob Green, Ray Huard, Betty Roche, Donald Wiseman I . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of July 27, 19.94 This item was deferred until a quorum was present. II . CONTINUED MATTERS A. South Chula Vista Library - 1. Construction Director Palmer informed the Trustees that construction is moving along well with some landscaping materials to be delivered later in the week. The contractor expects to be ready to vacate the site by Thanksgiving. Some subcontractors will be on site after this date installing lighting, etc. Carpeting is scheduled to be installed the week of November 14th. Trustees received a schedule of interior construction elements through the end of the calendar year. 2 . Works of Art Fifty-five RFQ's were received in response to the Requests for Qualifications that were mailed to over 700 artists. The Mural Committee task is to review the RFQ's and slides of the artist's work to select six to ten semi-finalists. These semi-finalists will be invited to make a formal proposal for the Children's Room wall and will be paid a $100 honorarium. Committee meetings will be held in the Library auditorium and are open to the s s LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 2 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 public. Director Palmer did not expect a final bid award for many months. 3 . Furniture and Equipment Director Palmer reported that potential problems with the carpet mentioned at the last meeting have been resolved. The lighted shelving selected for the Children's Room and browsing area has not received Underwriters Laboratory approval. Steps have been taken to withdraw the bid award and extend it to another vendor. (Vice Chair Clover-Byram and Trustee Alexander arrived at 3 : 46) . I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of July 27 , 19.94 MSUC (Viesca/Alexander) that the minutes of July 27, 1994 be approved as mailed. ACTION B. EastLake Criteria The three year contract with the Sweetwater Union High School District, beginning July 1993 and ending in 1996, requires that an evaluation of the program be made at the mid-point of the contract. A decision must be made by November 1995 to either continue the joint-use contract or find an alternative site in order to coincide with the budget process . A comparison of usage statistics between the EastLake and Castle Park facilities follows: EastLake Castle Park Circulation Per Month 3 , 000 6, 300 - 7, 000 Registered Patrons 1, 904 5 , 700 Number of Volumes 271782 30, 000 Staff estimates that approximately half of the registered patrons at the EastLake Library are students at EastLake High School . Trustee Alexander inquired how well the library is utilized by students and the faculty. Director Palmer reported that Nora McMartin had made a concerted effort to make the library as accessible as possible to students and staff. In spite of this, less thank 20% of circulation at this branch occurs during school hours. � v LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 3 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 Further, Library staff has helped Eastlake staff process and catalog the school's collection to get it on to the shelves and available to the students. Trustee Viesca feels that the lack of public use may be due to the signage. Director Palmer reported that the school is responsible for signage on the site. With the ending of construction, the school has promised better signage for parking. Sr. Librarian, Eric Rhee is exploring the use of tent signs and other alternatives in the public right of way to direct users to the library. MSUC (Alexander/Donovan) that the developed criteria be accepted. (4-0-1 with Trustee Williams absent) Director Palmer reported that the City of Chula Vista has been awarded a Helen Putnam award for the EastLake project in the joint-partnership category. C. Names ACTION 1. Library at Fourth and Orange Avenues Director Palmer gave a brief review of the name issue. The Library Board of Trustees has formally supported the name, South Chula Vista Library, on three separate occasions! September 26, 1990, May 26, 1993 , and May 24 , 1994 . During the Library Board's July 27th meeting, the Trustees received a petition requesting that the name of the new library be reflective of the Hispanic culture of the area. To this end, Trustees requested public input. The Library informally surveyed library users. Approximately 500 surveys were completed. Individuals completing the survey favored the following names : 147 Caesar Chavez Memorial Library 142 South Chula Vista Library 65 Otay Library 50 Orange Avenue Library 22 Montgomery Library 2 Daniel M. Pass Memorial Library � t s" LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 4 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 Other surveys suggested various individuals an themes. Bob Green, member of the public, presented the Trustees with a short petition in opposition to naming the facility after Caesar Chavez . He recommended the name South Chula Vista Library. Trustee Alexander preferred not naming the library after a person. He supported the name "South Chula Vista Library" . He suggested that wings, rooms and collections are more appropriately named after individuals. Vice' Chair Clover-Byram also supported the name South Chula Vista Library. She stated that in her experience, naming a park or facility after it's location helps individuals in the community know where the it is. Trustee Viesca stated that he strongly opposes naming the new library after a person. He favored the name Otay Library to give the new facility more identity. Chair Donovan supported the name South Chula Vista Library because it indicates where the library is, and also reflects the local culture. MSC (Clover-Byram/Alexander) that the Library Board of Trustees continues to support naming the library the South Chula Vista Library. (3-1-1 with Trustee Viesca in opposition and Trustee Williams absent) ACTION 2 . Report on naming Library Rooms and Wings During the last Trustee's meeting, the Trustees were presented with the following criteria to be considered in naming wings, rooms, and other items in library. a. A monetary gift to the Chula Vista Public Library of at least $20, 000 b. Significant contribution to the ` development and enhancement of the Chula Vista Public Library and/or the City of Chula Vista. . r LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 5 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 C. Significant contribution to the recognition, representation, or advancement of social issues related to peoples or communities of Chula Vista. Director Palmer asked the Trustees for direction as to how the Library should proceed. Vice Chair Clover-Byram supported criteria #1, stating that the definition of the word "significant" would be very subjective. Trustee Alexander was also concerned with criteria #2 and #3 . He suggested that criteria #1 be expanded to include items other than wings and rooms, e.g. chairs, tables, etc. Trustee Viesca suggested naming a room after past Library Director, Rosemary Lane, and marathon athlete Arturo Barrios. Vice Chair Clover-Byram supported criteria #1 and suggested a way be found to deal with other names as they come up. Trustee Alexander supported using criteria #1 for naming wings and rooms and the other criteria for naming other items. Vice Chair Clover-Byram did not oppose the use of criteria #2 , if an adequate definition of significant was included. MSC (Viesca/Clover-Byram) The Library Board incorporates criteria #1 and #2 in its policy when recommending names for wings and rooms at Chula Vista Public libraries. Criteria #1 being a monetary gift to the Chula Vista Public Library of at least $20, 000 and Criteria #2 being a significant contribution to the development and enhancement of the Chula Vista Public Library and/or the City of Chula Vista (3-1-1 with Trustee Alexander casting the negative vote and Trustee Williams absent) . J LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 6 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 The Trustees then took the following action in honor of the contributions Arturo Barrios has made to the Chula Vista Public Library. MSUC (Alexander/Viesca) that the Young Adult Room in the new library be named after Arturo Barrios. (4-0-1 with Trustee Williams absent) Director Palmer reported that Arturo Barrios will tour the new library on September 29th and invited the Trustees to join in. Arturo Barrios has recently become an American citizen. III . NEW BUSINESS A. Application for sixth and subsequent year Literacy Funding MSUC (Alexander/Clover-Byram) that the Library Board supports the Literacy Team's application. (4- 0-1 with Trustee Williams absent) B. Adopt a School Director Palmer reported that a school in south Chula Vista has approached the Library to become one of their Adopt-a-School partners. Director Palmer was concerned about singling one school for this benefit and for a time considered having each of the Chula Vista Library facilities adopt all of the schools in their area. In light of the amount of staff time adopting all Chula Vista's schools would require and the fact that the Castle Park and Woodlawn Park facilities will close in January, he proposed that the Library go ahead with a test case to see if the program should be expanded to all schools, or if unfeasible, dropped. Vice Chair Clover-Byram reported that her firm has adopted three schools. Generally, responsibilities are determined by contract with the principal of the school . She did not understand why the library would be asked to adopt the school when its purpose is to reach out to all schools. She stated she would rather see some special programs that all could participate in. Student member Romo also was not in favor of excluding other schools. -- LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 7 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 MSUC (Viesca/Clover-Byram) that this issue be put into abeyance for further study. ( (4-0-1 with Trustee Williams absent) C. 94/95 MURL Grant MSUC (Alexander/Clover-Byram) that the Library Board supports the Library's application for MURL funds. At this time a letter from a member of the public was read urging that the Woodlawn Park library remain open. This was directed to be discussed under written comments. IV. Library Director's Report A. Library Automation Manager Position Diane Bednarski has been hired and will begin work on October 3rd. She holds a library degree from UCLA, has worked with OCLC, GEAC and University Microfilm. B. Bilingual Senior Librarian Position (South Chula Vista Library) This position has been reopened. Announcements have been mailed out to over 200 branch libraries within Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Jose, Central Valley, and San Francisco Bay areas. This position will not be hired before December. C. Librarian II Castle Park Librarian Jorge Castillo has been promoted to this position. The position he vacates has been filled by Connie Lawthers D. Library Transfer Requests Staff has evaluated all employee requests to transfer to the new library, and there have been surprisingly few requests for the same job. A good balance of employee skills and service abilities are going to the South Chula Vista Library without ,_ impairing the mix at any other library location. Recruitment will begin shortly for the positions of . 5 Circulation Assistant, Circulation Supervisor, 2 LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 8 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 FTE or 4 half time... Library Associates, 2 FTE or 4 Librarian ' I's and 3 FT Librarian I's. All recruitments must be completed by the middle of December. E. Community Coffee at Lauderbach Trustee Viesca stated that the coffee went very well and was impressed with Literacy participant David Solano. Director Palmer reported that Mr. Solano was selected as a role model by the Mexican American Foundation because of his attendance and work with the Literacy Team. He was also named Learner of the Year at the Literacy Pot Luck. F. Legislative Update The Governor has not yet taken action on the Library Benefits Assessment District Act. All bond issues for library construction have failed. G. Trustee Attendance The City Clerk has asked that Boards and Commissions members be reminded that they may have no more than three absences, either excused or unexcused, during the year. H. Literacy Grants The Literacy Team has received two federally funded, Title VI grants, one to continue the model writing program and another to expand the Wilson reading program. V. Communications A. Friends Betty Roche reported that the Friends are arranging a bus tour of the Los Angeles Central Library on October 22nd. This tour is open to the Board, the Friends and any other Library member. John Rojas' book on the trees of Chula Vista will soon be published. It will be available within a few months at bookstores and in the Library. The Friends contributed towards the expenses of this endeavor. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 9 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 The Friends of the Library are working towards establishing Friends of the Library groups at all library facilities. (Vice Chair Clover-Byram left at 5 : 30) Director Palmer commended the Friends President and the Friends in their diligent efforts in this reorganization to take advantage of the original groups' tax free status. The Friends of the Library are also working with the Library on a Buy A Book Campaign for the new library. A full report will be .made at the October meeting. B. Public Mr. Coye asked that the ash trays be returned to the entrance areas. C. Written Mr. Hersch asked that the following letter be written into the minutes . "Will the members of the Board agree that a city of approximately 5, 000 people should have a library. yes or no 1. If affirmative, this is approximately the population from Orange Avenue south to the Otay River bottom in the City of Chula Vista and from Hilltop east to the city limits. This area has increased population density. 2 . Because of hazards to elementary, jr. high and high school pupils and distance to new library, especially with early winter darkness, it is imperative that an affirmative vote be noted and sent to the City Council for reconsideration of keeping the Woodlawn Park Library open and increasing the volumes there to attract more use and circulation. " Trustees informed him that the above issue had been discussed and finalized. D. Board Trustee Viesca commended Director Palmer for the wish list and the Friends for the Library for all their work. l LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 10 - SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 Chairman Donovan asked if a book plate would be used with the Buy-a-Book Campaign. Friends President Harry LaBore reported that there would be a book plate for donations at the $25 level . Student Member Romo - Stated that she has been asked by teachers and students if tests could be monitored at the Library. Director Palmer will look into this. Trustee Alexander had no comment. VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5 : 37 pm. The next Library Board of Trustees meeting will be held on October 28, 1994 .