SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD |
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| Minutes of the REGULAR Meeting of March 6, 2003 |
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| To Be Approved |
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| A REGULAR meeting of the Library Board was called to order by Chairperson, Gene Oppenheim, at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2003 at the Main Library in the Conference Room, 1343 Sixth Street, Santa Monica. |
Call to Order |
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| PRESENT: |
Boardmember Breisch, Vice Chair Edwards, Boardmember Field, Boardmember Stern and Chairperson Oppenheim |
Roll Call |
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| ALSO PRESENT: |
Aldona Venckus, Community Member, Susan Annett, Principal Librarian for Public Services; Wini Allard, City Librarian |
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| The Board discussed an e-mail communication from Maya Sahafi regarding the budget and funding for the new Main Library, a written communication from Kenneth Alan Swink regarding his termination of employment from the Santa Monica Public Library and a written communication from Celia Carroll regarding the City’s financial future and the funding of the Library building project. |
Communications from the Public |
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| The Board also heard comments regarding the new Main Library building project from Aldona Venckus a member of the community. Ms. Venckus suggested that with the current economic climate the Library return to the original design, which called for an addition and renovations to the current structure. |
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| Ms. Allard explained that the cost of renovation was so close to the cost of tear down and that the concern is once the renovation work begins the cost of the unknown (for example earthquake retrofitting) will cause the cost to escalate. |
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| Other factors to consider include the time and money that would be lost if the plans were abandoned at this stage in the planning and the expectations of the community. The cost of the delay is approximately $6000 a day. In 1988 and 1998 the community approved two bond issues totaling $35 million. |
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| On April 3 at 7pm the Library Board will host a community meeting in the Main Library auditorium. The public will have an opportunity to learn about the current design and interior design plan from the architect and design team. |
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| Vice Chair Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes of the Library Board meeting of February 6, 2003. Boardmember Field seconded the motion. The minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote. |
Approval of the Library Board Minutes |
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| Jon Arenberg, President of the Friends of the Library, reported on the February 10 meeting the Board of Directors. Fundraising at the Montana Ave. Branch continues. The Friends have raised $150.000 from the sale of pavers. Postcards have been mailed for the grand re-opening of the Branch on March 15 at 1pm. |
Report from the Friends of the Library – A Library Support Group |
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| Mr. Arenberg reported that the Fairview Branch fundraising campaign has begun. Additionally, the Friends are in the process of redeveloping their webpage. The Friends have not been able to locate a space to hold their book sales or store and sort the book donations. |
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| Susan Annett, Principal Librarian for Public Services, updated the Board on the Citywide Reads project. In September the Board approved the choice of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. Ms. Annett distributed a copy of the resource guide funded by the Friends. |
Report on Citywide Reads |
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| Citywide Reads begins in April 6 during National Library Week and concludes May 17 at the Santa Monica Festival. A series of book discussions will be held at various sites throughout Santa Monica. The Santa Monica High School English Department has put the book on the 9th grade summer reading list. |
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| For more information on Citywide Reads visit the Library’s website at www.smpl.org/cwr. |
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| Chair Oppenheim reported on the Library Board Photography Contest. A reception for the winners of the Young Adult Photography Contest was held on February 27 at 7pm. Prizes were awarded to the winners at the reception; First prize $75 awarded to Erin Neff, second prize $50 awarded to Carolyn Schneider, Cassandra McGrath and Kristen Robertson tie for third prize $25. Certificates were awarded to 15 honorable mentions. The photos will be on display in the gallery at the Main Library. |
Library Board Contest for Young Adults - Report |
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| Ms. Allard reported to the Board on the progress of the new Main Library. |
Main Library Expansion - Update |
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| The Board reviewed the packet that went to the Architectural Review Board in preparation for the March 17 meeting. |
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| The project team has moved on to the next design phase, construction design development. The project team is currently in the process of selecting the furniture (tables, reader chairs, lounge chairs, task chairs and office systems for staff areas) for the Main Library. Staff has interviewed security consultants and expects to select a firm to design the security system within the following week. Moore Ruble Yudell has hired a museum consultant to give input on the building design with regard to the Stanton Macdonald Wright mural. |
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| The first day of closure at the Main Library is March 24. It will take approximately three weeks to move to the temporary library. The temporary Library is expected to open in mid April. |
Move to the Temporary Library |
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| During the furniture selection process staff has been reviewing a number of chair samples. The Board is invited to give their input on the chair samples for the new Main Library. |
Chair Samples |
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| The Board discussed various articles on current library trends. |
Nationwide Current Library Trends |
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| Secretary’s Report |
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| Ms. Allard reported that the Friends of the Library and Library staff met with Hershey Associates. Staff provided Hershey with estimated costs for the wish list of items and services needed in the new Main Library. The next step is for the consultants to prepare the case statement. |
Report on Meeting with Hershey Associates |
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| April 3rd is the date for the joint Library Board and community meeting. Architects Moore Ruble Yudell and the Design Team will present the latest plan and interior design for the new Main Library. |
Plans for Board/Community Meeting |
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| Ms. Allard reported that the Library received instructions to cut 10% from the budget over the next two fiscal years, 5% each year. The Library has submitted a no growth budget for the fiscal year 2003 - 2004 and a list of cuts that includes layoffs and the restructuring of some departments. |
Library Budget |
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| The Governor plans to discontinue transaction-based reimbursement. Transaction-based reimbursement is a program that allows individuals to borrow materials from any library in the State. The State reimburses the Library for the cost to loan the materials. This is approximately a $200,000 a year loss in reimbursement for the Santa Monica Library. |
Statewide Budget Cuts |
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| Ms. Allard reported on the presentation she gave to the department heads regarding the Main Library building project. |
Leadership Presentation |
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| The Library Board asked that the following items be included in next Library Board agenda: update on the new Main Library; presentations from the architects and the design team. |
Agenda Building |
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| Boardmember Stern moved to adjourn the meeting. Boardmember Field seconded the motion. The motion was approved in a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40pm. |
Adjournment |
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| Attest: |
Approved: |
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| Winona Allard |
Gene Oppenheim |
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| Secretary |
Library Board Chair |
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