SANTA  MONICA  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BOARD
 

Minutes of the REGULAR Meeting of March 4, 2004

To Be Approved
       

A REGULAR meeting of the Library Board was called to order by Chairperson, Kenneth Breisch, at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 4, 2004 at the Montana Ave. Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., Santa Monica.

  

Call to Order

PRESENT:

Chairperson Breisch, Vice Chair Edwards, Boardmember Field and Boardmember Oppenheim

 

Roll Call

ALSO PRESENT:

Greg Mullen, Assistant City Librarian and Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst

   

No report.

  

Communications from the Public

Vice Chair Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes of the Library Board meeting of February 5, 2004.  Boardmember Field seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote.

  

Approval of the Library Board Minutes

Jon Arenberg, Chair of the Friends of the Library, gave a report from the Friends February 9, 2004 board of directors meeting.  The Friends are in the process of conducting their fundraising market survey for a capitol campaign for the new Main Library. 

 

Report from the Friends of the Library, a Library Support Group

Mr. Arenberg reported that the Friends are holding a donor appreciation on March 13 from 1 – 3pm for donors of patio pavers for the Montana Avenue Branch.   The Library Board is invited to attend.  

   

At the April 2004 Friends of the Library Board meeting the Friends plan to approve their 2004/05 budget and hold elections for new Boardmembers.      

   

Mr. Mullen reported that three librarians from Santa Monica went to the Public Library Association Conference in Seattle.  The conference hosted a wide variety of programs related to public libraries.  Workshop tracks of interest to the librarians from Santa Monica were emergent literacy, reader’s advisory, customer service, marketing and management. 

 

Public Library Association Conference Report

The Board reviewed handouts from several of the conference workshops.

    

The Board discussed the summary of the budget request and enhancements for the 2004/05 fiscal year and budget plan for 2005/06 fiscal year.  

 

Budget Request 2004/05 and 2005/06

The Public Service Department is undergoing reorganization and the Literacy program will be eliminated.  The Literacy program has experienced declining activity in recent years.  Staff has already begun referring inquires to other programs in the area. 

   

The 2005/06 year enhancements are related to the additional operating costs for the Main Library.  There is the need for basic operating costs, one-time needs related to the opening, and CIP funds for the replacement cost of new computers. 

   

City Council will vote on the budget in June 2004.

    

The Board discussed a new date for the construction site tour. 

 

Main Library Building Project - Report

There have been a few delays due to the recent rains but the contractor rotates the construction crews to keep them working in other areas of the Main Library site so the project stays on schedule.  The contractor hopes to be at grade in April.   

   

The Board reviewed the exterior lighting plan with security and safety in mind.  Additional lighting will be added to the North entry garden for safety.  Lighting in other areas will be increased so there will be more light at night after the Library closes.  The planters near the paseo entrance on 7th Street will be rearranged to discourage camping by homeless individuals.

    

Library staff is working with City TV to produce two videos to promote the new Library.  One video will be for the Library Community and will focus on the process of building the Library.  The other video will be directed at Library patrons and focus on the features and how to use the new Library. 

   

Boardmember Oppenheim inquired about the library’s plans for a Bloomsday celebration.  On June 16th James Joyce fans around the world will honor the 100th anniversary of Leopold Bloom’s trip through Dublin in Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

 

Nationwide Current Library Trends - Review of Library Journal Articles
   

Secretary’s Report

Cynni Murphy, Image Archive Librarian, has learned that Arcadia Books is not allowed to contract with government agencies.  Arcadia plans to work with the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum on the photo book of Santa Monica.  Library staff hopes that they will be able to partner with the Historical Society to work on this project. 

 

Arcadia Book Collaboration

The Annual Board and Commission Dinner will be held on April 26th at 6pm at the Civic Auditorium. 

 

Annual Board and Commission Dinner

Susan Annett, Principal Librarian for Public Services, sent a written update to the Board on Citywide Reads. 

Book Discussion Leader Workshop. 4-5:30 p.m., Thursday, April 22. Nationally-recognized book group expert Rachel Jacobsohn, author of The Reading Group Handbook, offers a free workshop on learning how to become an effective book club moderator. Montana Ave. Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave. 829-7081.

The World in the Evening 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 4. A reading and talk about this Christopher Isherwood novel about a young writer by Isherwood expert Chris Freeman. Barnes & Noble, 1201 3rd Street Promenade.

 

Citywide Reads

Boardmember Field gave an update on her preparations for the CALTAC workshop on Saturday, March 27.  She asked for the Boards input on a bookmark she created as a giveaway containing Library programs and services.

  

CALTAC Workshop

Mr. Mullen reported that Michael Dukakis spoke to the Leadership team about the importance of recruiting people for public service. 

   

The Library has had a rash of magazine thefts.  An individual was taking whole backfiles of current magazines.  Staff installed a security camera in the periodicals area and asked desk staff to be extra vigilant.  When the individual was confronted he explained that he thought the magazines were free.  A police report has been filed.

   

The Library Board asked that the following items be included in next Library Board agenda:  report from Boardmember Field on CALTAC; Citywide Reads update; Main Library building report. 

 

Agenda Building

Chair Breisch adjourned the meeting at 8:35pm.

  

Adjournment

Attest:

Approved:

    

Greg Mullen

Kenneth Breisch

Assistant City Librarian

Library Board Chair