SANTA  MONICA  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BOARD

 

Minutes of the REGULAR Meeting of January 6, 2005

To Be Approved

 

 

 

 

A REGULAR meeting of the Library Board was called to order by Chairperson, Kenneth Breisch, at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 6,  2005 at the Montana Ave. Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., Santa Monica.

 

Call to Order

PRESENT:

Vice Chair Edwards, Boardmember Field, Boardmember Oppenheim and Boardmember Stern

 

Roll Call

ALSO PRESENT:

Greg Mullen, Acting City Librarian; Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst; Jeff Schwartz, Librarian I

 

 

No report.

 

Communications from the Public

Boardmember Oppenheim made a motion to approve the minutes of the Library Board meeting of December 2, 2004.  Boardmember Stern seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Approval of the Library Board Minutes

Greg Mullen, Acting City Librarian, reported to the Board on the activities of the Friends of the Library. The Friends have located a volunteer Treasurer who will replace the outgoing bookkeeper. The Friends are meeting and planning their book store in the new Main Library.

 

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

Esther Smicklas, Mayor Pam O’Connor’s mother, passed away. The family has asked that donations be made to the Friends of the Santa Monica Library and the Santa Monica Police Activities League in her memory.

 

 

Lucy Dyke, Transportation Planning Manager, spoke to the Library Board about parking around the Fairview Branch Library. She explained that while there is some unrestricted parking to the South, across Ocean Park Blvd., the majority of the parking is preferential for residents. Ms. Dyke used a map to illustrate parking around the Fairview Branch.

 

Discussion of Parking Regulations

Currently, there are five staff spaces behind the Library in the alley. There are parking meters along Ocean Park Blvd. and on 21st Street as far as the alley. There are approximately 15 metered parking spaces for patrons and five spaces for staff.

 

 

Current parking restrictions in the residential neighborhood are – no parking except for residents from 8am – 8pm Monday through Thursday and 8am -5pm on Friday.  The residents filed a petition for restricted parking due to the number of college students parking in the neighborhood. The type of parking regulations that were implemented are typical around big institutions.

 

 

Ms. Dyke explained that parking regulations can only be changed by the City Council and the residents would have to agree to any changes. To start the process residents would petition for a change and then a neighborhood meeting would be held. The best way to approach the residents would be through the neighborhood association. A member of the Friends of the Library has been talking to the Sunset Park Neighborhood Association.

 

 

Vice Chair Edwards explained that from 4 – 7pm seems to be the most difficult time for the library. There are a number of drop offs, pick ups and short stays during this time. Discussion followed.

 

 

The City can change the metered spaces to make them work more efficiently for the Library. The meters could be adjusted to run later or for a shorter amount of time. It is possible that the residents would allow the Library staff to park on the street and those staff spaces could be used for Library patrons.

 

 

The Library Board would like to hear a report from the Friends of the Library on their communication with the Sunset Park Neighborhood Association. The Board encouraged staff to think about changes that could be made to the meters on Ocean Park and ideas for alternate employee parking. A suggestion was made to observe Library visits to determine how patrons are using the library, how long they stay, how they parked, how they got there and how long they stayed.

 

 

Jeff Schwartz, Librarian I, spoke to the Board regarding the development of the Library’s graphic novel collection. Mr. Schwartz was asked to create the graphic novel collection and establish its policies and procedures in late 2000.  Graphic novels are adult literature and frequently take on subject matter not associated with comics. They contain an unusual visual style, complex narrative structure and challenging subject matter. They are not comic books. The Library collects graphic novels with artistic merit and lasting value and avoids open ended series. The adult graphic novel collection is separate from the young adult collection which includes superhero and action/adventure comics. Currently the Library has several hundred titles in the collection.

 

Discussion of Graphic Novels

Mr. Mullen reported that although the rain has affected the construction the work is still on schedule.

 

Report on the New Main Library Building Project

The project team is happy with the new sample table on loan at the Temporary Main Library.

 

 

Patrons are adjusting to the new book display at Temp Main. The idea was to make the new book collection more browsable. Circulation on the new non-fiction has gone up since the new display shelving has been in place.

 

 

Resource Management has completed the request for proposal (RFP) for the Library café. The RFP will be sent out shortly to newspapers, potential vendors and posted on both the City and Library website.

 

 

The Board discussed an article on broadband from the November 8, 2004 issue of Library Hotline. The Board also discussed a variety of articles dealing with library closures and construction and an article on books from rare collections that will be scanned and made available through Google.

 

Nationwide Current Library Trends - Review of Library Journal Articles

Ilene Fort, a museum consultant who worked with Morley and Moore Ruble Yudell on the Stanton Macdonald Wright mural, traveled to the Smithsonian American Art museum with a conservator to assess the condition of the mural panels. They identified the cost of transporting, restoration and installation of the mural at about $230,000. A grant for half of the amount was applied for from the State Library, California Cultural and Historical Endowment. They recently received word that they would be getting the grant. They feel confident that the work can be completed and the mural installed by the time the Library opens in January 2006. 

 

Secretary’s Report

Stanton Macdonald Wright Mural

Mr. Mullen distributed some sample photographs of new Inspector uniforms. The Library is thinking of going to a more casual uniform for the Inspectors. Since a majority of the Inspectors’ job is customer service they feel they would have a better relationship with patrons if they were not wearing a uniform that so closely resembled a police uniform.

 

Inspector Uniforms

The Library did receive an enhancement of $145,000 for an opening day collection. Staff is currently in the process of determining how the money will be spent.

 

Opening Day Collection

The Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition is currently working with artist, Don “Rojo” Davis, to develop art for the auditorium foyer to honor Martin Luther King Jr. The current idea is to put up a likeness of Dr. King and a quote. The Coalition has not yet determined which likeness or quote to use. 

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium

Mr. Mullen reported that City revenues have been higher this year. Some of the cuts that were made in the Library’s budget will be restored. Mr. Mullen asked the Board for their input on what they would like to see reported in the performance measures. Board discussion followed.

 

Budget Planning

The Library Board asked that the following items be included in next Library Board agenda: an update on the Santa Monica Historical Museum lease; Citywide Reads and upcoming programs.

 

Agenda Building

Vice Chair Edwards adjourned the meeting at 9:04 pm.

 

Adjournment

Attest:

Approved:

 

 

Greg Mullen

Kenneth Breisch

Acting City Librarian

Library Board Chair