SANTA  MONICA  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BOARD

 

Minutes of the REGULAR Meeting of March 3, 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, March 3, 2005 at the Montana Ave. Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., Santa Monica.

 

Call to Order

PRESENT:

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

 

Roll Call

ALSO PRESENT:

Greg Mullen, Acting City Librarian; Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst; Liz Bar-El, Associate Planner; Jon Arenberg, Chair of the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library

 

 

No report.

 

Communications from the Public

Boardmember Field made a motion to approve the minutes of the Library Board meeting of February 3, 2005.  Boardmember Stern seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Approval of the Library Board Minutes

The Board heard a presentation by Liz Bar-El, Associate Planner, on Shape the Future 2025, the City’s new land use and circulation elements and zoning ordinance project. 

 

Presentation by the Planning Division

Ms. Bar-El began her presentation by giving out the answers to the historic photography quiz and explaining the General Plan. The General Plan is the blueprint for development in the City in all different spheres. Planning staff is currently working on the land use and circulation elements.  Both of these components affect the zoning ordinance and are the policies that guide development in the city for both private and public property.

 

 

In December of 2004 City Planning began the public outreach portion of the two year Shape the Future 2025 project. Planning staff is currently conducting a survey, Vision for Santa Monica, holding workshops and attending meetings to receive public input. The project also has a website www.shapethefuture2025.com. Posted on the website are the results from the Vision for Santa Monica survey. 

 

 

Youth in Santa Monica schools, both public and private, have been working with their teachers on a special Shape the Future 2025 Youth Planning Program.  The goal of this program is for Santa Monica youth to think about how they live and get around in their community and to form their own visions for the future.  After-school programs such as the Police Activities League (PAL) and CREST are also participating. 

 

 

The Youth Planning Project will culminate with an open house youth forum taking place on Thursday, April 21, 2005 at Santa Monica High School. Participants’ projects will be displayed and students will make presentations to the community.

 

 

Jon Arenberg, Chair of the Friends of the Santa Monica Library, gave a report to the Board on the recent Friends activities. At the February meeting the Friends discussed their strategic plan for the remainder of the year. Their strategic plan concentrates on two main areas; to occupy the book store and grow the organization with increased opportunities for volunteerism. Subcommittees have begun working on these issues. The Friends Board reviewed their budget for the interim three months (March – June) until the next years budget starts in July 2005.

 

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

Mr. Arenberg reported that largely through the efforts of Rachel Foyt a number of library staff contribute to the Friends of the Library through the City of Santa Monica charitable giving program.

 

 

Library staff asked the Board to approve modifications in the wording of the Library Rules of Conduct. Modifications were developed through a number of suggestions from staff and feedback from the City Attorney’s office.

 

Library Rules of Conduct

The Board asked for follow up on the Huntington Beach Public Library cell phone use policy.

 

 

Boardmember Oppenheim made a motion to accept the Library Rules of Conduct as amended. Boardmember Field seconded the motion. The motion passed in a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

Chair Breisch discussed Library participation in Curating the City the Los Angeles Conservancy’s tour of Wilshire Blvd. The event that takes place in October 2005 is a one day tour of Wilshire Blvd from downtown to the ocean. Numerous sites, businesses and organizations along Wilshire Blvd will be involved. In addition to the tour there will be approximately two months of ancillary events. The Library is interested in participating. Chair Breisch will make reports to the Board as the plan develops.

 

LA Conservancy Tour of Wilshire Blvd.

The Board reviewed carpet samples and a sample of the hand rail for the New Main Library.

 

Update on the New Main Library

The roof work at the New Main Library is 90 percent complete. Installation of the doors, gutters and raised flooring will begin. Mechanical work for the elevators is almost complete. The Morley and City trailers at the construction site will be moved away at the end of April and staff will set up offices in the building.

 

 

The Board discussed if there has been any progress on the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum located in the new Main Library. The museum is in the midst of a $5 million capital campaign.

 

 

The Board discussed RFID tags for the Library collection. The Library has a plan for tagging materials and implementing the new system.

 

Nationwide Current Library Trends - Review of Library Journal Articles

The Santa Monica Public Library teen website www.smplteens.org received kudos in Voya magazine.

 

 

The Library Teen Council and Catherine Ronan, Young Adult Librarian, organized a battle of the bands on the pier. Prospective bands submitted demo tapes and the Teen Council selected the five bands to participate in the event. Over 200 teens attended the event at the Arcadia on the pier. The event received good press coverage in the Santa Monica Observer. 

 

Secretary’s Report

City Librarian, Wini Allard’s, retirement is official. The Library Board wants to write a letter of thanks. Board discussion followed.

 

City Librarian Retirement

Consultant, Ilene Forte, and a conservator viewed and evaluated the Stanton MacDonald-Wright mural panels at the Smithsonian. They have written a report on the condition of the panels. 

 

Stanton MacDonald Wright Mural

Mr. Mullen reported that fabrication of the art piece, Underwater Canopy, by Carl Cheng for installation in the Main Library café is nearing completion. The metal skin will be installed in late March and the glass will be installed on a future date.

 

Carl Cheng Artwork

400 people attended the gang violence workshop at John Adams Middle School. Library staff participated.

 

Gang Violence Workshop

The annual Board and Commission Dinner is March 28. All Boardmembers are encouraged to attend. Vice Chair Edwards will tape a 60 second report for City TV which will be shown at the Board and Commission Dinner.

 

Board and Commission Dinner

The Board discussed the results of the Friends of Sunset Park Neighborhood Survey. The Library will include some questions regarding parking at the Fairview Branch in its’ April Customer Satisfaction Survey. 

 

Friends of Sunset Park Neighborhood Survey

The Library Board asked that the following items be included in next Library Board agenda: update on the Marketing RFQ.

 

Agenda Building

Vice Chair Edwards moved to adjourn the meeting.  Boardmember Oppenheim seconded the motion.  The motion was approved in a unanimous voice vote.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:55pm.

 

Adjournment

Attest:

Approved:

 

 

Greg Mullen

Kenneth Breisch

Acting City Librarian

Library Board Chair