SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
Minutes of the REGULAR Meeting of November 2, 2006
To Be Approved
A REGULAR meeting of the Library Board was called to order by Chairperson, Edward Edwards, at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 2, 2006 at the Administrative Conference Room, Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.			Call to Order
PRESENT:	Chairperson Edwards, Boardmember Field, Boardmember Oppenheim and Boardmember Stern		Roll Call
ALSO PRESENT:	Ellen Braby, Head of Youth Services; Susan Annett, Head of Principal Services; Greg Mullen, City Librarian; Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst
Ellen Braby, Head of Youth Services, gave a report on the 2006 Summer Reading program.			Report on 2006 Summer Reading
The theme for 2006 was Paws, Claws, Scales and Tails. This is the first year in four years that all the branches were open. The Main Library drew kids from the Montana and Ocean Park Branches while the Fairview Branch enrollment remained the same.
In total over 1500 kids enrolled. The teen enrollment remained steady at 378. Over 500 crab hats and 900 plush animals were given out as prizes to children who completed the program.
As part of summer reading local author Sonya Sones did a poetry writing workshop with teens for three days over a week. Summer reading ended with a party for teens that completed the reading program.
Board discussion followed.
Susan Annett, Head of Public Services, reported on the 2007 Citywide Reads selection. Ms. Annett announced that Public Service Librarians Nancy Bender and Robert Graves are co-chairing the Citywide Reads program for 2007.			Citywide Reads Selection 2007
The committee chose The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger as the 2007 selection. The book is a national bestseller and won the 2004 Alex Award. It also won a 2006 “Nibbies” Award for Best Fiction given by the members of the British publishing trade.
The short list for Citywide Reads 2007 included The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Ha-Ha by Dave King and The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
The Library Board toured the Youth Services department. The tour highlighted the Teen Lounge including the new Blik wall graphics, the young adult study rooms, the Children’s and parenting area, the Children’s Activity Room and the Youth Services staff workroom.			Tour of Youth Services Department
The Board received two communications from the public.			Communications from the Public
The first was a complaint addressing a need for additional bike racks at the Main Library. Library staff is in the process of working with a vendor to purchase and install additional bike racks.
The second complaint addressed a problem with the self check out stations. The problem was a temporary one and has been corrected by library staff. If a transaction at the self check out station was interrupted the patron’s information would remain on the screen and subsequent items could be checked out to them.
Item tabled until the December meeting.			Approval of the Library Board Minutes
Greg Mullen, City Librarian, gave a report on the Friends activities to the Library Board.			Report from the Friends of the Library, a Library Support Group
The Friends bookstore income remained strong. Martha Goode became the Co-Chair of the Bookstore. The Friends published a new membership brochure and had a table at the Fairview 50^th Anniversary celebration. They also attended the City’s Charitable Giving Fair held at City Hall. At the Fair City Staff had the opportunity to meet and speak with staff from various charities.
Chair Edwards reported on the Cultural Affairs Division community meeting he attended. The meeting was on the vision for the future of the arts and culture in Santa Monica. Through a year long process the Santa Monica community has communicated a vision for the future of the arts and culture in Santa Monica. Based on research and dialogue with residents a plan called Creative Capital for the city’s cultural development was created.			Survey Says… Santa Monica Loves the Arts!
The Cultural Affairs Division plans to unveil more of the report at future community meetings. The next meeting is November 8. Chair Edwards encouraged the Library Boardmembers to attend.
The Los Angeles County Library has a program offering no-fault library cards to children in foster care. Los Angeles County Mayor, Mike Antonovich, sent a letter to all city librarians in Los Angeles County asking libraries to participate in the program.			No Fault Library Card for Foster Children
In the program foster children are allowed to check out books and do not incur a fine for overdue materials. Youth Services staff is working on guidelines to implement a program in the Santa Monica system.
Library Board discussion followed.
The Board discussed a recent Library Hotline article City of Redding, CA, Library Moves Toward LSSI Contract.			Nationwide Current Library Trends - Review of Library Journal Articles
On October 30 a staff in-service day was held. Warren Graham, who was the head of security at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina, spoke about security in libraries.			Secretary’s Report Report on the October 30 Staff In-Service Day
The afternoon session was devoted to the new Customer Service standards developed by the city team. Shana Johnson from the Library, Jill Jones from Human Resources and John Gavares presented the afternoon program on customer service. The day also included a team building exercise for staff.
Approximately 130 staff members participated in the day. A survey was sent out to staff to evaluate the day.
The Fairview 50^th Anniversary Celebration was held October 21. The day began with puppet show featuring Woody. Following the puppet show children played with hula hoops and silly putty while a DJ played 50’s music. In the afternoon a hot dog vendor gave out free hot dogs. There was also free shaved ice and popcorn. Two afternoon music shows featured the Mighty Echoes, a doo wop group.			Report on the Fairview 50^th Anniversary Celebration
Kenn Bicknell was hired to fill the Librarian III vacancy in Information Management. Currently library staff is recruiting for the Principal Librarian position in Information Management. The panel interviews have been completed for the Assistant City Librarian position. Two Staff II’s have started work and two more have been hired to start in the next few weeks.			Library Staff Recruitments
The Library Grand Opening Publicity Campaign received a Prism Award from the Public Relations Society of America.			Library Grand Opening Campaign Receives Prism Award
A photograph of the new Main Library will be featured in the 2007 SirsiDynix calendar.			Photograph to Appear in SirsiDynix Calendar
The Library Board asked that the following items be included in next Library Board agenda: an update on the planning for the one year celebration for the Main Library; an update on the facilities maintenance for the Main Library; a follow up on the bikes racks at the Main Library; an update on Creative Capital from the Cultural Affairs Division; a report from the Teen Council; a report from the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum; a tour of the circulation department; and dates of upcoming library conferences.			Agenda Building
The Library Boardmembers need to take a two hour training on ethics. The dates for the training are November 21, November 28 and December 2.
Boardmember Field moved to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chair Stern seconded the motion. The motion was approved in a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm.			Adjournment
Attest:		Approved:
Greg Mullen		Edward Edwards
City Librarian		Library Board Chair