SANTA  MONICA  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BOARD

 

Minutes of the SPECIAL Meeting of February 1, 2007

To Be Approved

 

 

 

 

A SPECIAL meeting of the Library Board was called to order by Chairperson, Edward Edwards, at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 1, 2007 at the Administrative Conference Room, Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

 

Call to Order

PRESENT:

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

 

Roll Call

ALSO PRESENT:

Councilmember Kevin McKeown; Genise Schnitman, community member; Patricia Hoffman, community member; Wini Allard, Retired City Librarian; Greg Mullen, City Librarian; Rachel Foyt, Administrative Analyst

 

 

The Library Board attended the reception and toured the exhibit of modern Nordic furniture at the Main Library.

 

Reception & Tour of Nordic Lattitudes Furniture Exhibit

The educational exhibit showcasing the best in Nordic furniture and lighting design is a six week design installation and discussion presented by the Santa Monica Public Library, Friends of the Library, and Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners called Nordic LAttitudes. The installation highlights Nordic inspiration for the award winning new Library facility. Designers to be featured include Poul Henningsen, Verner Panton, Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjaerholm, Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen,and Poul Chritianson (Le Klint Lighting collection). Topics to be discussed will include the timelessness of classic modern design, cultural connections, historical influences, key design features and manufacturing and production methodologies. The Nordic Lattitudes exhibit runs February 1 – March 18. For more info: www.smpl.org/nordiclattitudes.

 

 

Staff distributed a letter from Emily Liman regarding an incident in the Children’s area.

 

Communications from the Public

Board discussion followed. Library staff and the Board will respond to Ms. Liman.

 

 

The Board discussed a letter from Robert Kesten regarding screen time awareness. The City Librarian will share the letter with the staff.

 

 

Boardmember Oppenheim made a motion to approve the minutes of the Library Board meeting of January 4, 2007.  Vice Chair Stern seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Approval of the Library Board Minutes

Greg Mullen, City Librarian gave a report on the Friends of the Library activities to the Board. The Friends met in January but they did not have a quorum. Therefore they could not conduct any business.

 

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

The City Information Management Division is installing devices on the City WiFi to help manage bandwidth and address issues of slow down. Additionally WiFi users will be directed to a disclaimer page that they will have to accept before they are allowed to use the City WiFi. The disclaimer page states that it is responsibility of each user to protect their computer against any potential abuse. The users’ computer would be recognized in subsequent visits and they would see a Library splash page.

 

New Splash Page & Disclaimer Page for WiFi Access at the Libraries

Board questions and discussion followed. Staff will follow up on questions from the Board.

 

 

The Board discussed an appropriate tribute to former City Librarian, Elfie Mosse.

 

Discussion of a Tribute to Elfie Asenath Mosse

The Board discussed a tribute to all City of Santa Monica, City Librarians vs. a tribute solely for Ms. Mosse. 

 

 

The Board requested input from staff as to an appropriate tribute for Ms. Mosse.

 

 

The Board reviewed the didactic label copy for the Stanton Macdonald-Wright mural panels. The didactic labels will be placed near the mural in four places around the second floor of the Main Library. The label has information about the artist Stanton Macdonald-Wright and the Santa Monica Public Library Mural. The didactic labels are in production and expected to be installed in February.  

 

Didactic Label Copy for the Stanton Macdonald-Wright Mural

No report.

 

Nationwide Current Library Trends - Review of Library Journal Articles

The Board viewed a clip that will run on Santa Monica Update about the teen program Through Our Eyes. Staff distributed a written report from Erica Tang, Young Adult Librarian.

 

Secretary’s Report

Report on “Through Our Eyes”

Through Our Eyes was a presentation on the importance of self-expression through spoken word and art that the teens gave on January 13 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium. The presentation included spoken word performances.

 

 

Mr. Mullen gave a report on the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum process. The lease was executed in October 2006 beginning the process. The Museum has 180 days after the signing of the lease to present deliverables including; design development plans, a preliminary budget, a construction estimate, a project schedule and documentation of funding for the project. These deliverables are due in April.

 

Update on the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum Process

The City has 60 days to review the documents. The Museum then has 30 days to revise the documents if needed. Other plan deliverables expected from the Museum are an operations plan including a staffing plan, hours of operation and activities, maintenance and security. The construction phase will begin following the approval of the plans. Initial tenant improvements are to be completed within 18 months.

 

 

Board discussion followed.

 

 

Mr. Mullen reported on the California Library Association Legislative Day in the District. Mr. Mullen visited Assemblymember Julia Brownly. They discussed the Public Library Foundation, transaction based reimbursement and library legislation.

 

Report on the Legislative Day in the District

Chair Edwards and Assistant City Librarian, Claudia Fishler, will be visiting Senator Sheila Kuehl’s office.

 

 

Amnesty week was held following the one year Main Library anniversary. 6,081 items were returned during that week and $8,131 in fines were waived.

 

Report on Amnesty Week

Indira Hale Tucker made a donation to the Library in honor of her husband Marcus O. Tucker. The Marcus O. Tucker Black Men of Courage Collection is a collection of books to inspire young adults of color. The collection will be celebrated in an event on February 24. A panel including the Hon. Marcus O. Tucker, Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court; Nathanial Trives, Businessman, former Councilmember and Mayor of Santa Monica; Lloyd Allen, Businessman; Dr. Shedrick Jones, Dentist; and P. Lamont Ewell, Santa Monica City Manager will speak.

 

Marcus O. Tucker Black Men of Courage Collection/Event

The Library Board asked that the following items be included in the next Library Board agenda: a tour of the Main Library facility; discussion of a tribute to former City Librarian, Elfie Mosse; discussion of a Council liaison for the Library Board; and discussion of attending the CALTAC workshop in Huntington Beach.

 

Agenda Building

Boardmember Oppenheim 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