SANTA MONICA PUBLIC
LIBRARY BOARD
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Minutes of the REGULAR Meeting of March 6, 2008 |
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To Be Approved |
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A REGULAR meeting of the |
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Call to Order |
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PRESENT: |
Boardmember Blackwell, Boardmember Breisch, Boardmember
Oppenheim and Vice Chair Stern |
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Roll Call |
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ALSO PRESENT: |
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Boardmember Oppenheim reported that he received comments
from a member of the public regarding the parking garage elevator. The
elevator does not go to the second floor of the Library when there are
meetings in the community meeting rooms. |
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Public Input |
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Staff explained that for the library security system to
work patrons have to utilize the interior Library elevators. The exterior
parking garage elevators have to remain locked during library hours or
patrons could leave with items they had not checked out. The exterior parking
garage elevators are used to provide access the meeting rooms before the
Library opens. |
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Boardmember Oppenheim made a motion to approve the minutes
of the |
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Approval of the
Library Board Minutes |
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Report from the
Friends of the Library, a Library Support Group |
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The Board discussed an email communication from Holly
Hofmann regarding the Friends of the Library Bookstore. The letter from Ms.
Hofmann was forwarded to the Friends of the Library including Kent Lewis the
Co-Chair of the Bookstore, Jon Arenberg the Chair and Lisa Pound the Vice
Chair of the Friends. |
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Communications from
the Public |
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Mr. Mullen explained that the public donate materials to
the Library and a member of the Reference staff is assigned to evaluate the
donated materials and determine which should be added to the Library
collection. Materials not added to the collection are donated to the Friends
for sale in the Bookstore. |
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Kent Lewis addressed the complaint and provided some
information on Bookstore procedures in a written email to the Library Board. |
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Mr. Lewis explained that the Bookstore receives approximately
1200 donations a day therefore; the turnover of materials needs to be quick.
Keeping books inexpensively priced is one way of recirculating books into the
community. The Friends’ Bookstore volunteers are involved in screening the
book donations and sell many of the more valuable items through special sales
or online. Additionally the Friends give away approximately 500 books a week
to various service organizations throughout Santa Monica. |
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Board discussion followed. The Board questioned whether or
not they have oversight of the Bookstore.
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Based on the response from the Friends the Board will
draft a response to Ms. Hofmann. |
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Wright Rix, Principal Librarian for Reference Services,
updated the Board on ongoing reference projects. Staff submitted a grant
application to the State Library for the digitization of the Santa Monica
Evening Outlook newspaper. Cynni Murphy, Image Archives Librarian, is working
on making the Image Archives available via WorldCat. A $5000 grant from the
Friends will fund a starter collection for audio books in Spanish that will
be housed at the Fairview branch and the Main Library. |
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Update on Reference
Service Projects and a Tour of the Reference Department |
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The Reference staff manages the budget for the collection
system wide and is involved in computer and graphic instruction for the
public and staff. Mr. Rix distributed a summary of Reference responsibilities
to the Board. |
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The Board toured the second floor Periodicals and Reference
department areas. In the Periodicals department the Board was updated on the
purchase of a new ST200X Digital Film
Viewer Scanner (aka Microfilm machine). |
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Mr. Rix reported that the new machine: supports microfilm
and microfiche; has the ability to save to USB and CD-R(W); has the ability
to save in JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and PDF; has the ability to scan in high
resolution from microfilm and slides; and emails PDF images. |
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The Board received a tour of the Reference Services
workroom that includes the humidity controlled negative storage for the Image
Archives. |
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The Board visited the Youth Services area to discuss the
parenting collection and area. The parenting collection contains information
and resources for parents and caregivers. There is also a space for parents
and caregivers to read to young children. Board discussion followed. |
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Youth Services
Reading Area |
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This year National Library Week is kicked off with an
event planned by the Santa Monica Public Library Teen Council. Culturejam: Around
the World in 4 Hours is a cultural celebration for people of all ages to
experience culture through dance, food, music, spoken word, and art. This event
will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. at the North
Entry Courtyard and parking lot of the Main Library. |
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National Library Week
Culturejam |
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For the past few months, Santa Monica teens have been
working hard to plan a cultural festival that celebrates, educates, and
entertains the Santa Monica community. This four-hour “tour” around the world
will feature culture-themed booths, storytelling, arts and crafts activities
for children, and a performance showcase. Activities include African
drum-making, origami, henna, and much more! Performers representing different
regions of the world, such as South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe will
educate the audience through music, dance, and spoken word. |
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Mr. Mullen distributed a mock up of the Library Board
plaque for the Main Library. Board discussion followed. The Board suggested
the name of the City Librarian and a building dedication date be added to the
plaque. |
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Discussion of a
Library Board Plaque at the Main Library |
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No report. |
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Nationwide Current
Library Trends - Review of Library Journal Articles |
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Library staff distributed the January 2008 Library monthly
statistics. |
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Secretary’s Report Library Monthly
Statistics |
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The Board discussed which Library projects to include in
the report to the Board and Commissions at the April 1 dinner. The report
will focus on the work and programs that took place at the Branches during
the past year. |
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Library Board Report
for the Board and Commission Dinner |
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Mr. Mullen reported that the Santa Monica Historical
Society has hired an interior designer for the Museum and plans to hire a
contractor by the end of June. The staff of the Historical Society plan for
the Museum to open in March 2009. |
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Report on the Santa
Monica Historical Society Museum |
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Library staff distributed the reader’s guide for Citywide
Reads 2008. |
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Report on Citywide
Reads 2008 |
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Public Services staff is posting events and activities on
the blog developed for Citywide Reads http://www.santamonicacitywidereads.blogspot.com/. |
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The Library staff submitted two budget enhancement
requests for fiscal year 2008/09, expanded hours for Martin Luther King Jr.
Auditorium rentals and expanded Sunday hours at the Main Library. |
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Library Budget
Request |
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Currently the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium is
available for rental only during regular Library hours. The Library staff has
had numerous requests from the community to have the rental hours for the
Auditorium expanded. The additional cost for staff during expanded hours for Auditorium
rentals will be offset by a security coverage fee paid by the renter. |
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Per the Library Board’s recommendation Library staff
requested expanded Sunday hours at the Main Library. Expanded hours would be
10am to 5:30pm. The cost for expanded hours would be approximately $160,000. |
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The Library Board asked that the following items be
included in next Library Board agenda: a tour of the Fairview Branch Library;
discussion of the Library Board plaque and a report on the annual Board and
Commission dinner. |
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The Board will hold the April Board meeting in the
Community Room at the Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd. |
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Location for the
April Library Board Meeting |
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Boardmember Oppenheim moved to adjourn the meeting. Boardmember Breisch seconded the
motion. The motion was approved in a
unanimous voice vote. The meeting was
adjourned at 9:02pm. |
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Adjournment |
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Attest: |
Approved: |
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Dan Stern |
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City
Librarian |
Library
Board Vice Chair |
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