ALACHUA COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2010, 5:30 PM
HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY, FOUNDATION ROOM,
401 EAST UNIVERSITY AVENUE, GAINESVILLE, FL
PRESENT: Chair Dorothy Field, Vice Chair Kim Worley, Trustees Sheila Dickison, Vivian Filer, Xavier Monroe, and Gloria Moore
ABSENT: Trustee Ryan Litsey
ALSO PRESENT: Library Director Sol M. Hirsch, Assistant to the Library Director Terry J. Rasch, Support Services Division Director Marlene Harris, Financial Services Administrator Debra Jackson, Administrative Services Administrator Suzi Blaze, Administrative Assistant Jan Scales, Staff Assistant Stephanie Ksionzyk, Foundation Chair Marjorie Alexander, Foundation Member Laura Shaw, and Joanne Auth
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I. |
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CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA |
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm. Ms. Worley moved approval of the agenda. Ms. Filer seconded the motion. Motion carried.
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II. |
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MINUTES OF MARCH 17, 2010 MEETING |
The minutes were approved by consensus.
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III. |
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GUESTS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS |
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A. |
Welcome and Introduction of New Board of Trustees Members – Ms. Field, Trustees Chair and Mr. Hirsch, Library Director |
All members present introduced themselves.
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IV. |
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COMMITTEE REPORTS |
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A. |
Friends of the Library Report – Ms. Hirsch, Library Director |
The Spring 2010 Book Sale will begin Saturday, April 24, 2010 and will run through Wednesday, April 28, 2010. A bagpiper will lead customers into the Bookhouse to start off the sale on Saturday morning. The Friends also raffled a basket to raise money for the FLA scholarship fund at FLA Conference. The gardening-themed basket raised $110.
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B. |
Foundation Board of Directors Report - Ms. Alexander, Foundation Board of Directors Chair |
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Ms. Alexander distributed a list of Committees for FY 2009-2010. Preparations continue for the Author Gala featuring Michael Connelly November 7, 2010, at the Hilton. Ms. Shaw, Foundation member, also reported that they are continuing to look for sponsors for the Author Gala. As of now, the Foundation has received three sponsors at the $5,000 level. Table sponsors are $1,000. Recorded Books will be bringing in audio narrator George Guidall to do a reading at the Gala. Ms. Shaw noted that Michael Connelly’s website has a link to the Foundation’s website, and vice versa. |
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V. |
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS |
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(No items submitted in this category.) |
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VI. |
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NEW BUSINESS |
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A. |
Election of Board of Trustees Chairperson and Board of Trustees Vice Chairperson – Mr. Hirsch, Library Director |
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Chairperson: Ms. Field nominated Ms. Worley. Ms. Filer seconded. The nomination was approved by majority vote. Vice Chairperson: Mr. Monroe nominated Ms. Filer. Ms. Worley seconded. The nomination was approved by majority vote. |
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B. |
Board of Trustees Committee Assignments |
Ms. Field and Ms. Worley will remain on the Pension Advisory Committee. Mr. Monroe asked to join them. Mr. Monroe agreed. Ms. Dickison volunteered to serve as the Foundation Board of Directors Liaison, and Ms. Moore volunteered to serve as the Friends of the Library Liaison. Ms. Field requested to serve on the Minutes Committee. Ms. Filer asked to remain on the Legislative Committee, and Mr. Monroe volunteered to serve as well. Pending his agreement, Mr. Litsey will continue to serve on the Legislative Committee. Appointments will be finalized at the May 19, 2010, Trustees meeting.
The Legislative Committee is active now due to the possible cut of State Aid. Mr. Hirsch stressed that the legislators are looking for supporters to speak up and let them know why libraries are important to the State of Florida. The FLA website has a form through CapWiz to easily contact the legislators. Mr. Hirsch will email the link for the website to the Trustees.
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VII. |
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INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE NO ACTION |
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A. |
Monthly Report (March 2010) |
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Mr. Hirsch explained the purpose and structure of the monthly reports to the new Trustees. He noted that most of the statistical categories are higher than the previous year. During the first month that the newly renovated Millhopper Branch was open, over 63,000 materials were circulated. With only 110,000 items in the branch’s collection, this is outstanding. |
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Ms. Dickison asked why the large difference in the number of items owned presently and that of the previous year. Mr. Hirsch explained that prior to the new RFID tagging system, the Library District underwent an intense weeding process. Since then, a large amount of materials were added when the Library Partnership was opened, and the Library District has been increasing the amount of ebooks that are offered. |
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Mr. Monroe asked if the Library District would be able to provide weeded materials to youth who otherwise would not have books. Mr. Hirsch replied that many items that are weeded are no longer in useful condition. For those materials that are in good shape, the Library District works with United Way to put books in children’s homes. Ms. Harris, Support Services Division Director, stated that some materials are also given to the Friends of the Library for their book sales. The Friends purchase books every year for head start programs. |
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B. |
Governor’s Community Investment Award – ACLD High School Internship Program |
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The Governor’s Community Investment Award was given to the Library District for its High School Internship Program. The program provides high school juniors and seniors with job mentoring, money management, work expectations, life skills, and work experience. Mr. Hirsch commended Phillis Filer for an outstanding job coordinating the program. |
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C. |
Florida Library Association’s – “Library of the Year Award” |
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ACLD and the Orange County Library System received “Library of the Year” awards at the FLA Conference. Governor Crist declared April as Library Appreciation Month. Similar proclamations have been declared in the cities of Waldo, Newberry, Alachua, and Gainesville and also in Alachua County and the School Board of Alachua County. |
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D. |
US Holocaust Memorial Museum Traveling Exhibit – “The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933-1945” |
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The Library District will be hosting the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Traveling Exhibit “The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933-1945” beginning May 5, 2010. The display will be on the main floor of the Headquarters Library and will feature about 32 panels. Dr. Geoffrey Giles, a professor at the University of Florida that helped create the exhibit, will make a presentation at the reception scheduled for May 10, 2010. The Library District hopes to collaborate with the Equal Opportunity Offices of the City of Gainesville and Alachua County to provide some programs on the subject. The City of Gainesville’s Dismantling Racism series may have the exhibit as a feature topic. |
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E. |
Thank You Letters – The League of Women Voters of Alachua County/Gainesville |
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The Library District received two “thank you” letters from the League of Women Voters of Alachua County/Gainesville in appreciation for the Library District’s collaboration to celebrate the League’s 90th Anniversary, Women’s Right to Vote, and Women’s History Month. |
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F. |
Thank You Letter – Former Trustee Harold B. Wilbur |
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Former Trustee Harold B. Wilbur thanked staff for sending him a plaque in recognition of his time served on the Board of Trustees and wished staff and Trustees the best. |
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G. |
Preliminary Discussions with Child Development Services – Lease of Tower Road Branch Library Property |
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The Library District has begun preliminary discussions with Child Development Services, a nonprofit organization that provides pre-head start/childcare services to low income families, to lease property at the Tower Road Branch Library. They currently have modulars set up at Wiles Elementary School, but due to an expansion project, the organization will soon be displaced. The Library District has also been in contact with the Southwest Advocacy Group, a community organization interested in providing social services in the Southwest area of Gainesville similar to those at the Library Partnership, and is advising them of the Library District’s efforts concerning CDS. T Mobile is still interested in setting up a cell phone tower on the Tower Road Branch property. The Library District will be able to move forward with both projects. Neither project would impact possible future expansion of the Tower Road Branch. |
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H. |
Library Press Releases and Publicity |
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Mr. Hirsch briefly reviewed the attached information. |
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I. |
2010 City Beautification Award – Millhopper Branch Library Landscape |
The Library District will be receiving a 2010 City Beautification Award on April 28, 2010, for the landscaping and irrigation at the newly expanded Millhopper Branch Library.
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VIII. |
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMENTS |
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IX. |
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CITIZEN COMMENT |
Laura Shaw discussed the ACLD Foundation and its interaction with the Friends of the Library for the new Trustees.
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X. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
The meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm.
