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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Library Board - 07/01/2014 Library Board Meeting Minutes July 1, 2014 Members Present: Brian Solarek, Rachel Buck, Sue Donahoe, Natalie Rogen, Margareta Fratila and Diana Broyles; members absent: John Keys,Julia Stafford, and Dr. Stuart Elovitz Staff Present: Laura Garcia, Library Director and Norma Gonzales, La Retama Central Library Public Service Manager Call to Order: Natalie Rogen called the meeting to order at 10:34 a.m. Approval of Minutes Motion for approval of the June minutes was made by Rachel Buck and seconded by Brian Solarek with the following corrections: members absent—... and Margareta Fratila. Mrs. Rogen added that Jessica Hamilton, Friends committee member, suggested establishing a Friends twitter account. Motion passed unanimously. Mrs. Rogen introduced Diana Broyles, current La Retama Club President and new Library Board Member. Ms. Broyles' and her family have been long time supporters of the library. The Gallery at La Retama Central Library was name after Ines Sterling Adams,former library board president and Ms. Broyles mother. Director's Report Mrs. Garcia reported that the Summer Reading Club (SRC) is underway. Weekly reports show there have been 165 children's programs with 8468 in attendance;4980 children have registered, circulation of juvenile books have been approximately 30,000 and adult circulation is over 60,000. A temporary librarian was hired for La Retama Central Library; there have been 14 programs at this location with approximately 400 in attendance. Children's programs are not offered at Central Library and this is the second year Central Library has had SRC programs. The Young Adult(YA) Reading programs at Harte Library is also on its second year. There have been 13 YA programs with an attendance of 182. A Para Professional from Flour Bluff ISD was hired temporary during the summer to facilitate the YA programs. The Friends of the Library are sponsoring the SRC and the YA programs. Ms. Garcia reported that the Steampunk Masquerade Ball a YA program is schedule at the Harte Library on July 25, from 6 p.m.to 9 p.m. The library is being recommended for 3 grants and if awarded funds will be used as follows: • The Texas Read grant is in the amount of$3000,which will go towards the 2015 SRC. The library's theme will be STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Superheroes. • The IMPACT grant is in the amount of$8373. This will be for Learn on the Run Mobile Computer Lap,tablets will be purchase and various technology classes will be conducted. Since the lab is mobile, classes will be offered at other libraries where meeting rooms are available, with the possibility of partnering with other agencies in the community. • The Special Project grant has a cap of$75,000, the library is being recommended for$37,226. This grant is for the purchase of iPads to provide technology related classes to the underserved in the community. The Connecting with the Community program will work with developmentally and intellectually disabled adults. Library will partner with Senior Centers, assisted living centers and shelters to offer services to individuals within those unserved population. Library will be purchasing network printers for 5 libraries with wireless printing capabilities. The current printers are over 14 years old. The printer at Garcia Library is on a lease program; therefore, it will not be replaced. Scanners will also be purchased for each of the libraries. The equipment will be setup by end of October. The EDGE reimbursement program provided the funding for this equipment. A Grant application for$63,000 has been submitted to the Ed Rachal Foundation for a portable planetarium. The library will be partnering with local schools giving students the opportunity to utilize the planetarium. A decision on the grant will be made by the end of July. Ms. Buck commented that she feels this is not the best use of funds as there is already a planetarium at King and the University. Mrs. Garcia commented that she was aware of these resources which are limited to the community due to hours and transportation. She stated that the library will be offering programs on weekends and hours that may be more convenient for families. A$1000 grant was awarded to the Friends of CCPL from the Texas Humanities that will be used to fund the 3rd Annual South Texas Music Program at McDonald Library in October. Friends of Library Mrs. Rogen thanked Rachel Buck,Julia Stafford and Jessica Hamilton for setting up the Friends' Facebook account. The account has close to 100 likes and some of the SRC programs have been posted. The memorial for Laverne Volk has over $1,200 and the family has requested for funds to be used in children literacy. New Business Motion was made by Brian Solarek and seconded by Rachel Buck to excuse Margareta Fratila from June's meeting. Motion passed unanimously. New programs will be introduced if Texas State Library and Archives Commission grants are awarded. Programing will be done at Rainbow House Metro Ministries and the Women's Shelter of South Texas. Margareta inquired about providing transportation for families from homeless shelters to library programs. Mrs. Garcia stated that the Library does not have that type of funding. La Retama Central Library will introduce an after school programming by October. Library staff will work with George Evans Elementary as their funding for afterschool programs was cut. Ms. Donahoe was very excited that the library was doing a steampunk program for teens. She recently toured a museum which dealt with steampunk technology. Ms. Donahoe defined steampunk as "what would it be like to live without electricity or such technologies." She stated steampunk is an imaginary style of creating objects with spare parts. A sub- genre of science fiction, alternate history and speculative fiction, steampunk came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves an era or world where steam power was still widely used. It incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy; the option of using steam. Mrs. Garcia explained that the YA programs at Harte Library have been well attended and teens are very excited about the upcoming steampunk ball. Public Comment None. Meeting adjourned at 11:34 a.m.