Minutes 02-28-24 Minutes of the Library Board Meeting
Held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 6:00 P.M.
At City Hall Commission Chambers
100 E. Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida
PRESENT:
George Feldman, Chair Jeannie Taylor, Library Director
Joel Barsky Tiffany Pagan, Assistant Library Director
Ellen Jones
Stephanie Colaianni
ABSENT:
Marcia Levine
Margaret Newton
I. Call to Order— George Feldman
Chair Feldman called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
Introduction of new Board Members Ellen Jones and Stephanie Colaianni
Chair Feldman stated that there were new members appointed to the Board, and he
asked them to briefly introduce themselves.
New Board Member Stephanie Colaianni stated that she is in digital marketing, and she
was born and raised in Boynton Beach. She likes to volunteer with the animal shelter
and soup kitchen, and she sits on the Boynton Beach Sister Cities Board. She explained
the purpose of the Boynton's Sister Cities organization.
Dr. Ellen Jones stated that she teaches for the University of St. Augustine and for Palm
Beach County in the substance use and mental health division of community services,
mostly on the opioid response. She is a part-time program evaluator and there is an
opioid settlement with the County and she holds the public hearings for subcommittees
every other month. She stated that she has lived in Palm Beach County for three and a
half years, with three of them in Boynton Beach. She said that she loves the City and she
previously served on the Art Advisory Board. She want to see the City do well and she
wants to be a part of it.
Joel Barsky commented that he is from Boynton Beach, and originally from New York.
Been in Boynton nearly all his life. He works for AmeriCorp and they work with the Library
He said that he has been with the agency for eight years and that he has been involved
with the library since he was little. He advised that he has been on the Board for a few
Library Board
Meeting Minutes
Boynton Beach, Florida February 28, 2024
months now and he mentioned that he hoped the Library receives the Library of the Year
Award, every year.
George Feldman stated that he has lived in Boynton since 1996 and he has served on
the Board for more than two years. He said that he loves the City and the new City Hall
is a dramatic change.
II. Approval of Minutes — December, 2023
Motion
Chair Feldman moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Barsky seconded the motion.
III. Correspondence and Communications Thomas Devlin Resignation
Ms. Taylor announced that Mr. Devlin sent her correspondence stating that he resigned
from the Board. She believed that he was appointed to serve on another Board and noted
that people can only serve on one.
IV. Public Audience (Individual Speakers Will Be Limited to 3 Minute
Presentations)
None
V. Chair's Report — Board Chair
Mr. Feldman commented that recently, they had horrendous weather. He hoped in the
future that people try to make the meetings. He also explained that he has heard that the
State is trying to remove any books that have images of nudity.
Ms. Taylor responded that the State had not contacted the Library informing her of the
change. She pointed out that most of what the State deals with regarding books has to
do with the schools. She also stated that she attended a Director's Meeting in
Tallahassee in January and no such direction to that effect was given.
VI. Unfinished Business: Staffing Update — Jeannie Taylor Career Online High
School Program Update — Jeannie Taylor
Ms. Taylor explained that they have anew Archivist. She advised that she likes the Board
Members to meet each new librarian and he will be at the next meeting. She advised that
one customer relations staff member retired, so they will be hiring for that position. She
added that they usually post these positions internally, because they have long-time, part-
timers with lots of experience looking for full-time work.
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Library Board
Meeting Minutes
Boynton Beach, Florida February 28, 2024
Ms. Taylor commented that they have not been successful hiring a new Digital Librarian
to operate the Creative Edge Studio. The responding applicants did not fit the bill or
turned the position down. She advised that they will approach two state universities where
librarians obtain their masters and advertise the position there. She noted that they have
had success doing so in the past.
Ms. Taylor reported that the Career Online High School is booming and Graduate Number
22 wants to celebrate her graduation and she is trying to get them on the City Commission
agenda in March. She said in the last three weeks, she had three new students on
scholarships and that there has been lots of interest in the program. The criteria for the
program is the student has to live or work in the City, be over 19 years old and have a
library card. Since they are using local budget funds for the scholarship, only residents
can be funded. She said that occasionally, they receive funds from the State, but they
are usually cut. She announced that if funds from the State are received, they open up
the program to residents of Palm Beach County She stated that they will continue to
apply for grants to fund the program.
Dr. Jones stated that her background is in grant writing and she offered to help with
grants.
VII. New Business Nomination and selections for Chair and Vice Chair Board
Participation in Library Programs
Chair Feldman commented that the election of Chair and Vice Chair occurs every year.
Mr. Barsky said that he is interested in serving as Vice Chair.
Ms. Taylor stated staff keeps the Board up to date about data so they can see what people
are doing and using in the library, what is going on with the community and what the
Library has to offer. She said that Board Members serve as Ambassadors and that if
members see a library activity they like, they can participate in it. The members can also
convey what the public would like to see at the Library. She noted that there are a lot of
activities at the Library.
Ms. Taylor explained the Chair runs the meeting and Vice Chair sits in his/her place to
run the meeting when the Chair is absent. She noted the Chair also makes a presentation
to the CC once a year.
Motion
Chair Feldman moved to nominate of Ms. Colaianni as Chair. Dr. Jones seconded the
nomination. There were no other nominations. The motion passed unanimously.
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Library Board
Meeting Minutes
Boynton Beach, Florida February 28, 2024
Motion
Dr. Jones nominated Joel Barsky as Vice Chair. Ms. Colaianni seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Library Director's Report/Statistics November, December 2023 and January
2024 Monthly Reports
Ms. Taylor explained she included the Ordinance in the Board packets. She noted that
November and December meetings were combined.
Ms. Pagan explained that when they apply for a Library State Aid Grant, they are required
to include annual statistical reports.
Dr. Jones stated that would like to see trend statistics over time and new programs
offered. She said it may help with other grants outside of the state money.
Ms. Taylor explained they recently applied for two grants for graphic novels and for
programing related to it. She said that the second grant was for more items for the Virtual
Zone. She advised that they always work with economic development to support small
business. They have the sound booth in the Teen Virtual Zone, but wanted to see if they
could get small business owners to use it for pod casts and they needed video equipment,
a green screen and other equipment to obtain needed equipment to be used for small
business in the mornings when children are in school.
Dr. Jones stated that she can help with any data that shows Boynton has unique needs,
because she does that for the county.
Mr. Barsky said that h would like to see the equipment and software they have.
Dr. Jones also would like to visit.
Ms. Taylor said that they would set something up. She commented that if Bianca is
working the evening of the next meeting, they can view it after the meeting
IX. Announcements Next Library Board Meeting — March 27, 2024 Chair
announced next meeting.
Ms. Colaianni said that she will be out of town in May.
Mr. Barsky spoke about finding new DVD's in the Library.
Ms. Pagan explained how the Library handles the materials. She noted new material is
depicted with a sticker. They can also be found in the online catalogue and even if it was
ordered but not yet received, it can be put on hold.
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Library Board
Meeting Minutes
Boynton Beach, Florida February 28, 2024
X. Adjournment
Motion
Dr. Jones moved to adjourn. Mr. Barsky seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:31 P.M.
Catherine Cherry
Minutes Specialist
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