Minutes 09-25-13Valerie Pleasanton, Secretary
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
Boynton Beach City Library
Library Advisory Board Minutes
September 25, 2013
The library advisory board meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Chair Jeannie Taylor. All board
members were present except for Barbara McGee. The minutes of the July 24, 2013 meeting were approved as
distributed.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Chair's Report: No report was given by the Chair. Library Director, Craig Clark reported the Read for the
Record program, which is sponsored by the Literacy Coalition, is scheduled for October 3 and that Mayor
Taylor would be participating along with many city employees.
Unfinished Business:
- Craig distributed the OverDrive e -books report for July. The report shows that Boynton's Overdrive patrons
checked out 738 items and there were 45 new users signed up during July and August.
- The Unique Management collection Services report was also distributed to the board. The collection service
results are up to 48.91%. We have recovered over $15,000 in fees and materials since the inception of the
program.
- A Staffing Update was given by Craig: Gail Katz , a Library Aide, has left and Megan H. is replacing her. A
part time library aide is leaving but will still volunteer. A page position is open and will be posted. The
Children's Librarian position is still open and will be reposted. Two additional part time aide positions are still
open.
- The proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning October 2013, has been approved by the City Commission.
Craig commented on a few minor changes to budget and answered board questions regarding electncal usage,
museum expenditures, and payroll.
New Business: The 2013 -2018 Library Long Range Plan was distributed. It has been approved by the City
Commission. The plan is required for receipt of State Aid grants. Craig discussed the need to convert some
under - utilized building space into meeting space to better serve patron needs. Assistant Director, Anne Watts,
discussed the need for a Digital Creative Commons (DCC) area for teens. The area will be used by the teens to
create, edit and record digital sound and video. The Teen Focus Group is involved with creation of a plan of
materials needed, rules for use, and technologies to be explored. The board was very supportive of the project.
The DCC will be utilizing some of the library's re- purposed building space. Anne also reported on the
Americore volunteer's literacy program. The volunteers assigned to the library have literacy classes which fill
up very quickly. The library is used as a training area for new Americore volunteers and is able to offer them
extended volunteer hours whenever their assigned agencies needs fall short. There are about 17 Americore
volunteers participating in literacy and tutoring programs at the library. New this year is a dedicated Teen
Homework Help space which is out of sight to encourage teens to use the service without encountering any
ridicule from other teens.
Library Director's Report: Craig distributed the monthly reports for July and August and discussed them
briefly. He also answered questions regarding the Library's Long Term Capital Plan and what projects are
planned. Craig also mentioned that he is on the city's CIP team now and that the capital improvement plans for
the whole city are resident in that budget.
Craig distributed a newspaper article which detailed the rapid rise in demand for e -books at most South Florida
libraries. The article noted that older patrons are especially interested in the e- books.
The next library board meeting is October 23, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.