Minutes 08-23-17MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD
ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017, AT 6:00 P.M.
AT THE BOYNTON BEACH CITY LIBRARY, CONFERENCE ROOM A
208 S. SEACREST BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Chris Montague, Acting Chair
John Welter
Dr. Stephanie Hayden-Adeyemo
Alice Warren
Chris Simon
Tracy Tebo
Robyn Boucard
ABSENT:
Deborah Hoban, Chair
I. Call to Order
Craig Clark, Library Director
Anne Watts, Assistant Library Director
Jeannie Taylor, Division Head Librarian
In the absence of the Deborah Hoban, Chris Montague sat as the Chair.
II. Approval of Minutes — July 26, 2017 & June 28, 2017
Motion
Mr. Welter moved to approve the June minutes as presented. Chair Montague
seconded the motion that unanimously passed.
III. Correspondence and Communications
None.
IV. Public Audience (Individual Speakers Will Be Limited to 3 Minute
Presentations)
None.
V. Chair's Report
None.
Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida August 23, 2017
VI. Unfinished Business:
Jeannie Taylor, Division Head Librarian, advised she was still pursuing funding and
libraries coming on board which would help reduce the cost of the Career Online High
School. She anticipating staff will know what the cost will be on October 1. There are
currently six students and one is close to graduating next month. In total, they had nine
scholarships, two graduates and a third was forthcoming.
Summer Reading Club Report
Anne Watts, Assistant Library Director, announced the Summer Reading Club had
700 students, the Library was full most of the time and staff was compiling statistics by
zip code and schools. When finished, staff will submit the report to the Board. Most
students were neighborhood youth who walked to the Library. The most interesting
pieces for the teens had a whole unit on financial literacy, and members of the
community came in to speak about credit cards and payments, renting a house or
apartment, first, last, and security issues, car, car insurance and bank accounts. The
teens asked for this information, and they will continue with the program. It was a
pleasant change of circumstances for them. Many favorable comments were received
and it was nice for a man from the community to come in and speak. He wants to
come back and advise how to buy a house. The class was a real world class that
went beyond the student's immediate needs.
AmeriCorps Program Update
Ms. Watts announced the AmeriCorps volunteers started Homework Helpers this week
with two local volunteers. One volunteer, Pam, went to FAU and has about eight
students. There will be additional volunteers as there is high demand for homework
help which starts in October. The adult program will not start until after Labor Day. A
Boynton Beach resident will start training this week. The Library will again offer the
same classes: beginner, intermediate as well as one-on-one helping students that do
not fit either class. The Library will also use other volunteers as well. A full
complement of AmeriCorp volunteers for Palm Beach County is 40 volunteers and they
have 32 members this year. Fourteen people backed out in the last few weeks as
nationwide, there is a problem with individuals who can keep their commitments.
AmeriCorp is still recruiting and anyone interested can let them know. They will have a
high school volunteer to help high school students.
VII. New Business:
RB Digital — New Database
Mr. Clark, Library Director, explained there is a new app that just came out that will
replace the Zinio app. Zinio is used for online magazines, transparent language which
is another online product and staff currently is purchasing 5,000 audio book titles.
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida August 23, 2017
Users can access those three programs from one app, including audio books. It is not
yet installed, but it was anticipated to be available in the next few weeks. Recorded
Books (RB) Digital is one of the major producers of books on tape, books on CD Users
can download the app on Android or App Store and connect the Library card number.
The current Zinio app will automatically direct them to the new app. Zinio was made
available through the SEFLIN co-op and some from out of the co-op. Boynton Beach
has had a lot of requests for audio books. They are not the newest books, but they are
the tried and true and a basic starting point. It is a subscription and more than one
person can check out the same title at the same title.
Boynton Beach also has Overdrive because some of the co-ops purchased audio
books. Boynton Beach wanted to go over and above. It was noted Overdrive is fairly
expensive, but this gave the Library more options. The consortium is looking at other
options other than Overdrive, RB has digital books, if possible, all the books on
overdrive would be transferred to RB digital. Mr. Welter recommended using Hoopla.
Mr. Clark did not care for Hoopla because the Library would have to prepay as it uses
a pay per use model, which he did not care for. He would have to issue a check for
$12,000 and he would manage how many titles a patron could check out. Ms. Watts
explained each time Hoopla is used the $12,000 is debited down untii the balance is
zero. If a patron just wanted to download 10 books, the Library pays for the download
regardless if the patron erased them right away. By using RB Digital, the City would
pay a flat fee for one year and it would cost the same. RB Digital is a fixed cost and
Hoopla is unfixed. Mr. Clark was not comfortable with the model for a public library.
The County uses Hoopla because they are a large library system with a large collection
budget, but most like -sized libraries are not comfortable with it.
Library Building Construction — Board Discussion regarding the Public Meeting
with Architect & City Administration on Thursday, September 14, 2017 @ 4 p.m.
in the Library Program Room
Mr. Clark informed the Board when the Library was contemplated to be included with
the Town Square. He requested the team use an architect familiar with public libraries,
and Baker Barios brought in Aaron Cohen Associates, who has done over 100 public
Libraries and his son Alex, is a Librarian who also works for the firm. The son
requested a meeting with City Administration and the Library Advisory Board to discuss
what they think should be within the walls of the Library. He will facilitate the meeting
as it is a public meeting that has to be recorded. He hoped the members could attend
to provide their thoughts and take part in what the interior would look like. City
Manager Lori LaVerriere, both Assistant City Managers, Messrs. Groff and Howard,
and possibly the Economic Development Director, David Scott, would be present. The
meeting is set for September 14th at 4 p.m. in the Library Program Room.
Dr. Hayden had received an email about the meeting and was confused why she could
not ask the question when the email was sent to the Board. It had referenced
Sunshine Law. Mr. Clark responded he does not feel comfortable discussing items
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida August 23, 2017
with the Board at the same time outside of the meeting because of the Sunshine Law.
He could speak one-on-one with the members. It was explained members should not
respond by Reply All or send emails copying other Board members on matters that are
on the agenda or could potentially be on a future agenda. Those issues can only be
discussed at a Board meeting with minutes taken. Members having questions can
email Mr. Clark directly.
Ms. Warren noted a newspaper article about removing the Police Department, Library
and the Civic Center. She asked if the Library would be demolished. Mr. Clark
explained the plan could change, but it is part of the redevelopment as of yesterday.
Articles were included in the meeting materials. Chair Montague hoped the Board
would be united in their requests and have a game plan. He thought the Board could
offer a lot of information. Chair Montague proposed to have an extra meeting before
the public meeting so they can come to the meeting prepared. Mr. Welter respected
Library staff and the Board and noted he works for an institution that is undergoing a
massive architectural refurbishment project which was hoped to be a beacon in
architecture for the region.
Dr. Hayden asked if there would be an agreed on agenda at the Public input meeting
and what the Board's preferences were. At the last public meeting, the team is going
for a certain building style that has to flow. She did not know if another meeting was
needed. Chair Montague thought the members had great ideas. He would like to
compile the ideas and the Board sort through them to develop priorities in the hopes of
having those ideas heard. Ms. Tebo suggested using emails, but Chair Montague
preferred to meet as there is seldom such a significant item. He wanted all to make a
list of the things they want in a Library and they will discuss it at the meeting. Mr.
Simon explained the architects and consultant's prior plan was to maintain the two-
story portion of the Library as it exists, but there are problems with power and the new
portion has structural issues. Now, the City wants to completely replace the Library as
opposed to remodel.
Motion
Chair Montague moved to meet on Wednesday September 6t" at 6 p.m. Ms. Warren
seconded the motion that unanimously passed.
Ms. Tebo commented many people walk to the Library and it has a community
function. Mr. Clark advised staff is looking at temporary quarters off site and the
meeting will be to discuss the Library's interior. Dr. Hayden noted at the last meeting,
she raised the issue as construction was anticipated to last 18 months. Chair
Montague thought the Board should have pointed, clear ideas.
Ms. Boucard asked if the Board has seen the architect's work. Mr. Clark advised they
have a website. She thought if they could see what was already done, it could be a
trigger of what to ask. The website address was given as www.acohen.com. Mr.
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida August 23, 2017
Welter thought the website may not give inside of the physical space, but it discusses
how they gather their team and how they form an idea of a library as a structure to
embrace these concepts of technology and Library resources. Hard to find specific
photographs of their style, but they are working within an architectural team that will
supply the architectural infrastructure. The intent is to have a marriage of technology
and physical space.
It was suggested the members make a list of what they think is important. Dr. Hayden
did not want the new Library to be dark and because the Library will be like a mini -city,
she thought they needed a DVD section. She did not think the Library could be three
floors. She noted the life of the buildings is being designed for 60 years and she could
not fathom what may be obsolete or what would be needed in 60 years.
Ms. Warren explained San Antonio has the only library that has no books. There is no
printed material in that Library and they can study that library as a model. Mr. Clark
suggested a report from the Aspen Institute has an article called Rising to the
Challenge: Re -envisioning Public Libraries that may be helpful. Mr. Clark agreed to
email the website to the members. Libraries are multi -functional. Mr. Welter had heard
about a library system in East Boston where they engage the community on many
levels. They have seeds for gardening and a community resource programs. The
Library should reflect the Boynton Beach community.
At the special meeting, there is the chance Ms. Hoban would be present. Mr. Clark
requested he facilitate the meeting. Dr. Hayden advised she would not be present for
the September 6t" meeting and would email her thoughts to Mr. Clark.
VIII. Library Director's Report/Statistics
Monthly Report for July 2017
The Library report/statistics was reviewed. Unique Management reached a 60%
threshold on activation of accounts which was their target. They collected $170K which
was their annual materials budget and over a five-year period, one year of annual
materials budget had not been returned.
Customer visits were up 2.5%, circulation was down 14% from last year, E -Books
increased in circulation by 47% compared to last year, magazines were down. Mr.
Clark advised there will be some marketing materials coming out from SEFLIN soon.
Selfcheck was down. Eleven people attended the public computer training classes.
Ms. Taylor advised the Library was down to one instructor and the teacher was
providing instruction on email, computer basics, Word for beginner and intermediate.
An instructor was needed to teach Excel and Ms. Taylor was teaching iPads.
Mr. Clark announced the Library received a bid response of $36,000. The grant was
for $35,000 and work on the project to digitize the Lake Worth Herald will commence
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida August 23, 2017
October 1. Monies from the Lake Worth Public Library and the Lake Worth Herald will
be used to fund the $1,000 difference.
News/Media Coverage
Mr. Clark had included a few news media articles regarding Library activities. They
had a great return on investment for the Eclipse program. Ms. Watts commented
there is a recycling project for the Eclipse glasses, which will be sent to South America
in 2019. Mr. Welter explained the glasses his son received from school were only
good for one year.
IX. Announcements
The Town Square Public Input Meeting regarding Open Spaces was announced for
Thursday, August 24, 2017, at 5:30 p.m.
There is a special Library Board Meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at 6
p.m., in Library Conference Room A.
The next Regular Library Board Meeting will be held on September 27, 2017 at 6 p.m.,
Library Conference Room A.
X. Adjournment
Motion
Chair Montague moved to adjourn. Ms. Tebo seconded the motion that unanimously
passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
6;dt�
Catherine Cherry
Minutes Specialist
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