Minutes 01-22-20 MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
HELD ON JANUARY 22, 2020, AT 6:00 P.M.,
AT INTRACOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE
2240 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
Present:
Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo, Vice Chair Jeannie Taylor, Assistant Library Director
Elizabeth Sherlock
Robyn Boucard
George Feldman
1. Call to Order—Annual Election of Board Officers — Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary
Vice Chair Hayden-Adeyemo called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Self-introductions were made. A quorum was present.
Vice Chair Hayden-Adeyemo asked if anyone was interested in filling the above positions.
Mr. Feldman volunteered to be the Chair. There were no other nominations for Chairman.
Mr. Feldman advised he could attend all the meetings. It was mentioned if a member
could not attend a meeting, members should contact the Board Secretary or the City
Clerk.
Motion
Ms. Boucard moved to nominate Mr. Feldman as Chair. Ms. Sherlock seconded the
nomination. The nomination was unanimously approved.
Mr. Feldman moved to nominate Vice Chair Hayden—Adeyemo as Vice Chair Ms.
Boucard seconded the motion. The nomination was unanimously approved.
Mr. Feldman nominated Ms. Boucard as Secretary. Ms. Boucard declined. Chair
Feldman nominated Ms. Sherlock. Ms. Sherlock inquired about the duties of the
Secretary and learned the Secretary reads the minutes and recommends changes or
amendments. Ms. Sherlock accepted the nomination. Ms. Boucard seconded the
nomination. The nomination was unanimously approved.
Vice Chair Hayden-Adeyemo passed the gavel to Chair Feldman.
Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
11. Approval of Minutes — July 24, 2019 (tabled) & September 2019. (No meeting
October or December)
Chair Feldman requested the members review the minutes at home. Ms. Taylor,
Assistant Library Director, advised they combined the November and December
meetings, but they did not have a quorum so minutes were not able to be approved.
Motion
Chair Feldman moved to bring the minutes home to review. Ms. ucarconded the
motion. The motion unanimously passed.
Chair Feldman explained he had served on two boards previously, and this will be the
it Board. His first board was the Sustainability Committee sometime in 2012, where
they discussed environmental issues. Prior to that, he served on the Financial Advisory
Committee during the recession. This Committee made recommendations to assist the
City. He noted the economy improved, and moving forward, the City was looking good.
is Chair Hayden-Adeyemo explained this is her third term on the Library Board.
Previously, she was on Education and Youth Advisory Board serving as is Chair and
Chair. She recently ran for Mayor this past election cycle. She came to Boynton in the
80s. Her mom is a small business owner, having a shop in Casa Costa. She loves the
Library and travels to many libraries. She wanted to ensure public access to public
amenities and that the Library be beautiful, welcoming, inclusive and nice.
Elizabeth Sherlock has been in Boynton nearly four years coming from Naples, Florida.
She loves libraries. She volunteered at the Boynton Beach Library and then at the Delray
Beach Library. She constantly reads books. She volunteers at the Delray Beach Chamber
and CRA, the Arts Warehouse, the Downtown Development Authority, Visitor Center and
fashion show, city-wide events and the Historical Society. She wanted to be involved and
learn more about the City. She thought everyone with the City has been doing a great
job holding activities to bring attention to the City, such as the Pirates Fest and others.
Robyn Boucd explained her aunt attended all the City Commission meetings and was
a voice int community. Ms. Boucard moved to South Florida in 1982 and began
working at Galaxy Elementary School in 1984. She will be retiring from the school district
in June 2021. She worked in the Library Media Center for about 16 years. As she aged,
she had a lot of responsibility and then saw an opening on the Board, Her motivation to
serve is based on her love of books, working in the Library, and knowing how libraries
work. She has so many books she cannot read and she continues to go tot book
store. She supported the of library by donating three large boxes of books. She is
excited about where the City is going.
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
III. Correspondence and Communications
None.
IV. Public Audience
A woman by the name of "Catherine" was present. She lives in Sunny Isles and wanted
to observe the Board.
V. Chair's Report
None.
VI. Unfinished Business
Library Fine Free Policy (Heard out of order)
Ms. Taylor explained the Fine-Free Library Policy was approved at the last City
Commission meeting, which was a credit to the Board as the members worked very hard
advocating for the change. The Library will no longer charge late fees and patrons will
have. the opportunity to have their books automatically renewed if not brought back by
due date, as long as no one put a hold on the book. When the automatic renewal time
period expires, there is a seven-day grace period, and if the material is still not returned,
staff will charge the patron for the material. The Library will still have fines for lost and
damaged materials. Staff is also preparing for the new Library, which will feature laptop
kiosks to check out laptops in the Library, and put a policy in place for the laptops. The
laptops can be used for a three-hour loan period. When returning the laptop, if another
laptop is available, it could be checked out on the same day. Staff did not want the laptops
to leave the Library, so at the end of the day, if not returned, staff will make a report and
charge the patron for the laptop, which is expensive. In order to avoid fraud, the kiosk
will take a picture of the borrower. There will be one kiosk in the adult library area and
one in children's library for teens to use.
Vice Chair Hayden-Adeyemo noted library-accounts with unpaid charges over$25 will be
sent for collection. She asked how $25 would be accrued if there are no late charges.
Ms. Taylor explained it would be for lost books. The fee was formerly $5, but staff
increased it to be commensurate with the value of the book. Vice Chair Hayden-
Adeyemo asked if this information would be posted on the website. Ms. Taylor explained
the item was approved last night, and staff is setting everything up. It was fairly easy to
turn the fines off in the computer system, which was done earlier in the day. Staff is
working on getting the automatic renewals set up and all the materials updated. Chair
Feldman queried if staff kept the names of the people with the fines and learned it is on
the individual borrower's account.
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
Ms. Taylor explained with the new library system installed about six months ago, patrons
can set text and email reminders on their personal accounts when items are due. Vice
Chair Hayden-Adeyemo visited the Library some time ago and got her printout. She saw
the materials she checked out and the messages. Ms. Taylor explained it was a way to
aI ert patrons to holiday hours and tell them the value of the materials they borrowed,
is can be construed to be the amount the borrower saved by using the library as
opposed to purchasing the book. Vice Chair n® asked if staff would
promote the opening oft new Library and it there was a way to reward patrons for
reading and using the Library. She sought something to build excitement for the opening.
Ms. Taylor explained, for the first time, the new Library would have its own library to
and branding, is they will use for giveaways at the opening. The to will also be on
the front of the Library and the self-check kiosk will have all of the branding. The Library
aIso has a marvelous outreach person posting information on social media and a new
integrated website and library system.
Library Construction ( r r)
Ms. Taylor explained the target date toopen is June. She and Mr. Clark have a hardhat
waI k through scheduled for the no day, and are excited to see the changes from the last
waI k. Windows and ceiling tiles are in installed and the chiller fort entire Town
Square project is operating. The purpose oft tour tomorrow is to take the creative arts
designer tot building to design the entryways for the children/youth and the main library
areas. The art will be consistent with the Town Square theme and be library specific to
guide everyone in. Vice Chair n® asked if the designer was the same
individual that spoke at the Library. Ms. Taylor explained the Town Square developer
has their own designer, but this is specifically a library creative arts designer, who was
used when the original library expanded.
The Library is reusing the majority of their furniture and had them refinished. The lounge
type seating covered in cloth was reupholstered in high quality vinyl. Chair Feldman
asked if there was a theme for the art throughout the Library. Ms. Taylor explained there
is a theme for the entire Town Square is is the Ocean and the Library will is up on
that. is Chair Hayden-Adeyemo recalled a specific meeting at the Library about the
interior of the Library. The individual sought input from the Board and the public about
the design. Ms. Taylor recalled the architect for the entire Town Square project brought
in a Library Architect, who could determine how to fit the new library with all the needs
the Library had. She explained that process was already completed. The in from the
public was out natural light and comfortable spaces, quiet spaces, pop-up
programming spaces, etc. Staff identified where all those items will be. The Friends of
the Library will have a book store and there is space for the quilters, who have been with
the Library for years. There will also be a caf6/eatery/bistro area on the ground floor
between the two stairways and elevators.
Career Online High School (Heard out of order)
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
Ms. Taylor announced the last time the Board met, there were seven graduates and now
they have nine graduates. There were not a lot of people currently working in the
program: one student finished the prerequisite and there are three in the program. The
Library still has scholarships. The State initially funded the program, then they did not
and then the Library funded the program for Boynton Beach residents. The State then
funded the program another year. Mr. Clark was not at the meeting because he was in
Tallahassee advocating for more funding. The students receive a fully-accredited, high
school diploma. Four of the program graduates went on to Palm Beach State College.
Chair Feldman asked if the Board could help further the program and learned, members
could recommend the program to anyone they know. The student has to be over 19 and
have a Library card. Students take a self-assessment to determine if the student has the
time to commit to the program and then Ms. Taylor assigns them a two-week pre-requisite
course. The pre-requisite shows if the student is comfortable with computer-based
learning and can keep the schedule. After the student completes the prerequisite, staff
interviews them for a scholarship. In addition to the high school diploma, the student
receives a career certificate.
Chair Feldman inquired how the students learned about the program. Ms. Taylor
responded there are a lot of promotional materials and on social media, but it is word of
mouth. Graduates are recognized at a City Commission meeting. Ms. Taylor noted she
now has the son of a graduate of the program. It is rewarding and helps make a
difference. If the State funds the program, anyone in the surrounding area could take the
class, but when using Library fund, only Boynton Beach residents could enroll.
RFID Tagging (Heard out of order)
Ms. Taylor explained the Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is the electronic system
that keeps security on Library items. It is not new technology, but it is new to staff because
it is a much more sophisticated system. If a patron forgets to check something out, the
title will populate on a computer screen. It is a great system for inventory. Staff can use
an electronic wand, go down the shelf and it will indicate if items are out of order. If a
patron has a list of books, staff can enter it in the computer and the wand will identify the
book that is wanted. Tagging the books is a lot of work. Staff has to retag the entire
collection of 130,000 items and they tagged over 50,000 since mid-December. Staff is
on schedule to finish all tagging before the move and had started tagging in the
warehouse and will finish in another month. Then they have to tag the temporary library
space.
VII. New Business
Ms. Taylor explained staff hired some Senior Librarians. Joyce Pernicone is the Senior
Librarian over the Customer Service Department. She is doing a marvelous job and she
is a long-term librarian from the South Florida area, so there was no learning curve. She
also helps Ms. Taylor with the RFID project. The Library also hired Kat Green, Senior
Librarian, to manage Youth Services. The new Library has an upstairs and downstairs
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
and needed a senior manager with a presence. She will be the Children's Librarian. Staff
is currently interviewing for a Teen Librarian and Ms. Green will manage staff in that area,
Library staff hired Wesley Alexandre, who is a home-grown patron who grew up in the
Library and is now in Palm Beach State College. He was hired as a Shelver a/k/a a
Library Page. Ms. Taylor announced it is wonderful to have someone who knows the
library, the people and who spent his childhood there. They feel privileged to have these
individuals and they have three more that also grew up int Library, started as Shelvers
and then moved on tat Customer Service Department. The Library takes a "grow your
workers" perspective.
Ms. Taylor advised staff was interviewing tomorrow for a Teen Services Librarian. They
received many applications and there is a good applicant pool. The Digital/Make Librarian
position was put int budget six years ago and each year it was cut, but because of the
new library, they got the funding. The Library hoped to it someone before moving into
the new building. It is a completely new role for the Library. The Digital/Maker Librarian
will handle programming of things like 3-D printer, Cricket Machine, or even coding with
the Teen Librarian, or any type of creative learning. The Library has its own Social Media
Outreach Marketing person, A lot of small business cannot afford to have commercials
made, but they can do a pod cast at the Library. Staff can help them with the digital
equipment to make a pod cast in the Library and have it available on social media. The
Library will have a Virtual Zone for teens again. Apple computers will be available so
teens can make audio and video creations. Staff will try to buy equipment for virtual
reality. All of these types of programs will be handled by the Digital Librarian.
New Databases
Ms. Taylor announced the Library obtained Knowledge City and it is available. Patrons
can use their library card and go online and there are tons of videos. Some are actual
films, some are independent films and there are great courses. There is a limit of seven
checkouts. Knowledge City is a database accessed through the Library. Patrons can go
to the Library's website, but it could be accessed at home on a big screen if the user has
a Smart TV. The Library has Learning Express for job training. Novelist was also
purchased. Ms. Taylor explained it is a system that helps users find something to read
as it is a reader's advisory. It will work on the database, int catalogue and on the self-
checkout kiosk. She reported it is an exciting system that staff is currently setting up.
Bibliotiheca is a cloud library and is an eResource. The Library has eBooks on Overdrive
and are in a consortium with the Southeast Florida Library Network(SEFLIN). The Library
has a collection, but eBooks are very expense, and they do not have a large collection.
The iCloud group is a state-wide consortium and when the Library joins them, they will
have an even larger collection of eBooks. The reason why the Library went with
Bibliotheca is because it is the vendor of the Library's self-checkouts, so if a user also
wanted to check out something electronic it will also check it out. It will increase the
library's electronic offerings at the Library.
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
VIII. Library Director's Report/Statistics
Monthly Report for September, October, November and December
Chair Feldman noted the statistics. Ms. Taylor explained the members could take their
time and read the statistics. There was not much that changed. Staff was aware of a
reduction due to the move to the temporary space. Now that they are in season, the
Library is very busy.
Ms. Taylor explained the Library had three AmeriCorp positions: Afterschool Homework
Help, Teen Afterschool Homework Help/College Prep, and adult English as a Second
Language (ESL). The Library had all three positions filled. The Library allows AmeriCorp
Volunteers working at school to come after school and volunteer at the Library too,
because they need more hours than they could get at the school. The volunteer doing
the Afterschool Homework Help left the program and the person who did the teen help
left. The ESL Volunteer, Tyler, who is multi-talented and very enthusiastic, is organizing
the other people who volunteer at other schools to come and help as he is also doing it
two days a week as well. The Library is getting the afterschool homework help covered.
The Library is having an art design contest for Library cards, which was issued this week
The Library will give prizes, but may use some other designs that did not make the top
prizes. There was also the sneak peek at the library logo contained in the meeting
materials. The Library went with the design because it emphasized the building is a
Library and the color scheme goes with the rest of the Town Square, ocean colored
schemes. There is a Wifi symbol included which sends a message the Library connects
them to the world. Staff liked the simplicity of it and that it showed a connection.
IX. Announcements
Ms. Boucard asked if Library staff will be uniformed as it could assist individuals needing
help finding items. Ms. Taylor explained staff has name tags they used in the old library
which will be updated with the new logo and used in the new Library. They may get shirts
with the new logo. Vice Chair Hayden thought even a general tee shirt on a Friday that
says something like "It's a great day to read"'would be helpful. Ms. Taylor noted the new
Library will be open on Fridays, where previously it was not, and they can do the same
promotions as City Hall every Friday. Each Friday, they promote different causes each
month. For example, if it is Mental Health Month, staff can wear green shirts and jeans.
Vice Chair Hayden-Adeyemo commented the world is changing and the way people
utilize space is different. She thought Brunch and Library Board or Fun Fridays, Let's
Read and Chat activities could take place. She noted former Board Chair Welter had a
passion for no fines. She thought if continuing as a Board, each member has something
to offer. What the Board and Library has now moving forward, is Boynton should be
inclusive and not exclusive and they want the City to keep expanding and not keep doing
things the same old way. The water is always moving and so is Boynton.
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Meeting Minutes
Library Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida January 22, 2020
Next Library Board Meeting is February 26, 2020.
X. Adjournment
Motion
Chair Feldman moved to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chair Hayden-Adeyemo seconded
the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
L;11'
I
Catherine Cherry r
Minutes Specialist
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