Minutes 07-22-20 MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020, AT 6:00 P.M.,
VIA ZOOM ONLINE MEETING, IN BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87946918035
Present:
George Feldman, Chair Craig Clark, Library Director
Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo, Vice Chair Jeannie Taylor, Assistant Library Director
Elizabeth Sherlock
Robyn Boucard
Ace Tilton Ratcliff
I. Pre-meeting announcement from Craig Clark, Library Director
At 6:10 p.m., Craig Clark, Library Director, read a pre-meeting statement how the meeting
would proceed and how the public could participate.
II. Call to Order— Introduction of New Board Members Elizabeth Sherlock &
Ace Ratcliff, Board Members and City
George Feldman, Chair, welcomed all to the meeting and explained the last time the
Board met was in January. Ace Tilton Ratcliff introduced themself, explaining that they
are nonbinary and use they/them pronouns. Ace grew up in Boynton and recently
returned to the area with their husband. They are a small business owner and their
husband is a veterinarian, performing in-home pet euthanasia. Ace used the Library
growing up and was happy to give back to the community. Robin Boucard has lived in the
Boynton area since 1981. She started her Library Media Journey in 1985 in Galaxy
School as a Media Clerk I and II. She loves books. She was excited to serve on the Library
Board and she was honored to be a part of the Board. It was noted there were some
technical issues and not all members were able to speak. Craig Clark explained he is the
Library Director and Jeannie Taylor announced she is the Assistant Library Director. Dr.
Stephanie Hayden Adeyemo, Vice Chair, introduced herself. She is a resident of Boynton
Beach for 22 years. She loves reading, the Library and the direction they were moving
in. She was not on board with the construction of the new library and advised she was
present to extend opportunities to represent those who felt they were not included in the
development of the Library.
III. Approval of Minutes —July 24, 2019, and January 22, 2020
Mr. Clark noted there was an old set of minutes that should be a part of the packet. The
Minutes Specialist explained there was a delay in some of the minutes and there were
some board meetings scheduled that did not have a quorum. The July 2019 meeting
minutes were available for approval at the January meeting, but Chair Feldman
recommended the members take the minutes home to read. Currently, there were two
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Library Board
Boynton Beach, FL July 22, 2020
outstanding sets of minutes to approve which were the July 2019 minutes and the January
2020 minutes.
Motion
Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo moved to approve the July 24, 2019 minutes as written. Ms.
Boucard seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed.
Motion
Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo moved to approve by January 22, 2020, minutes as written. Mx.
Ratcliff seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed.
IV. Correspondence and Communications
None
V. Public Audience (Individual Speakers Will Be Limited to 3 Minute
Presentations)
None
VI. Chair's Report
None
VII. Unfinished Business:
Staffing Update
Mr. Clark explained they hired a new Teen Services Librarian and new Marketing
Outreach Manager and they both started about two weeks ago. They bring a lot to the
table. Madison (Maddie) Kjosa is the Marketing Manager and the Teen Services Librarian
is Bianca Carrasco. They have three open part-time Library Aide positions and one part-
time Library Page position which is a shelver, so they will begin interviews soon. They
want to get the library up and running and then it will be fully staffed. Dr. Hayden-
Adeyemo asked if the Library still had a career path for staff. It was a training pilot
program to try to promote from within by encouraging training. It was discussed last year,
and Mr. Clark had brought it up at a Library Board meeting. She wanted to know if they
are looking at people currently hired to train them to advance them. Mr. Clark advised
staff was thinking about developing a career path to promote some librarians to a Librarian
II positions. It has not been created yet as it fell to the wayside due to COVID and it will
be discussed in the new year's budget.
Library Construction Update
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Boynton Beach, FL July 22, 2020
Mr. Clark explained City Hall opened a few weeks ago and it is a beautiful building. The
Adult Library on the second floor and the Youth and Teen Library is on the first floor. The
Library will open to the public on July 27 at 9 a.m. Chair Feldman advised he had a sneak
preview of the Library and commented it is an unbelievable, 100% first-class, jaw
dropping facility. All that was presented to the Board is in progress and he urged all to
attend the ribbon cutting. Mr. Clark commented there was no ribbon cutting that morning,
but he would let the Board members know when they have formal opening. He will be
working with Eleanor Krusell, Public Communications and Marketing Director, to have
some sort of celebration, but they have to be careful due to COVID and want it low key.
They are opening the Library to the public at 9 a.m. on the 27th. Mr. Clark's concern with
opening is to maintain safety and not becoming overcrowded on day one.
VIII. New Business:
Library Opening Plan
Mr. Clark announced the Library opening plan is to open at 9 a.m. on. Monday the 27th
The hours are Monday to Thursday 9 to 7, Friday and Saturday from 9 to 5 and closed
on Sunday. Masks are required under Palm Beach County Executive Order, unless the
child is under two years old or the patron has a reason for an exemption. He noted the
hours are reduced hours. The Library will operate at 25% capacity so only 50 people will
be allowed at any time on the second floor and 25 people on the first floor. Staff will be
tracking the number of people on each floor at all times. Mr. Clark announced they were
lucky to be open as many public libraries are not open. The West Palm Beach and Boca
Raton Libraries are not open. The County and Delray Beach Library is open. The City
developed a good plan. Staff will clean high-touch point areas regularly, and city staff will
clean consistently and wipe down the furniture. Staff is encouraging each person to stay
no more than 30 minutes, and was offering the public computer appointments at one-hour
intervals. No meeting or study rooms will be available for use as the Library is open at a
reduced level of service. The Research Desk, Customer Relations Desk and Youth
Services will be open. There will be hand sanitizing stations. Lysol wipes are available
and the self-check screens will be cleaned. He thought there were plenty of opportunities
for people to stay safe as safety is the Library's primary goal. Mr. Clark announced they
will plan something for the opening.
Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked if the Library considered temperature checks and learned it
was discussed but a decision was made not to offer testing to city and library staff. There
are testing sites in Boynton for anyone to test at, but none specifically for employees. Dr.
Hayden-Adeyemo did not want the Library to close down because staff may be infected.
There was discussion there was no city requirement to test staff, but masks are required
in City facilities and sanitizing will be done in accordance with the guideline. Ms. Taylor
explained employees are supposed to self-check before reporting to work. Chair
Feldman asked if the Library will be posting guidelines and instructions when entering the
premises. Mr. Clark explained there are security guards at City hall doors and only the
north door is open. The security guards will ensure the mask requirements are adhered
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Boynton Beach, FL July 22, 2020
with. Masks are required by Palm Beach County so no one could enter without one.
Coming up the stairs, staff will welcome the public into the Library and patrons will be
requested to browse for 30 minutes. All will be social distanced. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo
asked will there be any record announcements in the Library reminding people to social
distance and about safety? Mr. Clark explained the do not plan to use the public address
system at this point, but if they need to they will. Staff does not want patrons to feel
unwelcome and staff will ask people to put masks back on. All will be expected to follow
that rule. Ms. Taylor explained they have a positive message banner and six-feet
distancing floor markers. Seating will be blocked. When COVID is over, the meeting
rooms will open up and self-checkout will be promoted. Staff will encourage patrons to
use the self-check outs and has giveaways for self-check-out. Users will be trained how
to use the system.
Mr. Clark announced the Library received two laptop kiosks which will help with social
distancing. When the laptops are returned, they will be wiped clean and placed back
inside the machine. The Library also received three new self-check outs that are state-of-
the-art and he looked forward to showing the members how to use it. The security gates
will be installed tomorrow, which was the last hurrah for new technology and on Friday,
staff will make final preparations for Monday morning's opening. The Library is beautiful
and a great community place. Ms. Sherlock thought the designer of the library did an out
of the world job. Mr. Clark explained the security guards are super friendly and staff will
welcome the public into the Library as well. It was noted, the Library suspended volunteer
activities due to COVID.
Mr. Clark explained there is opportunity for people who do not want to use self-check, to
use fast pass, which is a downloadable app and check out their own items They take a
photo of each item and take it to the fast pass pad, press a button on their app and it
checks the items out for them. Staff will show people how to use it as well.
Virtual Summer Reading Club
Ms. Taylor advised the Summer Reading Club was held online. Eighty children register
for the program. The Library produced their own story time videos and had several
interactive activities online such as Escape Rooms, sometimes using links to other
libraries that had really good activities. There was a lot of participation and youth were
active virtually. When they return with their log, they will get a prize for their participation.
The theme of summer reading was Imagine a Story. Chair Feldman noted online
participation online increased dramatically. Ms. Taylor explained social media activities
participation climbed. The librarian in charge of the maker and digital activities is creating
her own app videos. If signed up for the Facebook page, they are posted on Facebook
and Twitter. Mr. Clark announced there will be no in person programs held and they will
continue their online and DIY craft videos. Ms. Sherlock noted there is successful online
art craft program at Delray which she suggested staff review. Mr. Clark agreed to contact
the Delray Library director.
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Boynton Beach, FL July 22, 2020
FY2020-2021 Library Budget
Mr. Clark announced the library budget request was included in the meeting materials.
The approved budget and recommended budget by the City Manager was awarded and
there were budget hearings a few weeks ago and he advised when the first and second
readings of the budget will take place. He advised the City Manager worked hard to write
a balanced budget and due to State Revenue Sharing, which decreased due to COVID,
all departments had cuts. There were some minor cuts, but they will move forward.
Sunday hours at the Library will occur at another time.
Mr. Clark advised they have 14 Wi-Fi devices in service and they are looking to get more,
but there is a cost. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo asked if they could create a quick survey when
checking out, about three things they would like to see. Mr. Clark responded they had
thought about it and they do have Like to Know Cards patrons complete. She thought
the budget was tight and efficiency was important. Mr. Clark explained a year ago the
City surveyed residents and businesses and the Library scored highly in both categories.
He thought self-check could be a good learning opportunity for patrons. She suggested
surveying what patrons feel comfortable using and they could streamline the services the
Library have and it would use the patrons to drive what staff does. They have to partner
with the community and those that visit the library from out of the area. Using the data,
they can think about programming. Chair Feldman suggested Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo write
her thoughts down about the way she thinks it should be done and sending it to Mr. Clark
so they discuss it at the next meeting. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo was concerned about the
Sunshine Law and thought it should be discussed as a group. She thought the exit
interview was a good idea. She sought to ensure the Library was the highlight of Boynton
Beach.
IX. Library Director's Report/Statistics
January-May 2020
Mr. Clark provided the monthly report from January through May, but did not yet have
June. The marketing manager resigned and handled the statistics and then COVID hit.
They were closed for quite some time and their online presence exploded. The Canopy
movie downloads increased 93%, learning express sessions increased. Job career
sessions are up and many were using their online products. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo
thought the statistics speaks for itself. She recalled the focus groups for the library design
and the online presence. She inquired about Facebook and asked how the Facebook
Likes compared from before till the present and if this was something they would like the
new marketing manager to work on. Mr. Clark had another person work on it temporarily
and she did a wonderful job managing Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, and as
of last week, they received between 800 and 900, so they gained some following on social
media. The new marketing manager for social media worked one day and then had to
work from home due to COVID. She will be back on Monday and will take over the social
media platform. One task she will be assigned is to go into their online databases so she
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could effectively market them to the public. Chair Feldman thought an update on
marketing should be on the next agenda.
X. Announcements
Next Library Board Meeting —August 26, 2020 —Via Zoom Meeting
Mr. Clark announced the next meeting at 6 p.m., most likely on Zoom. He explained the
Library will follow the City's lead and will hold meetings online as long as the Governor
allows them to do so. He noted each time the deadline for online meetings approaches,
the Governor has extended them. Chair Feldman noted there were large areas for
meetings. He asked if Zoom meetings were more preferable for the members and learned
they were. Chair Feldman noted the meeting rooms were incredible. Chair Feldman was
very proud of Mr. Clark and what he has accomplished. Discussion followed Mr. Clark
should create a list that the members could volunteer to help support Mr. Clark, the library
and the programs. All praised Mr. Clark on his efforts and Mr. Clark advised he could not
do it without the help of his staff. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo appreciated the partnership of
former and current board members and was excited to have virtual tours. She thought
continued partnerships would propel the library into the future.
XI. Adjournment
Motion
Ms. Boucard moved to adjourn. Dr. Hayden-Adeyemo seconded the motion. The
motion unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
(i,dukl
Catherine Cherry �(
Minutes Specialist
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