Library Board Minutes 5/16/2023
Extracted text (via pymupdf)
9252 characters
Meeting Minutes Library Board Regular Meeting May 16, 2023| 6:30 p.m. Downtown Library Copper Conference Room 254 22 S. Delaware St. Chandler, AZ 85225 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Board President Beth Brizel at 6:30p.m. Roll Call Commission Attendance Staff Attendance Board President Beth Brizel – Present Rachelle Kuzyk, Library Manager Board member Bob Lowry - Present Courtney Allen, Management Assistant Board member Michael McElhany – Present Sue Van Horne, Downtown Branch Manager Board member Arman Sidhu – Present Ted Liebler, Downtown Librarian Board member Maria Munoz – Present Board member Alexis Merritt – Virtually Present Board member Karla Palafox – Not Present Scheduled and Unscheduled Public Appearances Mark Franklin, Sunset Greeter, attended as an unscheduled appearance. Mark was just curious what happens at a Library Board meeting. Consent Agenda 1. March 21, 2023 Library Board Meeting Minutes Motion to approve the minutes was made by Board member Sidhu, Board member Munoz seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Briefing 1. Library Manager’s Report – Rachelle Kuzyk The Library Manager’s Report was provided to the Library Board in advance of the meeting for Board member’s review. Page 2 of 4 Board member Brizel asked if the Basha psychiatry program can be expanded to the other branches. Rachelle will ask the programmers and get an answer for the board. Board member Brizel also commented on how much she loves the job fair and feels it is a great resource for the students at Hamilton and would like to know if that can be expanded to the other branches as well. Board member Munoz commented that March programming numbers seem to be higher. Board member Sidhu stated that it may be due to spring break. Rachelle also stated there have been small but steady increases in everything coming out of the pandemic. Board member Lowry mentioned the increased proposed circulation totals, from 1.3 million this year to 1.5 million next year, and an estimated 700,000 visitors next year. Board member Brizel inquired about why the gates at the new Sunset patio are not being locked with the patio being accessible 24/7. Is there a concern for vandalism? Rachelle stated there are security cameras. The intent for the design of the gates is if there are any stroller or accessible needs, the gates will open without any impediments to access. Board member Lowry stated the Friends approved more than the initial $83,000 in programming support. Additional requests are still coming in and being approved. The Friends have also approved the purchase of a new sign for the Library Board and Book Lounge. 2. e-Resource presentation; Press Reader by Ted Liebler, Librarian Rachelle invited Librarian Ted Liebler to present the Press Reader e-resource and give a high-level virtual presentation to the Board. The resources optimal use is for tablets, but you can use it on a PC or Smartphone. Ted suggests connecting to your library card with the Press Reader account because it will give you a customized service and you can easily subscribe to magazines. Rachelle feels the most impressive thing about this database is that you are getting it in the native language of the country where the publication is made, you are getting the photos, and you are getting this as if the newspaper is laying right in front of you and it is exactly the same duplication of that paper. Board member Lowry asked Ted for a total number of usages. Ted responded that from May 15, 2021 to May 15, 2022 there were 872 unique users, 11,000 sessions, and 500,000 articles opened with English, Spanish, Italian and French as the most popular languages. Mark Franklin inquired how Press Reader compares or contrasts to Flipster? Ted feels Press Reader is more international with more specialized publications. Mark Franklin also inquired Ted has an idea of how it compares or contrasts with a paid subscription to Apple Plus and the library that they offer because Apples Plus is only about $10 per month with access to any magazine, and most of the major newspapers. Ted was not able to compare because he is not an Apple user. Mark also inquired regarding AZ Republic and if there is an option of actually viewing it in either it's duplicated paper form or can you view it kind of like you do on AC Central? Ted responded that it is in the paper form, but you can zoom in on it. Board member Sidhu inquired if there is a flat fee for access to a whole catalogue or is it based off the downloads? Rachelle stated that it is a flat fee. Page 3 of 4 Discussion 1. Board member Lowry would like Library Manager Rachelle Kuzyk to inform the Board members' of what their reaction should be when a member of the public addresses the board. Rachelle stated that Courtney has provided the Citizens Guide to Boards and Commissions Handbook to all board members. Rachelle informed the board that anyone is welcome to sit in on the meetings, but if the topic of discussion has not been added to the agenda, we cannot discuss it at that meeting, and it will have to be added to the next meeting’s agenda. Board member Lowry asked what their role is once those open meeting laws have been met and a member of the public has a question, compliment, or complaint regarding an agenda item. Rachele stated that once the next meeting is in session and that agenda item is discussed, Board President Beth Brizel will primarily respond as the Board President on behalf of the board and Rachelle will do her best to answer as the Library Manager. 2. Board member Munoz would like to know what the process is when a large number of books are donated. Rachelle asked Board member Lowry to inform the board of the process on behalf of the Friends. Board member Lowry stated that there is whole volunteer based staff of people to deal with donations every day. All donated books must be physically brought into the library by the person donating. They can request a cart be borrowed and brought out to their car. Once books are brought into the volunteer scanning room, they are all scanned to determine their value. If the book has more than a $12 value, it goes to a different group of volunteers to check the condition of the book and how many people have purchased the book in the last 100 days. If it has enough value, the book will be put for sale on Amazon or eBay. If it does not have enough value than it will be put in the book sales at Downtown or Sunset branches. If a donated book is no longer in circulation, we cannot legally resell it unless it meets a requirement of $12 or more to sell on Amazon or eBay and it has a fair amount of sales tracking record. If a book does not have any value, is in poor condition, or does not sell at a book sale, they go to a recycling company that turns them into mulch and fertilizer. The company that does all that has a connection with limited sight or somebody who takes care of helping them, so no books are wasted, they are recycled. Board member Brizel inquired who determines if the book is appropriate. Board member Lowry responded that is not the job of the volunteers, but he has never run across anything he feels would be considered inappropriate. Member Comments / Announcements 1. Board member Palafox would like to thank Lindsay Atwood from the Downtown Library for going to Hartford Elementary for their Dia de los Niños event. She spoke with families, made library cards, and gave out books. Page 4 of 4 2. Board member Palafox also thanks Charles Pratt from the Basha Library for working with the Spanish Department at Basha High School. Charles has helped the department with lessons this school year, and we are so grateful for his ideas, patience and flexibility. It is wonderful to see how the library has worked with our schools, and I look forward to seeing more of it next year. Thank you!! Calendar 1. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 6:30 p.m., in the Basha Library Program Room, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr. Chandler, AZ 85244. 2. The next Friends of the Library Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., in the Downtown Library Copper Conference Room 254, 22 S. Delaware St. 85225. Information Items Board member McElhany inquired why there is no library board meeting during the summer months? Courtney responded that this has been the schedule since she began at the library 8 years ago, but it may be due to the busy schedule of everyone during the summer months. Rachelle stated that it is a busy travel season so often times quorum is not met. Board member Lowry also stated that the Friends no longer have meetings in July, August, or December for the same reason, they were never able to meet quorum. Adjourn Motion to adjourn made by Board member Munoz, Board member Lowry seconded. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. ______________________________ ______________________________ Courtney Allen, Board Liaison Beth Brizel, Board President