LAB Minutes 03/16/2016 Naples, Florida, March 16, 2016
LET IT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date in regular session at 10:00
a.m. in the Headquarters Library with the following members present:
CHAIR: Doris J. Lewis— District 4
VICE-CHAIR: Loretta Murray— District 1
Carla Grieve — District 2
Connie Bettinger-Hennink— District 3
Marjorie H. Gagnon — District 5
ALSO PRESENT: Val Kocin, Library Director
Tanya Williams, Assistant Library Director(absent)
Karen Tibbetts, Administrative Assistant
Jon Zoler, President, Friends of the Library
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Lewis asked for additions or corrections to the minutes of February 17, 2016. One minor correction
was noted. Mrs. Grieve moved to approve the minutes with the minor correction. Ms. Gagnon seconded
and the motion was carried unanimously.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
• Members discussed the upcoming Volunteer Appreciation events.
• Many members did not receive the schedule with enough notice to attend some of the events.
• The Friends of the Library need to be included on the notification of the schedule.
• Members asked how many volunteers are at the Library and how many hours they helped for the
year.
• As reported in the 2015 State Aid Statistical Report: # of Volunteers = 1,965; #of Hours = 17,096.66
• Members asked if Joanne Wannemacher, the Library Volunteer Coordinator, could attend one of the
LAB meetings.
• Members discussed having a library volunteer profile featured in the FOL newsletter.
COMMUNICATIONS
a—Written — None
b— Personal — None
PUBLIC COMMENTS — None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1) Employee of the Month — March
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink nominated Kathy Hemmat from the Golden Gate Library for the March
employee of the month. Mrs. Murray seconded the nomination and the motion passed
unanimously.
• Members asked if a job description list could be provided for the different library positions.
• The Library currently has 85.5 permanent employees.
NEW BUSINESS
1) Literacy Partnerships
• Mrs. Kocin reported that she has met with the Collier County Public Schools in order to work
together to help provide services to the youth of Collier County.
• Library Youth Services staff have been invited to the school's in-service meetings to find out
how the Library can better help children prepare for kindergarten.
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• The Summer Reading Program adds value to the community by increasing reading
comprehension and vocabulary.
• The Library and Schools are coordinating summer reading lists to make sure that the Library
has materials available.
• Youth Services staff visit local schools each year prior to summer break to inform students
about the Summer Reading Program at the Library.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1) QA/QC Customer Surveys
• County-wide surveys are being conducted for public input on each department.
• The County's Public Information Officer provided input regarding the questions on the
surveys.
• Mrs. Kocin reported that as a result of the survey, some branch managers were made aware
of some public concerns that they were able to address and remedy.
• The next survey will have different questions and distributed on a different colored paper.
• The Library will have the surveys provided in English, Spanish and Creole.
• Discussion ensued regarding including demographic characteristics such as age group, work
status, school choice (homeschool or public), and residency information on the surveys.
• The Purchasing Department is currently reviewing the vendors that bid for the Community
Assessment.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR'S REPORT
1) Current Statistics
• Ms. Williams was unable to attend today's meeting and Mrs. Kocin distributed the current
circulation information.
• Mr. Zoler inquired about cost evaluation analysis of the databases and Mrs. Kocin stated that
each database is reviewed on an annual basis. She added that the State Library pays for
some of the Library's databases.
• Circulation numbers are down and door counts are up in comparison to last year.
• Electronic circulation is up due to more virtual usage by patrons.
• WiFi usage continues to increase.
• The Library is looking into creating laptop bars for patrons to use to recharge their electronic
devices.
• The Library is striving to provide convenience to its patrons.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
1) Performance Enhancements: Computer Migration Update
• Mrs. Kocin reported that the IT Migration is going well.
• The Immokalee Branch has been completed and the Marco Island Branch will be updated on
Friday.
• East Naples and the Estates Branches are currently pending work to be completed by
CenturyLink before their computers can be updated.
• The Library is excited to provide the public with new computers and monitors with all new
hardware and software including Microsoft Office.
• The County is preparing for the FY2017 budget.
• The Facilities Department is doing a County-wide review of County buildings to determine
what projects need to be addressed.
• The Immokalee and East Naples Branches are in need of having their parking lots redone.
2) Staffing Update
• Mrs. Kocin reported that interviews have been completed for the Youth Services Librarian
position at Headquarters, and a selection will be sent to Human Resources soon.
• The Mail-a-Book program is under review to determine the parameter updates so that the
position can be processed.
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• Items being considered include: streamlining the program so that materials are mailed on
certain days; process new materials to patrons once they've returned the materials already
checked out; create a contract so that the patrons are aware of the parameters, and to include
a back-up contact person in the event the patron becomes ill or deceased to assist with
returning materials.
• The postage of materials is free, and currently there are approximately 300-350 active Mail-a-
Book patrons.
• Mrs. Kocin reported that the County Manager will be visiting the East Naples Branch and
Headquarters Library on Thursday.
REPORT OF THE FRIENDS
• Mr. Zoler reported that the Friends of the Library recently held a Donor Reception event.
• LAB Board Members, LEAP students &their parents, Librarians, FOL Board of Directors, Donors,
and Commissioner Penny Taylor were invited to attend.
• Mr. Zoler shared pictures taken at a recent Mini Moo Zoo event held at the Naples Regional Library
on the same day that the FOL had their meeting. Their photographer captured the moment and FOL
members asked if the event could be scheduled again next year during their meeting. 155
participated in the Mini Moo Zoo.
• Mr. Zoler distributed program brochures of the Nick Linn Lecture Series. This is the 13th year for this
event featuring four popular authors. The event is held at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort. Over 550
attended the first three lectures, and over 680 attend the fourth lecture. This event began with
approximately 75 people in attendance.
• Mr. Zoler commented that $2,200 in books were sold at the recent lecture, which is a considerably
higher amount than authors generally generate at some of their other book signing events.
• The FOL would like to invite two Library staff members each year to this event.
• The FOL/Library Liaisons are working with Branch Managers and Mrs. Kocin to determine what
enhancements they can help to fund for each Library location.
• Mr. Zoler stated that the Donor Perfect Information System used by the FOL helps to keep track of
their memberships, expirations, purchases, etc.
• The Donor Boards displayed at the Naples Regional Library recognize the FOL donors.
• FOL uses the Constant Contact tool to provide instant communication among its members. There are
currently 2600-2800 email addresses on file with the FOL.
• This system was helpful recently when the author scheduled to present at the Bagels & Books Club
Breakfast sustained an unexpected injury and had to cancel at the last moment. Fortunately, only six
members that had signed up for the event did not receive the notification and showed up to the Port
Royal Club.
• Mr. Zoler reported that the next Non-Fiction Lecture Series will feature Akhil Reed Amar, a
Constitutional Law Professor at Yale University. He will discuss the history of the American
Constitution and Amendments.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Library Advisory Board, Ms. Bettinger-Hennink
moved to adjourn, Ms. Gagnon seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was
adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
The next Library Advisory Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20 at the East Naples
Branch Library, 8787 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34113, (239) 775-5592.
Approved by:c(:) (�
Qui' 1' •?^JL
Doris J. Lewis, Chair, Likirary Advisory Board
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