LAB Minutes 04/20/2016 Naples, Florida, April 20, 2016
LET IT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date in regular session at 10:00
a.m. in the East Naples Branch 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 (absent)
ALSO PRESENT: Val Kocin, Library Director
Tanya Williams, Assistant Library Director
Karen Tibbetts, Administrative Assistant
Bobbi Skaggs, Friends of the Library
Esther Arthur, HIPPY Representative
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Lewis asked for additions or corrections to the minutes of March 16, 2016. One minor correction
was noted. Ms. Bettinger-Hennink moved to approve the minutes with the minor correction. Mrs. Lewis
seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
REPORT OF THE FRIENDS
• Bobbi Skaggs reported that the FOL has approved summer funding for the LEAP program.
• LEAP program updates will be discussed at the May LAB meeting.
• The Friends provided $2,000 to each library location for branch enhancements.
• The dates for the 2017 Nick Linn Lecture Series have been scheduled: January 9, February 3, March
3, and March 10. Although the authors have yet to be determined, people have already signed up to
attend some of the lectures.
• Mrs. Grieve shared a copy of the FOL newsletter and the "Stay in May Festival" program guide for the
ArtsNaples World Festival featuring a FOL ad.
• The Friends provided refreshments for the Library volunteer appreciation events.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink reported that she visited several of the Library volunteer appreciation events.
• She commented that IM needs more focus on improvements.
• The State Library has changed how it accepts and approves grant requests. They will be meeting in
August.
COMMUNICATIONS
a—Written — None
b— Personal — None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
• Esther Arthur introduced herself as a representative of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool
Youngsters (HIPPY) program, which offers free home-based early childhood education for 3-4 year
old children and their parent(s).
• The program began in Collier County on March 14, 2016, and is currently funded through the Early
Learning Coalition (ELC) of Miami/Dade/Monroe. The ELC of Collier County may provide future
funding, depending on the success of the program.
• The program is available in Collier County for English and Spanish speaking families, and they are
looking into having Creole available.
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• 12 families are currently participating in the program. HIPPY representatives are trained to meet with
them and provide weekly curriculums created for their child(ren). Once each week's curriculum is
completed, they are assigned another week's curriculum. Each program is set up for 30 weeks.
• If all course materials are completed satisfactorily for the 30 week session, the child(ren) will attend a
graduation ceremony and will be enrolled in the next year's curriculum training.
• Parents are encouraged to spend 15 minutes each day in order to complete the five domains of the
weekly curriculum.
• HIPPY representatives have met with many area preschools and organizations that may benefit from
the HIPPY program.
• Ms. Arthur provided HIPPY handouts in English and Spanish.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1) Employee of the Month —April
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink nominated Kim Spina from the South Regional Library as the April
employee of the month. Mrs. Grieve seconded the nomination and the motion passed
unanimously.
• Laura Cortesi from the Estates Branch Library has taken over processing the Employee of the
Month nominations and will be reminded to include the LAB members when notifying Library
staff of each month's selection.
2) Sample Library Job Descriptions
• Library job position description information was provided to LAB members so that they better
understand the different basic requirements for each position.
NEW BUSINESS
1) Budget: Funding Wish List
• Mrs. Kocin reported that the focus for the FY2017 budget is on facilities.
• Some of the expenses will be encumbered by Facilities' budget.
• The top priorities for the Library include: parking lots for EN, EB and IM; and carpeting for EN
and EB.
• Not all of the improvements will be made in one budget year, some capital proposals will be
scheduled over a 10 year period.
• Discussion ensued regarding the needs at the different Library locations.
• Ms. Williams added that the budget is due today at 5 pm, and the budget workshops will begin
in June.
• The FY2017 operating budget will be approximately $7.4 million, with approx. two-thirds being
assigned to personnel expenses.
• The 20% increase (approx. $125K) in the capital budget will be for book purchases.
• Ms. Williams reported that the County has increased the FY2017 budget by 3%. 2.5% will be
for operating expenses and .5% will be for expanded proposals. There will also be a 3%
salary increase for County employees.
• The County is proposing a tax neutral request whereas the mileage rates will not be
increased.
• The County has approved for the Library to regain the permanent full-time Courier position.
This position had previously been reclassified as a temporary full-time position.
• The Library will then have 86.5 permanent employees.
• The Library will maintain the 10 job bank positions as a part of its regular operating expenses.
• The LEAP program will be dependent on FOL funding.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1) QA/QC Customer Surveys
• Mrs. Kocin reported that 1044 surveys were submitted by the public.
• Ms. Tibbetts tallied the information and provided a summary of the County-wide responses.
• This information will be a baseline for the Community Needs Assessment.
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• The Library will prepare more strategic, future-oriented surveys for any forthcoming surveys,
and will include Spanish and Creole versions.
2) Informal SWOT Analysis
• Mrs. Kocin explained that a SWOT analysis is an initialism to evaluate strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats.
• The Community Needs Assessment will include a SWOT analysis of the Library.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR'S REPORT
1) Current Statistics
• Ms. Williams shared a draft of the recommendations for changes to the State Aid Grant
process.
• The Library is reviewing and redefining the statistics being collected to be in alignment with
the requirements for State Aid.
• A summary of March statistics was distributed to those in attendance.
• The library visitor statistics for HQ, MI and SR include early voters.
2) Policy Change: Increase Customer Printing Charges
• Mrs. Kocin shared a mock-up of the changes to be made to the fines and fees to include
increased in copy/print charges.
• The Library has a new public all-in-one copy machine at HQ. It offers copying, scanning and
printing. It also features faxing and color copying, which are being reviewed.
• In order to be in alignment with area companies providing public copy services, the Library
would increase black and white copies to $.15 per page, and if color copies would be
available, the cost would be $.65 per page.
• The proposed changes include:
o Daily overdue fees will be consolidated into one $.25 fee for all materials for children and
adults.
o Maximum overdue fines for children will be increased to $10 to be the same as for
adults.
o Renewals will be increased from 2 times to 8 times for all materials, except DVDs.
o Replacement fees are to be non-refundable, as the process is very time consuming.
o Replacement processing fee to be increased and consolidated into one fee of$5.00.
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink made a motion to accept the changes in fines and fees. Mrs. Murray
seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
3) Lost, Found or Abandoned Property
• Ms. Williams distributed information regarding lost, found or abandoned property that was
originally drafted by the County's Operating Analyst.
• Each Division under the Public Services Department will be tailoring this policy for their
business model.
• LAB members will review this information and this item will be discussed further at the May
LAB meeting.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
1) Performance Enhancements
a. Computer Migration Update
• Mrs. Kocin reported that the Library's public computers have been set up with the newest
upgrades and databases. Staff computers are being upgraded and some servers need to be
set up.
• The Library is partnering with the schools, particularly for the Summer Reading Program.
• They are looking into applying for grants to be able to test the lowest level readers, as
identified by the schools, at the beginning of the summer and again at the end.
• The Library is hoping to partner with PBS with a $3,500 grant that would provide free books
and other materials for kids participating in the Summer Reading Program.
b. Children's Learning Labs
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• Mrs. Kocin reported that the Library will be providing iPads loaded with interactive educational
apps for children to use. The three locations receiving the iPads so far are NR, EB, and GG.
• Mrs. Grieve suggested the Library provide a wish list that perhaps FOL members could
directly donate funding to support, such as iPads.
• Mrs. Kocin reported that the Library will be looking at new Maker Space technology programs
to provide to the public.
• Patrons are the "consumers" of Library products and have expressed interest in 3-D printers,
and author programs.
• She added that kids are learning from multiple sources, not just books.
• Mrs. Kocin distributed copies of an article from the Collier Citizen newspaper featuring the 3-D
printer program recently held at the Golden Gate Branch Library.
• She reported about a Library in Tampa that features The HIVE, which offers classes, learning
labs, access to equipment, and a whole host of specialized modeling and graphic software. It
also offers 3D printers, art/sewing spaces, computer labs, robotics arenas, and an audio/video
recording studio with green screen.
• Discussion ensued regarding the features at the Imaginarium in Ft. Myers and the Children's
Museum in Naples.
• The public has to pay to visit them, and some of their features have remained the same for a
while.
• The Library would like to offer new and mobile equipment that could rotate among the library
locations.
• Naples Regional has incorporated Ozobots with their programming and Marco has interactive
wall panels.
• Mrs. Grieve commented that some children's programs are interesting to the adults too.
2) Staffing Update
• Mrs. Kocin reported that the Library now has eight locations with a LEAP student. EN was
recently approved with FOL funding.
• Kim Spina from SR has been selected as the new Children's Dept. Supervisor at HQ.
• Robert Rodriguez, who updated the Library's website, etc. will be retiring from the Library on
April 29.
• There are several part time positions that have posted and are pending interviews.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Library Advisory Board, Mrs. Grieve moved to
adjourn, Ms. Bettinger-Hennink seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was
adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
The next Library Advisory Board meeting will include their annual meeting and will be held on
Wednesday, May 18 at the Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109.
Approved by:
(Dertt •
Doris J. Lewis, Chair, Library Advisory Board
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