LAB Minutes 12/11/2013 Naples, Florida, December 11, 2013
LET IT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date in regular session at
10:00 a.m. in the Headquarters Branch Library with the following members present:
VICE-CHAIR: Loretta Murray— District 1
Carla Grieve— District 2 C �J
Connie Bettinger-Hennink— District 3
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ALSO PRESENT: Marilyn Matthes, Library Director
Karen Tibbetts, Administrative Assistant
Roberta Reiss— Literacy Program BY
ABSENT: Doris J. Lewis — District 4
Lillian Cuevas — District 5
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Murray asked for additions or corrections to the minutes of November 13, 2013. A few minor
corrections were noted. Ms. Bettinger-Hennink moved to approve the minutes, Mrs. Grieve seconded
and the motion was carried unanimously that the minutes be approved as corrected.
LITERACY PROGRAM REPORT— Roberta Reiss
• Mrs. Reiss reported that the conversation class is in full swing and had to be split into two
sessions, as there are more people wanting to participate than one class could accommodate.
• Three members received their American citizenship since the last meeting she attended.
• Participants commented that the conversation classes have given them more confidence, and
are a much needed service that is not offered elsewhere in the community.
• She remarked that the citizenship test/interview is more focused on verbal, and it usually is in
a free-flow interview format. However, the interviewer can only select from a certain group of
questions to ask, and they cannot trip up the candidate.
• Preparation materials are available. And the immigration office provides free materials, such
as flashcards.
• Participants have been between the ages of 42 and 74. The youngest member was 28 years
old.
• The last basic computer class will be held at East Naples today. Participants were chosen by
the Literacy Volunteers of Collier County, and three that have completed the class are from
Haiti. Mrs. Reiss has certificates to give to the participants. The next four week session will
begin on January 8th. There are 7-8 terminals available.
• Mrs. Reiss has been busy training and educating adults with SWFLN. She also has been
helping to interview people for the Continuing Education Coordinator position. Roberta added
that she is the only Collier County Public Library representative on the SWFLN committee.
• Mrs. Reiss will try to get some literacy information posted on the library social media pages as
well as in the newsletter.
REPORT OF OFFICERS — None
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COMMUNICATIONS — None
a—Written —None
b— Personal— None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1) Employee of the Month— December
• Mrs. Grieve nominated Theresa Wagner from the Headquarters Regional Library for the
December employee of the month. Ms. Bettinger-Hennink seconded the nomination and
the motion passed unanimously.
• Karen will provide Mrs. Grieve with a list of the 2013 Employee of the Month winners,
including their title and branch.
• The end of year nominees and nominators will be selected at next month's meeting.
2) RFID Update
• Mrs. Matthes reported that the three vendors selected have completed their product
demonstrations.
• The RFID committee submitted additional questions to the vendors. Their answers will
need to be returned for review by the committee at the next meeting after the new year.
a. There were questions regarding clarification of how the system works and the
acceptance of credit cards for fines and fees.
b. Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliancy needs to be confirmed, as it is a federal law
that must be met in order for a company to accept credit cards.
• It is difficult to compare prices between the different vendors, as they have many different
components to their systems.
• The Library needs to weed out materials that are out of date or not used.
• The new RFID system will be phased in over a couple of years. The library card will
continue to use a bar code.
3) Policies
a. Potential changes because of RFID and self-checks
• Mrs. Matthes reported that the RFID system provides security gates that will alarm if an
item is not properly checked out, however, the DVD/CD locking cases currently being
used in the Library will not work with the RFID system.
• One option is to purchase bins that store DVDs that would be retrieved when the
patron brings the empty case to check-out. However, there are over 85,000 DVDs in
the system-wide collection, and each bin only holds 1500.
• Another option would be to buy new cases that would work with the RFID system.
• The third option would be to affix an RFID chip to both the DVD/CD and case.
• Everyone agreed that the third option would make the most economic sense.
• Many people are streaming movies more often, and DVDs may phase out.
NEW BUSINESS
1) Proposed 2014 LAB Meeting Schedule
• Members reviewed the proposed LAB meeting schedule, and agreed to meet at the
Naples Regional Library for the June 2014 meeting. All other meetings will be held at the
Headquarters Regional Library.
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink made a motion to accept the 2014 LAB meeting schedule. Mrs.
Grieve seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
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GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink stated that she spoke with David Chalick, and it is important for the
Golden Gate Library to be prominent on the new sign.
• She commented that it would be nice to have unique signs for the Library, such as
incorporating book spines or some other type of imagery. Mrs. Matthes said that she would
look into it; however, signs can be rather expensive.
• Mrs. Grieve added that maybe the Friends of the Library could help with Library signage.
• Mrs. Murray mentioned that Donna Fiala was helping Shadowlawn Elementary School to
update their library with new books, with the help of a local foundation.
• Discussion included recommending other local organizations to collect books as well.
• Mrs. Matthes added that Pamela Moore has been collecting books to send to Shadowlawn,
however, donations cannot fill the library needs at the schools.
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink added that assisted living facilities can also use donated materials.
• Mrs. Matthes met with someone at Bentley Village and said that Library staff could come there
to discuss available services.
• The BCC has eliminated some advisory boards and is still reviewing others.
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink reported that the Golden Gate Library has a "Secret Santa" event in
which patrons check-out a book that is wrapped in Holiday paper. The book title is revealed
when the book is unwrapped. Mrs. Matthes added that SR and EN originated this idea as
"Blind Date With a Book".
• The Library Book Sale will be held March 21-28.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT— Marilyn Matthes
1) Current Statistics
• Mrs. Matthes reported that Michael Widner has retired, and the Reference staff will take
over the maintenance and organization of Library statistics.
• She distributed a handout comparing statistics for October and November for 2012 and
2013. Some of the November statistics may have been affected by early voting in 2012 at
some locations.
2) Staffing Update
• There have been three internal applicants for the Assistant Library Director position. (David
Chalick, Tanya Williams and Catherine Cowser).
• The candidate selected will retain some of their current job responsibilities.
• The vacated position will be converted to an Automation Specialist position.
• Robert Rodriguez has taken on some of Michael Widner's responsibilities in the meantime.
• Ms. Bettinger-Hennink asked if there were any other upcoming retirements. Mrs. Matthes
replied that Carol Travis may retire in March. She has been working from home due to
health issues.
• Mrs. Matthes plans to retire in January 2015, and Robert Rodriguez may retire in March
2015.
• There currently are two part time job bank positions open (MI and HQ), and one full time
library assistant position at SR.
• Mrs. Matthes has been reviewing Library policies with the County attorney. A group wanted
to petition for signatures outside of the Library, however, they did not give prior notice as
required by the Library, to which they objected.
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• The BCC does not have such a policy in place and questioned why the Library would have
separate policies. In the early 1990's, the LAB was given the authority to make policy
changes to alleviate items, such as censorship policies, being brought before the BCC.
REPORT OF THE FRIENDS
• Mrs. Grieve has no information to report, as she is no longer a member of the FOL board, and
did not attend the November meeting.
• Mrs. Matthes will be attending the FOL executive committee meeting on Friday.
• Patti DeGroot and Pamela Moore will be discussing adult and children/youth programs at the
meeting.
• Jon Zoller asked for the Library to provide a wish list of items and/or programs that they would
like for the FOL to consider sponsoring.
• Mrs. Matthes has received both compliments and complaints regarding the recent Library
program registration.
• Many of the Library programs are full due to early registration from FOL members.
• Perhaps FOL members could only register early for FOL sponsored programs.
• Mrs. Matthes will be discussing program registration procedures with the Friends.
• The next FOL Board meeting is scheduled for December 20th from 2-4pm at Naples Regional.
Ms. Bettinger-Hennink commented that she would like to attend.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Library Advisory Board. Mrs. Murray moved to
adjourn, Ms. Bettinger-Hennink seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was
adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Everyone enjoyed the delicious food provided by Marilyn Matthes.
Approved by:
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Doris J. Lewis 1
Chair, Library Advisory board
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