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LAB Minutes 01/19/2022Naples, Florida, January 19, 2022 LET lT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date at 10:00 a.m. in the Headquarters Library with the following members present: CHAIR: VICE-CHAIR: SECRETARY: Connie Bettinger - District 3 (Zoom) Joan Hochschild - District 1 Joy White - District 4 Marjorie H. Gagnon - District 5 (Zoom) Carla Grieve - District 2 Tanya Williams, Library Director Chloe Snider, Senior Librarian Susan Maunz, Estates Library Branch lt/lanager Lisa Nuccio, Headquarters Library Librarian Connie Kindsvater, Past-President, Friends of the Library Louise Franck, Secretary, Friends of the Library (Zoom) CALL TO ORDER 1) Grant LAB Member remote attendance (Motion & Approval). Quorum was met for this meeting, and was directed by Dr. Hochschild. Ms. Grieve moved to approve Connie Bettinger and Maggie Gagnon to remotely attend the LAB meeting. Ms. White seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. Ms. Williams stated that Lisa Nuccio would be taking the minutes for today's meeting as Karen Tibbetts is out for the day. No public guests were in attendance, however, Ms. Williams reminded everyone about the emergency exits and procedures. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES Dr. Hochschild asked for approval of the meeting minutes of December 15, 2021. Ms. White moved to approve the minutes as written. Mrs. Grieve seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. 1 ALSO PRESENT: AWARDS & RECOGNITION 1) Library Division Cheers for Peers Recipients for December. Ms. Williams shared the Cheers for Peers recipients for December and commented that due to the holidays, many staff members took leave time during the month. 2) County Service Awards. Ms. Williams announced that several Library staff members were recognized for their years of service with the County. She added that the County in-person recognition events and breakfasts have resumed. Service award recipients lor 20 or more years are invited to be recognized before the BCC.o Ms. Williams encouraged LAB members to acknowledge these employees. Georgeann McNatt Gosch, Branch Manager, lmmokalee = 5 years Cris Marrero, Library Technician, lmmokalee = 10 years John Alexander, Library Assistant, Marco lsland = 10 years (Dec.) Maricela Ramirez, Library Technician, Administration = 15 years Jaya Gopalan, Library Assistant, Headquarters = 20 years 28.A.c Packet Pg. 470 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 19, 2022 (21431 : Library Advisory Board - February 16, 2022) PRESENTATIONS 1) Report ofthe Friends ofthe Library (FOL). Mrs. Kindsvater provided a printed copy of her FOL report for convenience.. She stated that the two primary FOL fundraisers, the Nick Linn Series and Nonfiction Series, are underway. (January - March). The first Beach Series lecture was held in October at the downtown Sudgen Theater and featured bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe. The nelt event will be held on April 1"t featuring bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey.o The Nick Linn Series, a lunch-and-lecture opportunity at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, is sold out at 500 tickets, however, tickets for the online virtual access are available. Details are on the FOL website.. The January 4th event featured Kristin Harmel, bestselling author of World War ll novels. Her recent book "The Forest of Vanishing Stars" was discussed. Ms. Harmel also co-created a "Friends and Fiction" podcast with several other bestselling novelists.o The next Nick Linn Series will feature author Susan Wiggs on February 7th.o The Nonfiction Series started on Monday, January 17s and was held at the Kensington Country Club in Naples. Cade Metz, a technology correspondent for The New York Times and author of "Genius Makers", was the first speaker of the season.150 tickets were sold; however, 50 people were unable to attend.. Tickets are currently sold outforthe breakfast-and-lecture series, which is in-person only; no virtual access.o The Signature Series for FOL members, at no cost, is held at the South Regional and Headquarters Libraries. The dates and places are on the FOL website.o FOL staff are looking forward to getting back to their offices located within the Naples Regional Library once the renovations are completed.. FOL President, Ken Assal and VP Cindy Ruddy have three remaining library locations to visit.. All ten library branch managers have been invited to submit their "wish lists" of items for the FOL Board to review for approval and funding.. FOL social media has been started at the suggestion of the Library's summer interns. 2) Report of the Library Director Ms. Williams shared a PowerPoint presentation for her report. a. Capital Projects Update. Ms. Williams reported that the HVAC/Lighting Project at Naples Regional is almost complete, and rooms are available for programs again.. The Genealogy materials have been moved back to Naples Regional, and the Library is working with the Genealogical Society to staff the room. The room will be treated as a Special Collection and locked when not staffed.. The landscaping project at Naples Regional has been completed and the PO is in the process of being closed.. lnterior updates to Naples Regional are in the plans for the coming years.. Mrs. Franck added that the FOL offices will get updated with new flooring and new paint prior to staff returning. BOARD REPORTS I ) Report of Officers - None 2) Report of Committees - None 2 28.A.c Packet Pg. 471 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 19, 2022 (21431 : Library Advisory Board - February 16, 2022) b. Staffing Update . l\4s. Williams reported that Matthew Etzel, current Library Assistant at the East Naples Branch Library, has been promoted to Library Technician at Naples Regional effective January 22d.. The Library's Hiring Team interviewed candidates for two Librarian positions, however, both declined with applicant stating she could not find housing.. Georgeann McNatt Gosh will be retiring from her Branch Manager position at the lmmokalee Branch Library on February 1 1th.c. General Operations Update. Ms. Williams reported that the County Manager, Mark lsackson, will be retiring on July 1st; recommendations of a succession plan will be presented to the BCC at the end of the January 25th meeting.o The County is currently operating with two Deputy County Managers.o The Library recently addressed Security Certificate issues with its website over the New Year holiday. With shifts in the Library's fiscal team, the annual renewal inadvertently was overlooked. Jared Del Re and Janet Pereira have calendar reminders so it does not happen again.d. Grants Update. Ms. Williams reported that the Library is awaiting the award determination of the $165k State Aid to Libraries grant money.o The Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) for the lmmokalee Branch Library is pending a signed contract from the state.. Bidding had to be restarted for the lmmokalee parking lot project.. MOUs for all three American Rescue Plan Act Grants are waiting to be finalized. The County was awarded over $75 million, and the Library is a subrecipient of $7 million. PUBLIC PETITIONS TO THE BOARD FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION - None PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISION - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1) Golden Gate Senior Center - Status Report. Ms. Williams stated that the concept is to harden the existing old Golden Gate Branch Library building, where the Senior Center is housed.. Ms. Williams reported that she attended the recent Golden Gate Civic Association meeting and provided them with an overview of the Golden Gate Senior Center.o The hardening of the building will help the Senior Center's ability to facilitate aid opportunities available immediately following emergencies and natural disasters, and expansion to address both the Library's and Senior Center's growth to meet the educational, informational, and recreational programming needs of community seniors and others.. $5.5 million in funding needs to be secured by the County for this project. Funding is being identified through multiple sources.. Last year, as a part of aFY 2021-2022 Flotida State Appropriations request, the Library was awarded $250k through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.. The Library was also awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Mitigation Hardening Grant of $2.8 million.. There are two CDBG Coronavirus Grants in the pipeline totaling $2 million.. There are local funds out of the Library's budget of $500k. 2 28.A.c Packet Pg. 472 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 19, 2022 (21431 : Library Advisory Board - February 16, 2022) . With the rising cost of materials, which directly affects the cost of the project, it most likely will be closer to $7 million.. Once funding has been guaranteed, then the engineering and design will begin.. The building would be completely gutted down to its structure and redesigned.. The redesign will include an additional 2000 sq. ft. of meeting room space to be used by the Library and Senior Center.. The Senior Center has a new Executive Director, and programming has resumed. 21 2022 Library Advisory Board Meeting Dates / Locations (Motion). The Library Advisory Board members discussed the 2022 schedule of meetings and decided to meet in April at the Naples Regional Library, to meet in September at the South Regional Library and add a November meeting.o All Library locations have the ability to have Zoom attendance available.o Karen Tibbetts will update the meeting schedule to reflect the changes.. Since this item is administrative in nature, a motion is not necessary. NEW BUSINESS 1) Patron Behavior Policy. Ms. Williams stated that the Library's "Patron Behavior Policy" dated 20,l2 was provided to LAB members and needs to be revised. Branch Managers will be reviewing and submitting a draft to the LAB in March.. LAB members were asked to review verbiage of #5 A-L, especially noting anything that brings up concerns or clarification.. Members discussed allowing food and drinks in the Library.. Library staff need to have something in writing to show to patrons when addressing these issues in order to better enforce these guidelines.. The issue of homelessness was brought up, and [\Is. Williams replied that the Library is a public place and cannot discriminate patrons. Loitering is a grey area, and it is difficult to defend and enforce at the Library, as patrons can stay for the entire day if they choose to do so.. Ms. Williams has had conversations with the Naples Police Department and County Attorney in the past couple of months.. Homelessness is not illegal and several shelters were recently at capacity with 90 names on a waiting list. Many people come to the Library to get out of the elements. Some locations have higher homeless populations than others-. Naples Regional and East Naples libraries are the closest to St. Matthew's House, and therefore, have a higher number of homeless patrons.. The Library and staff need to be compassionate, as long as a patron is not being disruptive.. Ms. Williams reviewed documents from other library systems in the state, and noted that Miami-Dade has an ordinance pertaining to behavior policies.. Discussion ensued regarding children being left in the Library and cell phone usage in the Library.. Ms. Williams reported that Library staff at Naples Regional are all-hands-on-deck when students are let out ofthe nearby middle school. She added that a security guard has been hired 5 days a week in the afternoons to help manage the students.. ln addition, the Naples Police Department and the Sheriff's Department frequently patrol the area. 4 28.A.c Packet Pg. 473 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 19, 2022 (21431 : Library Advisory Board - February 16, 2022) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISION - None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Library Advisory Board, the meeting was adjourned al ll:20 a.m. Ms. Wlliams will update LAB members as to the format of the Library Advisory Board meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday, February 16,2022 at the Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109, (239) 252-7350. Approved by Connie Bettinger, Chair Library Advisory Board 5 28.A.c Packet Pg. 474 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - January 19, 2022 (21431 : Library Advisory Board - February 16, 2022)