LAB Minutes 02/16/2022Naples, Florida, February 16, 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
Joan Hochschild - District 1
Joy White - District 4
Marjorie H. Gagnon - District 5 (Absent)
Carla Grieve - District 2
ALSO PRESENT Catherine Cowser, lnterim Library Director
Rosemary LaBarge, lnterim Assistant Library Director
Karen Tibbetts, Library Administrative Assistant
Chloe Snider, Senior Librarian
Julie Blatt, East Naples Library Branch Manager
Connie Kindsvater, PaslPresident, Friends of the Library
Lynne Nordhoff, Guest
CALL TO ORDERl) Grant LAB Member remote attendance (Motion & Approval). Quorum was met for this meeting, and remote attendance was not requested.
Mrs. Cowser announced that the Board of County Commissioners approved Tanya Williams'
interim assignment as Public Services Department Head at their February 8 meeting. As a
result, Mrs. Cowser was assigned to the lnterim Library Director position and Mrs. LaBarge was
assigned to the lnterim Assistant Library Director position.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Bettinger asked for approval of the meeting minutes of January 19,2022. One minor
correction was noted. Mrs. Grieve moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Dr. Hochschild
seconded and the motion was carried unanimously.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
1) Library Division Cheers for Peers Recipients for Januaryo Mrs. Cowser shared the Cheers for Peers recipients for January.
2) County Service Awards. Mrs. Cowser announced that no Library staff received County service awards this
month. She added that the County in-person recognition events and breakfasts
have resumed. Service award recipients for 20 or more years are invited to be
recognized before the BCC.
BOARD REPORTS
'l ) Report of Officers - None
2) Report of Committees - None
PRESENTATIONSt) Report ofthe Friends ofthe Library (FOL). Mrs. Kindsvater provided a printed copy of her FOL report for convenience
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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Packet Pg. 533 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes - February 16, 2022 (21718 : Library Advisory Board - March 16, 2022)
. She stated that the two primary FOL fundraisers, the Nick Linn Series and
Nonfiction Series, are sold out. However, virtual tickets are still available for the Nick
Linn Series.. The final Beach series lecture for the year will be held on April 1"t at the downtown
Sudgen and feature bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey-
. Mrs. Kindsvater added that Kristy Harvey will launch her new book with the "Friends
and Fiction" podcast on March 30. The April l"tlecture will be the first stop on her
book tour. Tickets are still available for this event.
o Vicky Bowles will write an article for the Naples Daily News to promote this event.
. FOL staff are looking forward to getting back to their offices located within the
Naples Regional Library once the renovations are completed.. The FOL are looking for new Board members, and a few people have submitted
their applications for review.o The FOL will have representatives in attendance at the February 26 Library "Start
Your Engines" event. The FOL are hoping to attract a younger audience for
membership.o There will be a raffle for prizes funded by the FOL at this event.o The FOL's annual Member Appreciation event will be held on Friday, March 11 at
the South Regional Library at spm. Registration is required for this event, as space
is limited.
2) Report ofthe Library Director
Mrs. Cowser reported that the January book sale was a success. All but one cart load of
books was sold. The Library made $5500 from this event, and the money will be placed
in the fund for LEAP students.
The Library is accepting donations, and Mrs. Cowser commented that fewer large print
books are being requested as many patrons are borrowing audio books instead.
Rose LaBarge will be attending the Florida Library Association conference being held in
Ponte Vedra, Florida at the end of May this year.
a. Capital Projects Update. Mrs. Cowser reported that Ms. Williams reviewed capital projects with facilities
last week to determine funding.o The lmmokalee parking lot project has been delayed while the contractor
conducts a soils test.o The remodeling of the interiors of the Headquarters and Naples Regional
Libraries is being reviewed.. Mrs. Cowser will provide updates at the next meeting.o She reported that the Genealogy Room will have a luncheon program on
February 28 at 10:30 am. lvlarie Overman and volunteers will provide a tour of
the newly renovated room. Patrons can make an appointment for genealogy-
related requests. Volunteers and Library staff will provide assistance with these
requests.
b. Staffing Update
. Mrs. Cowser stated that Matthew Etzel is doing well in his new Library
Technician position at Naples Regional.. Wesley Gunther started his part-time Library Assistant position at Headquarters
on Monday.. Applicants have been referred for the two full-time Library Assistant positions at
Estates and East Naples Branch libraries.. The vacant Courier position is scheduled to post on Friday.
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Packet Pg. 534 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes - February 16, 2022 (21718 : Library Advisory Board - March 16, 2022)
. The two Librarian positions at Naples Regional will be reposted.
. Georgeann McNatt Gosch retired from her Branch lranager position at
lmmokalee Branch Library on February 11.
. The Library is allowing students to volunteer at the Library for Bright Futures'
. Some adult volunteers have also returned.
c. General Operations Update. Mrs. Cowser stated that as a result of Ms. Williams' reassignment as the interim
PSD Head, other Library staff have been reassigned in the interim as well.
. Susan Maunz (Estates Library Branch Manager), has been reassigned to
Naples Regional's Senior Supervisor position, as Robert Wilson is out on Fl\rLA
. Julie Blatt (East Naples Library Branch lranager), has been reassigned to
Estates'Branch lranager, as Susan has been reassigned to Naples Regional.
. Lisa Nuccio (Headquarters Librarian), has been reassigned to East Naples
Library Branch [,Ianager, as Julie has been reassigned to Estates.. The Library is working on its FY23 Budget, rewriting its Emergency Plan
(COOP) and Strategic Plan (2023-2027).
. The Strategic Plan team will have focus groups and conduct three surveys
(employees, customer satisfaction, and non-library-users). The lrarketing Team has partnered with other organizations for outreach
opportunities and will help with the non-library-user survey.d. Grants lJ pdate. Mrs. Cowser stated that the State Treasury Department has made changes to
the parameters for the Grants.. The Grant Coordinators were informed that the Library cannot use the money as
originally planned; the Grant Memorandum of Understanding (MOIJ) will have to
be revised and updated.. The Library team will be revjewing the new parameters and updates will be
provided at the next meeting.. The Board of County Commissioners approved pay adjustments that will be
retroactively applied as ol January 1,2022.
NEW BUSINESS
1) Congratulations. Ms. Bettinger congratulated Tanya Williams, Catherine Cowser, and Rosemary
LaBarge on their new assignments.. Discussion ensued among members regarding a recognition giftfor Ms. Williams
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
adjoumed at 10:55 a.m.
PUBLIC PETITIONS TO THE BOARD FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION - None
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISION - None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
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Packet Pg. 535 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes - February 16, 2022 (21718 : Library Advisory Board - March 16, 2022)
Mrs. Cowser will update LAB members as to the format of the Library Advisory Board meeting
scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 atthe Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange
Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109, (239) 252-7350.
by:
Connie r, Chair
Library Advisory Board
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Packet Pg. 536 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes - February 16, 2022 (21718 : Library Advisory Board - March 16, 2022)