LAB Minutes 04/20/2022Naples, Florida, April20, 2022
LET lT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date at '10:00 a.m. in the
Naples Regional Library with the following members present:
Connie Bettinger - District 3
Joan Hochschild - District I
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
Susan lvlaunz, lnterim Naples Regional Library Manager
Julie Blatt, lnterim Estates Branch Library lvlanager
Denise McMahon, South Regional Library Manager
David Chalick, Golden Gate Branch Library Manager
Brenda Rasch, Marco lsland Branch Library Manager
Ir/larie Overman, Genealogy Dept. Leader, Naples Regional Library
Connie Kindsvater, PasGPresident, Friends of the Labrary
CALL TO ORDER'l) Grant LAB Member remote attendance (Motion & Apprcval). Quorum was met for this meeting, and was directed by Ms. Bettinger. Remote
attendance was not required for this meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Bettinger asked for approval of the meeting minutes of l\rarch 16, 2022. [,ils. White moved to
approve the minutes as written. Dr. Hochschild seconded and the motion was carried
unanimoUsly.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
I ) Library Division CheeE for Peers Recipients for March. Mrs. Cowser shared the Kudos Wall listing the Cheers for Peers recipients for
l\rarch.
2) County Service Awards. Three (3) Library staff received County service awards this month:o Recognizing five years of service: Amy Harris (HQ)o Recognizing one year of service: Tammy Jones (EN) &Carol Lepman (EN)
The County gives a thank you note and key chain to all staff completing one year of
service. Staff completing 5+ years of service can select an item from a catalog.
BOARD REPORTS
1) Report of Officers - None. Ms. Bettinger reported that she provided Library updates at the Golden Gate Civic
Association's monthly meeting.
CHAIR:
VICE-CHAIR:
SECRETARY:
1
28.A.4
Packet Pg. 641 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - April 20, 2022 (22299 : Library Advisory Board - May 18, 2022)
2) Report of Committees - None
PRESENTATIONSl) Report ofthe Friends ofthe Library (FOL)
. Mrs. Kindsvater provided a written report for the Friends of the Library.
. She stated that the FOL staff (Marlene Haywood and Cynde Decker) are back into
the newly renovated offlce with new hours.
o May 1 - Sept. 30 = TuMed/Th 9:30am-1:00pm
o Oct. 1 - April 30 = Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-1:00pm. She added that a part time former librarian was hired to be in the office when
l\,ilarlene and Cynde are not there to answer the phones, handle questions, etc.. Mrs. Kindsvater encouraged everyone to stop by and see the new office.. The Library Branch Liaison Committee submitted the 2022 Wish List items for the
Collier County Public Library's ten locations. ltems have been ordered and some
have been delivered.. Every year, one Board member is assigned to each library location to be its liaison
to help support branch enhancements, etc.. Mrs. Kindsvater reported that she will be the chair of the Membership Committee.. She stated that her number one priority is to increase FOL membership, and
encouraged everyone to send her any ideas they may have.. The FOL Membership Committee will meet next Monday at 2pm to discuss ideas.. The FOL has two new Board lrembers, and a third may submit an application.. The author events for 2023 are being planned.. The 2023 Nick Linn Lecture Series will be celebrating its 20rh Anniversary.. This event is the FOL'S primary fundraiser, and the committee invited back some
previous year's authors. David Baldacchi's prior appearance brought 780 people to
the event.. The non-fiction series continues at Kensington Country Club.. The Beach Series has been renamed to "Author Spotlight" and will continue to be
held at the downtown Sugden Theater.. The two Author Spotlight events will be heldon November 3 and April '1.
. Mrs. Kindsvater reported that the number of year-round residents is growing.. Ihe Signature Series and Local Author Book Fair are being planned by Patti
DeGroot, FOL Advisor.. Rose LaBarge invited the Friends of the Library to attend the Library's Summer
Reading Program Kick-Off event to be held on June 4 at Headquarters Library.. The Library appreciates the FOL's funding ofthe Summer Reading Program.
2) Report of the Library Director
a. Capital Proiects Update. Mrs. Cowser is awaiting a reply from the County regarding the results ofthe soil
test for the lmmokalee parking lot project.
. She added that the Library's FY2023 budget is being worked on by the County's
OVS Department. There will be a 1olo increase-. Jeff Newman from OVS will present the Library's proposed budget to the County
Manager with a realistic budget to include the increased costs in purchases and
utilities.
2
28.A.4
Packet Pg. 642 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - April 20, 2022 (22299 : Library Advisory Board - May 18, 2022)
. Mrs. Cowser heard that Facilities may be looking at replacing the existing chillers
at the South Regional and Golden Gate Branch Libraries.
b. Staffing Update
. Mrs. Cowser reported that Robert Wilson, Senior Supervisor at the Naples
Regional Library, resigned effective yesterday.
. She added that Anna Karras. Public Services Librarian at South Regional
Library will be resigning after 17 years with the Library, effective April 29rh
. Janet Kravetz, part-time Library Assistant at Naples Regional Library will be
retiring today after '17 years of service.. [rrs- Cowser stated that Collier County is seeing severaltrends that are making
it difficult to hire new employees.
o People wanting to work from home
o Local housing not affordable. The Library will be posting 7 Librarian positions to coincide with graduations:
o 4 Public Services Lrbranans. One Public Services Librarian position is pending Bryan Watt to
transfer from Headquarters to Naples Regional Library.
o 3 Youth Services Librarians. One new Youth Services Librarian is pending final paperwork with HR
to determine a start date
c. General Operations Update. Mrs. Cowser stated that the entire County is experiencing
resignations/retirements.. County Manager, Mark lsakson, will be retiring July I. OVS Division Director, Kim Grant, will be retiring July 1. Parks Division Director, Barry Williams, will be retiring May 1. The County has a new newsletter "Collier @ Work" for all Division/Department
information, including contributions from the Library.. Mrs. Cowser stated that she provides a quarterly report on Library updates to
the Public Services Dept. Head, Tanya Williams.. Mrs LaBarge is working on the Library's s-Year Strategic Plan and expects to
present information to the LAB members in the next month or so.d. Grants Update. The luemorandum of lJnderstanding (MOU) for the new American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA) Grant was signed on April 1'1.. The Library is looking to hire a Program Specialist to work with the County's
outside employment source, Keystaff, to hire school teachers under this grant to
provide tutoring and after-school homework help in the Golden Gate and
lmmokalee communities.. Current Library staff stepped up during the staffing shortages, and the Library
has great volunteers helping as well-. Marie Overman invited everyone to tour the newly upgraded Genealogy Room
after today's LAB meeting.
PUBLIC PETITIONS TO THE BOARD FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION - None
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISION - None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS. l\rs. Bettinger asked if the Library Advisory Board's by-laws need to be reviewed at next
month's meeting.
3
28.A.4
Packet Pg. 643 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - April 20, 2022 (22299 : Library Advisory Board - May 18, 2022)
Ms. Tibbetts will look into the County's resolutions pertaining to advisory boards and
meetings.
Mrs. Grieve shared a copy of the April 14, 2022 Naples issue of the Florida Weekly
newspaper and an article regarding Tech Anxiety. The article included how libraries help
residents with technology information.
NEW BUSINESS - None
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 at 10:50 a.m.
The next Library Advisory Board meeting will include its annual meeting. Mrs. Cowser will
update LAB members as to the format of the LAB meetrng scheduled to be held on Wednesday,
May 18, 2022 at the Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109.
by
Connie Bettinger,air
Library Advisory Board
Ap
4
28.A.4
Packet Pg. 644 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - April 20, 2022 (22299 : Library Advisory Board - May 18, 2022)