LAB Minutes 05/18/2022Connie Bettinger - District 3, Chair
Joan Hochschild - District 1, Vice-Chair
Joy White - District 4, Secretary
Carla Grieve - District 2
Marjorie H. Gagnon - District 5
ALSO PRESE NT:Catherine Cowser, lnterim Library Director
Rosemary LaBarge, lnterim Assistant Library Director
Karen Tibbetts, Administrative Assistant
Denise McMahon, Senior Supervisor, South Regional Library
David Chalick, Branch Manager, Golden Gate Branch Library
Julie Blatt, lnterim Branch Manager, Estates Branch Library
Brenda Rasch, Branch Manager, Marco lsland Branch Library
Chloe Snider, Senior Libra rian
Connie Kindsvater, Past-President, Friends of the Library
Dan Martin, Collier County Resident
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The main purpose of this meeting was to select new officers for the coming year. Ms. Bettinger opened the
nominations. Mrs. Grieve moved, seconded simultaneously by Mrs. Gagnon and Dr. Hochschild and carried
unanimously to re-elect Ms. White as Secretary. Ms. White moved, seconded simultaneously by Mrs. Grieve and
Mrs. Gagnon and carried unanimously to re-elect Dr. Hochschild as Vice-Chairman. Mrs. Grieve moved,
seconded by Ms. White to re-elect Ms. Bettinger as Chair.
OTHER BUSINESS - None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Library Advisory Board, Ms. Bettinger moved, seconded by
Dr. Hochschild and carried unanimously, that the meeting be adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
App d bv:
Connie Bettinger, Chaii
Library Advisory Board
Naples, Florida, May 18, 2022
LET tT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date via hybrid in-person and video
conference attendance at the Headquarters Library at 10:00 a.m. in order to hold their Annual Meeting. The
following members were present:
MEMBERS:
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Packet Pg. 592 Attachment: Annual LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - May 18, 2022 (22587 : Library Advisory Board - June 15, 2022)
NapLes, Florida, May 18,2022
LET lT BE KNOWN that the LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD met on this date, following the
annual meeting, at 10:10 a.m. in the Headquarters Library ldith the following members present
Connie Bettinger - District 3
Joan Hochschild - District '1
Joy White - District 4
Marjorie H. Gagnon - District 5
Carla Grieve - District 2
ALSO PRESENT Catherine Cowser, lnterim Library Director
Rosemary LaBarge, lnterim Assistant Library Director
Karen Tibbetts, Library Administrative Assistant
Julie Blatt, lnterim Estates Branch Library Manager
Denise lucMahon, South Regional Library Senior Supervisor
David Chalick, Golden Gate Branch Library luanager
Brenda Rasch, Marco lsland Branch Library Manager
Chloe Snider, Senior Librarian
Connie Kindsvater, Past-President, Friends of the Library
Dan Martin, Collier County Resident
CALL TO ORDER
'l ) Grant LAB Member remote attendance (Motion & Approval). All members were present for this meeting, and was directed by l\,Is. Bettinger
Remote attendance was not required.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Bettinger asked for approval of the meeting minutes of April 20, 2022. One minor correction
was noted. Mrs. Grieve moved to approve the minutes as corrected- lvls. White seconded and
the motion was carried unanimously.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
1) Library Division Cheers for Peers Recipients ,or April. Mrs. Cowser shared the Kudos Wall listing the Cheers for Peers recipients for April
2) VIP Awards. lrrs. Cowser read the names of Library staff being recognized with VIP Awards.. Vera lvanova (EB), Denise l\rcMahon (SR), Susan Petr (HQ), Margaret Congleton
(HQ), Nancy Lashley (HQ), Michael Daigle (HQ), Stephanie Farrell (EB), Dana
Abernethy (AD), Kara Godwin (HQ), lrene Johnson (AD), Chloe Snider (AD), Amy
Harris x 2 (HQ)
3) County Service Awards
None
lvls- Bettinger commented that she was pleased, since the Library's Employee of the Month
program was cancelled, that there are recognition programs available for Library staff to be
recognized for their efforts.
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CHAIR:
VICE-CHAIR:
SECRETARY:
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Packet Pg. 593 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - May 18, 2022 (22587 : Library Advisory Board - June 15, 2022)
BOARD REPORTS
I ) Report of Officers
oMs.BettingerreportedthatShewasunabletoattendlastmonth,sGoldenGate
Civic Association's monthly meeting.
2) Report of Committees - None
PRESENTATIONS
1) Report ofthe Friends ofthe Library (FOL)
o Mrs. Kindsvater provided a written report for the Friends of the Library.
. She stated that the FOL website has been updated to reflect:
o The four authors for the Nick Linn Lecture Series have been selected.
o David Baldacci will be one ofthe returning authors forthe 2023 season.
o Three of the four Nonfiction authors have been selected.
o Two authors have been selected for the Author Spotlight series.
o Sarah Penner will speak on Thursday, November 3 at 2:00pm
o Asha Lemmie will speak on Saturday, April 1 at 10:00am. Mrs. Kindsvater stated that the Friends of the Library will be celebrating 65 years
this year.. The FOL Board will meet on May 23'd at the Naples Regional Library; their next
meeting will be in September.. They will be voting on two more possible new Board members; one was voted in
last month.. They will be voting on an increase in membership fees for FOL members.o The Local Authors' Book Fair is being planned to be held atthe South Regional
Library on Saturday, November 12.. The Summer in-office hours for FOL staff (Marlene Haywood, Office Manager,
Cynde Decker, Finance Manager) are:o Tuesday-Thursday: 9:30am-1:00pmo Working from home on Mondays & Fridays, and in the afternoons on
Tuesday-Thursdayo Marlene and Cynde can be reached by phone or email Monday-Fridayo Previous CCPL Librarian, Ellen Tanner, will be hired to be in the office
part{ime during season in the afternoons.. Mrs. Kindsvater stated that important information (checks, etc.) can be put in the
secure FOL Office Lock Box on the wall outside the FOL office at Naples Regional
Library.
2) Report ofthe Library Director
a. Capital Projects Updateo Mrs. Cowser reported that the soil testing is still pending for the lmmokalee
parking lot.. Mrs. Cowser announced that the County Manager recently retired early.. The County's Human Resource team is reviewing the six candidates that applied
for the County Manager position.o All candidates are expected to attend the June 28 BCC meeting.. She added that there are many interim positions county-wide that will be
reviewed once the new County Manager is in place.
b. Staffing Update
. Mrs. Cowser reported that there are many new hires pending in the system.
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Packet Pg. 594 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - May 18, 2022 (22587 : Library Advisory Board - June 15, 2022)
. Several Librarian positions have selected candidates currently processing.
. The increases in rents and home purchasing has made it difficult to recruit new
hires.. Susan Maunz has been selected as the Senior Supervisor at the Naples
Regional Library.. Andrew Rose resigned from his part{ime Library Assistant position at the
Vanderbilt Beach Branch Library.o Mrs. Cowser reported that the Evergreen study, which provided preliminary pay
increases on January 1, is pending review and should be completed by the end
of the fiscal year.
c. General Operations Updateo Mrs. Cowser stated that the Library's 2023 budget is currently under review by
the Public Services Department.d. Grants Update. The Library has selected a candidate for the Program Specialist position that will
be assigned to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant project. This
candidate will help interview and select teachers to be hired to help the Golden
Gate and lmmokalee communities with homework help.. A timeline for this grant has been started.
PUBLIC PETITIONS TO THE BOARD FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION - None
PUBLIC CO]YIMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISIONo Mr. Martin asked if the Friends of the Library will be emailing its members with a
schedule of events, such as book fairs, lecture series, etc.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS - Nonel) LAB By-Laws Review. LAB members were provided copies of the current LAB By-Laws in their packet for
review.. Ms. Tibbetts provided copies of Collier County Ordinance 88-71, which confirms the
creation of the Library Advisory Board and Ordinance 93-86, which amends
Ordinance 88-71.
o Mrs. Cowser referenced the Collier County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 82, which
pertains to the Library and the Library Advisory Board.. Discussion ensued regarding the Library Advisory Board's governance.. Members will review the documents and the By-Laws will be reviewed at the next
meeting.
2) Library 65th Anniversary. Mrs. Cowser shared 65-year Anniversary design choices to review.. The 65-year Anniversary event is planned for September.
3) Summer Reading Program. Mrs. Cowser stated that the theme for this year's Summer Reading Program is
Oceans of Possibilities.
o lnformation for this event has been created in English and Spanish.. Ms. Bettinger asked if the information would be available in Creole. She added that
there are staff at the Collier County Public Schools that can help translate.. The Library's Display Team created remarkable under-sea displays for each Library
location.
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Packet Pg. 595 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - May 18, 2022 (22587 : Library Advisory Board - June 15, 2022)
. Sign up for the Summer Reading Program begins June 4.. The Summer Reading Program celebrations will be held on different dates at
different locations.. This year, the FOL has funded passes to the Naples zoo and Naples Botanical
Garden as grand prizes for adults and sea-themed prizes for youth.
. Ms. Bettinger was very impressed with Library staff's talents in creating the Summer
Reading Program displays.. The FOL also provided funds for the purchase of re-usable Summer Reading
Program signs for each Library location.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISION - None
. Mrs. Cowser reported that Rose LaBarge and her team are working on the Library's
Strategic Plan and Julie Blatt and her team are working on the Library's COOP, which is
its emergency plan.
. She added that Library staff will be participating in hurricane drill exercises next week.
. Dr. Hochschild asked if the Library's Code of Conducts/Behavior Policy needs to be
reviewed by LAB members.
. l\rrs. Cowser replied that the County is working on County-wide standards for this policy.
. Ms. Bettinger encouraged those present to promote the Library Advisory Board to others
to help recruit new board members.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Library Advisory Board, the meeting was
adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
The next Library Advisory Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 15,2022 atlhe
Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34'109. Mrs. Cowser will update
LAB members as to the format ofthis meeting.
by
Connie Bettinger, Chair
Library Advisory Board
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Packet Pg. 596 Attachment: LAB Meeting Minutes (signed) - May 18, 2022 (22587 : Library Advisory Board - June 15, 2022)