LAB Minutes 06/21/202330.A.3
Naples. Florida, June 21, 2023
LET IT 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: Connie Bettinger — District 3
VICE -CHAIR: Joan Hochschild — District 1
SECRETARY: Joy White — District 4 (Absent)
Marjorie H. Gagnon — District 5 (Absent)
Carla Grieve — District 2
ALSO PRESENT: Catherine Cowser. Library Director
Karen Tibbetts. Library Operations Support Specialist I
Julie Blatt, Branch Manager, East Naples Branch Library
Susan Maunz, Library Manager, Naples Regional Library
Chloe Snider, Branch Manager, Vanderbilt Beach Branch Library
Connie Kindsvater, FOL Past -President, Membership Chair
Dan Martin, Collier County Resident
Nathaniel McDaniel. Summer Intern
CALL TO ORDER
1) Grant LAB Member remote attendance (Motion & Approval)
• Quorum was met for this meeting, and was directed by Ms. Bettinger. No motion or
approval for remote attendance was necessary.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Bettinger asked for approval of the annual and regular meeting minutes of May 17. 2023.
Dr. Hochschild moved to approve the minutes as written. Mrs. Grieve seconded and the motion
was carried unanimously.
Awards and Recognitions
1) Library Division Cheers for Peers Recipients for May
• Copies of the May Cheers for Peers recipients were provided to LAB members.
2) County Service Awards and VIP Certificates
Mrs. Cowser stated that no VIP certificates were received for this month.
BOARD REPORTS
1) Report of Officers
Ms. Bettinger stated that she shared the Library's Summer Reading Program and
Naples Botanical Garden partnership information with members of the Golden Gate
Civic Association.
• She also directed them to the Library's website in order to get details.
2) Report of Committees - None
PRESENTATIONS
1) Report of the Friends of the Library (FOL)
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• Mrs. Kindsvater reported that the Friends of the Library help to financially support
the Library's Summer Reading Program, and stated that this program is a very good
use of the FOL Board funds!
• She added that she is excited to see so many children enjoying the Library
programs and activities.
• She stated that she attended the Summer Reading Program Kick -Off event at the
Estates Branch Library on June 10".
• She reported that she was amazed to learn that over 380 people attended this
event. The parking lot was full, and the magic show turnout overflowed into the
hallway.
• She added that the Riham Saleeb. Branch Manager of the Estates Branch Library,
did an outstanding job! She continuously helped keep everything under control to
ensure that everyone had a good time.
• Mrs. Kindsvater commented that this location may need a larger event room in the
future. as the population of this area of the County is growing rapidly.
• FOL Board members are encouraged to attend Library events, and on June 12,
three FOL members, Janell Lopus, Patty Reed, Arnie Rubin, joined Mrs. Kindsvater
at the Headquarters Library SRP Kick -Off Event.
• She stated that they enjoyed seeing the children in small groups with different
things to do. Everyone appeared to be happy and engaged.
• She added that new FOL member, Patty Reed also attended the SRP Kick -Off
Event at the Immokalee Branch Library.
• Mrs. Kindsvater stated that the FOL Board does not meet during the summer as
many of their members are seasonal; however, those that are year-round residents
continue to work on programs and other committee functions.
• As chairman of the Membership Committee, she is working on redesigning the FOL
"Be a Friend" membership brochure to add back in the credit card information
section.
• She stated that some of the FOL members want to handle "on the spot"
transactions.
• The new FOL Board members that have been installed will assume their
responsibilities at the beginning of the fiscal year in October.
• Gwyn Goodman declined the position as Secretary; however, Bobbi Skaggs
graciously accepted the position.
• The FOL website will be updated with the new Board information in October,
2) Report of the Library Director
a. Staffing Update
• Mrs. Maunz introduced Nathan McDaniel, one of the two Library summer interns.
He has been assisting library staff at Headquarters. The other intern has been
helping at the Estates Branch Library.
• The interns will work for six weeks to help with the Summer Reading Program and
other library duties.
• Nathan stated that he enjoys working most on the "send list", which is a report
generated each morning with a list of materials requested by Library patrons.
• Mrs. Cowser stated that Mrs. Maunz will be the new Manager at the Headquarters
Library beginning July 1.
• She will be vacating the Manager position at the Naples Regional Library, and this
position will be posted internally to provide a promotional opportunity for qualified
Library staff.
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• Mrs. Cowser stated that Kara Godwin, Supervisor, Operations at the Headquarters
Library will be resigning on July 1 after 24 years of service.
• Vera Ivanova is leaving her part-time Library Specialist I position at the Estates
Branch Library. effective June 16, to pursue a full-time position elsewhere in the
County.
• Mrs. Cowser reported that several vacant positions are due to some staff having o
family matters. N
• The Library is currently interviewing for two full-time and four part-time Library
Specialist I positions. )
• The Library will be posting a newly reclassified Program Coordinator position that 3
was previously a Librarian position. a
• Mrs. Cowser is working with HR to revise the requirements for its Librarian
positions, as it has been difficult to fill those positions There are currently six
MIRMININIS
• She added that there are some current staff members working on their MLIS
degrees.
• Due to budget obligations. the Library will reclassify a position as a Budget Analyst
is needed.
• Mrs. Cowser stated that the County is completing its impact fee analysis and the
budget should be finalized on July 15.
• She reported that 77% of its budget is allocated to personnel costs.. and 23% to
operating costs.
• She added that the Office of Management recently took a vacant Librarian position
to fill a position in the Resiliency Dept.
• The County may shift other vacant positions to other Departments/Divisions to N
increase staffing levels across the agency. N
• Earlier in the year, the County experienced a 9% increase in payroll in order to N
become competitive in the employment market. c
• The County is looking at a 4% payroll increase in August.
• Due to the two full-time vacancies, and staff out on family leave at the Marco Island
Branch and South Regional Libraries, staff have been reassigned to provide staffing
support at these locations.
• Also. Susan Petr, Library Supervisor, has been reassigned from Headquarters to
the Estates Branch Library to provide summer activities to the children at this
location.
• Irene Johnson, Program Coordinator, has been assisting with storytimes at
Headquarters. Recently 61 attendees came to the storytime that was held in the
Solarium at Headquarters. We are welcoming all those who show up.
b. General Operations
L Outreach
• Mrs. Cowser reported that the Naples Botanical Gardens partnered with
the Library again this summer to offer free admission from June 12-18 to
Library cardholders.
• She will provide statistics as to how many attended at the next meeting.
• The Library has partnered with the County's Health Department with little
libraries at the Naples and Immokalee locations.
• Library staff will also help with the Health Departments early vaccination
event to be held in July.
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• Many of the summer outreaches slowed down for the Summer Reading
Program and Summer Camps; however, there are many outreaches
scheduled for the fall.
ii. Programming
• Mrs. Cowser reported that 52 people attended the magic show at the
Headquarters Library yesterday.
• Mrs. Cowser reported that the Museum will be having a Time Capsule
Event on Friday, July 7 at 5-7pm at the Collier Museum at the
Government Center.
• She encouraged LAB and FOL members to attend.
• Attendees will share a picnic celebration and the opening of the Library's
10-year anniversary time capsule and the 25- and 47-year old time
capsules, and help decide what should be put in the next time capsule to
be opened in 2076, the US Tricentennial.
• Mrs. Cowser announced that the Golisano Children's Museum will be
providing an additional admission pass to each Library location for a total
of three passes. This will help patrons fill their hold requests sooner.
iii. Summer Reading Program
• Mrs Cowser provided statistics on the Summer Reading Program:
Over 250 participating adults
Over 600 children have read over 5,500 books
Over 150 teens have read over 500 books
iv. Capital Projects
= Mrs. Bettinger asked if there were any updates on the Immokalee
parking lot project.
• Mrs. Cowser stated that the County is working on core analysis projects
and soil testing at several parking lot areas throughout the County.
• Ms. Blatt reported that there has been some activity at the East Naples
Branch Library's parking lot.
• Mrs. Cowser stated that Facilities has been working on painting some of
the County's buildings. Recently the Golden Gate Branch Library's
exterior was painted, and the crew is working on painting the interior.
The Vanderbilt Beach and East Naples Branch Libraries are also
scheduled to be painted.
• Mrs. Cower has been working on creating business cases for unfunded
projects to fund $150k for Keystaff employees, and $150k for eBooks
and eResources
= The Library is working on locker systems to allow patrons to drop off and
pick up materials in remote areas, such as Ave Maria. The locker
systems will need access to electricity and the internet.
• Mrs. Cowser informed everyone that recordings of the County budget
meetings and workshops are available on the County's website. The last
budget meeting will be held on July 15.
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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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 c
adjourned at 10:40 a.m. C'
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The Library Advisory Board does not meet in July. Mrs. Cowser will update LAB members as to
the format of the Library Advisory Board meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday, August
16, 2023 at the Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First Street, Immokalee, FL 34142. a
239.252.7073. '
Approved by:
t& A&6v,—
Connie Bettinger, Chair
Library Advisory Board
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