LAB Minutes 09/20/202330.A.3
Naples, Florida, September 20 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
Marjorie H. Gagnon — District 5
Carla Grieve — District 2
ALSO PRESENT: Rosemary LaBarge. Library Assistant Director
David Chalick, Branch Manager, Golden Gate Library
Chloe Snider. Branch Manager. Vanderbilt Beach Library
Riham Saleeb. Branch Manager, Estates Library
Susan Petr. Library Supervisor
Mackenzie Morgan, Librarian
Jennifer Langan, Librarian
Andrew Meyer, Library Program Coordinator
Alain@ Jackson, Library Program Coordinator
Matthew Etzel, Library Program Coordinator
Angela Machalek, Library Program Coordinator
Jessica Minix, Library Specialist II
Stephanie Diamond. Library Specialist II
Connie Kindsvater, FOL Past -President, Membership Chair
Arnie Rubin. FOL Board Member, Membership
Rosemary LaBarge, Assistant Library Director reported on behalf of Catherine Cowser, Library
Director, at today's meeting. Mrs. Cowser's attendance was required at another meeting
Mackenzie Morgan. Librarian, will take the meeting minutes, as Karen Tibbetts is away on
vacation.
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 meeting minutes of August 16, 2023. Dr. Hochschild
moved to approve the minutes as written Mrs White seconded and the motion was carried
unanimously.
Awards and Recognitions
1) Library Division Cheers for Peers Recipients for August
• Copies of the August Cheers for Peers recipients were provided to LAB members.
2) County Service Awards and VIP Certificates for August
Recipients for Values in Practice (VIP) awards included- Riham Saleeb (EB); Susan
Petr (EB) x 3; Andrew Meyer (AD): Angela Machalek (SR); Chloe Snider (VB),
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Elizabeth Flores (GG); Irene Johnson (HQ) x 2; Janet Pereira (AD); Jared Del Re
(AD); Jennifer Langan (HQ); Jessica Minix (NR); Julie Blatt (NR); Karen Tibbetts
(AD); Kim Spina (AD): Mackenzie Morgan (HQ); Matthew Etzel (AD); Stephanie
Diamond (EB); Susan Maunz (HQ) M
Mrs. LaBarge read the list of Cheers for Peers recipients for August. 04
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She reported that many library staff were recognized for their assistance with `"
providing information in preparation for a recent hurricane simulation exercise. She
read each employee's award and description. W
Mr. Meyer took pictures of each recognized individual and a group photo was also
taken with the LAB members. O
BOARD REPORTS
1) Report of Officers — None
2) Report of Committees - None
PRESENTATIONS
1) Report of the Friends of the Library (FOL) a
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Mrs. Kindsvater provided a printed copy of her FOL report
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She congratulated all the staff members on their awards and expressed her
appreciation and thanks to all library staff.
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Mrs. Kindsvater stated that the Friends of the Library are busy organizing the
upcoming events for October 2023 to Spring 2024.
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She added that the money generated from the FOL events helps to provide the
library with additional funding. Recently, the FOL has helped to fund the purchase of
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eBooks
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The first event for the 2023-24 year is the Author Spotlight event on Thursday.
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October 26 at 2pm at the Norris Center on 8" Avenue South in Naples (as the
Sudgen Theater is currently being remodeled)
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Shelley Read, from western Colorado, is the speaker, discussing her best-selling
book, "Go as a River". Tickets are available through the FOL website. This book is
also being featured at a virtual book discussion facilitated by Irene Johnson, Library
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Program Coordinator. on September 26 through Zoom.
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The updated FOL bifold "be a friend" brochure has been slightly updated and
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reprinted and will soon be sent out to all library locations. 750 copies were printed
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and should last for 2-3 years.
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The Friends of the Library have not had any monthly meetings during the summer,
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but office staff have been working to organize everything for the upcoming season.
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The next FOL meeting will be the annual meeting to be held on Friday, October 20
at the Naples Regional Library. New officers will be installed.
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She added that Arnie Rubin will be the new FOL Vice -President and Cindy Ruddy
will become the new FOL president.
2) Report of the Library Director
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FY24 Budget Update
i. Library ranking among comparable Florida county systems
• Mrs. LaBarge shared a document comparing the Collier County Public
Library with comparable Florida county systems.
• Two statistics that stood out upon review were for eBooks, staff and
square footage.
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• The COVID pandemic increased the public's request for eBooks.
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LAB members requested time to review this information and discuss it in
greater detail at next month's meeting.
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Ms. Bettinger would like to have additional statistics provided at the next
meeting, including door counts, circulation, etc. with annual comparisons.
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Mrs. LaBarge reported that the shared Immokalee Library/Health Dept.
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parking lot project has gone out for bid five times In order to proceed in a
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cost-effective manner, the county project team is combining the health
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facility with two other Immokalee parking projects with the goal of providing
savings for all three projects.
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Formal solicitation is expected to proceed within the next 45 days.
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ii. September 21st workshop starting at 5:05 pm Bldg F
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Mrs. LaBarge reported that the budget meeting will be held tomorrow and
a link to access it is available on the county's website.
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b. General
Operations
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i. Staffing
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Mrs. LaBarge reported that the Library lost six full-time positions to other
county departments.
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Staff have multiple duties and responsibilities with low numbers.
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Staff have been moved around to different library locations to ensure
adequate staffing levels across the system.
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David Chalick is handling the operations of the library facilities until Bill
Wilkins position is posted/filled.
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Alaina Jackson has been promoted to provide training to new employees.
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Her previous position as Library Specialist II at the Golden Gate Branch
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Library was one of the positions lost.
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Managers at the Marco Island Branch and South Regional Libraries have
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been covering some librarian duties.. such as story times.
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Librarians have been covering other professional duties, such as meeting
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room rentals.'
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One full-time staff member was transferred from Headquarters to South
Regional Library.
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Naples Regional lost a Youth Services Librarian, however, Angela
Machalek, Program Coordinator has been reassigned to this location to
provide these services
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Teen programming has been skyrocketing.
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Julie Blatt is the new Manager at the Naples Regional Library.
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The Golden Gate, East Naples and Vanderbilt Beach Branch Libraries
have recently been painted.
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• Managers send monthly updates on their locations to administration.
• New desks, which were funded by the FOL, were added to the children's
areas. A new credenza is forthcoming
• Naples Regional may need to be closed to address water leaks.
• The Vanderbilt Beach branch also experienced leaks due to hurricane
Idalia.
• The library is tracking its electric bill, as recent increases have caused the
utilities budget to be very tight.
• The Allied Security guard rotates among the library locations throughout
the day. Staff let him know of any concerns they may have.
ii. Programming
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• The Outreach team will be meeting today to discuss their upcoming
schedule. Generally, the Library provides six different categories of
outreaches.
• The Library collaborates with Blue Zones. WGCU and PBS with various
programs
• Mrs LaBarge reported that recently, Catherine Cowser was interviewed
and appeared on WGCUIPBS's radio talk show for Library Card Sign-up
Month.
• Mr. Meyer reported that the Homework Health Centers resumed in August
at the Golden Gate and Immokalee branches and are going well and
attendance is trending upwards.
• Six of the seven staff members hired have been retained.
• A quarterly report is due on October 1011, and more information will be
provided at next month's meeting.
• Library card sign-up statistics through Sept. 18''were provided: 645 new
cards were issued (513 adult.. 132 children. The total library card holders in
the system is approximately 170,000 (-134k adults, -36k children);
currently Mail -a -Book patrons total 174.
iii. State Aid Application
• Mrs. LaBarge reported that the last BCC meeting of the fiscal year will be
held this month
• The Library's application for State Aid Grant funding will be submitted for
review and approval by the BCC.
• She stated that the funding has gone down and should be approximately
$140.000.
• Mrs. LaBarge handed out copies of a Powerpoint presentation of the
history of Collier County to LAB members.
PUBLIC PETITIONS TO THE BOARD FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GENERAL TOPICS RELATED TO THE LIBRARY DIVISION - None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
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 10:40 a.m.
Mrs. Cowser will update LAB members as to the format of the Library Advisory Board meeting
scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Golden Gate Branch Library,
2432 Lucerne Road, Naples, FL 34116. 239.252-7311,
Approved by:
Connie Bettinger, Chair
Library Advisory Board
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