MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

November 17, 2005

1. CALL TO ORDER:

The meeting was called to order at 2:33 p.m., by President Ray Kawase in the Library Board Room.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Mr. Kawase, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Buck (2:42 p.m.), Mr. Georgieff, and Mrs. Mann.

Staff: Al Milo, Library Director

Joanne Hardy, Adult Services Library Manager

Betty Schwarzkopf, Administrative Secretary

Guests: Nancy Lee, President, Friends of the Library

Floyd Sabins, Library Foundation Board Member

Clarence Hill, Library Foundation Board Member

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Mrs. Mann moved and Mrs. Britt seconded that the minutes of the regular meeting of October 27, 2005 be approved. The motion carried.

3. WARRANT REGISTER OF NOVEMBER 2005:

Mr. Georgieff moved and Mrs. Mann seconded that the November 2005 warrant register in the amount of $43,875.30 be approved. The motion carried.

4. NOVEMBER 2005, EXPENDITURE SUMMARY:

Director Milo noted that 41.7% of the year is complete and 35.2% has been expended. The report was accepted and filed.

5. REPORTS:

a. Library Director

Director Milo reported the following: In a discussion with the City Manager and the Library Management Team, the option of expanding the library parking lot into Short Street was addressed. This idea was also considered at the time of the Children’s Room expansion in 2000.

Because of the homeless situation at the Hunt Branch, a satellite police substation has been established at the branch. Officers will make spontaneous visits during closed hours.

The Technical Services Library Division Manager position will be opened for recruitment a third time. The job specifications have been altered so that a Library Science degree is no longer required. The position is not expected to be filled until after the holidays.

Two new employees have been hired to staff the bookmobile (a Library Technical Assistant I and a Library Clerical Assistant). Both employees will be trained to drive the bookmobile.

The City was recently notified that the boundaries of the Buena Park Library District overlap with Fullerton’s boundaries. As a result, the library district has been collecting taxes that should have gone to Fullerton for a number of years. The City Manager will consult with the City Attorney on how to resolve the issue. There was consensus that if back taxes are collected from the City of Buena Park, the money should go to enhance the Library budget and not the General Fund.

b. Friends of the Library

Nancy Lee, President of Friends of the Library, reported that the Friends will hold their annual holiday luncheon on December 16. The Friends are sending boxes of books to the Fullerton Municipal Court House for the jury room. Ms. Lee said the Friends’ Annual Meeting was very successful and everyone enjoyed the Harry Truman presentation.

c. Library Foundation

Mrs. Britt, Library Board liaison to the Foundation Board, said the Board did not meet in November. Their next meeting will be at the home of the Foundation President, Terry Brick, followed by a holiday social.

6. ACTIVITY REPORT:

The report was accepted and filed.

7. OLD BUSINESS:

a. Main Library Remodel/Expansion Project

Space Planning Study

Director Milo said he had contacted Fullerton architect John Silber to discuss the cost of a space planning study. In 1997 the cost for the children’s library expansion plan was $24,000. Mr. Silber indicated that the estimated cost is usually one percent of the project cost, which would place a $4.5 million project in the area of $45,000. Director Milo explained the City’s time frame and procedures for a construction project. Mr. Georgieff inquired if there would be conceptual meetings with the architect to identify the needs of the library. Mr. Milo responded that conceptual meetings with staff and the Board of Trustees would be part of the space study.

Mrs. Britt reported that she met with Council Member Don Bankhead and he is supportive of the needs of the library. However, he would like more specific information for a space study.

Mr. Georgieff met with Mayor Shawn Nelson. He suggested, in order to help Council better understand the needs of the library, that a media presentation be made to the City Council with pictures comparing the Fullerton Public Library with other libraries.

Mr. Kawase reported that he had not yet made contact with Council Member Sharon Quirk but suggested that the Board begin gathering information for a Power Point presentation to show the City Council the need for space for young adults and expansion of the Local History Room. He said board members should have photos to review at the December meeting.

Director Milo suggested that staff take pictures highlighting what was discussed, and bring them to the next board meeting. Staff will also make a presentation to the Library Board prior to going to City Council.

Mr. Georgieff requested board members to bring specific ideas to the next meeting – a wish list of specific things the library needs.

Mr. Kawase said the Foundation is willing to enhance whatever the Board wants to do; such a partnership should mean something to the Council.

Mrs. Britt moved and Mr. Georgieff seconded that staff bring images and information related to the areas that have been identified as library needs to the next board meeting. The motion carried.

Mr. Georgieff moved and Mrs. Mann seconded that in conjunction with the previous motion, the trustees bring their ideas and images to augment what staff brings. The motion was approved.

b. Library Centennial

One City/One Book Project

Kite Runner and Where I was From are two books suggested for the project. Director Milo suggested the Board choose two or three books having wide appeal that staff can research. Board members will email their choices to Director Milo.

c. Young Adult Services

Adult Services Library Division Manager, Joanne Hardy, reported she has been working with Librarians Chaunacey Dunklee and Shirley Ku to improve the young adult collection. She displayed two examples of standard fiction books as well as Manga and graphic novels from the young adult area. Ms. Hardy has contacted librarians at Troy, Sunny Hills, and Fullerton high schools to nominate students to serve as an advisory group. They will begin with ten students. The students will be asked to advise staff on reading materials and programs and to help with the Teen Zone website. The first advisory group meeting will be held in early January.

8. NEW BUSINESS:

a. California Library Association Conference

Director Milo reported that seven staff members attended the conference. Ms. Britt said it is not expensive to attend as a trustee and she enjoyed it. She also recommended bringing CALTAC’s training program for trustees to the library for training on how to be a trustee. Mrs. Britt will try to arrange a Saturday one-half day workshop in January.

b. LAFCO Report on Buena Park Library District

This item was discussed under the Library Director’s Report.

9. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS:

There were no donations to report.

10. CORRESPONDENCE:

There was no correspondence to report.

11. BOARD MEMBER ROUND TABLE:

Mrs. Britt encouraged board members to attend the CALTAC workshop.

Mr. Georgieff said when he met with Mayor Nelson, he presented him with the first centennial library card to be issued. He informed the Mayor of the upcoming library centennial events.

Mr. Buck said he spoke at the last City Council meeting on the vision for downtown. He then modeled his Los Angeles Times Festival of Books t-shirt for the board members.

12: PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Mr. Sabins suggested including pictures of the new Fullerton College library in the presentation to City Council. The presentation should show what Fullerton Public Library is, and, what it could be.

Mr. Hill said the new Fullerton College Library furnishings and embellishments make Fullerton Public Library look like something out of the Dark Ages.

13. ADJOURNMENT:

Mrs. Mann moved and Mr. Georgieff seconded that the meeting adjourn at 4:48 p.m. The motion carried.