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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Committee 09-21-2005APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 — 3:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM I. CALL TO ORDER Chairwoman Beasley called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Joan Beasley, Chair Betty Carapellese Lynn DeSantis Louise Kermode Ella Manor Bobbie Rosenberg Staff Present: Rachelle Klassen, Staff Liaison Jean Benson, Councilmember Lori Wimbish, Recording Secretary Member Absent: Jim Ron Others Present: Jeannie Kays, City Librarian Mary Arnold, Event and Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Bowie, Desert Library Zone Ill. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 18, 2005 Ms. Rosenberg moved to, by Minute Motion, approve the minutes of the May 18, 2005, meeting. Motion was seconded by Ms. Carapellese and carried 6-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON APPROVED FISCAL YEAR 2005/05 BUDGET AND FURNISHINGS/EQUIPMENT NEEDS Ms. Klassen stated that Ms. Kays had identified some equipment and furnishing needs that she had asked staff to look into. Ms. Klassen contacted Michelle Jamieson regarding the repair of the palm trees in the Children's Area of the Library. LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 She said Ms. Jamieson would look at the palm trees and get back to her with an estimate on what it would cost to repair them. Ms. Kays stated that she would have liked to have more tables for the Community Room. Ms. Arnold requested that the tables be lightweight and sturdy, unlike the existing tables. A discussion ensued regarding the tables in the Community Room. The consensus of the Committee was to work with the College of the Desert staff in hopes that they would be amenable to breaking down the tables after its meetings. Upon question by Ms. Beasley, Ms. Klassen stated that as long as the Committee approves the budget for furnishings/equipment needs she could purchase as many tables as necessary. Upon question by Councilmember Benson, Ms. Klassen responded that the existing sound system might not be high tech enough to accommodate the Lapel Microphones. She added that in accordance with the City's Purchasing and Public Contract policies she would request bids for the microphones and the repair of the existing sound system. If the repair of the existing sound system proved to be too involved, the bid could include a new sound system as well. With Committee concurrence, staff was authorized to pursue these items. VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VII. OLD BUSINESS None Vill. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Council Member Jean Benson None B. Librarian's Report (Jeannie Kays) Ms. Kays stated that the Wireless Internet was up and running. She would be meeting with Kristy Kneiding, Marketing Manager for the City of Palm Desert, to discuss the best way to promote the Wireless Internet. Councilmember Benson mentioned that a business -size card could be created to let people know that the Library had the Wireless Internet connection, and that card could be displayed at the Visitor Center. Ms. Kays added that a library card was not required to access the Wireless Internet. Upon question by Ms. Rosenberg, Ms. Kays responded that she was uncertain of the maximum number of individuals that the Wireless Internet would accommodate, but 2 LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 she added that there were several antennas throughout the Library, including the Community Room. She said the signal should be accessible throughout the Library. Ms. Kays reported that the Library's website acquired many new subscriptions beginning July 1. She reported on those new subscriptions and services. She said most of the services were accessible by logging onto the Riverside County Library site (rivlib.com). • Grolier -Online — Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, The New Book of Knowledge, Encyclopedia Encumbre (Spanish), and The New Book of Popular Science. There was also a section for children. • News Bank — on-line archive of newspapers with full text, including The Desert Sun, The Press Enterprise, the Los Angeles Times, and other nationwide newspapers. • Info Trac — on-line database, full text journal articles from professional and medical journals and magazines. • Free Live Homework Help — 4t"-12'h grade / College level tutoring. • Net Library — current audio bestsellers. Ms. Kays said the 1stRead Program was established by Riverside County and that the Palm Desert Library was its pilot library for the Program. The Program was a fundraising mechanism for the library and a tax deduction for the purchaser. Ms. Kays reported that the program for Downloadable Audio Books was still being worked out. Upon question from Ms. Manor, Ms. Kays responded that the Library displays posters and bookmarks that promote the subscriptions and services available at the library. She also said the library could do outreach into the community and/or the schools. Ms. Kays reported on the Summer Reading Program; 703 children signed up for the 36 programs that were offered, including Story Time. The total number of children in attendance was 2,833. Ms. Kays read a couple of positive letters from parents regarding the children's programs. She announced the hiring of four staff members, two at the circulation desk (1 new hire / 1 promotion), and three pages. She went on to report that during the months of May through August, they added 911 new items to the collection. Ms. Kays distributed Library Comparison Statistics for the months of May, June, July, and August, 2004 to 2005. She added that she was very proud of her entire library staff. C. Event and Volunteer Coordinator's Report (Mary Arnold) Ms. Arnold distributed pictures from the Summer Reading Program. She also distributed the October Program and the 2005-06 Special Events Program schedules. She said there was a talented group of vocalists and musicians in the music series, and next month begins the Food Lover Series, which is new for the Library. 3 LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 Ms. Arnold reported that a program called "Teens Reading to Tots" would begin on Saturday, October 1, at 10:30 a.m. She said they have ten teens signed up to participate in the Program and would meet on September 30 for orientation. She added that the Friends of the Library would be purchasing t-shirts for them. Ms. Arnold announced that Ms. Kermode volunteered at the library during the summer, and it was really nice having a member from the Library Committee helping out. D. Budget Review Group (Ella Manor/Betty Carapellese) None E. Friends of the Palm Desert Library (Joan Beasley) Ms. Beasley complimented Ms. Arnold on the 2005-06 Special Events brochure. Ms. Beasley reported that the Friends of the Library was sponsoring another bus trip to the Disney Theatre on October 3, 2005. She said an ad was placed in the paper in hopes it would gamer more interest in the trip. She added that the trip to the King Tutt exhibit was very successful. She announced that "Friends" contributed a little over $5,000 to the Summer Reading Program, which was an increase from last year. She added that there were so many more children this year and that it was becoming more and more popular. Ms. Beasley said "Friends" received a massive donation from an estate. She said they rented a storage unit for the donated materials and books. The volunteers from the On-line Book Sales group were going through the materials and books to discern what they could put on-line. She said they would decide in October if a book sale would be in order. She added that books were still selling on-line and the "Friends" bank balance was good. F. Committee Chair (Joan Beasley) None G. Committee Members Upon question by Ms. Manor, Ms. Klassen responded that the Art In Public Places Commission declined the original artwork by Gray Burke. Ms. Manor complimented Ms. Arnold on her brochures and event schedules. 1. Riverside County Library Systems Advisory Board — Ella Manor Ms. Manor stated that Temecula would be building a new branch library while retaining its original library. She felt that it was time for the Committee to begin thinking about a branch library in Palm Desert. She said the $10,000 that was being spent for the bookmobile could be better spent on a new branch library. Councilmember Benson recalled some discussion about 4 LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 building a library near the park area that was set -aside in the North Sphere of the City. She suggested contacting Phil Drell, the Director of Planning, about this item. She was in agreement with Ms. Manor with regard to having another library. Ms. Bowie stated that the City of Temecula received Proposition 14 funds from the State. They would pay one-third of the cost of the library, and the State would pay the remaining two -third. She said there would be a similar ballot measure in June of 2006 for Library Construction and Renovation. She asked that the Committee request a proclamation from the City Council in honor of One Book — One Community Day. She said this was the first time every Public Library in the Coachella Valley had worked together on a major project. She stated that the author of the book chosen, Touching Spirit Bear, Ben Mikaelsen, would be at the Palm Desert Library on Wednesday, March 8, 2006. Ms. Bowie also announced the groundbreaking at the Thousand Palms Library site. She said construction was to be completed in April 2006. The library would be called "The Art Samson Community Library." She added that "Pat Jenkins" would have a place of honor inside the library. Ms. DeSantis was very impressed with all of the new programs and Internet services now available at the library. She was also supportive of the prospect of a branch library. H. Staff Ms. Klassen reminded the Committee members of the Committee/Commission brunch at Desert Willow on October 2, 2005, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. IX. ADJOURNMENT With Committee concurrence, meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m. I Lori Wimbish, Recording Secretary 5