Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Promotion Committee 06-19-2013 ,', o / /� .� � f , � CITY OF PALM DESERT �`•�� PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE � � APPROVED MINUTES • Wednesday, June 19, 2013— 3 p.m. Administrative Conference Room 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kermode called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. II. ROLL CALL � Present: Absent: � � � � Member Joan Beasley Member Ella Manor � ' ` Member Lois Cardona Vice Chair Bobbie o e b rg � ; � Member Marilyn Hahn � ; � � � Chairman Louise Kermode � �� � � :� Also Present: a =' , Jean M. Benson, Mayor Pro Tem � _ `: Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk � p � � � ; ; B a r b a r a B o w i e, D e s e rt Zone Mana ger, Riverside Count y Lib a 'e ; � Lisa Brock, City Librarian z n ' � '��' Robin Stewart, Palm Desert Library Special Events Coo in t •=�� -� � Eileen Strain, Palm Desert Library Volunteer Coordinato � Mary P. LaCross, Recording Secretary � , �� 'Y � d - � :�- .� 111. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS � Q W v ��, 2 .. � �� o � � z z E:: � .�. � .. None Vaw �- v� v� � � `�. Wti � 0. w (Vs', L""� � � � ''= :1 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR � a a � a z Q a ;� : A. MINUTES of the Palm Desert Library Promotion Committee Meeting of February 20, 2013. Rec: Approve as presented. Member Hahn moved to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion was seconded by Member Beasley and carried by a 4-2 vote, with Member Manor and Vice Chair Rosenberg ABSENT. APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 19, 2013 V. NEW BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON LIBRARY ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. Chairman Kermode noted there had been discussion previously about a bench outside the Library; however, she did not see one and asked if there was a bench there now. Ms. Bowie stated that the bench had been removed by the County during the remodel. Ms. Klassen added that it was her understanding the bench had been stored until after the remodel was complete. In fact, the City had requested additional benches. She said she would email Project Manager Anna Rodriguez and ask her to research this matter. Mayor Pro Tem Benson said the bench had been missing since the renovations. She felt the bench was really needed and that she frequently saw people standing and waiting to be picked up who would be able to utilize a bench if there were one available. Chairman Kermode asked for the status of the new Bookmobile, and Ms. Bowie responded that it was currently under construction. Upon question by Chairman Kermode, Ms. Klassen responded that representatives from the City of Rancho Mirage, Westfield, and Desert Recreation District attended the City Council meetings in April and were presented with beautiful plaques expressing the City of Palm Desert's appreciation for their support during the Palm Desert Library remodel. Librarian Lisa Brock distributed printed materials and provided an update on activities and programs at the Library, including: • Libraries are Fun Festival in March — the first large program since the Library reopened. It was very successful, with over 400 children attending. • Summer Reading Program — shows are being put on every Wednesday at the Library. It has been very popular, with over 350 children attending. • Teen Summer Reading — it has been very successful so far. Approximately 50 teens have attended each show so far. 2 APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 19, 2013 • Perfect 10 — One Summer: A Whole New You! — This program is funded through a grant from the California State �ibraries and teaches life skills to teens. This program meets on Thursdays and some Wednesdays. Among the topics are Employment Basics (June 13), Getting Into College (June 20), and Paying for College (June 27). Since it is being funded by a grant, the Library was able to get professionals and pay them for their time and their service. The Library was also able to purchase a lot of books on each topic to give to the teens each time they attend. VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VII. OLD BUSINESS None VIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Council Liaison (Councilmember Jean Benson) Ms. Klassen noted that the City Council was scheduled to consider the budget for next fiscal year at its meeting of June 27. B. Librarian (Lisa Brock) Ms. Bowie stated that what Ms. Brock didn't mention when she discussed the State Library grant was the fact that she was chosen as the Riverside County Library Systems representative for the Eureka Project. On a yearly basis, they choose approximately 32 up and coming stars in the library world, gather them together, and put them through some very intensive, wonderful training opportunities. Ms. Brock is our Eureka person for this year, and this was her grant project. Ms. Brock added that she had to go back in September and present the project to all the directors for the different libraries throughout the State. Ms. Bowie stated that a lot of people wonder about the purpose of libraries in this day and age. However, in Riverside County in the last year, not only was the Palm Desert Library refreshed, two new 3 APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 19, 2013 libraries have been opened — one in Mead Valley and the other in Cabazon. So libraries are growing and are not something that is disappearing. Ms. Bowie reported that there was currently no County Librarian, and it would be at least a year until a decision is made as far as how the position will be filled. In the meantime, oversight of Library services, which used to be by the Executive Office, has been transferred to EDA. She said there is a contact in the EDA office who they take their problems and questions to, and right now that process is working very well. Ms. Brock announced that Shawn Corbin was the new Teen Associate at the Palm Desert Library, as Sue Duran had left to become Library Manager of the 1000 Palms Library. C. Special Events Coordinator(Robin Stewart) Ms. Stewart stated that the partnership with Westfield and Desert Recreation District was great, and the Library would be doing a preschool story time again starting on Monday at the request of WestField, which will be promoting and paying for everything. She said she had met with representatives of Wesifield, and they have great ideas for the fall. She said not a lot was going on in the summer as far as adult programs. They had started a knit/crochet group called "All Strings Attached," and it was really well-attended, with anywhere from 16 to 20 women who come in and knit or crochet for a few hours. She said she was booking the Chef and Music Programs for the fall. There would be some new chefs this year as well as repeat chefs, and the programs would once again be held at Desert Recreation District, as they had outgrown the Library space due to the number of attendees. D. Volunteer Coordinator(Eileen Strain) Ms. Strain noted that volunteer hours had continued to increase in February, March, and April but went down in May. With regard to teen volunteers for the summer, there are 29 young people working at the Library as of today. 4 APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 19, 2013 E. Friends of the Palm Desert Library (Joan Beasley) Member Beasley provided an update on the finances for the Friends of the Palm Desert Library, noting that the bank account balance is lower than in the past due to the Library renovations and not having any book sales in the last nine months. In addition, the Friends of the Palm Desert Library had paid a good portion of the summer reading program as well as a couple of the annual book contracts for the large-print books. With regard to income shown on her report, she said the $5,000 reflected in January was a grant from Best Buy. She said she had spoken with Chairman Kermode today about forming a committee in the fall to plan events that will be boosters for the Friends. Chairman Kermode will find people who are willing to help with this kind of planning, and perhaps several events could be put together that would encourage people to get involved with the Friends. F. Committee Members Chairman Kermode noted that she had gone to the Library today and noticed the outside book return was out of order. She then wanted to do some research, and the computers were down. Ms. Bowie responded that affective July 1, Simi Valley Library will become part of the LSSI system. It will take approximately three days to take their collection and merge it with the Riverside County collection. When everything is completed, patrons will be able to borrow from the Simi Valley collection as well as all of the other branches in the system. To make this happen, the system has to be taken down for a few days. Member Cardona noted that she had been asked by The Living Desert to read to the children at the Zoo Camp, which is currently underway. The book she read was "The Little Train that Could," and the children loved it. 5 APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING JUNE 19, 2013 G. Staff 1. Report on April 30, 2013, Meeting with Riverside County EDA Ms. Klassen noted that she, City Manager John Wohlmuth, and Finance Director Paul Gibson traveled to Riverside on April 30 and met with Assistant County Executive Officer Rob Field, who is also in charge of the EDA, and Suzanne Holland, Deputy Director. City staff presented its case that it was hoped the EDA had reserved the funds to purchase out the other side of the Library at the appropriate time. Staff had not heard back yet but had expressed the City's desire to them and hoped to hear something positive back. She also noted that since they have the pass-through funds collected through Palm Desert property taxes, the City was going to see if they could take over the expenses the City has been paying out of the General Fund (approximately $350,000) until such time as that fund is diminished, and then it would have to come back to the City. 2. Update on Installation of Additional Accessible Parking Spaces in Public Library Parking Lot Ms. Klassen stated that the Public Works Department was working on additional handicap accessible parking spaces, and we may get an additional three spaces. Ms. Brock noted that the work is being done now. IX. ADJOURNMENT Member Beasley moved to adjourn the meeting at 3:36 p.m. Motion was seconded by Member Hahn and carried by a 4-2 vote, with Member Manor and Vice Chair Rosenberg ABSENT. �_ � � U�-� Mary P. a oss, Recording Secretary 6