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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Cmte - 04-16-2014 �. .,---� ,,� � :' :_,�-.. ��. CITY OF PALM DESERT � ��_•�~ REGULAR MEETING OF THE PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES '�� , . Wednesday, April 16, 2014— 3:00 p.m. Administrative Conference Room 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kermode called the meeting to order at 3:18 p.m. 11. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Member Joan Beasley Vice Chair Bobbie Rosenberg Member Lois Cardona (arrived at 3:22 p.m.) CITYCOUNCILACTION Member Marilyn Hahn APPROVED DFNfED_.... Member Ella Manor RECEIVED OTHER_ _r._� Chairman Louise Kermode �ceiv+�- � �C. ,_„ MF.I;TINC DATE 1���i��y _ ____ Also Present: AYES:�i����sS��'e5��--��¢ w�� Jean M. Benson, Councilmember NOF,S: N�"� .� Rachelle D. Klassen, City Clerk A[3SF,NT: �� Sherry Martinez, Desert Zone Manag4�i��'r��Ns����;*��+�raries Na � ---■ Lisa Brock, City Librarian VF,RIFIF.D I3Y: �'�!��m�.—� Robin Stewart, Palm Desert Library ���'��t�bi@���rk's Office Eileen Strain, Palm Desert �ibrary Volunteer Coordinator Grace L. Mendoza, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chairman Kermode stated she was asked to suggest sending only one agenda packet to the library in order to save paper. Ms. Klassen agreed to send one packet addressed to all three representatives, and leaving it to whoever receives it first to notify and share the information with the others. 1 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 Chairman Kermode noted Member Beasley knew a retired banker who is interested in applying to serve on the Library Promotion Committee, and she will provide him with an application. Councilmember Benson stated that from the Committee/Commission Interviews, there was no one that expressed an interest. Ms. Klassen added staff will continue to recruit. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Palm Desert Library Promotion Committee Meeting of November 20, 2013. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Member Beasley, second by Member Manor, and 4-0 vote of the Committee (AYES: Beasley, Hahn, Manor, and Kermode; NOES: None; ABSENT: Cardona and Rosenberg), the Minutes of the Library Promotion Committee meeting of November 20, 2013, were approved as presented. V. NEW BUSINESS A. INTRODUCTION OF NEW ZONE MANACER SHERRY MARTINEZ. Chairman Kermode welcomed Sherry Martinez to the Desert and specifically to the Palm Desert Public Library. B. {NFORMATIONAL REPORT ON THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS'APPROVAL OF THE PALM DESERT LIBRARY BUDGET AND ASSOCIATED PAYMENT FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THREE(3) FISCAL YEARS 2013-2014 THROUGH 2015-2016 FROM THE PALM DESERT LIBRARY DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT FUND. Chairman Kermode said the proposed budget appears to be the same as last year. Ms. Klassen agreed; however, the County was now picking it up. Therefore, all the expenses will now go through the County for payment. Staff is glad that those funds that were collected through Redevelopment law and collected through property tax funds will now 2 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 be used to help the City's general fund, because those funds have already been collected at the County level and will be used to pay for the Library's additional programs and services. Responding to question about the budget, she said on the second page of the staff report, $358,500 represented the approved budget for 2013/2014. Further responding, she said previously for purchasing an item that cost more than $1,000, the City's policy was to obtain three bids, and she believed the County will have a similar process. Member Manor asked if the budget would remain the same every year. Ms. Klassen said it appeared the proposed funds will be set aside, because the figures were enough to cover expenses for the current and next two years. She said the Library budget will need to be revisited in the first part of 2016 to see where it's at to be able to make projections for the 2016/2017 Fiscal Year. Ms. Martinez agreed the purchasing process is the same, and the budget will be reviewed similar to how it was dealt with by the City. With Committee concurrence,the Riverside County Board of Supervisors'approved staff report,funding Additional Programs/Services at the Palm Desert Public Library from the Library District Improvement Fund for three (3)fiscal years, 2013-2014 to 2015-2016 was received and filed. C. CONSIDERATION OF THE PURCHASE OF AN ADDITIONAL WAUSAU TILE LANDMARK BENCH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000 (INCLUDING SALES TAX, SHIPPING & HANDLING) TO BE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE MULTI-AGENCY LIBRARY, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANTER. Ms. Klassen noted the landmark bench was found, stating it had been stored during the Refresh Project. However, College of the Desert (COD)didn't want it back where it was next to the building and instead preferred it away from the building. Therefore, the bench was relocated on one side of the tree well/planter area. She and Ms. Brock thought it would be nice to have another bench on the other side of the tree to baiance out the design and provide more seating. 3 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 Ms. Brock said the bench would be far enough away that smoke from those smoking wouldn't go into the building. Responding to question by Chairman Kermode, Ms. Klassen confirmed the tree was large enough to provide shade as shown in the photograph included in the staff report. She went on to say the request to purchase a new bench will go through the County's channels, and with the cost being less than $1,000, she hoped the proposed bid would suffice. Member Manor stated she was so glad when the bench was temporarily missing, because people had been leaving their trash near the bench. Councilmember Benson suggested securing the benches. Ms. Klassen responded there was never any trouble with the existing bench, stating the legs were made of concrete, but agreed to look into anchoring it in some fashion. Further responding, she said the new bench will match the existing one. Member Manor moved to, by Minute Motion, authorize the Palm Desert Public Library to purchase (1) 82"L x 21" x 22"H Landmark Bench from Wausau Tile, Wausau, Wisconsin,with sand weatherstone legs and green thermal coating on seal, "No Smoking" cast in logo on the side of each leg, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 from the Fumiture/Equipment Replacement&Miscellaneous Line Item of the FY 2013-2014 budget. Motion was seconded by Beasley and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Beasley, Cardona, Hahn, Manor, and Kermode; NOES: None; ABSENT: Rosenberg). VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VII. OLD BUSINESS None VII1. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Council Liaison (Councilmember Jean Benson) None 4 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 B. Librarian (Lisa Brock) Ms. Brock distributed statistics for the period of January through February 2014. She said the numbers had declined a little bit over the last couple of years, which can be attributed to the remodel with less people returning to the library. However, in looking at the break down between adults and kids, she noticed adult numbers had decreased a lot. She wondered if it had more to do with technology and e-books, so she sent an email to the person that handles e-books for a breakdown of how many patrons are checking out e-books versus the books themselves. Unfortunately, the numbers can't be broken down by branch, but she will get a report for Riverside County. The numbers for programming and door count are up, which is why she thinks the overall decrease had more to do with technology. In March they had the Library Fun Festival with more than 400 attending, which was very successful. She said they started a new program called "Tweens" for grades 4 to 6. Previously the library wasn't offering much forthat age group, so the Teen Librarian started a Lego Program that has been very successful; it's being held once a month and attracting 20 to 30 kids. In fact, the Children's Librarian wants to start her own Lego Program and is applying for a Lego Grant to help fund the program. In response to inquiry about her trip to India, she said three weeks was too long to be gone, but she was able to visit a lot of schools and libraries. She said libraries are very different there, because one had to pay to be a member. The fee wasn't a lot, but if one didn't have money for basic needs, there wouldn't be money for the library. Additionally, libraries there didn't offer programs nor are they cultural or community centers like they are here in the United States. C. Special Events Coordinator(Robin Stewart) Ms. Stewart said they have a couple of new programs, one is Basic Mah Jongg held Thursday afternoon with half a dozen people attending. She said it was fun to get people who have never played it, learn to play, and iYs not a high-pressure game. She said they are committed to every Thursday afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for Mah Jongg Basics. It is her hope that throughout the summer it will develop and grow, and in the fall, if the library has their Chef Program on Thursdays, this will become a stand alone program without her having to be there. The other program is the Knit/Crochet Group, 5 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 which is a blast with 25 women attending last week. The group includes people at all levels and come from different places. She went on to say the month of April is National Poetry Month where they are doing a couple of things, one is "Spine Poetry," featuring something new every day on Facebook. They have invited patrons and followers with not much of a response, but it's still a fun thing to do. She noted April 24 is "Poem in Your Pocket Day." Additionally, next week they have planned a program called "World Book NighY' where 20 copies of"This Boys Life"will be given away. The venue is uncertain, but it may be held at Deep Canyon's Starbuck's. She said World Book Night started in London, England, and iYs a huge deal in New York with an author event at Central Park. Ms. Martinez pointed out Riverside County has 15 branches participating in the program this year. D. Volunteer Coordinator(Eileen Strain) Ms. Strain stated the totals for January, February, and March are as follows: Volunteers: 104 Hours: 695 Homebound: 33 Ms. Strain acknowledged the numbers didn't sound like much, butthe homebound numbers reflected the very senior citizens. She said she will have to start working with Lisa and home care agencies in the area. She had gone to some of these facilities and talked to some people, but some of them are afraid; they have the old-school mentality of holding on to their library card. She received a couple of responses, but they didn't follow through. She's hoping the numbers will be better in the summer, because they have buses that take residents out, but for some, iYs still too hot even to get into an air- conditioned bus. She said she will have to go out again and take some books with her to see what happens. E. Friends of the Palm Desert Library (Joan Beasley) Member Beasley stated when the Committee met last November, a poster was shown to advertise its membership drive, offering an opportunity to have one's name on the shelf at the library when they 6 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 joins Friends of Palm Desert Library. If you are a life member, it entitles you to a permanent shelf with your name in a preferred location at the library. She believed the drive made a difference, as they now have 85 members and 25 shelf tags with 30 of them being life members. She said as one walked around the library, it's interesting to see the locations selected to place a shelf tag. However, they haven't had any business names, which she thought there would be, given one can place their business name and logo. Responding to question about how people heard about Friends of the Palm Desert Library, she said there are posters up in the Library and it's on the membership dues envelope. Ms. Brock and Ms. Stewart said they mention Friends at all their programs. Ms. Strain suggested contacting the Chamber of Commerce. Councilmember Benson agreed, stating Barbara deBoom can be contacted there. Member Beasley stated that with regards to the financial handout, she listed both 2013 and 2014 for comparison. She said 2013 was a comeback year, because the library had been closed, so it was not a normal year for expenses. Starting out in 2014, she listed the financials forthree months. She said the book store is doing fine, and the big expense is the Summer Reading Program, which is where the most money is spent. Yet, there is still money in the bank and there are wonderful people that help with it all. She noted the book store is at a great location. She welcomed suggestions or ideas to pump up membership, stating that next season they plan to have an event with an author or authors to boost membership. The suggestion was made to hand out a small flyer at the counter at the library when patrons are checking out. Member Hahn said she's been a member of Friends of the Library, but she has never received a notice. She wondered what the incentive was for joining. Member Beasley replied people loved libraries, and they want to support them, because it was good for the soul. She said 100 letters were sent out in January. 7 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 Member Manor said she was trying to understand what wouid motivate someone to become a member. Member Beasley replied now one can have their name on a shelf. She said it was different than many other libraries, because if you are part of the Friends, then you have the opportunity to participate with the Friends through the volunteers, but Palm Desert has iYs own volunteer program sponsored by the City or County. Therefore, here she couldn't say join the Friends and a job at the library will be provided. Additionally, an annual book sale is not held. She said membership is for those that cared enough to want to be involved. Councilmember Benson asked about placing something in the City's "Bright Side Newsletter." Ms. Klassen confirmed library information already existed in the "Bright Side." Ms. Stewart stated they pitched Friends of the Library at every event, because Friends is why they are able to offer children and adult programs, which is the reason they have a huge poster on display. She said people will learn that Friends of the Library purchase materials and DVDs, and sponsor a lot of the events. Ms. Martinez said she attended the La Quinta Friends meeting this morning, and they were having this same conversation. She said La Quinta has a Summer Reading Program where they support the Mecca Library during the summer. A lot of people were very enthusiastic about sharing the wealth. Member Beasley agreed, stating they have been called to assist with materials, and purchases have been made to supply them, because the need is there. Ms. Martinez said one of the things they did was place the Friends' Mission Statement throughout the Library, stating It was anotherform of communication of what Friends of the Library did. Chairman Kermode invited Sherry Martinez to share a little bit about herself. Ms. Martinez stated she was glad to be back, as she started her career here in the Desert 11 years ago as the Literacy Supervisor when her office was in Indio. She then went on to be a branch 8 APPROVED MINUTES REGULAR PALM DESERT LIBRARY PROMOTION COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 16, 2014 manager in Lake Elsinore for a couple of years and branch manager in Perris for a couple of years as well. She was then invited by Nancy Johnson to be the local History Librarian, because her concentration in library school was archives, and she did that for four years. Then Mark Smith told her about the museum in La Quinta that needed an interim director, and she did that for six months, Eventually, she became Zone Manager covering the south and west section of the County from Norco, Corona, Lake Elsinore, and Temecula. When Barbara Bowie decided to semi-retire, she was called back to the Desert. She currently lives in Idyllwild and has a second home in Cathedral City. She said she was glad to be back, noting she and Lisa Brock have been working together for three or four years. Responding to question, she said Barbara Bowie is working four hours a week as a Youth Service Director. F. Committee Members None IX. ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Member Manor, second by Member Beasley, and 5-0 vote (AYES: Beasley, Cardona, Hahn, Manor, and Kermode; NOES: None; ABSENT: Rosenberg), Chairman Kermode adjourned the meeting at 3:52 p.m. Gr ce L. Mendoza, Recording ecretary 9