Birmingham Public Library Board Minutes

Call To Order

• Meeting called to order by President Kimberly Richardson.
• Georgia Morgan Blair gave the invocation.

Approvals

• Gwendolyn B. Guster Welch moved the approval of the agenda. Georgia Morgan Blair seconded the motion, which passed.
• Georgia Morgan Blair moved the approval of the consent agenda. Gwendolyn B. Guster Welch seconded the motion, which passed.

Terry Oglesby, City Architect

• The Wylam renovation project will open for bids on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

Associate Director Interviews

• The Associate Director Interviews were conducted.

Nicole King, City Attorney

• Nicole King, City Attorney, recommended that the Library Board enter into executive session.

Committee Reports

Personnel Committee

• Georgia Morgan Blair moved to hire the new Associate Director at a step 32 grade 8 position. Kimberly Richardson seconded the motion, which passed.

Long Range Planning Committee

• The Long Range Planning Committee met on Friday, October 9, 2015. No action was taken. The minutes are attached.

Director's Report

Overview of Activities for this Period

• We have received approval from City Hall to advertise our five full-time positions. Approval has not been given to move forward with the part time positions.
• City attractions/departments—including the library—which receive funding from the City have been given new guidelines regarding Alabama’s gun law which was passed in 2013. I will share an update on this at our meeting.
• Our 2015 Eat Drink Read Write festival was a wonderful success. We had a total of 4 programs this year compared to 8 or 9 last year. Our staff really came together to make sure that our visitors and special guests got the most out of each event.
• Staff Day 2015 was phenomenal. Kim Richardson, Gwendolyn B. Guster Welch, Sam Rumore, Patty Pilkerton, and David Herring stopped by to visit at various points throughout the day. Thanks so much to the staff at Sloss for making their facility available. A special thanks to Mayor Bell for making the day extra special with his visit.
• Since our last meeting, I have taken the opportunity to provide Saturday “training” opportunities at our Pratt City Branch Library. It appears to be the branch most impacted by the need for this service. This location will open late on Saturday, October 17 and again on Saturday, October 24 to provide training opportunities for staff both mornings. On Saturday, October 31, the Titusville Library will be closed a full day for similar reasons.
• On Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, October 30-31, the Smithfield Branch Library will be closed due to the Magic City Classic events—this was approved by the board as part of the annual holiday schedule.
• On Tuesday, October 20, Mayor William Bell will present a proclamation to the library in celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week. The celebration runs from October 18 through October 24. I hope that several board members, friends, and staff will be able to join us.
• Beginning Monday, November 2, our neighborhood branch libraries will return to their winter hours. This schedule will continue through Friday, March 4, 2016.

Libraries Visited and Community Events During This Period

• I visited the Powderly Branch Library during this period. Additionally, I attended the following community events:
• Sep 27 Reception for Bonner’s Book Garden at the Bridge Street Gallery—attended with 3 other BPL representatives. Made comments and thanked the audience for their support of the library through this effort.
• Sep 28 Attended the City’s Budget and Finance Committee Meeting
  • Attended a viewing of the film Jesse Speeks at the Central Library
• Oct 3 Met with Binnie Myles for a live interview on her radio program at WAGG
• Oct 5 Attended a breakfast at Sloss Furnaces for top City of Birmingham contributors to United Way

• Oct 7 Attended MPACT Opening Session at JeffCo Personnel Board in support of Edith Major’s participation in the program Met with Jarvis Patton regarding the library’s needs—Kim Richardson and David Herring joined me for the meeting. Kim and I also talked with Jarvis regarding our vacant positions

• Oct 8 Attended a networking event at the Kress Building sponsored by Birmingham Market magazine
  • Attended the EDRW event at Vulcan Park with our guests from Baked, Inc.
• Oct 9 Bards and Brews/EDRW event at the Central Library
• Oct 10 Attended a Brunch at the Harbert Center for Our Lady of Fatima Church

• Oct 14 Attended the press conference regarding the Zyp BikeShare program—some bikes are located outside of the Central Library

• Oct 16 Attended program at the Powderly Library featuring artist Steve Skipper—he presented a commemorative painting for the 50th Commemoration of Bloody Sunday. The Powderly Branch and Central Library will receive framed, signed prints of the piece
• Oct 17 Will join several staff as we participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Downtown

Update of Library Services

• In September, Cataloging created 5,682 new records for BPL items and 1,054 new records for municipal libraries. Cataloging also processed 3,338 new items. Acquisitions placed orders for 2,617 new items and received 3,412.

Facilities Management

• Bid documents are being created for our Wylam Library rebuild.
• We are still waiting on the final contract on our Eastwood lease from the City’s legal department.
• Public Works is still working on the A/C unit that controls West End’s air in the small meeting room.

Accomplishment of Objectives Set Forth in Strategic Plan

• We received two responses for the RFP for our Strategic Plan. The Board’s Long Range Planning Committee met and I will have an update at our meeting.

Financial Report and Grants

• The regular financial reports are all included in your board packet. We are still working on the quarterly report from our Development and Business offices. I plan to have those ready on Thursday of next week.

Where I Need Your Assistance

I need assistance in moving forward with a few items which include the following:

• Giving some relief to our staff by temporarily cutting back hours at our community libraries and closing them on Saturdays—this leaves only the regional libraries and Central open on the weekends.
• Supporting our staff by helping to get our vacant positions filled.

Unfinished Business

• Nicole King, City Attorney, is working on a memorandum of understanding regarding the fundraising practices of the library.
• Attorney King suggested that the Library Board enter into executive session. Gwendolyn B. Guster Welch moved for the Library Board to enter into executive session. Georgia Morgan Blair seconded the motion, which passed.

New Business

• Gwendolyn B. Guster Welch suggested that the library conduct fire drills on a regular basis.

Comments

• Kimberly Richardson, Library Board President, requested that Library Board members forward any comments to either her or Angela Fisher Hall to be distributed at a later date.

Submitted By

Angela Fisher Hall, Secretary