Birmingham Public Library Board Minutes

Call To Order

• Meeting called to order by Eunice Johnson Rogers, President
• Lynn Flowers-Martin provided the Invocation.

Public Voices

No Public Voices.

Presentations

Jamilah Muhammad discussed the return of furloughed fulltime staff and part-time staff. * There were 70 full-time staff members furloughed and 66 returned to BPL.

• There were 67 part-time staff members furloughed and 50 returned to BPL. Eleven part-time staff members declined to return and 7 part-time staff members remain on furlough.

  Ka’ryn Davis-West presented information and updates on public service for all BPL locations. The December Statistics Info graph flyer was featured. Candice Hardy presented information on BPL Programming and updates on the Library Bookmobile. Ms. Hardy presented information on the following programs and initiatives: * Brothers and Bow Ties: A Vision Cast scheduled for January 16, 2021 (virtual program). Special thanks was expressed to this year’s partner Mr. Taylor Culliver, founder of "The Brother Box" for his contribution of 200 boxes to be distributed to youth on Monday, January 18, 2021 for BPL’s Drive-thru Day of Service.

• Begin the Day: The Eighteenth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Lecture hosted by the BPL Archives Department and scheduled for January 19, 2021 at 2 p.m. (virtual program).

• BPL will be featured in the 2021 Africatown Celebration documentary. BPL staff member Christopher Reid provided professional videography service for an interview featuring Mrs. G.S. Gamble. Ms. Gamble was a guest presenter at the BPL program "The Last Slave Ship Survivor" in honor of Family History Month in October 2020. Richard Manoske discussed the adjustments the IT department is making at all BPL locations to meet the needs for curbside service and in-person service. The IT Department is working to install 6 additional wireless access points in the Linn Henley and the East Building Library. The equipment was purchased with grant funding.

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Agenda: Approval

• Eunice Johnson Rogers proposed approval of the Agenda as presented.
• Judge Scott Vowell motioned to accept the Agenda as presented.
• Sherri Nielson seconded the motion
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the Agenda was approved as printed.

Approval of Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda: Approval

• Eunice Johnson Rogers proposed approval of the Consent Agenda as presented.
• Sherri Nielson motioned to accept the Agenda as presented.
• Willie S. Davis III seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the Consent Agenda was approved as printed.

Terry Oglesby, City Architect

No Report

Malera Wright, Assistant City Attorney

No Report

Operational Items Requiring Board Approval

Damein Baity, Finance Report

Finance Report: Approval

• Damein Baity, Chief Financial Officer, presented the financial report to the board.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers proposed a motion to accept the financial report.
• Sherri Nielson motioned to accept the financial report.
• James A. Sullivan seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion to accept.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Reports of the Committees

Personnel Committee: Approval

• Fatima Carter motioned to accept the Personnel Committee report (provided in the board report) to the board.
• Lynn Flowers-Martin seconded the motion to accept the Personnel Committee report.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion to accept.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Advocacy, Fundraising & Development Committee

• Candice Hardy presented changing the date for Soulful Sunday (originally scheduled for January 10, 2021) to January 31, 2021.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers proposed a motion to accept changing the date for Soulful Sunday to January 31, 2021.
• Sherri Nielson motioned to accept changing of the date.
• James A. Sullivan seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion to accept.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Policies, Procedures & By-Laws Committee: Approval

• Janine Langston recommended adopting the revision of the Mayor’s Executive order for the COVID-19 Leave Act.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers proposed a motion to accept revision of the Mayor’s Executive order for the COVID-19 Leave Act.
• Sherri Nielson motioned to accept the motion to accept revision of the Mayor’s Executive order for the COVID-19 Leave Act.
• Mona Lisa Morris seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion to accept.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Unfinished Business

Janine Langston shared information regarding the Trustee Training Requirements per APLS. "Short Takes for Trustees" is a series of short instructional videos. Training must be completed by December 31, 2021.

Janine Langston recommended scheduling a dedication program for the Wylam Branch Library on February 9, 2021 prior to the scheduled Board Meeting. The program may be virtual or in-person based on status of Covid-19.

• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion.
• Sherri Neilson motioned to accept the date of February 9, 2021 for the Wylam dedication to be held either virtually or in person.
• Fatima Carter seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

New Business

Eunice Johnson Rogers stated according to the by-laws the February Board meeting will be the Annual Board Meeting. This will also be the time for election of officers. Lynn Flowers-Martin will serve as chair of the Nominating Committee. Committee members are James Sullivan and Fatima Carter.

Approval of the proposed Holiday Schedule: Approval

• Janine Langston proposed the 2021 Birmingham Library Holiday Schedule.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion.
• Sherri Nielson motioned to accept the proposed Holiday Schedule for 2021.
• Fatima Carter seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Approval of the Vacation Rollover hours for Janine Langston and Karyn Davis-West to be adjusted until March 31, 2021: Approval

• Janine Langston proposed the approval of Vacation Rollover hours to be adjusted until March 31, 2021.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion.
• Fatima Carter motioned to accept the approval of Vacation Rollover hours to be adjusted until March 31, 2021.
• Mona Lisa Morris seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Approval of the 2021 Library Board meeting calendar: Approval

• Janine Langston proposed the approval of the 2021 Library Board meeting calendar.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion.
• Sherri Nielson motioned to accept the Library Board meeting calendar.
• Lynn Flowers-Martin seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Interim Director's Report: Approval

Janine Langston, Interim Director, thanked the Friends Foundation for the generous donation to the Collections Budget for BPL and the gift cards presented to returning furloughed employees. Janine Langston shared several highlights from December 2020 including:

• the return of furloughed part-time staff members
• Opening all BPL locations for limited in-person service
• Expansion of in-person service hours at Central to include Saturdays
• Presentation of high quality virtual programs

Langston concluded with expressing appreciation to fellow co-workers and the Board of Trustees.

Board Member's Comments

Presented.

Next Board Meeting: March 9, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

Adjourned at 5:38 p.m.

Submitted By

Janine Langston, Interim Director