Birmingham Public Library Board Minutes

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Call To Order

• The August 10, 2021 board meeting was called to order by Eunice Johsnon Rogers at 4:36 p.m.
• Lynn Flowers-Martin provided the Invocation.

Public Voices

None.

Presentations: Highlight Video, Millender Family Resolution

• On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Eunice J. Rogers presented a resolution to the family of the late Shelly Millender Jr., who as a Miles College student in 1963 led a sit-in of the downtown Birmingham Public Library that eventually led to the desegregation of BPL.
  • Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion to approve the resolution presented to the Millender family in honor of Mr. Shelly Millender Jr.
  • Judge Scott Vowelll moved to accept the resolution presented to the Millender family in honor of Mr. Shelly Millender Jr.
  • Willie Davis III seconded the motion.
  • The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the resolution presented to the Millender family in honor of Mr. Shelley Millender Jr.
  • Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Approval of Agenda

• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion to approve the Agenda as presented with the addition of the mask ordinance.
• Lynn Flowers-Martin motioned to accept the Agenda.
• Willie Davis III 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

All items designated as "consent" are considered to be routine and non-controversial and will be approved by one motion.

• Minutes of July 13, 2021 Board Meeting
  Personnel Actions
  

• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented.
• Willie Davis III motioned to accept the Consent Agenda.
• James Sullivan 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: Not present

• Ms. Eunice Johnson Rogers stated that she has requested the city architect’s presence and is still awaiting a response.

Malera Wright, City Attorney:

• No Report.

Operational Items Requiring Board Approval

Finance Report

Damein Baity, Chief Financial Officer, presented the financial report to the board.

• Eunice Johnson Rogers proposed a motion to accept the financial report.
• James 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

Advocacy, Fundraising & Development Committee:

• Willie Davis III reported on the August 3rd meeting. Davis provided updates on the bookmobile project and additional fundraising events.
• Rogers announced that Mr. Ticheli has offered space for library usage/needs in the building project currently in progress at the former American Red Cross building. This will be further discussed at the next Long-Range Planning Committee meeting.

Unfinished Business

Eunice Johnson Rogers reminded Trustees that their APLS online training requirement must be completed by the end of December 2021.

New Business:

• We have received the mayor’s executive order that masks are required in city buildings.
• Under state law all board and committee meetings must be held in person

Interim Director's Report:

• Interim Director Janine Langston recognized Loretta Jones for her promotion as the new regional manager.
• We received notice that the Overdrive partnership contract with Birmingham City Schools has been signed.
• Many staff members are attending neighborhood meetings and represented the library at the ACE Graduation at the Boutwell Auditorium. Staff members were also present at the 150th Anniversary Celebration at Legion Fields. Lastly, staff members were in the schools with in-person programming.
• We hosted 374 virtual summer learning programs in six weeks. We provided 42 programs to a little over 1100 students at Birmingham City Schools.
• Our computer login sessions have increased by over 2000 and meeting rooms are now being booked.
• We hosted a graduation program for Birmingham Talks and are scheduling to host another graduation with them at Five Points West.
• Southern History installed a display in the first-floor windows of the East Building in honor of Birmingham's 150th Anniversary.
• Bards and Brews was hosted in partnership with Trussville Public Library at Ferus Brewery with 175 in attendance.

Board Member's Comments

Board members unanimously thanked staff for their hard work. Sandi Lee announced that the Friends Bookstore is having a three-day sale Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Grand Reading Room.

Next Board Meeting is scheduled September 14, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.

Adjourned at 5:20 p.m.

Submitted By

Janine Langston, Interim Director