Birmingham Public Library Board Minutes

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Call To Order

• The September 14, 2021 board meeting was called to order by Eunice Johsnon Rogers at 4:30 p.m.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers provided the Invocation.

Public Voices

None.

Presentations: Highlight Video

• Interim Director Janine Langston presented a video acknowledging new employees and employees on the move.

Approval of Agenda

• Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion to approve the Agenda as presented.
• Lynn Flowers-Martin moved to accept the Agenda.
• Mona Lisa 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 August 10, 2021 Board Meeting

• Personnel Actions

  • Eunice Johnson Rogers called for a motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented.
  • Kimberly Richardson motioned to accept the Consent Agenda.
  • Lynn Flowers-Martin seconded the motion.
  • The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
  • Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the Consent Agenda was approved as printed.

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.
• Judge Scott Vowell moved to accept the financial report.
• Fatima Carter 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:

• Fatima Carter proposed a motion to add three items to the Store Procurement Officer job description.
• Judge Scott Vowell seconded the motion to add three items to the Store Procurement Officer job description.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion to accept.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.
• Carter stated that the city requires Board of Trustees to complete Structured Interview training prior to participating in the upcoming interview process for the Executive Director position.

Long-Range Committee:

• Kimberly Richardson reported the committee reviewed and revised the 2017-2021 strategic plan. The updated plan will allow us to accomplish goals that were put on hold in the original plan due to the pandemic. The plan has been submitted to Board members for review.
• Kimberly Richardson proposed a motion to accept and approve 2021-2024 Strategic Plan.
• James Sullivan seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to accept the 2021–2024 Strategic Plan.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Unfinished Business

Janine Langston reminded Trustees of the need to complete Trustee Training provided by APLS by December 31, 2021.

New Business:

Janine Langston recommended the closing of Smithfield Library on Friday, October 29th and the closing of Central Branch on Saturday, October 30th due to road closures and tailgating for the Magic City Classic.

• Judge Scott Vowell moved to adopt the closures of Smithfield Library on Friday, October 29th and Central Library on Saturday, October 30th.
• Kimberly Richardson seconded the motion.
• The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
• Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed the motion carried.

Interim Director's Report:

• The Birmingham City Schools returned to school on August 2nd. Several of our team members volunteered to serve as first day greeters at schools visited including Hemphill Elementary, Inglenook K-8, Barrett Elementary, Hayes K-8, W.J. Christian K-8, and Phillips Academy.
• Six of our BPL locations served as polling sites for the August 24th municipal elections. I want to acknowledge and thank staff for using this opportunity for promoting the library. Several team members reported starting and renewing library memberships.
• We did see an increase of over 400 in-house computer usages for the month of August. We experienced an increase in circulation of over 1,500 items. Citizen Services remains very active with passport applications and notary services. BPL is offering training opportunities through the Personnel Board of Jefferson County and through several databases we subscribe to. BPL team members reported almost 10,000 training hours last year.
• Several team members attended JCPLA Virtual Staff Day training on August 27th.
• Our annual BPL Staff Day is scheduled for October 14th and will be held virtually due to increased covid numbers. We will have guest speakers as well as breakout sessions. The library will be closed that day as agreed upon in the calendar presented earlier this year.
• I would like to recognize and acknowledge the support staff that provides services behind the scene This includes the dedicated supervisors and team members of the Business Office, Page Room and delivery services, Maintenance, Building Services, Acquisitions and Cataloging Department, Public Relations, Development Office, Security, and the IT Department. Thank you for contributing to the success of the Birmingham Public Library.

Board Member's Comments

Board members unanimously thanked staff for their hard work and acknowledged staff and Trustees that attended the memorial for Brian “Voice” Porter Hawkins. Sandi Lee announced that the Friends Bookstore book sale was a success. They earned about $1,500. They are now open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Next Board Meeting is scheduled October 10, 2021, at 4:30 p.m.

Adjourned at 5:16 p.m.

Submitted By

Janine Langston, Interim Director