Meeting Summary of the July 11, 2023, 4:30 p.m. Board Meeting

Call to Order/Roll Call: Board meeting was called to order by Willie S. Davis III at 4:32 p.m.

• Board Attendance

  • Willie S. Davis III, Chair
  • Yawntreshia Coleman, Trustee
  • R. Jordan Davis, Trustee
  • Yolanda Hardy, Trustee
  • Jermaine Johnson, Trustee
  • John Lyons Jr., Trustee
  • Lynn Flowers-Martine, Trustee
  • Mona Lisa Morris, Trustee
  • Dana Woodruff, Trustee

• Library & City Staff Attendance

  • Janine Langston, Executive Director
  • Damein Baity, Chief Financial Officer
  • Karyn Davis-West, Deputy Director
  • Bessie Miller, Regional Manager
  • Alisha Johnson, Regional Manager
  • Jamilah Woods, Personnel Office
  • Richard Manoske, IMS Administrator
  • Caleb West, Director of Collection Management
  • Catherine Frey, Director of Development
  • Roy Williams, Public Relations Director
  • Rod Zeigler, Building Services Supervisor
  • Daniel Campbell, PC Network Technician
  • Brooke Schlicht, Administration Office
  • Beverly Scruggs, City Attorney
  • Sandra Lee, Advisory Member

• Invocation:

  • Lynn Flowers-Martin provided the Invocation

• Swearing In Ceremony:

  • Judge Javan Patton administered the Oath of Office to new and reappointed library board officers.
    • Willie S. Davis, III, President
    • John Lyons, Jr. Vice President
    • R. Jordan Davis, Parliamentarian

• Public Voices:

  • None

• Presentations:

  • Janine Langston shared the passing of BPL employee, Russell Lee and offered her condolences to his family and friends.

• Approval of Agenda:

  • Willie S. Davis III called for a motion to approve the Agenda.
  • Yawntreshia Coleman moved to accept the motion.
  • R. Jordan Davis seconded the motion.
  • The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
  • Willie S. Davis III confirmed the motion carried.

• Approval of the Consent Agenda:

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

    • Minutes of June 14, 2023 Board Meeting

    • Personnel Actions

  • Willie S. Davis III called for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

  • Jermaine Johnson moved to accept the motion.
  • Yawntreshia Colemant seconded the motion.
  • The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
  • Willie S. Davis III confirmed the motion carried.

• Beverly Scruggs, City Attorney:

  • No report.

• Operational Items Requiring Board Approval:

• Finance Report

  • Damein Baity, CFO presented the financial report.
    • Willie S. Davis III called for a motion to approve the financial report.
    • Yawntreshia Coleman moved to accept the motion.
    • R. Jordan Davis seconded the motion.
    • The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
    • Willie S. Davis III confirmed the motion carried.

• Reports of Committee:

  • No report

• Unfinished Business:

• Janine Langston provided board members with a written summary of their yearly board dues.

• New Business:

  • Janine Langston shared BPL’s Annual Staff Day is scheduled for October 19, 2023, and requested a $500 contribution from the Board of Trustees fund in support of the 2023 Staff Day.
    • Willie S. Davis III called for a motion to approve the recommended $500 contribution for Staff Day.
    • R. Jordan Davis moved to accept the motion.
    • Lynn Flowers-Martin seconded the motion.
    • The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion.
    • Willie S. Davis III confirmed the motion carried.

• Executive Director's Report

  • Janine Langston reported on air conditioning issues at several BPL locations.
  • Langston shared Jim Baggett, recently retired BPL Archivist, was featured on the front cover of a recent edition of The Birmingham Times, which included several articles on Jim and his BPL career.
  • Langston highlighted the Summer Reading program, Free Summer Enrichment Camp, which is designed for 2nd and 3rd graders and is focused on Literacy and STEM activities.
  • Langston shared the Central Library is hosting a 3-day workshop for Birmingham Youth Advisory Council this week in partnership with DYS, Councilor J.T. Moore and District 4, and the Institute for Educational Leadership.
  • Langston reported the carpet installation at Central is nearly complete and the next phase of reorganizing and reimagining some of the spaces will soon begin.
  • Langston shared BPL Mobile is back on the road and participating in weekly stops at City Walk every Thursday during July.
  • Langston expressed appreciation for receiving the opportunity to attend the 2023 American Library Association Annual Conference.
  • Langston shared information on the Books to Prisons Program and BPL’s recent participation in the program.

  • Langston provided board members with a copy of the Classic Cocktails sponsorship opportunities.

• Board Member's Comments:

  • Board members extended their gratitude to the BPL team for their dedication and hard work for the fiscal year. Members offered their condolences on the passing of Russell Lee. Willie S. Davis III and R. Jordan Davis expressed their appreciation for being given the opportunity to attend the 2023 ALA Annual Conference. Jermaine Johnson shared an email he received regarding tutoring at Five Points West Regional Library; Janine stated she would respond to the patron. R. Jordan Davis had questions on the summer feeding program and Bessie Miller responded. Willie S. Davis III stated he was looking forward to raising money to support Classic Cocktails. Karyn Davis-West stated she was planning training opportunities for staff in August. Sandra Lee hoped everyone had a happy 4th of July and reported the bookstore has been doing very well with many out-of-town guests visiting.
    
    

• The Next Board Meeting is scheduled Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
  
  

• Adjournment: 5:01 p.m.