Document #5 - Minutes September 2009 Meeting

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES TAKOMA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 The regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, 416 Cedar St., NW, John W. Hill, Jr., President, presiding. PRESENT: John W. Hill, Jr., President, Donald Richardson, Vice President, Richard Levy, James Lewis, Kelley Smith, Myrna Peralta, Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian and SecretaryTreasurer. Quorum established. ABSENT: Bonnie Cohen, Brenda Richardson GUESTS AT THE BOARD TABLE: Richard Huffine, President, Federation of Friends, and Anna Velazco, Executive Director, DCPL Foundation The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA The motion to adopt the agenda was approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The motion was adopted to approve the minutes of the July 22 Board meeting. PRESIDENT’S REPORT President John Hill congratulated staff on the Tenley-Friendship Library’s groundbreaking and mentioned the upcoming ribbon cutting for the Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library. Mr. Hill stated that beginning with the November 18 Board of Library Trustees meeting, there will be changes to the public comments section of each meeting—including the addition of a sign-up process for community members that would like to address the Board. Mr. Hill acknowledged Richard Huffine, President of the Federation of Friends, for his service to the Library. Mr. Hill noted that The Freelon Group received a second award for their design of the Anacostia Library. CHIEF LIBRARIAN’S REPORT Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper highlighted the variety in the types of programs that are being offered to community members by DC Public Library. Ms. Cooper asked Tracy Meyers, Manager of Southwest Neighborhood Library, to give details on a recent visit paid to Southwest Library by Mrs. Thurgood Marshall. Teens participating in the summer Camp Library were able to meet Mrs. Marshall during her visit. TAKOMA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY REPORT Rachel Meit, Acting Manager of the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, talked about the strong connection between the Library and the Takoma Park community. She highlighted resources that are available through the Library and the services it offers to the community. She also gave details on the diverse neighborhood that surrounds the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. Document #5 Board of Library Trustees Meeting November 18, 2009

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RENOVATION OF TAKOMA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY Chris Wright, Project Manager for the renovation of the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, and Bob Johnson, Architect for the project, presented a slide show that gave attendees a glimpse of the way that the facility looked prior to its renovation and gave a brief history of the building, the first branch library to be built. He also presented pictures that were taken during the construction process and highlighted final results of the renovation. IMPACT OF THE 2010 LIBRARY BUDGET Ms. Cooper described the impact the 2010 budget will have on the entire Library system. Chief Business Officer Eric Coard gave details on the way that the FY2010 budget cuts are expected to affect many of the Library’s departments. Director of Library Services Nancy Davenport explained how the cuts in FY2010 will affect the Library’s hours of operation. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT Agency Fiscal Officer Tammie Robinson reported that at this point in FY09, most of the funds for personnel services have been obligated, and that the obligation of funds for non-personnel services is slightly elevated. She attributed this to an increase in fixed cost expenditures. Ms. Robinson highlighted that there is still work being done to ensure that the agency’s FY09 budgets are balanced and not overspent at the end of the fiscal year. FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT Jeff Bonvechio, Director of Capital Construction, gave details on many of the construction projects that are going on within the DCPL system. PROGRAM COMMITTEE REPORT Pam Stovall, Associate Director of MLK Memorial Library, talked about the new teen space at MLK Library, which opened on September 1. According to Ms. Stovall, there will also be a series of Grand Opening events on October 19 and 20. Ellsworth Rockefeller, Manager of Young Adult division at MLK Library, made everyone aware that there has been record use of the teen space since its opening, including tours of the space by a number of school groups. PUBLIC SERVICES REPORT Ms. Davenport gave circulation statistics from libraries throughout the DCPL system—including Washington Highlands, Chevy Chase, Lamond-Riggs and Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, where there has been a 66% increase in use by teens. She also discussed the success of the Teen Camp Library program, which was held this summer at Southwest Neighborhood Library. FOUNDATION PRESIDENT’S REPORT Anna Velazco, Executive Director of the DC Public Library Foundation, gave updates on Foundation fundraising efforts using as examples the gifts that have been given to the Library system through private companies such as Lexis Nexis and the Grand Hyatt Hotel. She also highlighted many of the programs that the Library is able to offer the community that are underwritten by the Foundation, including “Sing, Talk and Read”.

Document #5 Board of Library Trustees Meeting November 18, 2009

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FEDERATION OF FRIENDS PRESIDENT’S REPORT Federation of Friends President Richard Huffine mentioned that the Federation of Friends is well on its way to being able to operate as an umbrella 501(c)3 organization. This will allow Friends Groups to operate under that umbrella rather than seeking independent 501(c)3 status with the Internal Revenue Service. He also reminded everyone of the upcoming Federation of Friends elections, which will occur on October 28. NEW BUSINESS There was no additional new business. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

Document #5 Board of Library Trustees Meeting November 18, 2009

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