HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 2001.06.19 `BUftLIfYGAME
T r
B U R L I N G A M E
L— PUBLIC
LIBRARY
Burlingame Public Library
Board of Trustees
Minutes
June 19, 2001
I. Call to Order
The meeting of June 19, 2001 was called to order by the Secretary,
Mary Herman, at 4:30 pm.
II. Roll Call
Trustees Present: Jeff Berger, Cecile Coar, Jane Dunbar,
Andrew Gurthet, Mary Herman
City Attorney: Larry Anderson
Staff Present: Alfred Escoffier, City Librarian
Sidney Poland, Recorder
Public Present: Russ Cohen
III Warrants & Special Fund
The Trustees unanimously agreed to approve the warrants as
presented. M/S/C (Dunbar/Gurthet)
IV. Minutes
The Trustees unanimously agreed to approve the minutes of the
May 22, 2001 meeting. M/S/C (Berger/Dunbar)
V. Correspondence
Correspondence mailed in the packets was reviewed.
A. Board Appointments - Trustee Coar received written
acknowledgement of her reappointment to the Library Board by the
City Council for a second term continuing from July 1, 2001 until
June 30, 2004. Appreciation of Trustee Berger 's six years of
service on the Library Board was also acknowledged by the
Council. Katie McCormack was appointed to the Library Board to
succeed Jeff Berger.
4 8 0 P r i m r o s e R o a d • B u r I i n g a m e • C A 9 4 0 1 0 - 4 0 8 3
Phone ( 650 ) 342 - 1038 • Fax ( 650 ) 342 - 1948 • www. pls . Iib . ca . us / pls / pls . html
B. Easter Survey - The City Librarian reviewed the results of
the Easter Day Work Survey which was given to the staff at the
request of the Library Board. The purpose of the survey was to
ascertain the willingness of staff to work if the Library remained
open on Easter Sunday.
VI. From the Floor (Public Comments) Russ Cohen of the Burlingame
Historical Society read his letter expressing the immediate need for
volunteer archivists to help organize the many donations the
Historical Society receives. He thought that perhaps some of the
library staff might be interested in volunteering. Trustee Dunbar
suggested contacting retired library personnel.
VII. Reports
A. City Librarian's Report - Al Escoffier
The City Librarian reviewed his report highlighting the following
issues.
1. Easton Branch - The project committee toured
libraries in Mill Valley, Tiburon, Oceanview (San Francisco),
Albany, Rockridge, and East Palo Alto with Hal Brandes,
architect for the Easton Branch renovation. Hal Brandes
designed the Albany Branch and the Rockridge Branch.
2. Summer Reading - "Catch a Dragon by the Tail" is
the theme for school age readers. Children who read and
report on 6 books will receive a free paper back. The Read to
me theme is "Once Upon a Story Time" and encourages
parents to read to their children. "Read (w+w+w) - Forever"
(Read wherever, whenever, whatever) requires teens to read 6
books. Gift certificates of$15.00 provided by the Library
Foundation will be given to those teens that complete the
program.
B. Foundation Report - Jane Dunbar
A major donor party will be given in October. Plans for this
event are in progress.
C. SAB - Mary Lou Morton - No Report
Library Board of Trustee Minutes 2
June 19, 2001
VIII. Unfinished Business
A. Easter Closure
1. President Coar reported that the city libraries she
contacted in other states were closed on all Sundays. One
library in Queens Borough, New York is open on Sundays
but closed for Easter Sunday.
2. Trustee Gurthet researched a case where the court
ruled in favor of the library for closing on Martin Luther King
Day. The case was sent back to the lower court after an
appeal and no further decision has been made. Trustee
Gurthet volunteered to gather more information regarding
this matter.
3. The Trustees suggested that Mary Lou Morton, the
Library Board's representative to Systems Advisory Board,
discuss the Easter Closure matter with SAB members.
4. The Trustees requested that the City Librarian explore
whether the on-line catalogue would be available to service
the Burlingame Library, if it is the only facility in the county
to stay open on Easter Sunday. Trustee Gurthet stated that
as a reference librarian, inability to access the on-line
catalogue would be sufficient reason to close. Research for
patrons would definitely be hampered.
5. Trustee Herman will research whether libraries in Los
Angeles remain open on Easter Sunday.
6. Trustee Dunbar suggested checking the school
calendar for dates of spring vacation and then consider
closing the Burlingame Library on a Sunday in recognition of
"Spring Break."
7. Larry Anderson, City Attorney, suggested the following
issues the Trustees may wish to consider in reaching a
decision on whether or not to close on Easter Sunday.
a. Decision is more than legal; economic impact is
significant as well.
b. Easter is not a secular holiday but primarily a
religious one.
C. Policy should not have the connotation of
making a person feel offended or harmed.
d. Is there a demand for the library to be open?
8. The Trustees agreed that more information pertaining
to this issue is needed before a procedural plan can be
formulated.
Library Board of Trustee Minutes 3
June 19, 2001
IX. New Business -
A. Nomination of Officers for 2001-2002
1. Mary Herman's name was placed in nomination for
President of the Library Board of Trustees. (Berger/Dunbar)
2. Jane Dunbar's name was placed in nomination for
Secretary of the Library Board of Trustees.
(Herman/Gurthet)
3. The Board agreed to close the nominations.
4. The official voting for the officers will be held at the
July board meeting.
B. City Council Contacts - Trustee Dunbar moved to postpone
the assignment of the individual City Council members to be
contacted by a Trustee until the new Board member, Katie
McCormack, is present. (Dunbar/Gurthet)
X. Announcements - There were not any new announcements.
XI. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:00pm. M/S/C
(Dunbar/Gurthet) The next meeting of the Library Board of
Trustees is tentatively scheduled for July 24, 2001 in the Library
Conference Room.
Respectfully Submitted
Alfred H. Esc( ffier
City Librarian
Library Board of Trustee Minutes 4
June 19, 2001