HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 2015.12.08 Library Board of Trustee Minutes
December 8th, 2015
I. Call to Order
President Nagler called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.
II. Roll Call
Trustees Present: Debra Donaldson, Randi Murray, President Mike
Nagler
Staff Present: Brad McCulley, City Librarian
Tommy McMahon, Acting Adult Services Manager,
Kathy von Mayrhauser, Children Services Manager,
Geralyn O'Brien, Circulation
Members of the Public Tish Busselle, Jane E. Light, candidates for BPL
strategic planning project
III. Purpose of Meeting and General Information
The purpose of the meeting was to interview two candidates for leading a
BPL strategic planning project. The City Librarian provided a high level
powerpoint deck from Bozeman Public Library as an example of a current small
library strategic plan. Project participants will have access to Gale "Analytics on
Demand" to help in understanding the needs of our patrons. The point was
made that current library staff would be a logical resource for reviewing and
applying this data to the BPL strategic plan. This is their area of expertise and
they will be the owners of the final strategic plan.
Trustee Nagler noted that the current banner in front of the library
from ALA lacked context and may be confusing to patrons.
The trustees and city librarian reviewed questions for the interviewees. It was
agreed that President Nagler would lead off asking about background and
qualifications for guiding the development of a small library strategic plan.
Trustee Donaldson would ask about their view on factors leading to a
successful plan. Trustee Murray would ask about the structure of the planning
process, participants, time frame, time commitment required for participants.
The City Librarian would ask about their view on future challenges for libraries
and Trustee Donaldson would follow with how to incorporate current best
practices into our plan. President Nagler would end with a question about how
to make sure the eventual plan is unique, and reflects the needs of our
community.
`- IV. Interview with Strategic Plan Consultant Jane E. Light
Experience-
Ms.Light was a leader in the Peninsula Library System community
information program (CIP) for approximately 30 yrs. and has served as head of
PLS. More recently she was the director of the Redwood City Public Library (13
yrs.) and supervised building of the library and it's literacy program. The library
was named Library of the Year. While directing the library in RWC she served
for three years an Assistant City Manager. Most recently, until 2012, Ms. Light
was library Director for the City of San Jose Public Library. In 2004 the San
Jose MLK library was named library of the year. Ms. Light is particularly proud
of her oversight of the San Jose branch Master Plan. Her leadership resulted in
a multi-million dollar bond measure allowing for 20 revamped or newly built
branches.
Most recently, since 2012, Ms. Light has been consulting on projects
which provided operational reviews, professional development plans and
preparation of strategic plans. In this capacity she has worked with Redwood
City, Santa Clara Library and Foundation, San Joaquin Valley, Palo Alto, and
San Jose. For example, in one city she helped put to bed an overly prescriptive
older strategic plan which had left staff overwhelmed. Input from staff occurred
over a period of weeks and five goals emerged. A mission and vision for the
library were defined and a capacity analysis was performed. Goals were derived
from mission and vision. Ms. Light lead meetings, word-smithed meeting
content, and met again with staff to fine tune. This cycle was repeated.
BPL Strategic Plan -
Ms. Light remarked that a year is too long for this process. Data
collection might occur prior to start time and library staff could be recruited as
this is an area of expertise for them. Understanding trends in Burlingame and
what the community wants is important.
❑ Testing could include specifics, provide a menu of goals and ask
community what they want.
❑ Consider that all key stakeholders are involved, library board
members, library staff, users etc.
❑ Keep in mind the appropriate level of staff engagement such that
capacity for the effort is not exceeded.
Ms. Light commented that challenges include outreach to community
and that embedding into other organizations can be fruitful. Come to the
community. She has been impressed by the funding strategy for LA libraries,
things being done right now in SF and most recently is inspired by the work of
the Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library under direction of Patrick Losinski.
Particularly in childhood literacy. 35% of children in Columbus are not
kindergarten ready.
(http://www.columbusceo.com/content/stories/2015/02/ga-columbu s-metropolitan-
library-ceo-pat-losinski-says-metrics-of-success-are-changing htm).
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Conclusion-
Ms. Light emphasized that establishing community partnerships could
be a high priority for almost every activity at the library and used as a
measure that library services meet community needs in the third space
(not home or work) modern libraries provide.
V. Interview with Strategic Plan Consultant Tish Busselle
Experience-Ms. Busselle has been involved in education policy making in
California, Colorado and Washington D.C. She is a former assistant
superintendent of the San Mateo-Foster City School District. She was special
consultant to the state administrator of the Vallejo City Unified School District.
She was president of San Mateo Library Foundation during their capital
campaign. She is chair of the advisory committee for Samaritan House in San
Mateo. She describes herself as a planner by nature and brings her expertise to
church, non-profits, schools and libraries.
BPL Strategic Plan - Ms. Busselle notes that being a great facilitator is an art
and requires a balance of effective probing and excitement. It is important not
to wear down participants while developing a strategic plan and should take no
longer than 4-6 months..
❑ Engagement of internal and external stakeholders critical,
particularly non-affiliates
❑ Go for segments, such as 80+, use online surveys but also come to
the people at the train station, schools, PTA
❑ Include Foundation board, Trustees, kids, parents, city council
and managers, mother's club, rental community, school system,
Lions, Rotary, Chamber of commerce
❑ Use our new building as driver, the neutrality of the "community
living room", food 8v teens
❑ Means of engaging our patrons
❑ helping schools; adopting a "libraries come to you" model;
ease of use for services like check-out; connecting with the
non-librarian enthusiast, supporting job searches
❑ Six or so goal areas �.
❑ Employ regular review of plan and revision
Conclusion
Ms. Busselle suggested that part of being a transformed library will be
expanding our patron's perception of what we do.
VI. Summary
Both Ms. Light and Ms. Busselle are well qualified and strong candidates. Ms.
Light brings deep knowledge and experience relevant to libraries and Ms.
Busselle a rich background in civic leadership.
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VII. Adiournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:OOPM. M/S/C. The next meeting of the Library
Board of Trustees will be held January 19, 2015 in the Library Conference
Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brad McCulley
City Librarian
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