HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 2020.07.211
Burlingame Library
Approved Board of Trustees Minutes
July 21, 2020
I. Roll Call
Trustees Present: Kristin Capkin, Mike Nagler, Randi
Murray, Elisabeth Ostrow
Trustee Absent: Danielle Garcia
Staff Present: Brad McCulley, City Librarian
Sidney Poland, Recorder
II. Library Board of Trustees Minutes
The Trustees unanimously approved the minutes of the June 16, 2020
Board of Trustees Meeting with the following changes: correct spelling of
Kristin Caplin's name and note that July 21st is the correct date for July
meeting. M/S/C (Nagler/Murray).
III. Highlights of July Statistics
• Curbside Pickup Requests since beginning in June : 1,000
• Virtual Adult Programs: 6; Attendance 100
• Children's and Easton Programs: 25; Attendance 939
• Brad noted that PLS has been talking about consolidating
individual library programs so there is not as much duplication.
For example, all libraries in PLS have story time, so story times
would be divided up among all PLS libraries. This change would
cause the statistics for individual PLS library programs to
decrease, but would make more patrons aware of available
programs.
IV. From the Floor (Public Comments)
No members from the public attended the meeting.
V. Reports
A. City Librarian’s Report – Highlights
• As of July 20, library staff has been divided into two cohorts: A
and B. A cohort works MWF; B cohort works TTh. The
main purpose of this plan is to provide for contamination
safety and flexibility: if a staff person in Cohort A contracts the
virus and that cohort must quarantine, Cohort B can continue
work, allowing current library operations to continue.
• Library staff — especially through the Wellness Task Force —
are continuing to reach out to hourly staff through e-mails, phone
calls and town halls.
• All returned items are being held in the Lane Room for quarantine
purposes for 3 days. Changing the quarantine period to 4 days is
under consideration.
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• As of July 1, 2020, the Burlingame Library has instituted a no fine
policy. Redwood City and most PLS libraries have followed suit.
Due to financial constraints, San Bruno and Daly City are not able
to implement this policy.
B. Foundation Report
The Foundation Board will meet on July 23rd to discuss possible
ways to raise funds for the library during COVID-19.
VI. Old Business
A. Re-Opening Procedures
Re-opening Procedures are a work in progress. Updates will be
provided when changes are made or new procedures put in place.
VII. New Business
A. 7 Member Board of Trustees — Discussion Item
The Trustees discussed the possibility of enlarging the Board of
Trustees from 5 to 7 members. Highlights of the discussion are
noted below.
1. Purpose — Increasing the number of Trustee board members
would provide an opportunity to create a more racially, socio-
economically and generationally diverse board. Adding
trustees would give qualified residents of Burlingame and
Hillsborough a greater chance of being selected.
2. Role of City Council — Since the City Council makes the
final selections for new Trustees, members of the Council will
play a significant role in bringing diversity to the Library
Board.
3. Input on Selection Process – The board will invite the mayor
and any other interested council members to meet with
Trustees to discuss the kinds of qualifications and the types of
diversity that might be desirable in new trustees.
4. Characteristics of the Board of Trustees — The Trustees
hope that the City Council will help the board strive for and
achieve greater diversity, focusing on recruiting and selecting
more racially and socio-economically diverse candidates, and
also younger candidates, and candidates with children who
currently attend the Burlingame schools.
5. Marketing — The board would like to find ways to make more
people aware of vacant board positions. One idea is to display
posters inside and outside the library (and perhaps elsewhere)
for patrons to see regarding open positions and how to obtain
application materials; another is to encourage library staff to
make frequent and engaged library users aware of openings;
and another is to put information about vacancies in the City
newsletter and Library newsletter.
6. Size of Board — Trustees discussed whether the board should
remain 5 or grow to 7 members. (Having an even number of
members is not an option, but the Trustees explored how to
grow to 7 members, and whether it would be possible to
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sometimes have fewer than 7, depending on the qualifications
of available applicants.)
7. Term Limits
The board discussed the possibility of instituting term limits to
increase the opportunity for more people to serve.
B. Equity Action Plan — Discussion Item
In advance of the meeting, each Trustee and the Equity Committee
submitted suggestions regarding how to promote greater racial equity
and more racial and socio-economic diversity in the Library and our
community. To move forward on formulating an action plan for the
board of Trustees, and to better understand the issues:
• The Trustees would like to have a member or members of the
Equity Committee attend a Trustee meeting and discuss their
equity plans and goals;
• The Trustees also queried whether a member of the Trustee
Board would be welcome to attend an Equity Committee
meeting;
• The Trustees discussed the scope of their authority, and
agreed that one Trustee — Randi Murray — would work on
synthesizing the suggestions from Trustees and the Equity
committee into one comprehensive document.
VIII. Action Items
A. Brad requested that each Trustee send their specific ideas regarding
the formation of a 7-member Board of Trustees to him by the next
meeting.
B. Randi Murray will synthesize the information from the Trustees’
suggestions and the Equity Team’s suggestions regarding racial
equity into one document for review at the August Trustee meeting.
C. Megan, Chair of the Equity Committee, will arrange a time for a
Trustees to join an Equity Team meeting and plan for a committee
member to meet with the Trustees.
IX. Announcements
• Brad is working on a power point presentation for Elisabeth and
Danielle which will a include a virtual tour of the library, as well
as an overview of Trustee responsibilities.
• Although Trustee meetings generally run from 5:30 to 7 pm,
Trustees should be aware that they may run later on occasion.
X. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:53pm. M/S/C (Nagler/Murray)
The next meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be held on
August 18, 2020 at 5:30pm. The Trustees will be provided with
necessary information needed to attend the Zoom meeting.
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Respectfully Submitted
/S/
Brad McCulley
City Librarian
City of Burlingame