HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 2022.01.181
Burlingame Library
Approved Board of Trustees Minutes
January 18, 2022
I. Roll Call
Trustees Present: Kris Cannon, Danielle Garcia, Mike Nagler,
Elisabeth Ostrow
Staff Present: Brad McCulley, City Librarian
Sidney Poland, Recorder
Guest: Kay Coskey
(Possible Candidate for Trustee Position)
II. Library Board of Trustees Minutes
The Trustees unanimously approved the minutes of the December 21,
2021 Trustee Meeting. M/S/C (Nagler/Cannon)
III. December Statistics
• Children's programs which include Story Times, Class Visits and special
programs totaled 24 with an attendance of 1039. Winter reading ended
with a total of 451 finishers from both Main and Easton. The categories
were Adult - 53, Teens - 24 and and kids - 374.
• There were 5 programs for teens with an attendance of 117.
• There were 12 adult programs with an attendance of 61.
IV. Reports
A. City Librarian's Report
• Recruitment - The 2nd recruitment panel for the 30 hour Permanent
Part-Time Librarian in Adult Services has been completed.
• Hourly Budget - Brad noted that the hourly budget for the next fiscal
year was more promising due to the fact that 2 vacant full time
positions were not filled immediately.
• Easton Staffing - Kathy Von Mayrhauser, Children's Dept. Manger, is
still having difficulties staffing the Easton Branch.
• Covid Update - Library staff is 100% vaccinated. Unfortunately, the
recent surge in the Omicron strain has led to a delay in the library's
plan to increase weekend hours to pre-pandemic times. The new date
to return to before pandemic weekend hours is March 6th.
• Internet Policy - The Trustees reviewed the current Internet Policy.
Current library policies will be included in future board packets for the
Trustees to review.
• New Library Trustee - At the City Council meeting tonight the new
Library Trustee will be appointed.
2
B. Foundation Report
Brad gave his yearly request for items he would like the Foundation to
Fund in the amount of $123,000. He noted that one of his goals is to
engage a lighting contractor to provide a plan to upgrade the lighting in
the Reading Room where the large type books are located. The lighting is
inadequate and there have been complaints from those patrons who use
this collection. The son of Rhoda Laks made a $10,000 donation
specifically for the Reading Room in honor of his mother who was an
avid user of the large type collection. It might be possible to use these
funds for a lighting upgrade.
C. Citizen Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials
• Brad contacted some of the county libraries and San Mateo Public to
find out what procedures were used to determine whether to remove a
particular library book or other materials from the library collection.
• Some of the county libraries form a committee of library staff and
sometimes include staff from other libraries. The City Librarian from
San Mateo Public makes the final decision.
• The current procedure for the Citizen Request for Reconsideration of
Library Materials is that Brad, as the City Librarian, will request input
from his staff and make a recommendation to the Trustees. The
Trustees were in agreement with this procedure.
V. Old Business
A. Staff Appreciation Event
The Trustees are sending gift cards to each current library employee in
the amount of $25.00 with a special note of appreciation.
B. Public Art
1. Robert Barry Donation
The possibility of the library receiving a specific "illuminated word"
from the Robert Barry collection has been put on hold. Currently
the artist is keeping all the "illuminated words".
2. Peninsula Museum of Art
Brad is planning to initiate the procedures for the library to receive the
sculpture of the owl from the collection of Benny Bufano that is
being donated by the Peninsula Museum of Arts.
C. Teen Poet Laureate
The Trustees reviewed the Staff Report which provided them with
specific details regarding this project. Highlights of the discussion follow.
• Project is managed by Urban World which requires a start up fee of
$2,500.00
• There is an annual fee which is based on the partner's yearly operating
budget. The Trustees have expressed a strong interest in financing
the project. Brad advised the Trustees that Trustee funds are
considered City money and would be part of the Library's budget.
• An alternative suggestion would be to ask the Foundation to support
the project as their operating budget is lower than the Library's
operating budget.
3
• Brad has discussed the this project with the Foundation. The
Foundation Board felt that they could not provide support for the
project this coming year.
• Both Kathy Von Mayrhauser and Jenny Miner have determined that
starting the project this year is not feasible partially due to the fact
that Jenny already has her Teen activities planned.
• The City of Burlingame has also been mentioned as possible partner to
the Teen Laureate Project. Perhaps the City Council would consider a
City Poet Laureate.
• In conclusion, the Trustees want to strongly confirm that they are
supportive of the Teen Laureate program and want to make certain
that it happens when the timing is expedient for the Teen Librarian.
VII. New Business
A. Parking Area Mural
A group from The Skyline Chapter of the National Charity reached out
to Jennnie Miner regarding the possibility of doing a project for the
library.
• The group suggested a mural, held a contest, and selected two of the
drawings for library staff and the Trustees to review.
• The site Brad suggested for the mural is the north wall of the parking
lot just outside the staff entrance of the library.
• The Trustees reviewed the two drawings and unanimously passed a
motion to approve the drawing entitled "What change will You
make?" M/S/C/ (Nagler/Garcia)
B. Monthly Topic – Circulation - Manuel Caneri
One of Manuel's new responsibilities is to select and order items for
our DVD/Blue Ray collection. Trustee Nagler acknowledged Manuel's
expertise in the movie world and noted how helpful he is in assisting
patrons with their movie selections. The Trustees also commented on
the success of CPU and how much the patrons appreciated that they
were able to have access to library materials during the pandemic even
though they could not come into the library.
VIII. Action Items
• Trustee Nagler inquired as to whether there is a possibility that the
Christmas lights could remain on the building year round. Brad will
contact the lighting company that puts up the lights and discuss
options.
• Brad will begin the required process for the library to be able to accept
the owl sculpture from the Benny Bufano collection and the parking
area mural donated by the National Charity League Skyline Chapter.
Part of this process includes posting a Public Art notice in the local
newspaper for the purpose of allowing the public to comment on the
art object/mural. The City Council makes the final decision.
• Brad will meet with the artist of the National Charity League to review
the site for the mural and determine if the power box on the wall
would interfere with one of the faces in drawing the mural.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00PM
4
The next Zoom meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be
February 15, 2022 at 5:30pm
Respectfully Submitted
/S/
Brad McCulley
City Librarian
Burlingame Public Library