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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Library Advisory Board - Meeting Date: 2/10/2016 City of Glendale Library Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Glendale Public Library, Main Library 5959 West Brown Street Glendale, Arizona 85302 Wednesday, February 10, 2016 6:00 p.m. Call to Order - Approximately 6:00PM Chairperson Wilson called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00pm. Board members Allen, Koory, Fallucca, Aborne, Collett, Vice Chairperson Sommer, and Chairperson Wilson were present. Board members Shelly and Gibala were absent and excused. Erik Strunk, Community Services Director, Tim Barnard, Assistant Director, Community Services Department, and Michael Beck, Chief Librarian, were present from the City of Glendale. Mike Schmitt, Jim Lloyd and John Dick, Dick & Fritsche Design Group (DFDG) were also present. II. Approval of Minutes - January 13, 2016 - Chairperson Wilson asked if there were any revisions or corrections to the minutes of January 13, 2016. Board member Koory would like a sentence added to Section 5, which states that the Board would like the Friends of the Library to facilitate the Libraries Transform campaign rather than the Library Board. Board member Aborne said on page 4, item 8, and sentence 4 should read "he requested" rather than "she requested the meeting..." Also, on page 4, item 8, paragraph 3 should read WeeReaders at Westgate. Vice Chairperson Sommer made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Board member Aborne seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. Business From The Floor - Chairperson Wilson called for any. business from the floor. There was none. iv. Loyalty Oath of Office - Chairperson Wilson called for this item. Mr. Beck asked Board member Christian Allen to take the Loyalty Oath of Office. The Board then welcomed him. Minutes - Library Advisory Board Meeting February 10, 2016 Page 2 v. Western Area Branch Library Update - Chairperson Wilson announced this item. Mr. Michael Beck, Chief Librarian, introduced members from DFDG as they would be making the presentation. Mr. Mike Schmitt began the presentation regarding the Western Area Branch Library Study. He explained the two potential sites. He stated they were asked to review these sites for the proposed Western Area Branch Library and provide feedback. He continued by reviewing the site feasibility study for each potential location. He described the bus routes to each location. He said the Heroes Park site provides easier access to those located in the surrounding residential area. Mr. Jim Lloyd continued by displaying a map of the Media Center site at Westgate. He indicated where the Media Center is located relative to the University of Phoenix Stadium. He indicated although there appears to be many parking spaces, he noted which spaces belong to the hotel and those that belong to other surrounding businesses, which are not currently available to patrons of the library. He continued by showing the pedestrian access. He said once the patrons access the Media Center, they would possibly need to enter through a back door and then enter the elevator to the 3rd floor. He said the Heroes Park site would be located in a more open area. Board member Aborne asked Mr. Beck to show the Board where the initial library site would have been located. He did. The team continued their presentation describing each proposed location. Vice Chairperson Sommer was concerned about meeting ADA requirements for library patrons in the Media Center. Mr. Lloyd stated that all requirements would be and must be met. They concluded with a list of pros and cons for each location. One notable pro is that the Media Center can be converted into a library and the initial cost is lower as the building already exists. He added Minutes - Library Advisory Board Meeting February 10, 2016 Page 3 there is a "green screen" which the public may potentially be able to use. There is office space available. One of the cons would be there are approximately 70 events throughout the year which would make the library very difficult to access as there would be very limited parking available. Also, it is unlikely the library could be further expanded in this area. Mr. Barnard added there is an agreement in place regarding parking; however, it can be revisited. He confirmed there is limited access to this area on NFL and hockey game days. Board member Fallucca said although there may be parking, it would be very difficult to maneuver with the amount of traffic in the area. Chairperson Wilson agreed. Heroes Park is located adjacent to a park with space for additional parking. Mr. Schmitt said the area is easier to control as it would be one level. He said the costs associated with this location would be greater. He added this location is not as centrally located as the Media Center. In response to a question from Board member Koory, Mr. Beck stated there would be two public open houses. These are opportunities for the public to ask questions and comment on the proposal. These would be Wednesday, February 24 and Saturday, February 27. He added there is a website where interested parties may take an online survey. A phone number is provided for those who would like to leave a voice message regarding their feedback. Vice Chairperson Sommer asked for information regarding the financial aspect. Mr. Strunk said staff is attempting to stay within the allotted budget. The budgeted amount will be made available for the public as the city remains transparent. Board member Aborne said the proposal at Heroes Park is approximately 50 square feet larger. Mr. Lloyd said it is approximately 7,550 square feet in total. Chairperson Wilson asked specific questions about the modular buildings. Mr. Schmidt said there are a variety of modular buildings. He believes the height of the ceiling would be similar to what exists in Minutes - Library Advisory Board Meeting February 10, 2016 Page 4 the Media Center. He noted some modular buildings are designed to be permanent construction. The Board thanked them for the presentation. vi. Current Library Bond Capacity - Chairperson Wilson called for this item. Mr. Beck said at the last Library Board meeting, a question was raised about the current bond capacity of the city to issue bonds for the Glendale Public Library System. Mr. Strunk provided information regarding the library bonds. He distributed information regarding bonds authorized, issued and un-issued. He reviewed the bonds, which were voter authorized, which were actually sold and those that were not sold. He provided a brief overview and offered the Board to have Finance staff attend a future meeting should they need a more in depth explanation. The Board asked for clarification on the distribution of the money raised from the bonds previously sold. Mr. Strunk reassured the Board that any bonds sold for the libraries were used for only libraries. The Board thanked Mr. Strunk for the valuable information. vu. Glendale Libraries Transform - Chairperson Wilson called for this item. The Board had previously discussed the next steps for the Glendale Libraries Transform campaign initiative as a localized version of the American Library Association's Libraries Transform Campaign. Mr. Beck said he contacted the Government Services Committee and had not received a reply as of yet. The Board was asking whether the Friends of the Library would be the best avenue to take to promote or market the Glendale Libraries Transform Campaign. Board member Collett made a motion to defer the continuation of the Glendale Libraries Transform campaign to the Friends of the Library. Board member Koory seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. VIII. Chief Librarian Update - Chairperson Wilson called for the Chief Librarian Update. Mr. Beck presented and updated members on currently library activities, operations and projects. Minutes - Library Advisory Board Meeting February 10, 2016 Page 5 Mr. Beck indicated the public open house meetings related to the Western Area Branch Library would be held on Wednesday, February 24 and Saturday, February 27. He will advise the Board of the time and location. He asked that each Board member advise staff as to which open house they will be attending in order to avoid a quorum. He said that all information pertaining to this issue has been uploaded onto the city's website and is live. Board member Fallucca suggested that this issue be added to the billboards at Westgate and also to KGLN 11. In response to a suggestion from Board member Koory, Mr. Beck said this has been advertised in the Arizona Republic, as well as The Glendale Star. The Board discussed various ideas as to how to best market and advertise the upcoming open houses. • Library Updates - He said the new career and business librarian has been hired and would begin on February 22. He indicated a new A Frame sign has been ordered advertising the WeeReaders at Westgate program. He provided information regarding the LSTA grants received. He said tablets were purchased with some of these grant funds and are located in the youth and teen areas of the libraries. Mr. Beck said coding classes are being offered, which is popular among the students. Upcoming programs - Mr. Beck noted a federal student aid workshop is going to take place soon. • Other - Mr. Beck also provided information regarding the 20th Annual Arizona Songwriters event, which took place on January 23, 2016, adding 76 artists participated and between 600-800 citizens attended the event. ix. Library Advisory Board Comments and Suggestions - Chairperson Wilson asked for any comments or suggestions from the Board members. Board member Aborne suggested there should be information available to the patrons who come into to see the art exhibit at Gallery Glendale. Also, at the last WeeReaders she learned there was a facility nearby having "Mommy and Me" activities. The activities end just as Wee Readers is scheduled to begin. She said there were 15 people in Minutes - Library Advisory Board Meeting February 10, 2016 Page 6 attendance at WeeReaders. Board member Aborne said Wee Readers is now being advertised on the city's event calendar through the end of the year. She stated she appreciated staff's effort in having this important event included on the calendar. Board member Koory thanked Mr. Beck for providing a tour of each potential library location, the Media Center and Heroes Park. Board member Allen thanked everyone for having him on the Board. Board member Fallucca welcomed new Board member Allen. She reminded the Board that approximately one year ago the Foothills Library was potentially going to be sold. She thanked the patrons, the citizens, and the staff fighting to keep the Foothills Library. She said the libraries have so much to offer to the community. Chairperson Wilson thanked everyone who appreciated the value of libraries. She said the Foothills Branch has begun a Teen Advisory Group and their first meeting was held last week. They are looking for more teens that wish to participate. Board member Fallucca was hopeful that Board member Allen could spread the word of how important libraries are to the community and to the librarians he may know. x. Adjournment - With no further business, Chairperson Wilson adjourned the meeting at 7:21pm. The next regular meeting will be in the Large Meeting Room at the Main Library on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 6 PM.