HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Library Advisory Board - Meeting Date: 11/10/2021Glendale
A R I Z O N A
MINUTES
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD
GLENDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY
5959 W. BROWN ST.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85302
NOVEMBER 10, 2021
6:OORM.
Present: Gary Johnson, Chair
Bernice Harris, Board Member
Diane Kocur, Board Member
Haydee KuKowski, Board Member
Absent: Timothy Ndavu, Vice Chair
Eva Ndavu, Board Member
Lauren Snair, Teen
Also Present: Michael Beck, Chief Librarian
Greg Kinder, Administrative Librarian
Hannah Verdin, Librarian
Anna Caggiano, Library Technology Specialist
Esther Peneff, Administrative Support Specialist
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Gary Johnson. Board members: Bernice Harris, Diane Kocur and Haydee
Ku kowski
3. CITIZEN COMMENTS
None.
4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
a. Library Advisory Board Minutes of October 13, 2021.
Board Member Bernice Harris made the motion, Board Member Haydee Kukowski made
the second to approve the October 13, 2021, Library Advisory Board meeting minutes as
amended with the following change:
• Pg 1 Sec. 5.a. — Chief Librarian Beck, stated that Chair Johnson's term will not expire
until January 2023.
Motion approved 4-0.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. LIBCON WEST PROGRAM AT VELMA TEAGUE (Informational Only)
Chief Librarian Beck thanked everyone for coming and introduced Administrative Librarian
Greg Kinder. Administrative Librarian Greg Kinder stated that last year's LibCon West was
held virtually and this year it will be held in-person on December 4, 2021, at Murphy Park
from 12:00-5:00 p.m. LibCon West is a celebration of all things geeky and pop culture, with
characters such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Superheroes and Villains. LibCon West
started in 2016 at the Main Library and typically has over a thousand people in attendance.
In 2019, it was moved to the Velma Teague Branch and Murphy Park, which is a great
location with the amphitheater and all the surrounding shops and restaurants nearby.
There will be many vendors selling crafts, clothes, and souvenirs. Many attendees and
groups come dressed in Cosplay costumes.
Library Technology Specialist, Anna Caggiano stated there were 23 confirmed vendors and
19 Cosplay groups. Cosplay is when people not only dress up but play the characters as
well and some are from national conventions with amazing costumes. There will be
pirates, princesses, mask decorating and Star Wars light saber duels as well.
Librarian Hannah Verdin stated that there will be performances such as K -pop dancers,
belly dancing, two music performances and mini box groups.
Administrative Librarian Greg Kinder stated that the library is still Covid aware and taking
precautions by limiting the number of patrons in library and will have available hand
sanitizing stations. Security guards will be walking around also.
Board Member Kocur asked if the schedule was posted online. Librarian Verdin stated that
the schedule will be online by the end of the week with the names of the performers.
Librarian Verdin stated that we are going paperless and will have QR codes will be
available for additional information. Chief Librarian Beck will send Member Kocur the
schedule. Member Kocur asked if there will be a Pokemon Go theme. Librarian Verdin
said that one is not scheduled for this year
Chair Johnson asked if there were any questions. No questions.
b. MOBILE OFFICE TO -GO PROGRAM (Informational Only)
Chief Librarian Beck stated that the library received an American Rescue Plan Act grant,
through the State Library of Arizona, in the amount of $16,000, which provided resources
for twenty kits. Each kit comes in a wheeled pulley case that includes a Chromebook, Wi-
Fi Hotspot, cables, wireless printer with paper, and a flash drive. Patrons can reserve one
with their library card for a free three-week checkout. This is a great benefit for the
community and has everything you need for small business or students doing
assignments. The items in each kit is barcoded, include instructions with a troubleshooting
guide, a checklist for item return, and can be transported through the library's regular
courier service.
Board Member Kocur asked where they will be located. Chief Librarian Beck stated they
will be housed at the Main Library, and we will have a quick turn -around service to send to
the appropriate branch. The Main library has more room to store them, and staff will help
ensure no personal patron information is left on the computer.
Board Member Kocur commented that they should have insurance policy on them. Chief
Librarian Beck stated that each kit is worth around $700, and they do not take patrons
credit card information.
Board Member Kocur asked how will they be marketed. Chief Librarian Beck stated that
there will be a soft opening in December and the library will use bookmarks, flyers, social
media, public service announcements, checkout kiosks and online resources to market it.
Board Member Kukowski asked when the roll-out will be. Chief Librarian Beck stated that
they have six kits ready for the soft opening, available on December 1 st with the full roll-out
in January.
Board Member Kocur asked which group is envisioned to be using this service. Chief
Librarian Beck stated that it's meant for everyone such as students, small business owners
and residents that need computer access or a home office.
Board Member Kocur commented that it would be good to promote in the Idea Center and
Chief Librarian Beck agreed. Chief Librarian Beck also stated that this grant project was a
collaborative effort by approximately ten staff members. The project is also scalable, and
the library can always add additional units if this service is successful.
Chair Johnson asked if there were any questions. No questions.
6. CHIEF LIBRARIAN UPDATE
a. Chief Librarian Beck updated the Board of the following:
• Congratulated Chair Johnson on the Board's recommendation for him to continue as
Chair and on Vice -Chair Timothy Ndavu's re-election as Vice -Chair, pending Council
approval.
• Kathy Curley, Administrative Librarian, will be retiring after 22 years of service and her
last day will be on December 3, 2021. She is the library's head of collection development
and has presented to the Board several times.
• Outreach Program Events that the library has recently participated in include, Stand -
Up for Veterans, GAIN and Touch -A -Truck.
• November 11, 2021 -Veteran's Day flag changing ceremony at 8:00 a.m.
• The Heroes Park urban fishing lake is scheduled to be completed in December.
Chair Johnson asked if there were any questions.
Member Kocur asked if the letter of appreciation can be provided for the board to sign for
Kathy Curley's retirement. Chief Librarian Beck stated that we have it on file and the library
can get the letter distributed before December 3rd.
Chair Johnson asked if there were any questions. No other questions.
7. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Member Kocur asked if there are any other story board plans for the other branches like
the Foothills library. Chief Librarian Beck stated that was a LSTA grant that the library
received several years ago and was a $10,000415,000 project. We currently have other
grants in place such as Hot -Spots and Mobile Office to Go. Member Kocur mentioned that
the Heroes Library would be a good place for another.
Chair Johnson asked if there were any questions. No other questions.
8. NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting of the Library Advisory Board will be held on December 8th at
6:00 p.m., at the Velma Teague Library, located at 7010 N. 58th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona,
85301.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Board Member Harris made a motion, Board Member Kukowski made the second to
adjourn the meeting at 6:36 p.m.
The Library Advisory Board meeting minutes of November 10, 2021, were submitted and approved
this 8th day of December 2021.
sther PenefF
Recording Secretary