Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_01.11.2016Minutes of the Meeting of the Library Advisory Board City of Georgetown January 11, 2016 The Library Advisory Board met on Monday, January 11, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the Staff Conference Room of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Baldwin, Michael Barnes, Lois Case, Tom Hagen, Tom Milburn, Linda Nix and Pete Rose. STAFF PRESENT: Eric Lashley- Library Director, Lawren Weiss- Administrative Assistant. Regular Session A. Citizens wishing to address the Board. — None were present. B. Consideration of minutes of the December 14, 2015 meeting. — Tom Milburn made the motion to accept the minutes of the December 2015 Library Advisory Board Meeting. Tom Hagen seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. C. Introduction of library staff member. — Eric Lashley. Lashley introduced Lawren Weiss - Administrative Assistant to the Board. Lawren told the Board about her various job responsibilities. She started as a part-time employee and quickly earned a full-time position. After Judy Fabry retired, she moved into the Administrative Assistant position. Lawren shared plans for the 50th Anniversary Gala with the Board. D. Consideration of the Library Director's Report. — Eric Lashley. Lashley reported that due to the new Open Carry law, a sign must be placed outside of each City board meeting to notify patrons that fire arms are prohibited in the Library Advisory Board meetings. Public meetings are an exception to the new Open Carry law. Lashley reviewed December's statistics with the board, noting that circulation and visitations were slightly down for the month while the e -materials circulation continues to rise. Four new laptops were purchased in order to provide a better tax assistance service. Lashley reported that he will be reporting to a new Assistant City Manager- Wayne Reed, beginning on January 25, 2016. Reed will be supervising several departments including Planning, Economic Development, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Main Street and the Library. The library's catalog has a new feature in which patrons can look up their checkout history. This feature will also alert patrons when searching the catalog to when they have checked out a title previously. Lashley informed the board about information he had uncovered pertaining to the founding of the Cody Library at Southwestern University. The WPA grant in 1939 that funded the construction of the Cody Library was originally intended for the first Georgetown Public Library. Lashley read the patron comments from the suggestion box and informed the board about upcoming events including: Of Mice and Men with the Austin Opera, Mini -Golf, and Georgetown Reads featuring the book Just Mercy and courageous conversations with the community. E. Report on the Downtown West proiect and parking lot. — Eric Lashley. Lashley reported that City Council has approved moving forward with the first phase of the Downtown West project which includes: remodeling the old Library into a new City Hall building and turning the Georgetown Communications and Technology building into a new municipal court facility. Lashley reported that there will be an open house on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Historic Light and Water Works building. Sections of the library's new parking lot had to be redesigned and reconstructed due to poor drainage. Lashley hopes the new parking lot will be open in a few weeks. F. Consideration and possible action regarding a grant application to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for a Community Engagement Coordinator position. —Eric Lashley. Lashley informed the board about a Texas State Library and Archives Commission grant that uses federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fund libraries that have special projects targeting populations with special needs. In the past, the Georgetown Public Library has been awarded 3 years of funding for our bookmobile service through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's Special Projects grant. Georgetown Public Library's goal is to secure a grant of $75,000 to hire and equip a Community Resources Coordinator to partner with area nonprofit organizations to serve seniors, residents with limited mobility, and low income families. A mission of the Georgetown Public Library is to provide open and equal access to information. Both the 2011 Advantage Initiative Community Survey in Georgetown report and the 2015 Georgetown Health Foundation's Southeast Georgetown Needs Assessment call for a position such as the Community Resources Coordinator to coordinate information between nonprofit organizations and the community. The proposed Community Resources Coordinator would partner with key nonprofit organizations such as the Caring Place, Georgetown Project, Georgetown Health Foundation, Family Eldercare, Loan Star Circle of Care, and Williamson County Health Department to guide residents to needed services. The library's facilities could be used to host community outreach events. Georgetown's senior population is projected to continue to grow in the next 10 years. Georgetown has one of the highest percentage of seniors in the State of Texas. With a large senior population, the City will see an increase in the number of disabled residents. As residents age, there will be greater needs in the community for social services and the library is in a unique position to help provided specialized information to these residents. Timeline: March 11, 2016 — Applications due to Texas State Library and Archives Commission April/May — Application packets evaluated by Grant Review Panel June 2016 - Applicants notified of Grant Review Panel recommendations August 2016 - Commission meets and approves projects; Contracts issued September 1, 2016 - Projects begin August 31, 2017 - Projects end If we are fortunate enough to receive this grant in September 2016, there is a very good chance we will receive the grant two additional years. Tom Hagen made a motion for the Library Advisory Board to support the Library's grant application to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Lois Case seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. G. Consideration of dates of future board meetings. The next Library Advisory Board meeting will be Monday, February 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in the library's Staff Conference Room. Chair Linda Nix adjourned the meeting at 11:20 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Hagen, Se#etary Linda Nix,thair