HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_01.16.2018Minutes of the Meeting of the
Library Advisory Board
City of Georgetown
January 16, 2018
The Library Advisory Board met on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the second floor Small
Conference Room, Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Michael Barnes, Lindsay Cooper, John Hudson, Pete Rose, Linda
Schaffer and Thom Sinwell.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Pat Baldwin
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Eric Lashley - Library Director.
Chair Rose called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
Regular Agenda
A. Citizens wishing to address the Board. As of the deadline, no persons were signed up to
speak on items other than what was posted on the agenda. No action required.
B. Review of minutes of the December 19 2017 Library Advisory Board meeting. — Pete Rose,
Chair. Motion by Barnes; second by Hudson to approve the December 19, 2017 Library
Advisory board meeting minutes. Approved 6-0 (Baldwin absent).
C. Consideration of the Library Director's re ert. --- Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley
reviewed the monthly statistics, discussed upcoming events, and read patron comments from
the library's suggestion box for January 2018.
Sheri Miklaski, Community Outreach Librarian, hosted a volunteer open house in January to
introduce herself. No action required.
D. Review of Community Resource Coordinator's report — Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley
distributed Patrick Lloyd's monthly report (attached). Noted highlights were a referral for a City
employee, financial assistance, grief/loss support, drug treatment, and winter clothing for the
homeless. No action required.
E. Review of WOW!mobile report. - Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley passed out Kalena
Powell's monthly report (attached). Noted were two new stops in Berry Creek, adjustments to
the home delivery program and modifications to the bus interior. Staff is researching the
possibility of using the Postal Service for delivering items to patrons who cannot visit the library
or bookmobile due to physical constraints. No action required.
F. Discussion regarding Board's tour of Austin's Central L.ibr— Pete
Rose, Board Chair. Following the tour of Austin's Central and Twin Oaks branch libraries
board members discussed their findings. Topics included, but were not limited to, public art,
technology, utilization of outdoor spaces, expansion of library programs and services, and eco -
friendly building options. Board members agreed that the Austin Public Library system is a
great model of a futuristic library. No action required.
G. Consideration of future meeting dates. — Pete Rose, Board Chair. The February meeting will
be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. No action required.
Chair Rose adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
.n)
Pat Baldwin Pete Rose
Secretary Chair
GPL Community Resources Monthly Report: January 2017
This month library staff conducted 16 interviews with high -need patrons; in December 2016 we conducted 7 interviews.
Presenting needs shifted dramatically in January with significant increases in emergency housing, physical health, and
legal aid. We also saw a large jump in patrons with questions regarding a variety of education topics including ESL and
low-cost art classes. Library staff other than CRC completed the survey tool on three occasions versus once in December
2016.
Patron Needs
V mf�rV(?ncy Ilousing Fin. A4sistancf,� Benefit Assistance Mental Health 11hy,IcaI IieaIt1.) ep"a1 0t11e
J,an -'I Ute( H)
We continue to see a majority of female HNPs. We continue to observe that about two-thirds are female.
Patrons with children in the home seem to fluctuate: in January just 19% had children in the household; in December
that number was 57%. This may be attributable to the holidays as parents searched for financial help to buy gifts for
their children.
We continue to see that about 12-15% of HNPs have either a veteran in the household or are/have been victims of
domestic violence.
We were able to refer patrons to resources within Georgetown in just 44% percent of interviews conducted. This month,
unmet needs are primarily emergency housing and legal aid.
Twice we have now interviewed patrons of means who are coping with complicated real estate/legal problems following
the death of a spouse. These individuals may own several pieces of property in other states and cities. They are older
adults. Properties may be in the name of the deceased spouse leaving the surviving spouse to try to navigate a
complicated probate/real estate system across state lines, often with little available funds as their money is tied up in
the properties they are attempting to sell. In one person's case these challenges were further complicated by serious
illness. With an aging population, it's anticipated that these kinds of problems will continue to appear.
WOW REPORT
BERRY CREEK
Starting February 2018 we will be adding Berry Creek to our regular schedule. There will be two stops,
two different days of the week (one a.m., one p.m.) visiting on a biweekly schedule (V & 3rd ). Here are
the details.
Berry Creek Country Club (Sheri M.)
Wednesdays 10am-11am
Berry Creek Tennis Club (Kalena P.)
Tuesdays 4:30pm-5:30pm
There is also talk of possibly adding story time or yoga time to the schedule in the future. We'll see how
the first 3 months develops and we'll go from there.
Eric has marketing details....
SHERI MIKLASKI
We've already started making improvements in operations thanks to the insightful suggestions of our
new Outreach Leader!
Possible printing changes in Apollo to wowmobile reserved items and the delegation of checking out
wowmobile reserves to Sun City patrons on Monday evening with free up a tremendous amount of time
to let our growing Outreach Team spend their time collaborating, focusing on growing and improving
services and being available in-house to stay connected to the main land.
Sheri will be operating the wowmoble on the VY and 3rd Wednesdays of the month starting January
2018. This day includes Berry Creek Country Club, The Oaks Retirement, Georgetown Charter Academy
and Cypress Creek Apartments.
Kalena will be at Main on Wednesdays and will provide desk coverage in addition to routine weekly
wowmobile scheduling, operations and related duties.
SAMUEL MILTON ANDERSON
Sam was a wowmobile patron in the Algerita neighborhood for at least 5 years. He absolutely loved to
read and enjoyed the escape. His taste in authors spoke to his intellect and perhaps reflected a life he
used to live, We had long conversations about the works of McCarthy, Hemingway, Hesse, Faulkner and
Chaucer. My fondest memory of Sam was from the Summer of 2016. We were talking about All the
Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy which led to a conversation about a Peter Paul and Mary song called
Hush a Bye (All the Pretty Little Horses) that my mother used to sing to me when I was a little girl and I
sang to her in her last few hours before she passed. Sam tried to recall the lyrics to his favorite Peter
Paul and Mary song, Stewball. He was having trouble, so I googled the lyrics and read them aloud. As his
recollection returned he began to recite the lyrics with me and wept aloud. He excused himself for
crying to which I replied there was no need. He then looked straight at me and asked me if anyone had
ever told me that I have," soulful eyes". "No, Sam. I don't believe so. Thank you." He smiled, thanked me
and exited the bus. Sam backtracked a few steps, poked his head inside the door and said, "Hey, don't
tell nobody that I cried" with a gentle smile on his face. I told him I wouldn't, so I suppose I'm breaking
my promise.
Sam passed away in September after a lengthy battle with cirrhosis of the liver and Hepatitis C from
years of alcohol abuse and heroine addiction. He was found by his buddy and neighbor, Travis, who took
care of Sam the last few months of his life and shared the news with Sheri and me last week.
"I bet on ttt€v grey mare, I bet on the bay
if I'd have bet on of Stewr all, I'd be a free man today.
Oh they Groot owl, she hollers, and the tUrde dove. rnot ns,
I'm 11 poor boy in trouble, I'm a lora; way From hc�rnez "
Peter Paul and Mary/Stewball
Georgetown Public Library January 2018 Statistics
Patron Visits 2017 Comparison
Library total 58231 Library total Dec. 2017 28673
Meeting Rooms 2959
Circulation
Library
40354 Library Circ. Total Dec. 2017
Bookmobile circulation
2051
Overdrive e-books
2712
Overdrive audiobooks
948
# of patron checkouts
3744
Collection Changes,
Copies Added 943
Copies Discarded 1104
Donations Added 222
Programs
Children's Programs
Programs
9
Storytime Programs
29
Attendance
1451
Other (Tours, etc)
8
After school programs
4
Adult Programs
Programs
9
Attendance
287
Services
ILL Requested 42
ILL Filled 11
Userful usage 5235
Volunteer Hours
Adult 698.58
Teen 75.17
Community Service 0
Total volunteer hours 773.75
New Memberships
Residents
219
Non-residents
73
GISD Students
2
Total now members
294
Revenue
39470
Page 8 of 17
Non-resident fee
2700.00
Finas, copies, etc,
1883.26
Donations
2081.39
Gifts/memorials
3132.71
Total revenue
$9,797'36
Page 9 of 17
DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY REPORT
GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 2018
January- HIGHLIGHTS
• The library was closed Monday, January 1 for New Year's Day. We were also closed Monday, Jan. 15
for MLK Jr. Day.
• Pianist Kiyoshi Tamagawa performed on Sunday, January 21 in the library's Live Music Series.
• In addition to regular story times, the children's team hosted events in January including a Mariokart
Tournament for teens on January 13, and a Stuffed Animal Sleepover on January 26-27.
• Adult programs in January included an art display and reception by Jennifer Polnaszek, Adult Coloring
Circle, Knitting Club, Wired Wednesday, and a drawing class taught by Jennifer Polnaszek.
PATRON COMMENTS FOR January
Selectors are doing a great job with the books.
2. Just finished: "Jewish Comedy" by Jeffery Darber. The writers opens up on famous names
(Example: Jackie Gleason) BUT the excess phony comments "JOKES" from the Talmud was
wasting printer's ink. LIKE WHO CARES? Your faithful correspondent. My Georgetown Library is
our second home, as you know.
3. Why can't I sit in the booths on the weekend? Why did you think of adults and elderly when
incorporated the Young Adult and Coffee Shop?
4. Order more newspapers: San Antonio, L.A. Times, Denver paper etc.!
5. Why can't I sit in the booths on the weekend? Why did you think of adults and elderly when
incorporated the Young Adult and Coffee Shop?
6. Could you maybe consider closing off the cafe area with a glass partition so people studying would
have a quit place to study because some people come to the library to study. I mean we could just
study at home and save us the trouble of coming to the library at all.
7. 1 had a lot of documents that needed to be printed, scanned, and e-mailed on a timely basis. The
ladies at the circulation desk were so helpful, wonderful and sweet. Thank you Georgetown Library.
8. 1 waited 6-7 weeks as signed up for "Hacker". What a disappointment. Although I'm not a
Democrat, there are some Dems I do admire. Donna Brazile has led her readers through a
compendium of errors on everyone's part except her own. She even asks her doggie important
policy questions. Really! Almost as rough and boring as "What Happened" YIKES! EGAD! Where
lies the truth?
Page 10 of 17
GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
DONATIONS -- January 2018
DONOR DONATION
Tonya Bottom 7 books by Patricia Fry
FOL $488.36 Family Place Library Child Programs
Arlene Schinke Persevere by Lisa Bonchek Adams
Rosie Rocke
Robert & Addalie McMinn
Anthony Barron
San Gabriel Women's Club
Elissa Lewis
i
$100 in memory of Pat Dekay
$400 unspecified
$100 greatest need
$273 greatest need
Copy of her book Transcendent
Page I I of 17
LIBRARY BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 2018
GPL OUTREACH REPORT
Kalena Powell Community Outreach Assistant
BERRY CREEK
• Berry Creek Country Club (BCCC) 15t and 3,d Wednesday of every month 10-11am.
We had 0 patrons. It was cold and rainy. We'll give it the standard 6 visits before we
reevaluate.
• Berry Creek Tennis Club (BCTC) 151 and 31d Tuesday of every month 4:30-5:30pm.
5 visitors, one new library card sign up. Not bad for poor weather. Might need to adjust
the time and push it back a little later. No visitors until 5:00.
ILUs meet Outreach
* Kalena is now on a working team with Rita and Robert processing ILL's. Kalena is excited
not only for the opportunity to work closely with coworkers to improve an important
library process but to also see what outreach/home delivery process improvements are
potentially revealed through this work. Details to come!
ENGAGED LEADER SERIES
Kalena has been accepted into the City of Georgetown Engaged Leader Series.
Candidates are selected based upon quality of work performance, representation of
their department, work performance and tenure. She will meet with the selected group
1 x month over the next 6 months to participate in sessions covering topics such as:
• Presentation skills
• Principles of Public Service & Municipal Government Finance
• Emotional Intelligence & Customer Service
• Leading Teams & Meetings Effectively
• Process Improvement & Project Management
BOOKMOBILE CHANGES
• The new desk top on the bookmobile has been installed and is fantastic! It
improves the ergonomics of bookmobile work and improves the quality of
service to our patrons. Hooray Change!!!!
• Ed Rollman also installed new no -slip strips on the stairs to help keep our
patrons safe on rainy days. Hooray Safety!!!!
Page 12 of 17
STUFFED ANIMAL ROAD TRIP
This Year's Stuffed Animal Road Trip will be an inter -departmental collaboration with the City
of Georgetown Police and Fire Departments.
WHAT IT IS
The Stuffed Animal Road Trip is a fun way for the little citizens of Georgetown to experience the role of
community helpers, the fun in public spaces and the joy of community service through the eyes of
their favorite stuffed animal! This event happens every year during Spring Break.
Destinations in the past have included the Art Center, Georgetown Public Library, San Gabriel Park and
Georgetown Animal Shelter.
WHAT HAPPENS
We visit two locations in the city, take a billion photos of the stuffed animals participating in the chosen
activity, make a photo album (with captions) for each child that has entrusted us with their precious
stuffed friend then we return the stuffed animals and give the photo albums to the kiddos on their
regularly scheduled bookmobile day.
This year we will be offering this event to the preschoolers at The Learning Tree @ First United
Methodist Church.
SUMMER STOPS
We are adding 4 new stops during the summer at a few of the public parks in town. 2 moring stops and
two evening stops.
Old Town Park (1262 S. Austin Ave.)
THURS 6:30pm-8:00pm
ON THESE DATES
June 14th & 28th
July 12t' & 26th
August 16th & 30th
San Jose Park (1707 San Jose)
THURS 10:00am-12:00pm
ON THESE DATES
June 14th & 281h
July 12" & 26"
August 16th & 30th
Katy Crossing Park (224 Katy Crossing
Blvd.
WEDS 6:00pm-7:00pm
ON THESE DATES
June 14th & 281h
July 12th & 26th
August 16th & 30th
Summer Crest Park (1201 Ashberry Trail)
THURS 6:30pm-8pm
ON THESE DATES
June 14th & 28th
July 12th & 26th
August 16th & 30th
Page 13of17
Community Outreach Librarian report —Feb 1J'2O1D
Volunteer Coordination
Great response from the 2 minute volunteer survey! More than 30 volunteers took a few moments to fill
out the survey so far. It will be available until the end of February, then results will be compiled.
Tax help started on January 27`1 In addition to our regular tax volunteers, Betty Ann Sensabaugh and
Rusty Bristow are volunteering tosit atacheck-in/recepdonarea tohelp alleviate the issue ofpeople
signing upwhen they donot have all ofthe documents that they need.
Four new adult volunteers have gone through orientation. One is astudent from Southwestern who will
beable tohelp shelve |nthe Kids room unThursdays.
VVahad one Boy Scout complete volunteer hours toget abadge. Hehad somuch fun that hemay return
again.
Two students taking aBusiness Ethics course atTAK4Uwill be completing 6or12hours ofvolunteering
inacommunity agency with uathis semester.
Southwestern has contacted us to be a location for their "The Big Event" volunteer day on Saturday,
March 24 1h.
The annual volunteer appreciation luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1 1th.
Volunteers with Special Needs —
A former GISD student with special needs started volunteering at the library with his caregiver. He will
come every other week and behere onTuesdays and Thursdays.
A staff person from BlueBonnet Trails did a work skills observation with client. The client had previously
filled out a volunteer application with us. We are looking to pair this potential volunteer with a mentor
volunteer.
WOW!mobile —
We continue to have new families sign up for library cards at the WOW!mobile stops! However, no one
turned out for the first morning Berry Creek stop on Wednesday, February 7". It was bitterly cold that
morning, however, and we think that once the weather starts warming up that more folks will turn out.
Outreach —
Sheri met with someone from BBVA/Compass Bank who is interested in doing some financial education
workshops atthe library.
In addition to our usual Wired Wednesday, Sheri drove out to The Delaney Retirement Community to
assist a patron in getting set up with Overdrive. Additionally, we are exploring the idea of spreading out
tech help throughout the week rather than only one hour on Wednesdays as well as whenever folks
approach the desk with their device. We would need a pool of volunteers on hand in order to do this.
Some current volunteers have expressed interest in helping Sheila with home deliveries.
Page 14 of 17
Notice of Meeting for the
Library Advisory Board
of the City of Georgetown
January 16, 2018 at 6:00 PM
at Small conference room, 2nd floor, Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you
require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reasonable
assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City Secretary's
Office, at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hail at 113 East 8th
Street for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
Regular Session
(This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any purpose
authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.)
A Citizens wishing to address the board. As of the deadline, no persons were signed up to speak on items
other than what was posted on the agenda. -Pete Rose, Board Chair.
B Review of minutes from the December 19, 2017 Library Advisory Board. -Pete Rose, Board Chair.
C Consideration of Library Director's report. -Eric Lashley, Library Director.
D Review of Community Resources Coordinator's report. -Eric Lashley, Library Director.
E Review of the WOW! bookmobile report. -Eric Lashley, Library Director.
F Discussion regarding Board's tour of Austin's new Central and Twin Oaks Branch Libraries. -Pete Rose,
Board Chair.
G Consideration of future meeting dates. -Pete Rose, Board Chair.
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
I, Shelley Nowling, City Secretary for the City of Georgetown, Texas, do hereby certify that this Notice of
Meeting was posted at City Hall, 113 E. 8th Street, a place readily accessible to the general public at all times,
on the day of , 2018, at and remained so posted for at least 72
continuous hours preceding the scheduled time of said meeting.
Shelley Nowling, City Secretary
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