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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_LAB_01.05.2021Minutes of the Meeting of the Library Advisory Board City of Georgetown January 5, 2021 The Library Advisory Board met on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. virtually using a Zoom meeting. Consistent with Governor Greg Abbott's suspension of various provisions of the Open Meetings Act, effective August 1, 2020 and until further notice, to reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission, all City of Georgetown Advisory Board meetings will be held virtually. MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Michael Kelley, Richard Thielmann, Thom Sinwell, Susan Cooper, David Garlock, and Linda Schaffer. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Eric Lashley— Library Director and Sally Miculek— Assistant Library Director The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Board Chair Kelley. Regular Agenda A. Discussion on how this virtual conference will be conducted to include options for public comments and how the public may address the Commission. — Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley explained to the Board how the meeting would proceed if a member of the public wished to join the meeting. Lashley asked for Chair Kelley to call roll when voting on an agenda item to allow for a clear recording of the vote. Kelley asked that the agenda item in future remove the word "Commission" and insert "Board" in its place. No action required. B. Citizens wishing to address the Board. — Michael Kelley, Board Chair. As of the deadline, no persons were signed up to speak on items other than what was posted on the agenda. No citizens were present to address the board. No action required. C. Consideration and nossible action to approve the December 1 2020 Library,Advisory Board minutes. — Michael Kelley, Board Chair. Motion by Thielmann, second by Schaffer to approve the December 1, 2020 Library Advisory Board meeting minutes. Approved 6-0. D. Consideration of the Library Director's report. - Eric Lashley, Library. Lashley noted this would be his last board meeting and estimated he had attended approximately 240 board meetings in his career. Lashley reported the Library was still providing Curbside service and did not expect to change service models until the COVID infection rate comes down in Williamson County. Lashley reported Sheri Miklaski was named Library Employee of the Year for 2020 by the City of Georgetown. He also indicated the coffee shop was empty and the City would be issuing an RFP for a new vendor soon. The Library had a number of successful virtual programs including: Zoom Winder Dance party with Santa and Ann Evans' "Talks with Britin and Ann: 135 years of Shopping Downtown". Patron visits for November equaled 12,192. Last year the library had 26,643 visits. Circulation equaled 26,368 for November compared to 38,1221 the previous year. Lashley noted the visitations will be zero for December and circulation will be lower since the Curbside service was the only service available during that month. Before the library suspended bookmobile service, there were 1,533 checkouts to bookmobile patrons during November. Overdrive circulation equaled 4,822 for ebooks and 2,346 for audiobooks. There were no volunteer hours recorded for November. Lashley reported the Friends of the Library had two successful fundraising campaigns in the fall and at the end of the year. He has been very impressed by the efforts of the Friends during the pandemic. Lashley reminded the Board that his last day will be January 29. Miculek reported there would be a car parade for patrons to say goodbye to Lashley on Tuesday, January 26 and there is an online form in which to write notes of thanks to Lashley for his service. Kelley informed the Board he had spoken to Lashley and Miculek about a reply he received from Council Member Mary Calixtro concerning the letter the Board sent to Council. He responded to her questions after discussing the issues with Lashley and Miculek. Members should have been copied on Kelley's reply. There were no patron comments for December. No action required. E. Questions or comments from board members concerning other business regarding library Programming and policies. —Susan Cooper, board member. Cooper wanted to be sure she followed the Open Meetings Act and wanted to know what the best method was to ask questions of the Library Director. Kelley suggested the best time would be during the Director's Report or if there was a direct question that required action, the board member should contact the Library Director or Administrative Assistant to have an item listed on the next month's agenda. Kelley asked Miculek to have Lawren Weiss, Administrative Assistant, send a note each month reminding members they can request an agenda item before a given deadline. Sinwell asked if library employees were considered essential employees and if they would be able to get the COVID vaccine. Miculek commented the City hopes to have vaccines available through its Fire Department and employees would have the option to get a vaccine from the City or a private provider. No action required. F. Discussion re a rdi np, the retirement of Libra r Services Director Eric Lash ley and the grocess for filling the director position. — Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley noted he did not have any information regarding the hiring of his replacement. He asked the Board to be aware during future discussions that Miculek may be a candidate for the position and discussions may put her in an awkward position. Lashley noted he was serving as the interim director and board staff liaison when he was a candidate over 20 years ago, and he left the board meetings when the topic of hiring the Director position was discussed. Kelley asked Miculek to keep the item on future agendas since the Board is interested in any information about the hiring of the new Library Director. No action required. G. Consideration and possible action to provide a letter of support to City Council regarding the library's application to Texas State Library and Archives Commission for a special promect grant for the Georgetown Remembers protect. — Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley reported the Board did not actually need to approve a letter, they just needed to recommend the Council allow the Library to apply for the grant. Miculek explained the Library hoped to use grant funds to purchase a self-service materials scanner, a number of thumb drives and archival pens for users, and to support a quarterly community scanning day program. The Library will work to promote the programs to the TRG (Track, Ridge, Grasshopper) and San Jose neighborhood communities in particular, in order to preserve the history of these rapidly changing and historically under -represented communities. Motion by Sinwell; second by Thielmann to recommend the Council approve the Library's request to apply for a Texas State Library and Archives grant. Approved 6-0. H. Consideration and possible action regarding future meeting dates and times. - Michael Kelley, Board Chair. The January meeting will be held as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, February 2, 2020 at 6:00 pm, via Zoom. Kelley congratulated Lashley on his years of service and asked Lashley if he had any last words for the Board. Lashley thanked the Board for their service and reiterated what a great experience and pleasure it has been to work at the Georgetown Public Library. He will miss the staff, volunteers, Friends, and patrons. No action required. Chair Kelley adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Kelley Chair Richard Thielmann Secretary These minutes were approved at the virtual meeting on 2/2/21. ��M\�\5�� �SS�CSTW�J►