HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda_LAB_11.03.2020Notice of Meeting for the
L ibrary Adv isory Board
of the City of Georgetown
Nov ember 3, 2020 at 6:00 P M
at Virtual
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the O pen M ee tings A ct, e ffec tive A ugust 1, 2020 and until fur the r notic e, to
r educ e the c hance of C O V I D-19 tr ansmission, all C ity of Ge orge town
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your devic e will be r emotely un-muted by the A dministrator and you may
spe ak for thre e minute s. P lease state your name clear ly, and when your time
is over, your de vice will be muted again.
Use of pr ofanity, thr eate ning language, slande rous r emarks, or thr eats of
harm are not allowed and will re sult in you be ing imme diately re moved fr om
the mee ting.
Regular Session
(T his R egular S es s ion may, at any time, be rec es s ed to c onvene an Exec utive S es s ion for any purpose
authorized by the O pen Meetings Act, Texas G overnment C ode 551.)
A Disc ussion on how this virtual c onference will be c onducted, to inc lude options for public c omments and
how the public may addres s the C ommis s ion. -Eric Lashley, Library Director.
B C itizens wishing to address the board. As of the deadline, no pers ons were s igned up to speak to the
board on items other than what was posted on the agenda. -Mic hael Kelley, Board C hair.
C C ons ideration and possible action to approve minutes from the O c tober 6, 2020 Library Advis ory Board
meeting. -Mic hael Kelley, Board C hair.
D C ons ideration of Library Director's report. -Eric Las hley, Library Direc tor.
E C ons ideration and possible action to draft a letter to Mayor and C ounc il c onc erning Library s ervic es . -
Michael Kelley, Board C hair.
F C ons ideration and possible action regarding future meeting dates and times. -Michael Kelley, Board
C hair.
Ce rtificate of Posting
I, R obyn Densmore, C ity S ecretary for the C ity of G eorgetown, Texas, do hereby c ertify that this Notic e of
Meeting was posted at C ity Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. S treet, G eorgetown, T X 78626, a plac e readily
acc es s ible to the general public as required by law, on the _____ day of _________________, 2020, at
__________, and remained s o posted for at leas t 72 c ontinuous hours prec eding the s cheduled time of said
meeting.
__________________________________
R obyn Dens more, C ity S ec retary
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Minutes of the Meeting of the
Library Advisory Board
City of Georgetown
October 6, 2020
The Library Advisory Board met virtually on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom.
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: Susan Cooper, David Garlock, Michael Kelley, Linda Schaffer, Thom Sinwell,
and Richard Thielmann.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Eric Lashley – 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. Lashley asked for Chair Kelley to call roll when voting on an agenda items to
allow for a clear recording of the vote.
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 action
required.
C. Consideration and possible action to approve the September 1, 2020 Library Advisory Board
minutes. – Michael Kelley, Board Chair. Motion Thielmann; second by Garlock to approve the
September 1, 2020 Library Advisory Board meeting minutes. Approved 6-0.
D. Consideration of the Library Director’s report. - Eric Lashley, Library. Lashley reviewed the
statistics, memorials log and Director’s report with the Board, as provided in the agenda packet.
Lashley also made announcements regarding the following:
Library Assistants Jaime Gould and Erin Birney resigned; the City will allow the Library to fill their
positions.
The City’s Arts and Culture Board purchased the sculpture Quest for Knowledge by Jay Schaan
for the Library’s permanent collection. Quest for Knowledge is the sculpture made of red metal
figures reading on a bench. The sculpture has been very popular amongst library patrons.
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Circulation was almost 80% of the previous year with 39,822 checkouts as compared to 50,579
in 2019. Visitations were much lower than the previous year with 10,272 visitors as compared
to 33,739 in 2019. Bookmobile circulations stayed strong with 2,392 checkouts and limited
stops.
There are no in-person programs scheduled or meeting room usage. There were no patron
comments in the suggestion box in August.
There were no volunteers in August, but the Library had started bringing volunteers back in
September. Lashley asked Sinwell to describe the protocols for volunteers.
Sinwell noted the Library had been very careful bringing back volunteers. Temperatures are
checked and volunteers must wear a mask and practice social distancing. Staff are exhausted
and have been impacted greatly by the pandemic. He said the workload is high and he worries
about the emotional wellbeing of the staff.
The Confronting Racism: Community Conversations videos are now posted on YouTube. There
have been some very negative comments posted on the library’s Facebook account concerning
the topic, but not concerning any comments the presenters made. No action required.
E. Review of Library’s COVID re-opening plans. – Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley reviewed
the color-coded phased reopening recommendations provided by the Williamson County Health
Department. He shared a draft document on levels of service based on the color-coded system.
The idea is to inform patrons as to the level of community spread of the COVID virus and let
patrons know depending on the level of spread certain services will be offered or removed.
Estimating when services will be back to “normal” had been difficult and patrons may appreciate
knowing the criteria staff are using making decisions. Kelley noted this was a good system, but
the Library’s website needs to have the new hours posted at the top of the news feed to make it
easier for patrons to know when the Library is open. The Board thought using the color-coded
system was appropriate. No action required.
F. Consideration and possible action to recommend Ingram, Inc. as the preferred vendor for library
material purchases. – Eric Lashley, Library Director. Lashley reported each year staff must get
approval from City Council to continue utilizing the Library’s preferred vendor. Lashley
compared pricing for Ingram, Inc. and Baker and Taylor. Library staff has used Ingram for over
25 years and are very pleased with their service. Motion by Sinwell; second by Thielmann to
approve recommending Ingram, Inc. as the preferred vendor for library materials to City
Council. Approved 6-0.
G. Consideration and possible action to draft a letter to Mayor and Council concerning library
services. – Michael Kelley, Board Chair. Kelley discussed a draft letter he distributed to the
Board (attached). Kelley asked Board members to review the letter and come back to the
November meeting with edits. The letter is intended to introduce new Councilmembers and the
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Mayor with the Library’s strategic plan and goals for next year’s budget. Cooper asked if there
was a possibility of Council creating a better channel of communication between Boards and
Commissions and the Council. Lashley explained that each Mayor was given great latitude as to
how the Council interacts with the various Boards and Commissions. Since there will be a new
Mayor, the Board may take the opportunity to see if a new communication path can be
established. No action taken.
H. Consideration and possible action regarding future meeting dates and times. – Michael Kelley,
Board Chair. Thielmann noted the November meeting would be held on election day. Lashley
stated he will prepare a short agenda, so that Board members could watch the election results.
The Board agreed there was no reason to move the meeting and therefore, the November
meeting will be held as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Chair Kelley adjourned the meeting at 7:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Kelley Richard Thielmann
Chair Secretary
These minutes were approved at the virtual meeting on 11/3/20.
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DONOR DONATION
Sue and Clark Miller $100 unspecified
Carolyn Holloway $500 unspecified
Kenneth Armstrong $40 for staff
GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
DONATIONS -- September 2020
Page 6 of 11
Director’s Monthly Report
Georgetown Public Library
October 2020
October Highlights
• The library building and bookmobile remained open and in operation, with limited services. Patrons, staff and
volunteers continue to wear masks.
• The library resumed opening at 9 a.m. in early October.
• Ms. Jaime recorded one last virtual Storytime in October.
• Library staff hosted Maketober, which included posting videos and providing different kits each week for patrons
of all ages to tap into their creative and artistic sides. Kits for children included pom pom racers, bristlebots, t-shirt
tote bags and more. Kits for adults included a fall wreath, stuffed ampersand with felt succulents and more.
• September programs for adults included:
o October 6-Virtual Tuesday Talks with Ann & Britin: October’s topic featured parades, festivals, and
popular recreational spots of the past.
o October 16-Virtual Genealogy workshops entitled: Roots, Records, Research in partnership with the
Williamson County Genealogical Society.
▪ Dos and Don’ts of Genealogy featuring presenter Teresa Divine
▪ Introduction to DNA featuring Alan Rabe
▪ Caring for Family Artifacts featuring Heather Hamilton
o Art Hop was the exhibit in October, featuring works from artists all over the state. The exhibit was held at
the library and Georgetown Art Center.
Patron Comments
There were no patron comments in October.
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GEORGETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar*Apr*May Jun Jul Aug Sep Annual Total
Patron Visits
Current Year 32586 26643 23995 35422 33250 17193 NA 9883 5802 18184 10272 11174 224404
2018-2019 32687 17375 27062 28098 38313 34359 34863 35202 36305 37413 33739 31231 386647
Circulation Annual Total
Current Year 46708 38121 39868 44513 41707 31253 5296 24497 40771 40002 39822 38437 430995
2018-2019 43804 36467 35565 43704 43782 47233 43448 46603 53945 57301 50579 44848 547279
Annual Total
# patron checkouts 4722 4274 4258 4624 4639 3886 1173 2624 3869 3553 3634 3621 44877
WOW! Circs 2447 2063 2454 2276 2320 1903 36 669 1764 2010 2392 1944 22278
Children's Programs
Attendance 1380 595 1057 909 1067 650 287 48 24 98 0 20 6135
Programs 7 2 4 4 6 2 4 1 2 5 0 3 40
Story Time Programs 28 14 13 28 24 10 6 5 1 3 0 0 132
Other (Tour, Movies, Crafts)8 2 4 8 8 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 35
After School Programs 4 5 3 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 23
Teen Programs
Programs 7 5 3 6 5 7 3 0 2 3 0 0 36
Attendance 112 81 58 96 96 99 29 0 11 39 0 0 571
Teen Space Users 572 491 461 606 599 433 NA NA NA NA NA NA 3162
Adult Programs
Programs 17 7 9 17 14 9 3 1 1 2 2 1 83
Attendance 402 227 154 442 641 121 56 58 9 45 115 41 2311
Other Services
GPL ILL Req. filled 99 77 98 73 92 63 0 0 0 124 51 0 677
Outgoing ILL 24 21 32 17 116 36 0 5 15 21 8 0 295
ILL Requests 91 142 35 119 96 35 0 0 0 148 17 0 683
Overdrive usage (E-books)3944 3793 3628 4212 3851 4843 5986 5714 5504 5654 5666 5139 57934
Overdrive usage (audiobooks)2044 2069 2007 2387 2280 2289 2410 2415 2434 2593 2537 2380 27845
SimplyE 6 7 4 0 17
Database Searches 5,102 3562 5787 14451
Volunteer Hours
Adult 911 688 710 757 909 764 0 0 0 0 0 122 4861
Teen 88 69 27 40 47 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 313
Community Service 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
Total 1005 758 739 797 956 806 0 0 0 0 0 122 5183
Registrations
2019 2020
FY 2019-2020 Statistics
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City Residents-new 240 172 200 285 286 119 32 130 176 155 182 156 2133
Non-residents-new 129 42 76 117 103 56 8 43 62 60 61 90 847
GISD Student memb.4 5 2 11 10 2 0 1 1 1 3 5 45
Total 373 219 278 413 399 177 40 174 239 216 246 251 2980
Cash Receipts
Non-resident fees 2,465.00 1,735.00 1,985.25 3,275.00 3,095.00 1,350.00 - 1,410.00 18,020.53 3,030.00 3,820.00 2,825.00 43,010.78
Copies 1,820.83 1,466.13 1,452.92 2,326.43 1,782.48 698.10 - 5.50 137.80 180.10 240.00 194.40 10,304.69
Donations 3,291.33 3,279.70 2,962.68 2,859.40 2,696.13 1,046.35 - 978.65 2,755.17 2,425.89 2,663.99 2,596.38 27,555.67
Gifts/Memorials 7,000.00 2,100.00 4,430.00 39,415.00 55,197.85 250.00 - 540.74 11,345.59 8,000.00 775.00 640.00 129,694.18
Meeting Room Use
# of attendees 3038 2348 1450 2572 3790 1462 NA NA NA 0.00 0.00 0.00 14660
# of reservations 128 310 76 95 117 61 NA NA NA 0 0 0 787
Study Room Use
# of attendees 520 584 793 829 443 NA NA NA 0 0 0 3169
# of reservations 201 244 317 321 171 NA NA NA 0 0 0 1254
Library Collection Changes
Copies Added 2057 1222 1588 1452 748 1381 974 864 1124 1161 1038 1108 14717
Copies Discarded 1232 937 938 1065 1460 863 1126 901 1048 989 823 1060 12442
59 97 72 149 118 67 87 45 60 6 24 29 813 Donations Added
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The Honorable ?????, Georgetown Mayor
The Honorable Mary Calixtro, Georgetown City Council District 1
The Honorable ?????, Georgetown City Council District 2
The Honorable Mike Triggs, Georgetown City Council District 3
The Honorable Steve Fought, Georgetown City Council District 4
The Honorable Kevin Pitts, Georgetown City Council District 5
The Honorable ?????, Georgetown City Council District 6
The Honorable Tommy Gonzalez, Georgetown City Council District 7
808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Georgetown, Texas 78626
Dear Mayor ????? and City Council Members:
I am writing to you on behalf of the Library Advisory Board (Board) to share with you the Board’s new Georgetown Public Library
(Library) 2020-2025 strategic plan and to provide you recommendations regarding Library funding and operations.
As noted on the City of Georgetown website the Library Advisory Board makes recommendations regarding the development of the
Library’s book collection, programming, and other services. The Board serves to promote Library programs and services in the
Georgetown community.
Thank you for serving the City of Georgetown (City) and its residents as elected City leaders. We respect and appreciate the time and
energy you have committed to serving in your current capacity as a City leader. We especially welcome our new mayor, ?????, and
new city council member/members ????. Congratulations on your recent election.
I have attached for you a copy of the 2020 -2025 Georgetown Public Library Strategic Plan (Plan) completed this year by our Board to
help guide the Library and its role in our community. Our Board spent over six months working on the Plan, including during Board
workshops and meetings. We are happy to provide this road map to help City leaders to ensure the Library continues to provid e
award-winning service to our City’s residents and to all Library patrons.
We have three recommendations to share with you regarding the operations and budget of the Library , which are for you to
appropriate funds for the following items in the next City budget:
1. a Library circulation manager;
2. increased Library materials; and
3. new Library furniture.
Thank you, again, for your service to our City and its residents; for reviewing our new five-year strategic plan; and for considering our
three City budget recommendations. Our Library Advisory Board members are honored to serve on the Board, appreciate your trust
and faith in us by appointing us to the Board, and offer you our strategic plan and budget recommendations as evidence that we take
seriously our Board responsibility to help you make effective policy and budget decisions regarding the Georgetown Public Library.
Sincerely Yours,
Michael A. Kelley, Chair
Library Advisory Board
cc: David Morgan, Georgetown City Manager,
Eric Lashley, Georgetown Public Library Director
Attachment: Georgetown Public Library 2020-2025 Strategic Plan
Page 10 of 11
Hi, Eric,
Here are my suggestions for our letter to be discussed during the November meeting.
- Make it sound as if it's coming from the entire Board. Change all "I" to "We," and add
all our names and positions on the Board in the signature.
- Switch first and third paragraphs. Lead with the thanks.
- Combine current first, second and fourth paragraphs to read.
As noted on the City of Georgetown website, the Library Advisory Board (Board) makes
recommendations regarding the development of the Georgetown Public Library’s
(Library's) book collection, programming, and other services. The Board also serves to
promote Library programs and services in the Georgetown community.
To help you better understand our recommendations, attached is the Library's 2020-2025
Strategic Plan. We are happy to provide this road map to help City leaders to ensure the
Library continues to provide award-winning service to our City’s residents and to all
Library patrons.
- Change the fifth paragraph as follows.
Based on our Strategic Plan, we recommend the City appropriate funds for the following in
the next City Budget.
1. A Circulation Manager;
2. Increased Library materials; and
3. New Library furniture.
- Change the sixth paragraph as follows.
Again, thank you for your service to our City and its residents. Thanks also for reviewing
the Strategic Plan and considering our three City budget recommendations. We are
honored to serve on the Board, and we take seriously our responsibility to help you make
effective policy and budget decisions regarding the Georgetown Public Library.
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