Library Advisory Board Meeting (2024-10-21)

LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA Regular Meeting October 21, 2024 Convened: Adjourned: 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Ethel Rowland called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM. The meeting was held at the Kilmer Branch Library. Members in attendance: Ethel Rowland, Jewel Armstrong Player, Eloise Cumings, Amanda Botha, Marjorie Harrell, Eukeba Jones and Rudy Widman. Also in attendance: Robyn Saint-Paen, Library Director, Nancy Woodfin, Board Clerk, and guest Kathy Davis. Absent was Carnelle Clifton and James Wilder. 2. READING & ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST BOARD MEETING The minutes from the July 17, 2024, meeting were reviewed. A motion was made and seconded (Eloise Cumings /Jewel Armstrong Player) to approve the minutes as written. The motion passed unanimously. 3. OLD BUSINESS Library Director Robyn Saint-Paen reported that library staff were deployed to various locations to assist in disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Milton and the devastating tornadoes that followed. They rose to the occasion, working collaboratively to ensure that affected community members received the resources and information they needed. The staff were assigned to several key locations to maximize their impact on relief efforts including the Emergency Operations Center staffing the public information phone lines, the Multi-Resource Agency Center at the Fenn Center and the Spanish Lakes Community. The library director informed the board that a meeting with a potential sponsor for the Imagination Library had to be rescheduled due to the storm. Library Director gave an update on the Port St. Lucie Branch project. She reported that the contract for construction has been executed with notice to proceed. She anticipates the official groundbreaking ceremony to be sometime in January 2025. Local Fort Pierce business Dickerson Infrastructure is the contractor for the project. LD reported that the Library Staff Development and Engagement Day scheduled for Friday, October 25 at the Fenn Center has been postponed due to the storm as the venue is being used for the Multi- Resource Agency Center. Library administration is hoping to reschedule the staff day in spring 2025.

Library Advisory Board Monday, October 21, 2024 5:30 PM 2 | P a g e 4. NEW BUSINESS The board discussed expiration of terms for some members and concurred with holding the vote for electing officers for the upcoming year as planned. A motion was made and seconded (Eloise Cumings/Eukeba Jones) to recommend that the current officers remain in their positions for another year. The motion passed unanimously. The officers for 2025 are: Ethel Rowland, chair, Jewel Armstrong Player, vice chair, Eukeba Jones, secretary. Meeting dates and times for 2025 were discussed. It was decided that the second Monday of the month for meetings in January, April, July and October work best for members. The quarterly meeting dates decided on for 2025 are January 13, April 14, July 14, and October 13, 2025. The meetings will be held on these Monday dates at the Kilmer Branch at 5:30 PM. A motion was made and seconded (Eloise Cumings/Eukeba Jones) to accept the meeting dates for 2025. The motion passed unanimously. The Library Director reported that she, along with Library Information Systems Manager Charles Lockwood, have collaborated with a county team in applying for an NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) federal grant aiming to allocate $5 Million for digital equity projects. If granted, the projects will encompass the refurbishment of the Morningside Library Tech Annex, procurement of software facilitating the development of technical skills and enabling telemedicine participation, as well as the provision of connectivity tools such as hotspots and laptops for individuals in need. The initiative reflects a significant step towards enhancing technological accessibility within the community and fostering innovation in library services. Further updates on the grant application process will be communicated as developments unfold. The library’s Long-Range Plan 2025 – 2030 was a key topic of discussion. The Library Director emphasized that the plan aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the grant projects that were previously discussed. She highlighted that the plan was crafted through a collaborative process, with valuable contributions from staff members. The Board members expressed their approval for the comprehensive and well-thought-out nature of the plan contents. A motion was made and seconded (Jewel Armstrong Player/Marjorie Harrell) to accept the plan as written. The motion passed unanimously. 5. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT The Library Director reported that the Friends of the Library did not meet in October due to the storm. As a result of the damage caused to the community from Hurricane Milton, the Friends had decided to postpone the annual meeting and dinner originally slated for November 2, 2024. Details to follow on the rescheduled date. 6. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT Security Update – The Security Firm was unable to meet the needs of the library. The library will seek out another firm at the start of FY 2025. Summer Reading continues to grow. 2047 youth registered which is a 117% increase and 351 adults registered which is a 139% increase. Staff are working on securing in-kind donations and a Dollar General grant. Community input indicates that people would like to see more performers so next year’s program will include that along with an official wrap up celebration in addition to the kick-off program.

Library Advisory Board Monday, October 21, 2024 5:30 PM 3 | P a g e Reporting on Universal Design at each of the six libraries, the library created an accessibility team that is researching ways in which each library can assure accessibility, adaptability, and use for the 9% of the county’s population that self-identify as having a disability that impeded access. Statistics update: Circulation Books - 444,148 FY 2024 (321,674 FY 2023) E-Books - 181,960 as of 07/2024 (182,451 FY 2023) Library Visits as of 08/24 - 462,484 Personnel Highlights: Incentive Plan – As part of the library’s long-range plan, the administration team is working on selecting a series of certifications (no more than two per classification) that, upon completion, may warrant a percentage increase. This is subject to budget approval. 7. BOARD COMMENTS Ethel Rowland brought in two books she recommended for members to borrow: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson. 8. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made and seconded (Eloise Cumings/Jewel Armstrong Player) to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 PM. Next meeting scheduled for January 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the Kilmer Branch in Fort Pierce. Quarterly Board Meeting Dates in 2025: January 13, April 14, July 14, and October 13. Minutes approved by the Library Advisory Board on January 13, 2025.