Minutes of Regular Meeting

September 19, 2006

Call to Order

The regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Board President P. Lynn Oliva. In attendance were Trustees Hope Furth, Jeane Garment, Paul Schwarz, Julie Trelstad, Library Director Sandra Miranda, and Head of Internal Operations Kurt Hadeler. Absent with notice were Trustees Connors, D’Ambrosio, Hawkins, James, Assistant Library Director Patricia Thorsen and Manager of Children’s Services Rosemary Rasmussen.

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Library Board of Trustees

The minutes of the regular meeting of July 18, 2006 were approved on a MOTION by Trustee Furth, seconded by Trustee Garment.

BUDGET

City Revenue & Expenditure Budget Reports

The Board reviewed reports for FY 05/06 as of 6/30/06.

Bills 2005/06 Budget & 2006/07 Budget

Payment of bill voucher #27 for the 2005/06 Budget and bill vouchers #1, #2, #3 & #4 for the 2006/07 budget were approved on a MOTION by Trustee Garment, seconded by Trustee Trelstad.

Report of Library Administration

The Board reviewed written administrative reports. Library Director Miranda reported the Sister Souljah program held recently at the Library was a powerful program, well received, and attended by approximately 100. She and the Board discussed the closing of Greenburgh Public Library for construction and downsizing of its operation for at least two years. She noted that this will have implications for White Plains and referred the Board to #6 of the proposed new Westchester Library System Direct Access Plan which would allow libraries with non-resident use to place some restrictions.

Mrs. Miranda also reported on the addition of a teen consultant, Linda Braun, to WLS’ staff and noted that many exciting new initiatives had already emerged, including staff training, online professional support, and site visits with action plans to come. She referred Board members to White Plains’ survey response following Ms. Braun’s site visit and noted that in preparing it, she had consciously outlined our Library’s near-term goals for improving teen services. The Board viewed a PowerPoint presentation with examples of modest, but engaging, teen areas that had been created in the Phoenix public library system. The Board shared Mrs. Miranda’s enthusiasm for designating and decorating an area of open space on the first floor to appeal to teens, rather than planning a costly renovation that could take years to bring to fruition. The Board encouraged Mrs. Miranda to move forward on this scaled-back concept through the City’s Capital Improvement Program and the Library Foundation.

Trustee Reports & Business

WLS

Library Director Miranda reviewed the WLS Free Direct Access Plan with the Board. Trustee Furth reported that WLS approved the document pending approval by PLDA and member library boards. Trustee Oliva suggested that alternatives to WLS Direct Use Calculation as currently determined be discussed with WLS Director Siobhan Reardon when she attends the Board’s October meeting. On a MOTION by Trustee Schwartz, seconded by Trustee Furth, the Board ratified Direct Access Plan document, subject to PLDA general vote.

Trustee Furth also noted that the "Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006 (DOPA)" bill passed in the US House of Representatives on July 26^th and was referred to the Senate. The Act would require schools and libraries that receive E-rate funding to protect minors from online predators when using "Commercial Social Networking Websites" and "Chat Rooms". It would prohibit schools and libraries from providing access to these types of websites to minors and require these institutions to be capable of disabling the restrictions for "use by an adult or by minors with adult supervision to enable access for educational purposes." Mrs. Furth noted that this legislation is of serious concern, and Mrs. Miranda concurred, noting that further information would be provided.

Advocacy

Board reviewed WLS 9/12/06 letter to the Westchester County Executive on the WLS Budget for County Funded Support. Board President Oliva asked if White Plains would get its online Homework Help services through WLS if WLS is successful in obtaining County funding. Library Director Miranda said that this was a possibility, but that the Library makes its service available to students on the school district network, and she was not sure this would be possible if it were provided through WLS. The White Plains Library Foundation pays for the WPPL’s online Homework Help services.

Friends

Board President Oliva reported that the Friends will be meeting this week.

Foundation

Trustees reviewed minutes of 6/14/06, notes of 8/9/06 and information on the Gala. Jeane Garment reminded the Board to help solicit journal ads with the 10/5/06 deadline quickly approaching.

OLD BUSINESS

World Community Grid

This item was postponed until the October meeting, and Mrs. Miranda said she would re-send the information previously provided.

NEW BUSINESS

Capital Projects

Library Director Miranda reported on an opportunity to apply for a new package of NYS Public Library Construction Aid, but noted that it was highly unlikely we could submit, as the roof project would not qualify and other projects could not be ready by the deadline. Nonetheless, she said she had notified Finance and Public Works. She also reported that DPW was underway with the design phase of the roof replacement project. Regarding this year’s Library submission to the Capital Projects Board, she suggested that more time was needed to carry out a conceptual study on the auditorium/meeting room/gallery space, and that it would make sense to combine the funds set aside for it with a new request for design services to address this and several other listed projects. That would help us establish scope and potential costs, and hopefully put us in a better position to apply for grants.

Invoice from Lothrop Associates

Library Director Miranda presented invoice from Lothrop Associates dated 5/26/06, received on 9/19/06 for $23,779.00 for services related to the children’s library project. On a MOTION by Trustee Schwarz, seconded by Trustee Trelstad, the Board declined to authorize payment until all open items on the punch list, most urgently those related to ADA and safety issues with the doors to Galaxy Hall and the StoryTrove, are completed by Lothrop Associates, or alternatively, the Board will allow Lothrop Associates to cancel this invoice and the Library will undertake completion of this work at its discretion.

Adjournment

There being no more business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m. on a MOTION by Trustee Trelstad, seconded by Trustee Garment.

Paul Schwarz, Secretary

Library Board of Trustees