Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – December 15, 2015

Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

AGENDA

Tuesday, December 15, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center

400 S. State Street

Lower Level Multi-Purpose Room

 

  1. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on November 17, 2015 (action required)
  2. Guidelines Governing Use (action required)
  3. Schedule of Requisitions, Contracts and Licenses (action required)
  4. CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
  5. Commissioner’s Report (info only)
    • Special Guest: Elizabeth McChesney, Director of Children Services
  6. Other Business
  7. Public Comment

 

Next Board meeting:

Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center

400 S. State Street

Lower Level Multi-Purpose Room

 

Open Session Minutes

Physically Present:

Linda Johnson Rice, Christopher Valenti, Lynn Lockwood, Denise Gardner, Jodi Block

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:

Absent:

Chaka Patterson, Barbara Bowman, Josephine Gomez

 

Approval of the minutes (action required)

 

The Board voted (5-0) to approve the regular minutes of the November 17, 2015 Board of Directors meeting.

Policy Recommendation: Guidelines Governing Use (action required)

Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services, presented a recommendation to the Board to revise the Guidelines Governing Use policy to include or update the following language in the current guidelines.

While using the library, please do not:

  • Leave a child under the age of 7 or vulnerable adult unattended
  • Take personal photographs or videos of Library users without their permission
  • Enter into non-public or staff-only areas
  • Use bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, or similar items inappropriately on library property

The following are illegal and are not permissible in the Library:

  • Bringing weapons of any kind into the library
  • Harassing library users or staff (physical, sexual, verbal, or stalking)
  • Selling or soliciting illegal drugs on library premises
  • Smoking, including the use of electronic and smoke-free cigarettes inside or within 15 feet of library entrance

The Library will report consequences for violating the Guidelines Governing Use policy at a future Board meeting.

The Board voted (5-0) to approve the revisions to the Guidelines Governing Use.

Schedule of Requisitions, Contracts and Licenses (action required)

Baronica Roberson, Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance, requested that the Board consent to CPL accepting the Above and Beyond exhibit to place on display at the Harold Washington Library Center. Above and Beyond is an art installation that displays over 58,000 dog tags with the identity of every Vietnam solider to lose their life as a result of the war in Vietnam.

The National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) will loan CPL the exhibit Feb 1, 2016 through Jan 31, 2020. CPL is requesting permission to accept the exhibit and pay $1 for the loan. NVAM will cover all expenses to install/remove the exhibit to be displayed over the escalator and be seen as patrons come up to the 3rd floor of the Library. Installation will take 6 weeks and begin once approved by the Board.

The Board voted (5-0) to approve the display of Above and Beyond and pay $1 for the loan.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)

Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services, gave an update on the Independence and Lincoln Park branches, projects in planning and projects under construction:

Update

  • Independence – The Chicago Fire Department has completed the inspection process; CPL has been cleared to reenter the space. CPL and 2FM are now working with the landlord and the City through the insurance and restoration process for the building and the library contents.
  • Lincoln Park – Lincoln Park will be closed through December 27th for carpet replacement, new paint and a general refresh as part of the new lease agreement with DePaul University.

Projects in Planning

  • Legler – no changes
  • Austin – no changes
  • Douglass – Project has been approved by the Department of Procurement Services (DPS) for the installation of a public toilet room on the 1st floor and reconstruction of stair railing with code compliant guards; work will begin in January with substantial completion scheduled by the end of February.
  • Sulzer – no changes
  • Woodson – YOUmedia expansion is complete; upgrades of the lighting and ceiling through Retrofit One ESCO project is complete; CPL, 2FM and DPS will be holding a joint community meeting regarding the Woodson project on Thursday, December 17th at 6pm at the branch; still anticipate the date to open the BID will occur before the end of the year.
  • Early Learning Spaces – Project schedule:
    • Oct 2015: RFP distributed, site visit to Thomas Hughes Children’s Library, seven proposals received - complete
    • Nov 2015: Interview with 4 firms, selection of project architect (Gensler was selected to lead the design projects of these buildings) - complete
    • Dec 2015 through Jan 2016: Project kick-off (scheduled for December 18), design development
    • Feb through Sept 2016: Construction
    • June through Sept 2016: Phased openings - Jackson-Harlan will design the early learning spaces at Little Village and West Pullman branches in conjunction with an exhibit that the Chicago Children’s Museum is developing on the 30 Million Words project. Completion of these sites is anticipated for April 2016
  • Whitney Young – CPL has engaged PBC PBC and CPL completed the feasibility studies for a new library concept; the studies revealed that the existing building can be repurposed for a new and larger library; the adjacent property can accommodate an additional 3,000-5,000 sq. ft. expansion to include:
    • An early childhood area for children and YOUmedia digital lab for teens
    • Computer commons with additional technology (Whitney Young branch has the highest computer use in the branch system)
    • New state of the art furniture and refreshed collections
    • Additional seating and meeting/study spaces

Projects under Construction

  • HWLC Center Circle Redesign and Materials Handling System – the automated materials handling system was delivered on 11/30 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year; the public elevator cars will begin stopping on all floors this week.

Commissioner’s Report (info only)

Elizabeth McChesney, Director of Children Services, gave a special report on the ISTEAM Truck, a Mayoral initiative to provide high quality early childhood learning opportunities across the city. The ISTEAM truck initiative is funded in partnership with DFSS through the City of Chicago and activates mobile services to provide STEAM based story programming in DFSS funded HeadStart sites. The project is supported by three vans, librarians and STEAM tools and curricula aligned with HeadStart standards with programming geared toward children from birth to 5. Since the soft launch two months, the ISTEAM trucks have already visited 125 early childhood classrooms and served approximately 2,000 children ages 3‐5 years old.

Next steps for the program will be to implement professional development for HeadStart teachers, parent workshops conducted by the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in CPL locations, and create booklists and curriculum tie-ins for teachers.

Commissioner’s Bannon also highlighted:

  • CPL completed 18 priority projects in 2015 that include: revising the security policy and meeting room guidelines; shortening the wait time for items in transit; supporting online learners; expanding citizenship services; circulating Launchpad tablets; opening the new Chinatown branch; and completing the material handling system to mention a few.
  • Andrea Saenz, First Deputy Commissioner, participated in a meeting at the White House that to talk about the Obama Administration’s Summer Opportunity that focuses on summer learning, meals and jobs.
  • First Deputy Commissioner Saenz was also selected as a 2015 50 on Fire for Chicago by Chicago Inno Magazine that recognizes the year’s most groundbreaking individuals and organizations across industries in the Chicago area.
  • The new Chinatown branch continues to receive acclaim for its architectural excellence. The branch was voted the Best 2015 Building of the Year in the Midwest by Architect’s Newspaper; was recognized as a highlight for the year by architect critic Blair Kamin; and was awarded the 2015 “Excellence in Engineering Award” from the Illinois chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
  • CPL will present Alice Walker with the Carl Sandburg Literacy Award for her contribution to the literary arts on Wed, May 25, 2016. The program will be followed by a private dinner.

Other Business

None

Public Comment

The Board addressed comments from a group of 12 neighborhood organizations that spoke on behalf of the communities of the Independence branch. The group expressed their concern for repairing the Independence branch as well as a request for building a new facility.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center.

Commissioner’s Report

CPL Projects Completed in 2015

  • Meeting Room Guidelines
  • Security Policy
  • Expanded Citizenship Services
  • Summer Learning Program Design
  • Gaming Working Group
  • 2015 ASID
  • Launchpad Tablet Launch
  • Chicago Theatre Project
  • New Chinatown Branch Library
  • Internet to Go: Wi-Fi Lending Hotspot Program
  • Digital Skills for Non-Profits
  • Shortening the Wait Time for Items in Transit
  • Innovation Challenge and Framework
  • 2015 Tech Trend and Link to CPL Strategy
  • ISTEAM Trucks
  • OBOC 2015/16
  • Supporting Online Learners
  • Material Handling System
  • CPL Brand Book

Administrations Summer Opportunity

First Deputy Commissioner Saenz participated in a meeting at the White House in Washington DC. The meeting took place with other key national leaders to discuss the Obama Administration’s Summer Opportunity (summer learning, meals, and jobs) agenda on December 3rd. The meeting was co-convened with the National Summer Learning Association and chaired by Deputy Assistant to the President for Education Policy, Roberto Rodriguez and included other key Administration Officials as well as 40 national and regional organizations working on summer opportunities for youth. CPL was the only library invited to this meeting.

2015 50 on Fire

First Deputy Commissioner Sáenz was selected as a 2015 50 on Fire for Chicago. Chicago Inno announced the winners of its 50 on Fire awards on December 2, 2015 during a celebration at the Lacuna Artists Loft Studios. The 50 on Fire Chicago awards are held annually to honor the year's most groundbreaking individuals and organizations across industries in the Chicago area. This is a huge testament to Andrea's leadership within the Civic community in Chicago and the impact of our work.

New Chinatown Branch continues to win praise for architectural excellence

The Architect’s Newspaper’s third annual design award program celebrated some of the most exciting and innovative American architecture to be completed in 2015. For AN’s third annual design awards, seven jurors gathered in New York to review nearly 500 projects submitted by architects and designers. AN voted the Chinatown Library as the Best 2015 Building of the Year for the Midwest.

In his review of the best Chicago architecture of 2015, architecture critic Blair Kamin listed the new Chinatown Library as a highlight for the year. Other notable standouts were the 606 Riverwalk, the Athletic Club, the David Adjaye exhibit, and Chicago Architectural Biennial.

Finally, the Chinatown Branch Library was also awarded the 2015 “Excellence in Engineering Award” from the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), highlighting the innovation, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of this unique building's mechanical systems.

Alice Walker

The Carl Sandburg Literary Award will be presented to Alice Walker, for her contribution to the literary arts. This special program will take place at the Harold Washington Library Center on Wed, May 25th at 6 p.m. The program will be followed by a private dinner with the honoree. Additional details will be provided at a later date.