Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – March 15, 2016

Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

AMENDED

AGENDA

Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center

400 S. State Street

Lower Level Multi-Purpose Room

 

  1. Commissioner’s Report (info only)
  2. CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
  3. State Grant Update: Per Capita and Talking Book Center (info only)
  4. Election of Officers (action required)
  5. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on January 16, 2016 (action required)
    • Special Report: CPL Brand Logo & Fine Amnesty
    • Above and Beyond
    • Reverend Clay Evans Event
    • Cities for Citizenship (C4C)
    • Shakespeare 400 Year Anniversary
    • New Summer Opportunity Project
    • ChiTeen Lit Fest
    • Harold Washington Library Summit
    • Alice Walker
  6. Other Business
  7. Public Comment

 

Next Board meeting:

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

Bezazian Branch

1226 W. Ainslie Street

 

 

Open Session Minutes

Physically Present:

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

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:

None

Absent:

Chaka Patterson, Barbara Bowman

 

Approval of the minutes (action required)

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the regular minutes of the January 19, 2016 Board of Directors meeting.

Election of Officers (action required)

Director Lynn Lockwood presented the following proposed slate of officers for the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors for 2016:

Linda Johnson Rice: President

Christopher Valenti: Vice President

Josephine Gomez: Secretary

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors selection of officers for 2016.

State Grant Update: Per Capita and Talking Book Center (info only)

Baronica Roberson, Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance, gave an update on the Per Capita Grant and Talking Book services. The Per Capita Grant is a state grant that funds library public services staff and hours through all 80 CPL locations. Due to cuts in funding from the state, CPL will only receive 58% of the annual funding to support library operations FY 15/16. Through salvage, CPL can maintain current services and hours through 6/30/16. Failure to appropriate the full $7.3 million grant for FY16/17, or identify an alternate source, would result in lying off positions and reducing hours similar to the level of reductions in 2012. These cuts will also impact many of the new innovative services such as YOUmedia, Homework Help, and Early Childhood positions. The City will immediately begin working with the Sectary of State, Governor, and legislature to reinstate or identify alternative funding sources for the full $7.3 million to avoid layoffs and service cuts citywide.

State funding for Talking Book services will be eliminated at the regional hubs including Chicago as of July 1, 2016. As a result, CPL and the City of Chicago will no longer be able to support the Talking Book Center located in the Harold Washington Library Center. The State intends to consolidate the Talking Book services into one location at Springfield’s State Library where patrons can continue to receive advisory books by mail and other services that are currently being provided at CPL. The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities has also expressed their concern and will work hard to guarantee there is minimal disruption to those that have relied on Talking Book services.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)

Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services, gave a status update on the Independence branch along with other major maintenance/repair projects at other locations and projects in planning:

Updates

  • Independence – Branch contents are currently being cleaned and treated J.C. Restoration Inc.; the claims process for artwork that was on display at the time of the fire is nearing completion; the landlord has begun his process to make repairs to the building’s structure and 2FM is currently negotiating a new lease with the landlord; a community meeting has been scheduled for March 22nd at the Disney II school and the branch is expected to reopen in Q1 2017.
  • Maintenance/Repair Projects
    • Legler – Phase 1: notice to proceed was given to JOC on February 26th for the entry stair rehabilitation project, substantial completion anticipated for July 2016. Phase 2: window restoration and replacement of the front doors; upgraded toilet rooms for ADA compliance; LED lighting in historic atrium laylight; roof replacement, masonry and parapet repairs.
    • Austin – envelope restoration of masonry, roofing and skylights are on hold pending completion of Woodson Envelope and Interior Improvement Project.
    • Douglas – Installation of public toilet room on the 1st floor and reconstruction of stair railing with code compliant guards are complete.
    • Sulzer – An emergency work order was issued for JOC contractor to begin immediate repairs; procurement has approved a contractor for exterior envelope, roof and skylight work to begin on the rear of the building; 2FM is working the City’s term vendor for heating and cooling upgrades and repair, physical work will begin in the spring pending weather; Kenny Construction will be assessing the fire alarm, emergency lighting and lighting upgrade.

Projects in Planning

  • Early Learning Areas – design meetings for the early learning spaces at Little Village and West Pullman are nearing completion; all stake holders (CPL, PBC and Chicago Children’s Museum) met on Feb 24th to coordinate activities and areas of responsibility; PBC is in the process of selecting a contractor for these sites; anticipated completion May 2016.
  • Whitney Young – no changes
  • Woodson -
    • An overview of the Woodson’s circulation, usage statistics and past renovations were provided along with background information regarding the Harsh collection was also mentioned. During the upcoming renovation, the most researched collections in the Harsh wing will be moved to a nearby library where Harsh staff can access them; research requests from the collection will be accepted by appointment only.
    • Commissioner David Reynolds and Chief Procurement Officer Jamie Rhee gave a special report on the Woodson project. The budget is estimated between $5-10 mil through the Illinois Public Library Construction Act Grant and $832,000 State of IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant. The scope of the project will include:
      • YOUmedia expansion
      • Upgrade existing fire alarm system to meet current code requirements
      • Complete envelope replacement including new roof, exterior walls and windows
      • Upgrades to flooring, lighting, ceilings, and paint in lobby and other public areas
      • Updated guardrails and handrails on monumental stairway
      • Construction of two new glazed study rooms west of the stairway on the 2nd floor
      • Upgrade and renovation of the auditorium
      • Upgrade parking lot
      • Project BID was advertised on March 4, 2016; BID’s are due April 14, 2016

Commissioner’s Report (info only)

Mary Beth Mulholland, Director of Marketing, gave a report on the new CPL brand logo unveiling and the fine amnesty which launch simultaneously in February, 2016. Created in partnership with FCB Chicago, the Feb 4th-18th fine amnesty kicked off CPL’s “Home of the Curious” campaign. During this 2 week period, CPL welcomed back 13,197 patrons with replacement or updated library cards and 4,651 new cards were issued; 33,886 items with an estimated value of $819, 243 were returned; and circulation for the month of February increased by 13% compared to February 2015.

Commissioner Bannon also provided details on the following:

    • On February 20, CPL unveiled the “Above & Beyond” exhibit in partnership with the National Veterans Art Museum. It consists of over 58,000 dog tags in order of death of each military personnel who died in the Vietnam War.
  • On Feb 29th, Mayor Emanuel presented Rev. Dr. Clay Evans with the City of Chicago Community Service Award at a celebration held to honor his legacy and preview his archive collection that will be on display at the HWLC next year.
  • CPL partnered with Cities for Citizenship (C4C) to provide citizenship services and workshops, along with financial literacy classes at CPL Citizenship Corners by hosting community-based citizenship organizations.
  • CPL will participate in Shakespeare 400 Chicago, a yearlong international arts festival in 2016 celebrating the vibrancy, relevance and reach of Shakespeare.
  • Children’s Services Director, Elizabeth McChesney, represented Chicago Public Library on February 26th at the White House for an announcement regarding the New Summer Opportunity Project.
  • The ChiTeen Lit Fest will take place April 15 & 16, 2016 at the Harold Washington Library Center and Columbia College Chicago.
  • The life and legacy of Mayor Harold Washington will be celebrated and explored during a day-long summit on Monday, May 9. The Summit will highlight Mayor Washington’s life before and during his time as Mayor and the ways in which his legacy continues to enrich the city. The Summit will conclude with a keynote address by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry
  • Author and civil rights activist Alice Walker will receive a special Carl Sandburg Literary Award from the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Library Foundation on Wed., May 25 at 6 p.m.

Other Business

None

Public Comment

The Board received comments from patrons regarding the elimination of Talking Book services and a FOIA request.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at the Bezazian Branch Library.

 

Commissioner’s Report

Guests: Mary Beth Mulholland, Director of Marketing

CPL Brand Logo/ Fine Amnesty

  • CPL rolled out the new CPL brand logo on February 4, 2016
  • Amnesty “Home of the Curious” campaign took place February 4 – 18, 2016, created in partnership with FCB Chicago
  • 13,197 patrons received replacement or library cards; 4,651 new library cards issued
  • 33,886 items returned to CPL with an estimated value of $819,243
  • CPL circulation in February 2016 increased by 13%, compared to February 2015

Above and Beyond

On February 20, CPL had a ceremony unveiling the “Above & Beyond” exhibit in partnership with the National Veterans Art Museum. It consists of over 58,000 dog tags in order of death of each military personnel who died in the Vietnam War and includes an interactive display that gives information about each person, many with a photo, and shows approximately where that person’s tag hangs. It is mounted on the ceiling on the 3rd floor above the escalators and will be on display at HWLC until 2020. There was also a piece on Chicago Tonight that aired March 3rd.

Reverend Clay Evans Collection/Event

On Feb 29th, Mayor Emanuel presented Rev. Dr. Clay Evans with the City of Chicago Community Service Award at a celebration held at the Harold Washington Library Center to honor his legacy and preview his archive collection that will be on display at the HWLC next year.

The collection was donated by Rev. Dr. Evans and chronicles his work as an advocate and activist in Chicago and across America. It will feature his 50-year leadership of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, civil rights work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, pioneering productions in radio and television broadcasting and voice in Gospel music. Over the course of 2016 the Chicago Public Library will catalog this wide-ranging collection and mount an exhibition in 2017.

Cities for Citizenship/C4C

C4C allows CPL to provide citizenship services and workshops, along with financial literacy classes, at CPL Citizenship Corners by hosting community-based citizenship organizations. Through this program, 344 people completed naturalization applications, 855 attended financial literacy workshops and 1,372 were provided direct information on immigration or naturalization issues. Cities for Citizenship/C4C is made possible with funding from Citi Community Development through the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

Shakespeare 400 Chicago and Chicago Public Library

Spearheaded by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shakespeare 400 Chicago is a yearlong international arts festival in 2016 celebrating the vibrancy, relevance and reach of Shakespeare. Jan 6 - Dec 15th, 2016, Chicago Public Library will offer Shakespeare-inspired film screenings, a Read Aloud Book Club and peeks into the Library’s Theater Collection. Throughout the year, the Library’s online resources relating to Shakespeare will also be highlighted.

New Summer Opportunity Project

Children’s Services Director, Elizabeth McChesney, represented Chicago Public Library on February 26th at the White House for an announcement about the New Summer Opportunity Project.  Partnering with the National Summer Learning Association, the White House announced an increased investment and encouragement of programs supporting summer learning, meals and jobs for youth.  Chicago Public Library was hand-picked to represent libraries across America because of our important work with NSLA in positioning us as leaders in summer learning and as an exemplar for library-museum partnership.

ChiTeen Lit Fest

The ChiTeen Lit Fest will take place April 15 & 16, 2016 at the Harold Washington Library Center and Columbia College Chicago. The Chicago Teen Lit Fest seeks to bring together young people from across Chicago and celebrate their talents as they express themselves through exceptional and honest art. CPL will host 500 teens in a day of writing and performance workshops, panel discussions, and other literary pursuits.

Planning for CTLF started in summer 2015 with the formation of the Teen Advisory Council and the Teen Branding Team. Teens have conceptualized, designed and constructed the festival program schedule working in partnership with CPL Teen Services and our partner organizations at Hive Chicago; and they have led the development of the marketing campaign including web site design and content production, supported by a branding mentor in our partnership with After School Matters.

The ChiTeen Lit Fest is brought to you by Chicago Public Library, Columbia College Chicago, Poetry Foundation, UIC-College of Education, After School Matters, Center for College Access and Success, and Kuumba Lynx. This event is supported by the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Hive Chicago Fund for Connected Learning at the Chicago Community Trust.

Harold Washington Library Summit

The life and legacy of Mayor Harold Washington will be celebrated and explored during a day-long summit on Monday, May 9. The Summit will highlight Mayor Washington’s life before and during his time as Mayor and the ways in which his legacy continues to enrich the city. The Summit will conclude with a keynote address by Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry.

The Summit is presented with support from Chicago Public Library Foundation and in collaboration with the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee, The HistoryMakers, Chicago Urban League and with the participation of scholars and writers from area colleges and universities. Additional program details are in the planning process.

Alice Walker: Carl Sandburg Literary Award

Author and civil rights activist Alice Walker will receive a special Carl Sandburg Literary Award from the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Library Foundation on Wed., May 25 at 6 p.m. Ms. Walker will appear in conversation with Linda Johnson Rice, discussing her life and literary work. The event will take place in the Harold Washington Library Center’s Winter Garden and will be followed by a private dinner. The dinner will be co-chaired by Linda Johnson Rice and Graham Grady.