AGENDA
May 15, 2018, 9:00 a.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
400 S. Plymouth Court
Lower Level, Multi-Purpose Room
- Approval of minutes for the March 20, 2018 and April 17, 2018 meetings (action required)
- CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
- Commissioner’s Report (info only)
- Special Report: 2018 Teen Summer Challenge
- Office of the Inspector General Report
- Obama Presidential Center
- Pintando la Educacion: The Colors of Education Painting Exhibit
- Andrea Saenz, First Deputy receives CPL Gold Library Card
- Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (info only)
- Other Business
- Public Comment
Next Board meeting
June 19, 2018, 9:00 a.m.
Blackstone Branch
4904 S. Lake Park Avenue
Open Session Minutes
Physically Present: Linda Johnson Rice, Christopher Valenti, Barbara Bowman, Jodi Block, Denise Gardner
Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference: None
Absent: Lynn Lockwood, Dominique Jordan Turner, Patricia Gaytan Perez
Approval of minutes (action required)
The Board voted (5-0) to approve the minutes for the March 20, 2018 and April 17, 2018 meetings.
CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services presented the following CPL capital projects:
Major Maintenance, Repairs and Renovations
Chicago Bee Branch - Project Scope: full renovation and reconfiguration of first floor to include an Early Learning Play Space and YOUmedia; relocation and expansion of adult reading room and community room; repairs to envelope and parking lot; upgrades to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; new flooring, paint, ceiling tile, lighting, and furniture, installation of additional power and data. Milestones and Current Activity: demolition work is complete and interior work is progressing; furniture selection and finishes are being finalized; project completion is scheduled for 3Q18.
Douglass Branch - Project Scope to Include: exterior masonry repairs and new energy efficient roof; build-outs of an Early Learning Play Space and teen area; new flooring and paint throughout; new Circulation Desk and installation of additional power and data; upgrades to community room and staff work areas. Milestones & Current Activity: design is underway; exterior construction to begin in 2Q18; interior improvements will begin in 3Q18, after the end of Rahm’s Readers.
Kelly Branch - Project Scope: envelope repairs and landscaping; new entry door, stairs and window repairs; paint throughout, new LED lighting, and new flooring - including new terrazzo entry; improvements to building systems and new fire alarm system; reconfiguration of program areas including new Circulation Desk, upgrades to furniture, and build out of an Early Learning Play Space and YOUmedia; renovation of rest rooms and staff areas. Milestones and Current Activity: masonry, tuck pointing and entry stair work is complete; installation of BAS system is complete; YOUmedia build out is complete; carpet and flooring installation is complete; including terrazzo on the first floor; furniture selection in progress; Library will reopen on May 26; replacement of elevator cab and delivery of new furniture will take place in September after the end of Rahm’s Readers.
North Austin - Project Scope: exterior masonry tuck pointing and mechanical upgrades; new flooring and paint throughout; circulation desk and restroom upgrades. Milestones and Current Activity: mechanical upgrades are complete and interior repairs are near completion - awaiting new shelving; branch is expected to reopen in June.
Sulzer Regional Library - Scope for Current Phase: carpet replacement on first and second floor including installation and restoration of terrazzo, replacement of flooring in basement; paint throughout; construction of a new meeting room on the second floor and restoration of existing built-ins, including upgrades to power and data; installation of additional power and data, AV upgrades in the auditorium; build out of an Early Learning Play Space and upgrades to children’s area; renovation of restrooms on first and second floors; upgrades to the Circulation Desk area; AV upgrades in the auditorium. Milestones and Current Activity: installation of additional power and data, bathroom renovations, lighting retrofit, and painting is nearing completion; new AV installation in the Auditorium is complete; additional work in children’s area will be resumed at the end of Rahm’s Readers in September.
CPL-CHA Partnerships
Altgeld - CHA project management: Site to combine a CPL library branch with an early childhood center, Design Architect: Koo & Associates. Milestones and Current Activity:
CHA is continuing to work with the State Historic Preservation Agency (SHPA) and 2FM on review of design revisions, including landscape changes; new plans expected to be finalized in June; permits and construction start 3Q18; project completion 3Q19; project has been delayed by 1 year due to preservation concerns.
Independence Branch - Developer: Evergreen Real Estate Group, new construction 16,000 square foot public library building in a planned development with 44 senior housing units, Design Architect: John Ronan. Milestones and Current Activity: construction is in progress with approximately 15% construction completion; project completion, 4Q 2018.
Northtown Branch - Developer: Evergreen Real Estate Group, new construction 16,000 square foot public library building in a planned development with 44 senior housing units, Design Architect: Perkins + Will. Milestones and Current Activity: construction is in progress with approximately 10% construction completion; AT&T has still not provided a date for the video-ready access device (VRAD) relocation, which will take 6 weeks and require coordination with other construction activities; CDOT is working with the CHA on maintenance of the pedestrian traffic plan; project completion 4Q 2018.
Roosevelt - Developer: Related Midwest, new construction 16,000 square foot branch library in a planned development with 73 multi-family housing units, Design Architect: Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Milestones and Current Activity: foundation work is complete and the superstructure is under construction; closing documents were submitted to HUD in late April and CHA expects to close in the financing of the facility in late May; projection completion 4Q 2018.
Full Renovation and Expansion
Whitney Young Branch - Milestones and current activity: forming of foundation walls and piers are in progress; interior mechanical, electrical and plumbing renovations continue; project completion 4Q 2018.
Developer Project
West Loop Branch - Developer: Sterling Bay, proposed 17,000 sq. foot library in an existing office building, Design architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Milestones and Current Activity: branch name has been confirmed; permits have been issues and GMP contract has been finalized; construction mobilization to be received before the end of May; project completion 4Q18.
Obama Presidential Center Branch
Scope: proposed 5,000 sq. foot branch library on the Obama Presidential Center campus; Design architects are Tod Williams and Billie Tsien. Milestones and Current Activity: Letter of Intent between the Obama Foundation and the City has been signed; preliminary design meetings have been held with the foundation and the architects.
Commissioner’s Report (info only)
Robin Willard, Young Adult Specialist for the Teen Services department, provided an overview of CPL’s 2018 Teen Summer Challenge entitled “Imagine Doing More!” being held June 1st through Sept 1st 2018. During this summer, the objective is to have teens focus on how they can impact the quality of Chicago’s environment. The program consists of 4 phases of participation that allows teens to choose an environment that they would like to impact (natural environment, neighborhood environment, or social emotional environment); select an action plan (personal change, event or program, campaign, or project); implement or document your action; and last share and celebrate their achievements at an upcoming community celebration. CPL has also partnered with the Adler Planetarium, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Botanic Garden, Environmental Law and Policy Center and WE to offer workshops throughout the summer about the environment that will coincide with the Teen Summer Challenge to support the theme.
Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services reported that the City of Chicago Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted a routine audit in October 2016 to determine if CPL staffs its library branches in accordance with the staffing plan and also if the staffing plan reflects best practices of peer library systems. We appreciate the feedback from OIG and are always open to suggestions on how to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in our service to the community. CPL regularly re-evaluates our hiring process and staffing plan in partnership with the Department of Human Resources. In addition to the ongoing reviews of our staffing, and based on the OIG report suggestions, CPL will continue to review and make changes to its current staffing pattern based on community needs and library usage statistics.
Commissioner Bannon also reported on the following:
- On Wed, May 2nd, it was officially announced that a new Chicago Public Library branch will be located at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.
- On Mon, May 7th, CPL hosted the opening ceremony for the “Pintando la Educacion: Colors of Education” exhibition at the Harold Washington Library Center.
- In June, Andrea Sáenz, First Deputy Commissioner at CPL will be starting a new role as Chief Operating Officer at The Chicago Community Trust.
Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (info only)
Darcy Evon represented the Chicago Public Library Foundation and reported the following:
- Tom Carroll, former Executive Committee member of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, is assisting with the management of the Foundation during the transition to new leadership.
- 2018 gifts, grants and pledges to the Foundation since January 1, total more than $3.6 million.
- The Library’s Early Learning Initiative received a boost from an anonymous Foundation that funded an early learning play specialist to work with CPL branches on integrating play throughout the program.
- The annual Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the UIC Forum. This year’s honorees will be Neil deGrasse Tyson, Judy Blume and Erika Sanchez.
- Night in the Stacks was held on April 4th and was a great success again this year; more than 400 young professionals attended.
Other Business
None
Public Comment
The Board addressed comments from the audience regarding the need for upgrades to the public computers in the library, controlling noise levels, creating spaces for private computer use and concerns with library security.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Blackstone Branch located at 4904 S. Lake Park Avenue.
Commissioner’s Report
Special Report: Robin Willard, Young Adult Specialist
Office of Inspector General Report
Chicago Public Library Neighborhood Branch Staffing Audit
- Audit process began in October 2016
- Objectives
- Determine if CPL staffs its library branches in accordance with staffing plan
- Determine if CPL's staffing plan reflects best practices of peer library systems
- Process
- Planning
- Fieldwork
- Reporting and recommendations
- Follow-up
Obama Presidential Center
On Wed, May 2nd, a press conference was held at the Blackstone branch to officially announce that a new Chicago Public Library branch will be located at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. The new 5,000 sq. ft. branch will be one of three buildings embedded on the Presidential Center Campus in addition to a museum tower and forum building that will contain an auditorium. The new branch will offer CPL the opportunity to not only provide a state of the art library for the community but also emphasize civic engagement which is at the core of the Foundation’s mission.
Pintando la Educacion: The Colors of Education Painting Exhibit
On Mon, May 7th, CPL hosted the opening ceremony & ribbon cutting for the “Pintando la Educacion: Colors of Education” exhibition at the Harold Washington Library Center. The exhibit is offered in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago and is a collection of 41 pieces of art commissioned by the National Commission of Gratuitous Textbooks (CONALITEG) for Mexican artists to illustrate textbook covers for the school children of Mexico.
First Deputy Commissioner, Andrea Saenz was the event’s Mistress of Ceremony and was joined by Francisco Olavarrio, Advisor for the Consul General of Mexico in Chicago, Carlos Jimenez, Consul General of Mexico in Chicago, Carlos Manuel Sadasolana, Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs for North America and Dr. Arturo Ancona, Director of the Commission.
The exhibit will be on display from May 3rd through July 31st in the 9th Floor Exhibit Hall.
Andrea Saenz, First Deputy Commissioner
We would like to present Andrea Sáenz, First Deputy Commissioner at CPL with a gold card for her service at CPL. In June, she will be starting a new role as Chief Operating Officer at The Chicago Community Trust and help lead the team focused on improving Chicago through strategic grant making, civic engagement and by inspiring philanthropy.
Andrea has been an essential member of our leadership team and on a personal note, a partner to me in leading CPL. In her five years at CPL, Andrea led our strategy (and its implementation), championed our efforts to reimagine our investments in preK-12 learning, advanced our impact within the cultural space, and led the efforts to build entirely new investments in digital skills and workforce development. This was done in collaboration with all of you and through partnerships outside CPL. Many of these critical partnerships can be traced to Andrea’s deep relationships in Chicago and beyond.
She has also been our primary liaison to the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Her efforts with CPLF led to many new investments and some huge gifts that support both CPL programs and new initiatives. Andrea's time with CPL has helped to transform our work in Chicago and has influenced our entire field. While she will be missed, her lasting impact will remain with us.
On the logistical side, we’ve built a solid transition plan for Andrea’s move. Her team will report to me as we work to find Andrea’s successor. We will also find a time to celebrate Andrea before her last day on June 1st.
Please join me in congratulating and thanking Andrea for her service and commitment to Chicago Public Library!
Chicago Public Library Foundation Report
I’m happy to provide this update on behalf of the Board and Staff of the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
Ms. Rhona Frazin retired as President and CEO of the Foundation on March 30, 2018. Mr. Tom Carroll, former Executive Committee member of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, is assisting with the management of the Foundation during the transition to new leadership.
2017 was a very successful year for fundraising that delivered a balanced budget for the year.
- 2018 gifts, grants and pledges to the Foundation since January 1, total more than $3.6 million. Among notable gifts, Wintrust became the lead corporate sponsor to the Summer Learning Challenge; Peoples Gas became a new major donor to the program, in addition to their support for Science Connections; and Macy’s returned to support this invaluable program at a higher level this year. Special thanks to continuing donors including the Angell Foundation, Boeing, Cubs Care, the Walter E. Heller Foundation, the Helen M. Harrison Foundation and the Rice Foundation.
- The Library’s Early Learning Initiative got a boost from an anonymous foundation that funded an early learning play specialist to work with CPL branches on integrating play throughout program for our very youngest patrons. And long-term partner the Brinson Foundation will continue their crucial professional development support for early learning.
- Wells Fargo joined the partnership family by supporting the CyberNavigator program this year.
The annual Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the UIC Forum. This year’s honorees will be astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, beloved author and activist Judy Blume and emerging literary star Erika Sanchez. This year’s co-chairs are Marcus Wedner from CIVC Partners and Michelle Rindt and Charles Matthews from Peoples Gas.
- The business and philanthropic community has really stepped up their support for the Dinner and we are already ahead of last year’s fundraising progress at this time. Anyone interested in finding out more or in supporting the event can visit https://cplfoundation.org/events/carl-sandburg-literary-awards-dinner/.
Night in the Stacks was a great success again this year. Held on April 4 in the Library’s Winter Garden, more than 400 young professionals attended and filled the Library with joyful celebrations, great food and dancing. The Foundation is very thankful to all of the sponsors and attendees of this important event.
