Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, May 21, 2013

Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.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, May 21, 2013, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center
Multi-Purpose Room, Lower Level
400 S. State St.
  1. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on April 16, 2013 (action required)
  2. Report of the Committee on Facilities
  3. Commissioner’s Report
    • Brian Bannon, Commissioner
  4. Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (none)
  5. Other Business
    • Retirements: Carolyn Mulac (45 years)
  6. Questions and comments from the audience

Board Members in Attendance

Physically Present

  • Lynn Lockwood

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference

  • None

Absent

  • Linda Johnson Rice
  • Christina Benitez
  • Christopher P. Valenti
  • Josephine Gomez
  • Julia Zhu
  • Susan S. Hassan
  • Israel Idonije

Approval of Minutes

Due to the lack of a quorum the minutes of the Library Board’s regular meeting on April 16, 2013 were not approved.

Report of the Committee on Facilities

Commissioner Bannon gave the report on Facilities presented three branches under construction (Edgewater, Back of the Yards, Albany Park), one branch in the design phase (Chinatown) and one branch in the planning phase (Whitney Young). Also mentioned were new focus groups being implemented at select branches to determine and improve how library space is being utilized by children, teens and adults.

Commissioner’s Report

Commissioner Bannon announced new initiatives happening at CPL. These announcements included a new Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA) pilot program that will allow patrons to request material that the Library does not own, Phase 2 of our Public Technology initiative which includes installation of Office 2013, upgrades to Windows and an increase in computer speed on all CPL computers, staff blogging on the CPL’s new website which will launch in September and Greta Bever’s appointment to the Depository Library Council which establishes the Library as a repository for the Chicago Park District archives.

Chicago Public Library Foundation Report

None

Other Business

The Board congratulated Carolyn Mulac upon her retirement from CPL.

Questions and Comments from the Audience

Staff received inquiries and comments from the audience regarding the primary focus of Tiff funds, an update on the repairs for Sulzer Regional Library and whether the branch will remain open while the repairs are being made, and suggestions for improving the Teacher in the Library program.

Attachment A: Commissioner’s Report

Patron Driven Acquisition

Chicago Public Library has received a $300,000 grant from the Illinois State Library to conduct a Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA) pilot over two years. CPL patrons will have the opportunity to request and borrow materials that the library does not own. Bibliographic records for these materials will be pre-selected and the records will be loaded into the CPL online catalog. The patrons will not know that the material is not owned by the library. Once the item is requested, a purchase is triggered and the material is delivered from the vendor, drawing the purchase price down from the funding pool. Finally, the patron is notified of the item's immediate availability.

Software Update

In 2012, we launched a multi-year initiative to improve technology access and tools for our users. In Phase One, we (1) added word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software, through LibreOffice, (2) expanded our laptop lending program to every location, (3) increased Wi-Fi strength citywide, and (4) amended our public computer policy so that everyone may use library computers regardless of fine status. We are thrilled to announce Phase 2 will be rolling out this summer with some major enhancements to public technology for our users.

Phase 2: Public Technology

  1. Microsoft Office: Due to the popularity of the productivity software, we were able to secure additional BTOP funds to install Office 2013 on all public computers. This will allow the library to retire LibreOffice and provide Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
  2. Windows 7: We will upgrade all public computers from Windows XP to Windows 7. Not only will the move to Windows 7 increase the functionality, accessibility and security of the public computers, it will also improve the usability of many popular websites.
  3. Computer Speed: As part of Phase Two, we will dramatically increase computer speed by adding additional memory to all library Public Internet computers. Not only will websites open more quickly, all productivity software will operate much faster. This upgrade will also replace 200 of the oldest public computers with new faster computers.

Staff Blogging on the New Website

Staff are gearing up to begin blogging on the new website, set to launch in September. Posts will be written by librarians and staff throughout the system to engage patrons in discussions around the Library's collections (i.e. specific books, movies, music or databases), increase awareness of CPL's initiatives and programming, and highlight success stories.

Here are some examples of posts that library staff might add to the blogs:

  • If you love Game of Thrones you should read...
  • Did you miss the story time this week? Here’s a brief recap and a link to a booklist of what we read and some read-a-likes
  • This artist has an exhibit at our branch right now – here’s a brief Q&A with her
  • One of our patrons worked with a CyberNavigator to apply for jobs online, and today he got a job! Here’s how CPL helped him…

Depository Library Council

The Chicago Public Library will be represented on the 15 member Depository Library council which advises the Government Printing Office by Assistant Commissioner of Central Library Services, Greta Bever who has been appointed for the term of 2013-2016.

A Chicago Public Library agreement with the Chicago Park District establishes the Library as a repository for the Park District Archives and includes 80,000 digitized architectural and landscape drawings and a check for $100,000 from the Friends of the Parks given to the Chicago Public Library.

Attachment B: Facilities Committee Meeting

May 15, 2013, 10:30 a.m.

Richard J. Daley Branch
3400 S. Halsted Street

Board Members in Attendance

Physically Present

  • Christopher P. Valenti

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference

  • None

Absent

  • Linda Johnson Rice
  • Christina Benitez
  • Josephine Gomez
  • Julia Zhu

Approval of Minutes

Due to the lack of a quorum, the minutes of the Facilities Committee meeting on April 10, 2013 were not approved.

History of the Richard M. Daley Branch

Jeremy Kitchen, RMD branch manager, supplied a brief history of the Daley branch and described programs and projects currently in motion to boost circulation at the branch. RMD will also be participating in a focus group that will determine ways to improve space utilization at the library. Other branches possibly participating in this focus group include Edgebrook and the new Chinatown branch.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Reports

Assistant Commissioner Telli gave a report of current projects in motion that described 3 branches under construction including the Edgewater, Back of the Yards and Albany Park branch libraries, the Chinatown branch library which is in the design phase and the Whitney Young branch in the planning phase.

Other Business

None

Next Facilities Meeting

The next Facilities meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Humboldt Park branch library, 1605 N. Troy Street.