AGENDA

Tuesday, October 13, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Chinatown Branch

2100 S. Wentworth Avenue

1. Welcome and History of the Chinatown Branch (info only)
2. Approval of the minutes of the regular meetings on June 16, 2015 and September 8, 2015 (action required)
3. Policy Recommendation: Rental Rates and Fees for Event Spaces (action required)
4. CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
5. Commissioner’s Report (info only)
6. Other Business
7. Public Comment
8. Executive Session: Closed

Next Board meeting:

Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center

400 S. State Street

Open Session Minutes

Physically Present:

Christopher Valenti, Chaka Patterson, Barbara Bowman, Jodi Block

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:

None

Absent:

Linda Johnson Rice, Josephine Gomez, Lynn Lockwood, Denise Gardner

Welcome and History of the Chinatown Branch

Si Chen, Chinatown Branch Manager, gave a warm welcome and history of the Chinatown branch library. Service to the Chinatown community began in 1972 in a small storefront on Wentworth Ave. A larger 11,000 sq ft rental facility was later dedicated September 28, 1990. The new 16,000 sq ft, two-story branch opened August 29, 2015. The branch boasts a partially covered “living” roof, Feng shui-influenced interior design and expansive views of the city. The branch serves as a cultural and information center for those who seek information about the Chinatown community and Chinese culture.

Approval of the minutes

Due to lack of a quorum, the minutes of the June 16, 2015 and September 8, 2015 Board meetings were not approved.

Policy Recommendation: Rental Rates and Fees for Event Spaces

Tabled until November 17, 2015 Board meeting.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report

Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services presented the Capital Projects and Facilities report and provided new information on the projects in planning, under construction and now open:

Projects In planning

• Legler Branch – Phase 1: New contractor is preparing bid for the limestone steps and railings. Phase 2: Window restoration and replacement of the front doors. Phase 3: Upgraded toilet rooms for ADA compliance; LED lighting in historic atrium laylight; roof replacement; masonry and parapet repairs.
• Austin Branch – No changes
• Douglass Branch – Drawings are complete and pricing is under review for the installation of a public toilet room on the 1^st floor and reconstruction of stair railing.
• Sulzer – No changes
• Woodson Regional – Phase 2b: BID documents with completed drawings and contract requirements for the envelope replacement and interior upgrades are being revised to coincide with phasing strategies and upon completion will be returned to the Department of Procurement Services. Anticipated dates of opening BID has been postponed until 4Q 2015.
• Early Learning Spaces – Scope: Design and construct new Early Learning areas for children in the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library at HWLC, Sulzer and Woodson Regional branches, Austin-Irving, Budlong, Legler, Lozano, Little Village, Sherman Park, Toman, Kelly, South Chicago, Thurgood Marshall, West Englewood and West Pullman branches. CBRE will serve as owner’s rep. for the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library at HWLC; PBC will serve as rep for branch and regional libraries. Budget: $2.5 mil funded by Exelon through the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

Projects Under Construction

• Greta Bever, Assistant Commissioner of Central Library Services, gave an update on the HWLC Center Circle redesign and Materials Handling System. The Ductwork for air balancing on the inner dock has been completed; The task order for the elevator reprogramming has been approved by 2FM and is at the Department of Procurement for approval. The Automated Materials Handling System’s components are being manufactured and are to be assembled at HWLC. Projected completion TBD

Commissioner’s Report

Commissioner Bannon highlighted the priority projects that were completed in the 3^rd quarter which include: Launchpad Tablet launch; Chicago Theatre Project; new Chinatown branch library; Internet to Go: Wi-Fi Lending Hotspot program; Digital Skills for Non-profits; Expanded Citizenship Services; Shortening the materials wait time in transit; Innovation Challenge & Framework; and 2015 Tech Trend and Link to CPL Strategy.

New projects that will be introduced in the 4^th quarter include: Public Scanner Implementation and Harold Washington Library Master Plan.

Greta Bever, Assistant Commissioner of Central Library Services, gave a special report on the Hold in Transit Project. The project is intended to shorten the wait time for patrons to receive an item after it is placed on hold. In the past year, 32% of holds placed by patrons were not delivered within 30 days. CPL has taken steps to decrease the wait time by improving the driver routes adding Saturday as a day for delivering items to offset holidays and consolidating the clerical staff for creation of the Patron Account Services. Since these changes were implemented, the decrease in wait time has drastically improved allowing at least 66% of patrons to receive their items within 1 week. With the automated materials handling system is underway, the wait time will continue to decrease. Projected completion TBD

Commissioner Bannon also announced:

• The 2015 Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge concluded its twelve weeks of summer learning on August 31^st with 99,000 children reading 72 million minutes.
• CPL will be expanding the CyberNavigator program to all locations over the next 4 months. Currently, approximately 50 CPL locations have CyberNavigators for 20 hours each week.
• CPL has partnered with the Chicago Architecture Biennial to present events this fall about architecture and design in correlation to the theme of the One Book, One Chicago selection this season.
• CPL will host the Cindy Pritzker Lecture on Urban Life and Issues: A Conversation with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on October 29^th at HWLC.
• One Book, One Chicago author Thomas Dyja will be in conversation with Donna Seaman on November 4^th to discuss how this season’s theme Chicago: The City That Gives, can be found in the growth and shaping of the city of Chicago both in the past and present.
• CPL’s budget hearing before City Council is scheduled for October 7^th; budget to pass City Council on October 28^th; budget year begins on January 1, 2016.

Other Business

None

Public Comment

The Board addressed comments from the audience in regards to extending the hours of operation at the Chinatown branch to open on Sundays; concerns with the landscaping upkeep at the Bezazian branch and requests for Northtown branch to be renovated.

Executive Session

The Board moved into Executive Session to discuss matters related to budget and personnel.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center.

Commissioner’s Report

Quarter Priority Projects

2015 Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge

Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge concluded its twelve weeks of summer learning on August 31, 2015. 99,000 children participated this summer, representing a 19% increase from 2014. 72 million minutes of reading were accomplished by Chicago Kids along with STEM activities and Maker/Design Challenges. The Summer Learning Challenge program was recently awarded the first ever Excellence Award (Founder’s Award) presented by the National Summer Learning Association, this is the first time NSLA has ever awarded to a non-enrollment based program.  This also represents the first library to win an Excellence Award; CPL will be receiving this award at the national conference in Baltimore on October 13^th.

Additional highlights included the Space Alien Ball in July with over 500 children in attendance and a Learner’s Family Day at MSI on September 12^th with nearly 1,000 children and parents in attendance and a “First Contact” creative writing contest with over 2,000 entries from across the city.

CyberNavigator Expansion

Through our partnership with the Smart Chicago Collaborative and the Chicago Public Library Foundation, CPL will be phasing in an expansion of the CyberNavigator Program to all locations over the next 4 months. This means that every CPL location with public PCs will have at least 6 hours and up to 60 hours (at HWLC) of CN assistance for patrons each week.

Currently about 50 CPL locations have CyberNavigators for 20 hours each week.  But based on a number of factors such as broadband adoption in the community, unemployment and federal poverty levels, and the number of public PCs and computer sessions at each location, we have increased coverage in some libraries, decreased hours in a few locations and continued 20 hours in most locations.  Additionally 29 CPL branches will be receiving (for the first time) some CyberNavigator hours to support the technology needs of their community.

CyberNavigators are now supporting many of our grant funded initiatives such as the Cities for Citizenship, Workforce Development and other programs.

Chicago Architecture Biennial

One Book, One Chicago's selection this season, The Third Coast by Thomas Dyja, explores a variety of exciting things happening in Chicago's history at the mid-century, including architecture and design.

This season's theme, "Chicago: The City That Gives," honors the many ways in which the city and its residents have given to the world and each other—including in the field of architecture. In celebration of this important heritage, we've partnered with the Chicago Architecture Biennial to present events this fall about architecture and design:

• See Rome Prize-winning architect Teddy Cruz speak at Harold Washington Library Center about the social implication of his architectural work.
• Get out and see neighborhood architecture with walking tours in Hyde Park, Pullman, Little Italy, Old Town and Uptown.
• Listen to architects and designers talk about the importance of architecture projects and take a tour of one of Chicago's latest projects in Reorienting the City and The 606 Tour.
• Engage with innovative architects taking architecture and design beyond the building to create social impact.
• Hear a lecture on mid-century architecture by curator and scholar Barry Bergdoll.
• Take your love of tiny houses to the Maker Lab with Really Tiny House workshops all season long.
• Learn and reflect on important moments in Chicago's history with 20 Moments: Chicago in the 20th Century with urbanologist Max Grinnell.
• Get informed on the importance of public art in the city with Chicago's Public Art: Out of the Past, Into the Future.

Cindy Pritzker Lecture

On October 29^th, CPL will host the 2015 Cindy Pritzker Lecture on Urban Life and Issues: A Conversation with Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Rahm Emanuel has served as the 55th mayor of the city of Chicago since 2011. During that time he has been a tireless advocate for the citizens of Chicago, working to secure Chicago’s future as a global capital.

Cindy Pritzker Lecture is presented by the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors in honor of Cindy Pritzker, its former president and founder of the Chicago Public Library Foundation. The lecture will be held at 6p.m. in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library Center.

Thomas Dyja, Author of The Third Coast, in conversation with Donna Seaman

On November 4^th, award-winning author and third generation Chicagoan Thomas Dyja appears in the headline event of this One Book, One Chicago season to discuss The Third Coast, in conversation with Donna Seaman. Dyja will also address how this season's theme, Chicago: The City That Gives, can be found in the growth and shaping of the city of Chicago both in the past and present day. The event will be held in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library at 6p.m.

Budget Update

• October 7, 2015 budget hearing before city council
• October 28, 2015 budget to pass city council
• January 1, 2016 budget year begins