Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – September 20, 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Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 2 years old and the information may be out of date.

Agenda

Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

Little Village Branch

2311 S. Kedzie Avenue

 

  1. Welcome to the Little Village Branch (info only)Commissioner’s Report (info only)
  2. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on June 21, 2016 (action required)
  3. Amendment to the Chicago Public Library Bylaws of the Board of Directors (action required)
  4. Policy Recommendation: Library Card Campaign (action required)
  5. Policy Recommendation: Library Use Guidelines (action required)
  6. Policy Recommendation: Computer and Internet Use Guidelines (action required)
  7. CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
  8. Commissioner’s Report (info only)
    • 2016 Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge
    • First Deputy Commissioner Saenz speaks on Digital Inclusion at the White House
    • Working in America Exhibit Launch, September 14th, 2016
    • Cindy Pritzker Lecture featuring Theaster Gates, September 28th, 2016
    • Know Your Chicago Event, October 18th and 19th, 2016
    • Fall 2016/2017 One Book, One Chicago
  9. Chicago Public Library Foundation Report
  10. Other Business
  11. Public Comment

 

Next Board meeting:

Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

South Chicago Branch

9055 S. Houston Avenue

 

 

Open Session Minutes

Physically Present:

Linda Johnson Rice, Christopher Valenti, Jodi Block, Barbara Bowman, Denise Gardner, Patricia Gaytan Perez

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:

None

Absent:

Josephine Gomez, Lynn Lockwood

 

Welcome to the Little Village Branch (info only)

Teresa Madrigal, branch manager of the Little Village library, provided the Board with an overview of the branch’s history and activities. The Little Village branch will celebrate its 5 year anniversary on October 3rd and supports the Little Village and Lawndale communities. The branch offers computer and homework help, Spanish language materials and features a meeting room that is open to the public. This location predominantly serves immigrants and serves as a Citizenship Corner as well. The biggest improvement at the Little Village branch is the addition of the maker lab, branch staff and patrons are creating hats that will be later donated to a children’s hospital. During the 2016 Summer Learning Challenge, 600 kids participated at the Little Village branch and 4000 books were distributed on the first day of the Bernie Book launch.

Approval of the minutes (action required)

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on June 21, 2016.

Amendment to the Chicago Public Library Bylaws of the Board of Directors (action required)

Commissioner Bannon and President Rice presented a resolution to amend Section 7 Article II of the bylaws of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Public Library System to revise outdated language as it relates to public participation and include the following:

Any member of the general public may address the Board at any meeting required to be open to the public under the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1, et seq.). Any such person who addresses the Board shall;

  • Be physically present inside the assembly room where the Board’s meeting takes place and submit a request to testify;
  • Limit his or her remarks to three minutes (at the discretion of the Board president)
  • Refrain from use of profane language or obscene conduct, or make irrelevant, repetitious or disruptive comments; and
  • Comply with the order of the Chairman of the Board’s meeting

The Chairman of the Board’s meeting has authority and discretion to: (i) curtail or limit public comment if the witness fails to comply with this Section, and (ii) allow reasonable variances from the three-minute time limit in appropriate, non-discriminator circumstances.

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the resolution to amend Section 7 Article II of the bylaws of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Public Library System.

Policy Recommendation: Library Card Campaign (action required)

In partnership with Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Archdiocese Schools, Commissioner Bannon presented a request to the Board to hold October as Library Card Campaign month. Currently, all patrons are issued a $1 fee for a replacement library card that has been lost or stolen. During the month of October, CPL proposes to waive the $1 fee for a replacement library card to school children, K-12 when applications are received in the branch.

The Board voted (6-0) to hold an annual Library Card Campaign month in October.

Policy Recommendation: Library Use Guidelines (action required)

A recommendation was made to amend the Library Use Guidelines to include the following language:

To ensure access to Library Services and for the safety of all users, adults are prohibited from using the children’s area without a child or need for the children’s collections. Adults are also prohibited from using the teen area’s unless there is a need to access the teen collections.

Current practice allows adults to use the children and/or teen areas at the discretion of the branch manager when children/teens are not present. The amended will prohibit adults from using these areas if they are not accompanied by a child regardless if other children/teens are not present in the area. Adults will be allowed to access the children/teens collections if necessary.

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the amended language to the Library Use Guidelines.

Policy Recommendation: Computer and Internet Use Guidelines (action required)

A recommendation was made to amend the Computer and Internet Use Guidelines to include the following language:

To ensure access to Library Services and for the safety of all users, adults are prohibited from using teen computers. Adults are also prohibited from using the children’s computers without being accompanied by a child in their care.

Current practice allows adults to use the children and/or teen computers at the discretion of the branch manager when children/teens are not present. The amended language entirely prohibits adults from using computers in teen areas. If an adult uses a computer in the children’s area, they must be accompanied by a child.

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the amended language Computer and Internet Use Guidelines.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)

Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services, presented the Capital Building Projects and Facilities report which highlighted major maintenance/repair projects, projects in planning, projects under construction and an update on the Independence branch:

Major Maintenance and Repair Projects

  • Legler – Entry Stair Rehabilitation Project was completed 6/22/16. Current and upcoming activity: significant masonry repairs and tuck-pointing on the rear of the building to address water infiltration and structural deficiencies; new parapet and steel lintels above the second floor windows; the historic wood windows are being repaired and restored throughout the building; replacement of the three sets of main entry doors on the exterior; estimated completion by October 20, 2016.
  • Sulzer – installation of new fire alarm system is completed; entry door repairs and installation of new, automatic push pad operators for the front entry doors to meet ADA is complete. Current and upcoming activity: mechanical system repairs and replacement, including two new cooling units and cooling tower repairs will begin 10/17 with completion scheduled for 11/5/16 (this will affect building operations and Sulzer will be closed from Sun, 10/16 until Sat, 11/5 for work to be completed); elevator repairs and cab finish replacement is scheduled to be completed in mid-November; replacement of all existing first and second floor windows with new, thermally broken windows, and a new precast window sill system, will be installed in October.
  • Mabel Manning – Scope: repair and replacement of damaged and falling masonry around main entry of the library; new section of sidewalk along ADA path from the parking lot where the existing sidewalk has settled and created a tripping hazard; new windows in the Community Room that look onto the Circulation Desk area and to the outside; ceiling tile replacement, new paint in the Community Room, and new kitchenette millwork and plumbing; 2FM is also in the process of replacing the existing boiler (anticipated to be complete before winter). Current and upcoming activity: work began on 9/6 to repair and replace the damaged and falling masonry around the main entry of the building and new section of sidewalk. TIFF funding was received over the summer for these repairs.

Projects in Planning

  • Early Learning Areas –
    • West Englewood - plan sketches have been sent to CPL for review and finishes are in the process of being selected for the renovation work; work will be performed by City Trades; in planning with Fleet and Facility Management (2FM), and to be completed by 10/16/16
    • Lozano - The plan sketch and design is in progress; work will be performed by City Trades; in planning with Fleet and Facility Management (2FM), and to be completed by 10/16/16.
    • West Pullman and Little Village – In planning with the Public Building Commission (PBC); bids received through JOC Bid Safe Program on 4/4/16; Leopardo Construction selected as lowest bidder; notice to proceed (NTP) issued in July 2016; pre-construction and construction activities to begin 10-12 weeks after NTP.
    • HWLC Thomas Hughes – Project Managed by the Public Building Commission; Design Architect is Gensler Chicago. Timeline as follows:
      • PBC Board Approval of undertaking, 8/9/16
      • Bid package review meeting 8/22/16
      • Issue for Bid set, 9/20/16
      • Permits issued, 9/30/16
      • Bid opening, 10/18/16
      • Bid awarded, 11/8/16
      • THCL closes to the public 10/31/16
      • NTP, 12/1/16
      • Final completion, 1Q 2017
      • THCL reopens to the public, 2Q 2017
  • Whitney Young – Building Program: renovation and expansion of existing 10,400 sq. ft. library (+ 3,000-5,000 square foot addition); new branch may feature an early learning area, YOUmedia digital lab for teens, computer commons to add computer capacity, additional meeting spaces in addition to community meeting room, ADA compliance, new furniture and equipment, refreshed collections, and digital skills training as part of the Connect Chicago Initiative. Preliminary Project Schedule: schematic design kick-off meeting, 9/8/16; schematic design development, September - November 2, 2016; contract document development, November 2016 - May 2017; bid and award, June-July 2017; construction, August 2017-2Q 2018; facility opening, 4Q 2018
  • Altgeld – On August 16th, Mayor Emanuel announced a new library at Altgeld Gardens thanks to an innovative partnership between the Chicago Housing Authority and Chicago Public Library. The new branch library will replace a rental facility co-located in a local elementary school and will be constructed along 130th Street near Ellis Avenue  in the Altgeld Gardens development. Features of the new branch will include: early learning area for children under 5, YOUmedia digital lab for in teens, additional computers, new furniture and equipment, flexible meeting spaces and refreshed collections.

Projects In Construction

  • Woodson – Scope: new terra cotta façade with metal panels in the rear of the building with matching color; new energy efficient and insulated windows, exterior doors and entrance with automatic push pads for accessibility; new curtain wall which will bring natural daylighting into lobby and 2nd floor; film with digital images applied on glass on south and southeast elevations; new energy efficient and insulated roof; new modern interior and exterior security cameras; renovation and modification to the lobby and monumental stairway; construction of two new 2nd floor study rooms.
    • Construction Update: Contractor – Ujamaa Construction
      • As of September 12, 2016, work officially begun on the roof and east façade.
      • East façade brick is being removed to allow for tuck pointing. This wall will be receiving metal panel and terra cotta on SE corner.
      • The library will close on November 8 when the removal and replacement of the exterior facades begins and will remain closed until the Fall of 2017.
      • CPL is working closely with 2FM on logistics for the closing and coordination around staff access to the Harsh Collection during closing.
    • Closure Dates: November 8 through Fall 2017
    • Services During Closure:
      • Expanded hours will begin on Sunday, November 13 at Avalon, Beverly and West Pullman branches.
      • Children’s staff will continue to conduct story times and school visits as currently scheduled in the community.
      • Children’s staff will conduct a weekly story time at Euclid Park.
      • The Teacher in the Library Program will be offered nearby in the community, location TBD.
      • The monthly book discussion will continue to be offered in the community, location TBD.
      • The Harsh Readers Circle will continue to take place at one of the expanded hours sites, location TBD.
    • Harsh Collection Access:
      • The 1999 addition housing the Harsh Collection will be secured during construction and the archives will be protected in the specially designed, climate controlled space where it is currently housed.
      • Harsh Collection staff will be temporarily relocated to the Special Collections Department at the Harold Washington Library Center.
      • Select and frequently used materials will be temporarily housed in HWLC Special Collections for easy access.
      • Staff will take research requests by appointment as is current practice.
      • Staff will have weekly access to the Harsh Collection to retrieve materials for research requests.

Updates

  • Independence – Library has been closed since October 30, 2015; branch contents are currently being cleaned and treated J.C. Restoration Inc.; landlord has begun making structural repairs to the building; City now has the authority to enter into the leases with the landlord per City Council approval; expect to reopen the branch in the Q1 or Q2 of 2017.

Commissioner’s Report (info only)

Brian Bannon, Commissioner highlighted the following:

  • Final numbers for the 2016 Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge are currently being tabulated. A special report will be provided at the October Board meeting.
  • First Deputy Commissioner Saenz participated in the ConnectALL Summit for Digital Inclusion in Washington, DC on August 19th. She was invited as one of four summit speakers to provide an overview of CPL’s work in integrating digital inclusion and digital skills into Chicago’s citywide library services.
  • On September 14th, Project& in collaboration with Lynsey Addario will launch Working in America, a multimedia exhibit that bridges together photo essays and exhibitions, online forums, a radio series on NPR and public programming.
  • Theaster Gates will be recognized at this year’s Cindy Pritzker Lecture on Urban Life on September 28th.
  • Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Public Library Foundation have been selected as one of five Know Your Chicago (KYC) programs for Fall, 2016 and provide day-long tours of the Harold Washington Library and Chinatown branch on October 18th and 19th, 2016.
  • The One Book, One Chicago selection for 2016/2017 will be Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover; this year’s program explores the theme Eat Think Grow.

Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (info only)

Kate Nardin, Director of Instructional Giving at Chicago Public Library Foundation gave the Foundation report and highlighted the following fundraising efforts:

  • A two-year grant of $800,000 for Human Centered Learning from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to be shared between CPL and our partner Library in Aarhus Denmark
  • $50,000 from People’s Gas for Science Connections year-round stem programming in branch libraries
  • The Foundation has three new members of their legacy society, including one current and one life director. This brings the Foundation’s Legacy society membership up to 23.
  • The Foundation welcomed a new Chief Development Officer, Darcy Evon which joins the Foundation following a 25 year career in fundraising for higher education, including leadership roles at University of Chicago, IIT and University of Michigan.
  • This month, the Foundation will be launching its new branding campaign “Dedicated to the Curious” designed with the pro bono support of FCB.
  • The Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner will take place on October 26th and will honor Amina Gautier, Scott Turow and Erik Larson. As of last week Dinner revenue totaled nearly $1.6 million

Other Business

None

Public Comment

The Board addressed comments from the audience with regards to adding a Spanish speaking audio book club and more accessibility tools at neighborhood branches for visually impaired patrons; other concerns relating to disruptions in the Uptown community that may be related to patrons that use the Library’s Wi-Fi at a nearby branch and a process for organizations to donate funds to specific branch libraries via the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at the South Chicago branch located at 9055 S. Houston Avenue.

 

Commissioner’s Report

2016 Summer Learning Challenge

Explore on the Go! The 2016 Rahm’s Reader’s Summer Learning Challenge has finished and the number of participants & how much they learned are now being tabulated. This summer our lead corporate sponsor, Boeing’s centennial was celebrated with specially engineered paper airplanes for kids, STEM about transportation and over 1200 public programs conducted by children’s librarians with an additional 350 funded by the CPL Foundation. This was our summer of a million books, and thanks to KPMG and Bernie’s Book Banks over 80,000 children received books to build their home library this summer. Many thanks to the CPL Children’s librarians for providing the largest Summer Learning Challenge in CPL history. Work for the 2017 Summer Learning Challenge has already begun and in 2017 CPL will be featuring superhero science.

First Deputy Commissioner Sáenz speaks on Digital Inclusion at the White House

On Friday, August 19th First Deputy Commissioner Sáenz participated in the ConnectALL Summit for Digital Inclusion in Washington, DC. To close the digital divide, President Obama unveiled ConnectALL, a new effort to help connect 20 million more Americans to broadband by 2020.

First Deputy Commissioner Saenz was invited, as one of four summit speakers, to provide an overview of the Chicago Public Library’s work to integrate digital inclusion and digital skills into its citywide library services and bring together the city’s adult education ecosystem in order to connect these learners to high quality adult education and workforce development services. The National Economic Council, the Aspen Institute, and EveryoneOn organized the meeting that brought together government, private sector, and philanthropy to ensure that all Americans can take advantage of the social and economic benefits that broadband can provide.

Working in America Exhibit Launch, September 14th, 2016

On Wed, September 14th, Project&, in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lynsey Addario, launched Working in America, an exhibit designed by Jeanne Gang and Studio Gang Architects, conceived and curated by Jane M Saks and hosted by Chicago Public Library.

Working in America is a multimedia exhibit that bridges together photo essays and exhibitions, online forums, a radio series on NPR, and public programming. The initiative engages the voices of people from all over the US, capturing workers across a broad spectrum of fields and explores the relationships between the social, cultural, physical and psychological realities of work that shape everyday life. The exhibit ultimately celebrates and brings forward the tradition of Studs Terkel’s influential book, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, published 40 years ago. In it, he wrote that he wanted to reveal “work as the search for daily meaning as well as daily bread.”

The exhibit is on display September 14, 2016 to January 30, 2017 at the north end of the Harold Washington Library Center's third floor.

Cindy Pritzker Lecture featuring Theaster Gates - September 28th, 2016

Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates will be recognized at this year’s Cindy Pritzker Lecture on Urban Life that takes place Wed, September 28th, 2016. Gates has developed an expanded practice that includes space development, object making, performance and critical engagement with many publics. Gates was named one of The Top 10 Living Artists of 2015 by the Artsy journal, which stated that as a Chicagoan serving as a catalyst for social change, Gates was one of those ringing in exciting advancements in the world of art and beyond.

The Cindy Pritzker Lecture on Urban Life and Issues is presented by the Board of Directors of the Chicago Public Library in honor of Cindy Pritzker, its former president and founder of the Chicago Public Library Foundation. The program will be followed by dinner in the library’s Winter Garden.

Know Your Chicago Event, October 18th and 19th, 2016

The Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Library Foundation have been selected as one of five Know Your Chicago (KYC) programs for Fall 2016. Celebrating their 68th season, KYC is an acclaimed annual lecture and tour series that provides Chicagoans with rare access to city leaders, innovators and experts, and unique locations to explore the critical issues concerning Chicago, its citizens and its future. Foundation Board President Bob Wislow and I participated in the KYC Symposium on September 7th and talked about “A Brilliant Partnership”, the 30-year partnership between CPL and the CPLF.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18 and 19th KYC will provide day-long tours of the Harold Washington Library Center and hear compelling historic and future visions presented by CPL and CPLF leadership, including the “Thirty Million Words” project, other early childhood literacy initiatives, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s first-of-its-kind grant for twenty-first century challenges. Followed by a tour of the Chinatown branch library guided by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s design architect and an architectural critic.

Fall 2016/2017 One Book, One Chicago

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver is the 27th selection for Fall 2016/2017 One Book, One Chicago. This year's program explores the theme Eat Think Grow.

Since its release in May 2007, Animal Vegetable, Miracle has helped launch a modern transition in America’s attitudes toward food. In this lively account of a family’s year of eating locally on their farm in Southern Appalachia, Barbara Kingsolver and her coauthors unearth the secret lives of vegetables and the unexpected satisfactions of knowing their food producers — and sometimes their dinner — on a first-name basis.

From October 2016 through April 2017 we offer you a chance to explore "Eat Think Grow" from multiple perspectives, as recounted through personal experience, imagined in literature, presented in politics, or synthesized in music and art. In addition to digital programs such as Twitter chats and exploring online resources you can engage with from your own home, we will offer a program in every single branch of the Chicago Public Library. From book discussions to walking tours, history lectures to film screenings and more, Chicagoans will have more opportunities than ever before to engage with the One Book, One Chicago program.

One Book, One Chicago 2016/2017 has been made possible through the generous support of The City of Chicago, Chicago Public Library Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, BMO Harris Bank and United, as well as our many partners in the community.

 

Chicago Public Library Foundation Report

The Board and Staff of the Foundation is pleased to report on the positive results of our collaborative fundraising efforts with and on behalf of the Chicago Public Library. Major recent grant activity:

    • These include a two year grant of $800,000 for Human Centered Learning from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which will be shared between CPL and our partner Library in Aarhus Denmark
    • $50,000 from People’s Gas for Science Connections year-round stem programming in branch libraries

As you know, the Foundation’s endowment and estate gifts provides great flexibility in the Foundation’s support of the Library. In July, Paul Dykstra, who leads our Board’s planned giving efforts sent out a communication to current and former directors, which has resulted in three new members of our legacy society, including one  current and one life director.  This brings our Legacy society membership up to 23.

The Foundation is pleased to welcome our new Chief Development Officer Darcy Evon, who we hope you will meet soon. Darcy joins the Foundation following a 25 year career in fundraising for higher education, including leadership roles at University of Chicago, IIT and University of Michigan. Most recently she led Corporate and Foundation giving for more than a dozen years at UIC. She has also founded an information technology company and was the technology columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.

This month, the Foundation will be launching its new branding campaign “Dedicated to the Curious” designed with the pro bono support of FCB. The Campaign will feature targeted advertising in social media and public radio, the launch of our new website and a donor acquisition campaign going out to 30,000 new potential donors. The direct mail campaign is researched and designed with pro bono support from FCB and contributed printing and mailing by SG360.

This is the time of year that we remind you of the Foundation and Library’s Major fundraising event, The Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on October 26. This year we honor short story writer Amina Gautier with the 21st Century Award and Legal Thriller master Scott Turow and Erik Larson, author of bestselling non-fiction Devil in the White City and Dead Wake with Carl Sandburg Literary Award. The Dinner is co-chaired by BMO Harris CEO Dave Casper and real estate entrepreneur Wendy Berger. As of last week Dinner revenue totaled nearly $1.6 million.

Among our 75 authors at every table are:

    • Northwestern professor Garry Wills
    • Harvard Professor and award winning author on race Laurence Ralph
    • Superstar Athletic Trainer Tim Grover
    • J. Ivy, NAACP image award winning poet who has recorded with John Legend, Jay Z and Kanye West
    • Barbeque guru Meathead Goldwyn
    • Former Chicago Bear Desmond Clark
    • Architect John Ronan
    • One Book Author Stuart Dybek
    • Oprah Book Club author Elizabeth Berg
    • And, co-author with Lin Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton, The Revolution”, Jeremy McCarter.

We thank those you who have already purchased tickets and tables and invite the rest of you to make your reservation now for the event that the press has called: “the smartest evening in town.”