03-16-2009 LBOT MINUTES - APPROVED
CITY OF ORANGE LIBRARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
ORANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
March 16, 2009
Staff Conference Room, Orange Public Library & History Center
407 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange 92866
I. CALL TO ORDER (3:05 p.m.)
1.1 Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Douglas Westfall led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1.2 Roll Call
Trustees Present: Chair Douglas Westfall, Vice Chair Jonell Schlund, and Trustee Nancy
Collins
Trustees Absent: Trustee Mark Clemens
Staff Present: Interim Library Director Yolanda Moreno, and Executive Assistant Jan
Reichert, Senior Librarian Kitty Crary (left at 3:40).
1.3 Adoption of Agenda
Vice Chair Schlund moved to approve the agenda as presented; Trustee Collins seconded
the motion, and it carried unanimously.
1.4 Approval of Minutes
Trustee Collins moved to approve the minutes of the January 26, 2009 meeting as
presented; Trustee Clemens seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
Interim Library Director Yolanda Moreno asked to move Item IV., Old Business, 4.1, to the front of
the agenda. Trustees consented.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
4.1 Adult Literacy
Senior Librarian Kitty Crary reported on her findings with regards to the library’s adult literacy
program. She contacted Ricky Parker Manager of Community Services which incorporates
Orange County Library and Read OC. According to Ms. Parker, it’s the sub manager who will
be in charge of Read OC and this person has only been in charge of the program for several
weeks. After her conversation with Ms. Parker, Ms. Crary reported that the Read OC literacy
program is in a state of flux because of the recent personnel changes. Ms. Crary pulled
information from the SLS Head of Reference regarding other OC library adult literacy programs
- Anaheim Public Library (receives California Library Literacy Service funding), Placentia
(receives three kinds of funding from California Library Literacy Services), Newport Beach
(50% of its funding comes from local businesses and additional funding comes from the City and
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ORANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 16, 2009
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state funding), and Huntington Beach (receives funds from the City, grants and fund-raising).
Ms. Crary reported on an interesting fact about Read OC – we have eight active tutors from City
of Orange, and 24 learners. The good news is even if we do nothing, a learner in Orange can still
get tutored as long as the County continues to support the program. This learner will also be able
to come to OPL and use our Literacy Center. On behalf of the Board, Ms. Collins thanked Ms.
Crary for all the research she did on this subject. The Board was hesitant in continuing with
Read OC even when the program is stable. Ms. Collins suggested that perhaps several Board
Members could do more research on the Newport Beach Public Library literacy program by
finding out how it’s run and how much the program could be staffed by volunteers. She added
that it may take several years to build a quality literacy program, but at least it would be start in
the right direction. Her idea is to start from the ground up and take baby steps in building a
solid, quality program. The Board was in agreement of Trustee Collins suggestion.
Interim Director Moreno reported that the $5,000 the library received from the Friends of OPL
for Literacy (from Spelling Bee) needs to be appropriated before we can spend it. The money is
in the City’s revenue account and she will move forward with bringing this forth to City Council
once direction is given by the Board. She added that this $5,000 needs to be appropriated before
the budget ends so that it can be carried over.
Trustee Collins, as a representative of the Board, expressed interest in attending the next Read
OC Learner training. Ms. Crary will find out when the next training is at the library and give this
information to Trustee Collins.
II. LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT
2.1 Monthly Report, March 2009
Interim Library Director Yolanda Moreno gave a verbal report:
• Special Budget meeting on budget decision items was held Tuesday, March 16. The
library had two items for the City Council to give direction on – 1) Reduce library book
budget and; 2) Closing a day at Main Library or El Modena and Taft Branch Library and
reducing all 19-hr employees to 15-hr. The City Council does not want to close the Main
Library any day. They did ask about Saturday at the branches, and Interim Director
Moreno added that Saturday is one of the busiest days at all three of the libraries. They
asked her to come back with an alternative day for closing the branches and how much we
could save. On March 16 Interim Library Director Moreno submitted to City Council the
closing of Thursday at the branch as the alternative day and the savings. The issue of
reducing the library book budget did not come up for discussion which means that most
likely it will be cut from $180,000 to $50,000.
• Interim Director Moreno will be presenting a wish list to both the Orange Public Library
Foundation and Friends of the Orange Public Library which will mostly consist of funds
for materials, instead of the nice to have items, because of the proposed book budget cut.
In these economic bad times the library is looking for support from its support groups.
• Orange Public Library (OPL) will host Reforma – the National Association of Spanish
Speaking Librarians – on Friday, April 3 in the Main Library Community Room.
Reforma is part of ALA and the OC Chapter is having a workshop serving the Latino
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population. Interim Library Director Moreno and Taft Branch Library Site Supervisor
Irma Morales will attend.
• Local Historian author Phil Brigandi hosted a book talk and signing at OPL on Monday,
March 2. Twenty people were in attendance.
• YA Author Jamie Martinez Wood hosted a book talk on Wednesday, March 11 at OPL.
• YA Librarian Ryan Gyan hosted a Teen Tech Week Gaming Program, Saturday, March
14 at OPL. Twenty-two were in attendance.
• Senior Librarian Crary and YA Librarian Gyan attended the Mason’s annual Community
Organization and Volunteer Awards Program. The Mason’s gave us six books on the
history of the Masonic Lodge for all three libraries.
2.2 Financial Report for March 2009
Received and filed.
III. BOARD REPORTS
3.1 Report from Chair Westfall
None.
3.2 Report from Foundation Liaison
Vice Chair Schlund reported that the Board has two new members – Doug Tipping and Larry
Tannas. The Board is also talking with two potential Board members - local artist Larissa
Marantz and Cindy McCandless. On Saturday, May 2, the Foundation will host a Teddy Bear
Tea Party. The Foundation is looking for underwriters of $250 and $500 for this event. The
money taken in from ticket sales will go toward purchasing children’s books. Executive Director
Nora Jacob has submitted several grant applications. The Foundation has also started its Annual
Fund Appeal.
3.3 Reports from Trustees
None.
V. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 ACTION, Review and Adoption of Programming Policy *
Interim Library Director Moreno reported that this policy was never formally adopted by the
Board of Trustees. A draft was written but the policy never made it beyond the library staff.
Chair Westfall stated that he would have to recuse himself so the Board would not be able to
move forward with adoption of this policy because of a lack of quorum. This will be added to
next month’s agenda. There was discussion on the Phil Brigandi book, Orange, and how he
obtained the photos from the OPL Local History collection. It was added that there usually is a
fee associated with providing photos from the library’s local history collection. The Board
would like staff to look into whether or not these photos were donated for this book. Interim
Library Director Moreno will look into this and report back to the Board at the next meeting.
CITY OF ORANGE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY SERVICES
ORANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 16, 2009
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VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
¾ Preserve Your Photos, Tuesday, March 17 & Tuesday, March 31 (Elmo), 6-7 p.m., Orange
Public Library & History Center, Orange Rotary Conference Room
¾ Job Search Workshop, Thursday, March 19, 4 p.m., Orange Public Library & History Center,
Orange Rotary Conference Room
¾ Researching the History of Your House, Tuesday, March 24, 6-7 p.m., Orange Public
Library & History Center, Orange Rotary Conference Room
¾ Mysterious CA book discussion, Wednesday, March 25, 3 p.m., Orange Public Library &
History Center, Community Room A&B
VII .PUBLIC COMMENT
None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Collins moved, and Vice Chair Schlund seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting
at 4:10 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. The next meeting will be held on Monday, April
20 3 p.m. in the Staff Conference Room, Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman
Avenue.
____________________________ _________________________
Yolanda Moreno, Interim Library Services Director Attested on