HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-2011 Library Commission Meeting Minutes DRAFT
City of Saratoga
Library Commission
MINUTES
DATE: August 22, 2011
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Saratoga Library
Orchard Room
13650 Saratoga Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Call to Order – 5:37 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Andres, Baxter, Khan, Lemmon, McBane Mulford
Staff & Liaisons: Melinda Cervantes, Terrie Creamer, Gayathri Kanth, Crystal Morrow
Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting
was properly posted on August 20, 2011.
Accept Agenda Items & Order: No additional items may be added to this agenda pursuant to Government Code
Section 59454.2.
Oral & Written Communications: Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not
on the agenda for this meeting for up to three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter, but
may choose to place the topic on a future agenda.
‐ No oral or written communications
Approval of Minutes: Draft minutes for the June 22, 2011 meeting.
‐ ANDRES MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT JUNE 22, 2011 MINUTES
‐ BAXTER SECONDED THE MOTION
‐ APPROVED 5‐0
Old Business
1. Library Commission Work Plan
‐ McBane Mulford introduced the item.
‐ Kanth shared that the library is interested in working with the Library Commission to reach out to “Do
Not Disturbs” in the community.
‐ Cervantes explained that in 2009, Santa Clara County Library hired OrangeBoy to conduct market
research and gain greater insight into the communities served by the Library. The communities were
broken down into clusters based on their characteristics. Of the 17 clusters identified, a total of 7 of the
clusters were considered non‐users of the library. One of these clusters included the “Do Not Disturbs.”
Members of this group typically have lower readership levels, no interest in using the library, are over
the age of 45, are unlikely to have children living at home, are likely to have at least some college
education, and typically have a household income of $100,000 to $250,000 per year.
‐ Cervantes added that the Santa Clara County Library has been focused on reaching out to the non‐user
groups that are easiest to gain the support of. It will require more energy to gain the support of “Do Not
Disturbs.” Additionally, there is a large number of “Do Not Disturbs” in Saratoga. Because the members
of the Commission are already well‐connected with the community and natural advocates for the
Library, it makes sense for the Commission to lead the effort to start building support for the Library
among this group of residents.
‐ Kanth added that the Commission could start by building a profile of the community.
‐ The Commission discussed resources in the community and outreach strategies for reaching out to “Do
Not Disturbs” in the community. This included working with established groups in the community,
identifying “Do Not Disturbs” and developing a database of “Do Not Disturbs” in the community,
collecting voter registration information, and creating information pieces.
‐ MCBANE MULFORD MOTIONED TO FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER BAXTER AND
MCBANE MULFORD, TO WORK WITH CERVANTES AND KANTH TO RETURN TO THE COMMISSION WITH A
PROPOSED PLAN AT THE OCTOBER MEETING DESCRIBING HOW THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MIGHT
REACH OUT TO THE “DO NOT DISTURBS” IN THE COMMUNITY.
‐ BAXTER SECONDED THE MOTION
‐ APPROVED 5‐0
2. Library General Obligation Bond Update
‐ Morrow shared that refunding of the General Obligation Bond is complete. Refunding the 2001 General
Obligation Bonds will save Saratoga property tax payers $2,677,041 over the next 20 years.
‐ Morrow added that projects funded with remaining bond funds are moving forward. The roof safety
project will be completed in September. Bids are being accepted for workroom floor mitigation and the
project is scheduled to be complete in September. The Library solar project is expected to go out to bid
in September.
New Business
3. Non‐resident Fee
‐ Cervantes shared an update on the non‐resident fee for Santa Clara County Library cards. She noted that
3,181 non‐resident cards had been sold as of August 17. The Library took in $255,000 for the cards,
which exceeded $240,000 projected for the full year.
‐ Cervantes also informed the Commission that the Library issued more than 3,000 student library cards,
which are available to students enrolled in a K‐12 school that is located in or part of a school district
within the library district boundaries.
‐ Cervantes added that circulation has declined since the fee for non‐resident library cards was adopted,
but is expected to increase when school is back in session and as more non‐residents decide to purchase
library cards.
4. Update on Library Electrical Controller
‐ McBane Mulford requested that Morrow send an informational update to the Commission via email.
5. Update on Directional Street Signage for Library
‐ McBane Mulford requested that Morrow send an informational update to the Commission via email.
6. 2011 Meeting Schedule
‐ McBane Mulford asked Morrow to send the 2011 schedule to the Commission.
7. Election of Commission Chair and Vice Chair
‐ McBane Mulford introduced the item and called for nominations for Chair or Vice Chair.
‐ The Commission discussed election of a Chair and Vice Chair.
‐ MCBANE MULFORD MOVED TO ELECT ANDRES AS THE COMMISSION CHAIR AND BAXTER AS THE
COMMISSION VICE CHAIR
‐ KHAN SECONDED THE MOTION
‐ APPROVED 5‐0
Reports
8. Melinda Cervantes, Santa Clara County Librarian
‐ Cervantes informed the Commission that all libraries will be closed on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 to allow
for a major technology upgrade to the Horizon system. The Library catalog, Bibliocommons, holds and
automated return systems will be back in service on Wed., Aug. 24, 2011. Manual book drops will be
open.
‐ Cervantes shared that the California State Budget signed by the Governor included $15.2 million in State
funds for public libraries. However, the funding is one of the so‐called “trigger cuts” that will be
eliminated in January if certain revenue targets are not met, so no money will go from the State to local
libraries before the revenues are evaluated in December.
‐ Cervantes told the Commission that the next meeting of the Santa Clara County Library JPA Board will be
October 27, 2011 at 1:30pm at the Library Administration Offices, 14600 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos.
JPA agendas and minutes will be posted on the Library website the Friday before each meeting at
www.santaclaracountylib.org.
9. Gayathri Kanth, Community Librarian
‐ McBane Mulford asked Morrow to send the Community Librarian’s report to the Commission.
10. Terrie Creamer, Friends of the Saratoga Libraries
‐ Creamer shared that Friends had a great year, thanks largely to the Book‐ Go‐ Round. The Friends raised
$219,489 with $176,251 from the Book‐ Go‐ Round and $41,000 from membership.
‐ Creamer added that the Friends budget and grant to the Saratoga Library will be voted on at the August
24, 2011 meeting.
‐ Creamer announced that the Friends are holding a paperback book sale on August 27‐28 in the
Community Room.
‐ Creamer also announced that the Author Series begins September 7 at 10 am in the Community Room.
Helen Wang, a local author, will talk about her book, The Chinese Dream: The Rise of the World Largest
Middle Class and What It Means to You.
11. Sam McBane Mulford, Library Commission Chair
‐ McBane Mulford thanked Khan for his service on the Commission.
Agenda items for the Next Meeting
‐ No items
Adjournment ‐ 7:07 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Crystal Morrow, Administrative Analyst II
City of Saratoga – City Manager’s Office