HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-19-2021 - BLT - APPROVED MINUTESCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
Board of Library Trustees
Newport Beach City Hall (via Zoom)
100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 – 5:00 p.m.
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER – Chair Watkins called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
II. ROLL CALL – Roll Call by Administrative Support Specialist Francine Jacome
Trustees Present: Chair Paul Watkins, Vice Chair Douglas Coulter, Secretary Kurt
Kost, Board Member Barbara Glabman
Trustees Absent: Board Member Janet Ray
Staff Present: Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director
Francine Jacome, Administrative Support Specialist
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
V. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Consent Calendar Items
1. Minutes of the December 21, 2020 Board of Library Trustees Meeting
Chair Watkins had the following corrections: 1) on handwritten Page 5 “complimented” is
misspelled. 2) On handwritten Page 7, Item 8, second paragraph, the last sentence should
be revised to read “Chair Watkins said he knows of no reason why NBPL cannot strive for
and successfully achieve 5 Star Status.” 3) Handwritten Page 8, Item 11, first sentence
should read “issue” instead of “volume.”
2. Patron Comments
Monthly review of evaluations of library services through suggestions and requests
received from customers.
3. Library Activities
Monthly update of library events, services, and statistics.
4. Expenditure Status Report
Monthly expenditure status of the library's operating expenses, services, salaries,
and benefits by department.
Chair Watkins reported that halfway through the fiscal year they are at 46% of budget.
Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2021
Page 2
5. Board of Library Trustees Monitoring List
List of agenda items and dates for monthly review of projects by the Board of
Library Trustees.
Chair Watkins said that at the suggestion of Newport Beach resident Mr. Mosher they
reorganized the agenda items and policy reviews to more evenly spread out the Board’s
work over the course of the year.
There were no public comments on the Consent Calendar.
Motion made by Board Member Glabman, seconded by Secretary Kost, and carried
(4-0-0-1) to approve the Consent Calendar as amended.
AYES: Watkins, Coulter, Kost, Glabman
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENCES: Ray
VI. CURRENT BUSINESS
A. Items for Review
6. Review of the NBPL Internet Use Policy (NBPL 5)
Staff recommends that the Board of Library Trustees review and approve
recommended revisions to the Library Internet Use Policy.
Chair Watkins stated that they made minor non-substantive revisions to NBPL 5 as
reflected in the redline version. Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director, agreed there
were no substantive changes to the use policy. The Board had no further input and the
public had no comment.
Motion made by Secretary Kost, seconded by Board Member Glabman, and carried
(4-0-0-1) to approve NBPL 5 as revised.
AYES: Watkins, Coulter, Kost, Glabman
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENCES: Ray
7. Review of Rules for Acceptable Use of Wireless Internet (NBPL 11)
Staff recommends that the Board of Library Trustees review and approve
recommended revisions to the Rules for Acceptable Use of Wireless Internet
Connections.
Chair Watkins reported that only non-substantive revisions were made to NBPL 11. The
Board had no comments or questions. The public had no comment.
Motion made by Board Member Glabman, seconded by Secretary Kost, and carried
(4-0-0-1) to approve NBPL 11 as revised.
Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2021
Page 3
AYES: Watkins, Coulter, Kost, Glabman
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENCES: Ray
8. Review Holidays/Meeting Schedule
Staff requests that the Board of Library Trustees review the 2021 meeting
schedule.
Library Services Director Tim Hetherton stated that staff provides the Holiday and BLT
meeting schedule once annually. The BLT will meet on the 3rd Monday of every month
except for January and February due to holidays. The Holiday Schedule for library hours
will be discussed in July. The Board had no questions or comments on the schedule. The
public had no comment.
Motion made by Vice Chair Coulter, seconded by Secretary Kost, and carried (4-0-0-1) to
approve the 2021 meeting schedule.
AYES: Watkins, Coulter, Kost, Glabman
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENCES: Ray
9. Newport Beach Public Library eBranch Review
Staff will provide an update and review of the Library eBranch.
Chair Watkins commended Adult Services Coordinator Rebecca Lightfoot on her
explanation of the anatomy of the eBranch division. Adult Services Coordinator Lightfoot
explained the eBranch component of the website is the umbrella for everything that
patrons can access from home any time of the day or night and regardless of branch
closings. There are four components. First there are databases for research. Second there
are downloadable e-books and audio books through the Libby app, which have become
increasingly popular during COVID-19 closures. Third are streaming magazines. She
reported Overdrive purchased RB Digital, which was one of their magazine providers and
RB Digital will be integrated into Overdrive. Flipster is a different collection with additional
magazines. Fourth is streaming video, which is done predominately through Kanopy with
a small selection of content on Overdrive.
Adult Services Coordinator Lightfoot explained that the new addition to eBranch was
virtual programming. The Programming Library Assistant, Terry Sanchez, was
instrumental working with previous performers and authors to obtain rights to post pre-
recorded programs and to arrange for the upcoming Sunday Musicales series.
Board Member Glabman inquired about the use and cost of the magazine services. Adult
Services Coordinator Lightfoot stated that RB Digital had over 3,500 magazines. The
usage data was included in handwritten Page 17. In 2020 54,488 magazines were
checked out through RB Digital, up from 26,226 in 2019. Flipster is a much more limited
service, with maybe 20 to 30 magazines available. The Library spent $32,000 combined
for both Flipster and RB Digital or about 16,000 each.
Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2021
Page 4
Chair Watkins commended the memo Adult Services Coordinator Lightfoot prepared. He
stated staff reviews the contracts annually and he was sure they would look at if the City
was getting the best value for its $15,000 or $16,000 with Flipster as it is with RB Digital.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the eBranch Review report.
10. Lecture Hall Update
Trustee Ray will report on activities related to the Library Lecture Hall project.
Chair Watkins shared that on December 22, 2020, Library Services Director Hetherton
made the slide deck on the new Lecture Hall available. On January 12, 2021, the Ad Hoc
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Committee held an introductory preliminary
meeting. The Lecture Hall Committee is making progress and has asked the Council to
provide an update on time frame and funding prior to its January 30, 2021 meeting.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Lecture Hall update.
11. COVID-19 Update
Staff will update the Trustees on the Library’s activities during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Library Services Director Hetherton reported they were still providing the grab and go
service. Central Library is at 20% capacity for the public with the three branch locations
open for curbside business. Public computers are available to patrons at the Central
Library for an hour at a time. There is a day porter spot cleaning from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. daily. Attendance is low at about 230 people per day. The Civic Center closed due to
a spike in cases, so City Hall is closed, but there is a pickup and drop off for permits. All
staff and the public are asked to use masks and social distance.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the COVID-19 Update.
12. Library Services
Report of Library issues regarding services, patrons, and staff.
Library Services Director Hetherton reported that staff was engaged in maintenance and
other behind the scenes activities. He presented the signature block logo that the new
Marketing Specialist, Maria Nicklin, created. They held interviews for a full time Cultural
Arts and Programming Assistant.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Library Services Report.
B. Monthly Reports
13. Library Foundation Liaison Reports
A. Library Foundation Board – Report on the most recent activities.
Chair Watkins shared that the Foundation had an outstanding Bookmark issue with a
tribute to Mr. John Stahr and profiles of former Board of Library Trustees members Karen
Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2021
Page 5
Clark and John Prichard. The Foundation is focused on launching its new virtual Witte and
Library Live series and is focused on ticket sales through its new website. Staff continues
to work remotely.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Library Foundation Board
report.
B. Library Live Lectures Committee – Report on the most recent activities.
Board Member Glabman reported the lectures for the season are listed in Bookmark.
There is interest and submissions for the upcoming season and the Committee is reading
the books in preparation to vote on the speakers.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Library Live Lectures
Committee report.
C. Witte Lectures Committee – Report on the most recent activities.
Secretary Kost stated they had the first Witte Lecture on January 15, 2021 with Samin
Nosrat. There were 267 ticket sales. Chair Watkins thought the introduction was great and
the program was fine. Secretary Kost indicated the committee was working out the kinks
and were pleased with the first lecture of the series. There are 70 tickets already
purchased for P.J. O’Rourke on February 19, 2021 and about 60 for the next two speakers.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Witte Lectures Committee
report.
14. Friends of the Library Liaison Report
Trustee update on the most recent activities.
Vice Chair Coulter explained there was no December or January Friends of the Library
meeting, but that they are busy collecting books and CDs Monday to Saturday 10:30 a.m.
to 12:00 p.m. The sales are held in the Friends Room and they have tried various
marketing approaches to lure business. In December they made $13,256 including cash
sales, credit, Amazon sales, and memberships.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Friends of the Library
Liaison report.
15. Literacy Services Liaison Report
Trustee update on the most recent activities.
Chair Watkins reported the Advisory Board for the Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy is now fully
staffed and met on January 12, 2021. On February 20, 2021 there will be a virtual
fundraiser with Lilly King, author of Writers & Lovers. The autographed book is available
for purchase on the Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy website for $17. Chair Watkins also
thanked Library Services Director Hetherton for circulating the Career Online High School
graduation, which was very inspiring. Finally, Pacific Life gave a $5,000 grant to the
program.
Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2021
Page 6
Board Member Glabman thanked Library Services Director Hetherton for sending out the
graduation video.
The public had no comment. The Board received and filed the Literacy Services Liaison
Report.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None.
VIII. BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH
MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION,
ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM)
Chair Watkins announced the next meeting would be February 16, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. due
to the President’s Day holiday. The Planning Session for City Council will be held virtually
on Saturday, January 30, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Chair Watkins hopes to speak
to the Council regarding the Library Lecture Hall and the Balboa Branch and Fire Station
replacement.
IX. ADJOURNMENT – 5:44 P.M.
Submitted by: Paul Watkins
Chair Approval of Minutes