HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-19-2021-BLT-PUBLIC COMMENTS
July 19, 2021, BLT Agenda Comments
These comments on Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees (BLT) agenda items are submitted by:
Jim Mosher (jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229)
Item 1. Minutes of the June 21, 2021 Board of Library Trustees Meeting
Suggested corrections: The passages shown in italics below are from the draft minutes with
suggested corrections indicated in strikeout underline format.
Page 3 (page 7 of agenda packet), paragraph 1, sentences 3 and 7: “Over the past year the CdM
Branch offered curbside pickup for patrons which was well received. … The Fire Station adjoining
the CdM Branch has been an excellent neighbor and the building design received national
attention and awards.” [alternatively, do not insert “Branch” and instead change “the CdM” to
simply “CdM” as it is elsewhere in the paragraph]
Page 3 (page 7 of agenda packet), paragraph 2: “Chair Watkins thanked CdM Branch Librarian
Dallstream, complemented complimented the facility, and received and filed the report.”
Page 4 (page 8 of agenda packet), last two paragraphs: There is reference in two places to “the
California Library Literacy Services.” Similar to the first suggestion, above,ncluding “the” seems
strange to my ear unless there were a word after “Services” such as “Department.” From their
website, it appears that if one wants to start with “the,” then the missing word at the end is “the
California Library Literacy Services program.”
Item 3. Library Activities
I like Director Hetherton’s choice of quote for this month. And I am especially pleased that E. B. White
is one of the many who has “managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”
And, whatever the reason for the change, I am also pleased to see the BLT’s August meeting has
been rescheduled from August 16 to August 23, for that avoids a conflict with the City’s Aviation
Committee, which has announced August 16 at 5:00 p.m. as the date and time for their next meeting.
Item 6. Proposed Library Schedule for Winter Holidays 2021
I have no objection to the proposed schedule, but I have to wonder if “usage is low in the evenings
during the holiday week” may not be a self-fulfilling prophecy. For, since the City Manager started this
practice of closing the City Hall for a week during December and forcing the other employees to use
their leave time, the Library has been closing early that week, which, in itself, might discourage
evening use.
And the Board may wish to be aware the statement about “the majority of City departments, who
operate Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” is not entirely accurate. Most of the departments in
the City Hall actually serve the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Item VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
x As best I can tell, the agenda does not indicate who those who are unable to attend should send
comments to, or by when.
x The near 100% fraction of young people self-attesting to being vaccinated by not wearing masks
in the library is remarkably high. Should Orange County be congratulated on this?