HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-2025-BLT-PUBLIC COMMENTS
November 17, 2025, BLT Agenda Item Comments
These comments on Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees agenda items are submitted by:
Jim Mosher
Item No. 1. Minutes of the October 20, 2025 Board of Library Trustees
Meeting
The draft minutes appear to have been carefully reviewed, however a minor edit might be
considered to correct the observation that:
Page 2: “Chair Kramer opened the items to public comment, and there was none” and “Chair
Kramer opened public comment, and there was none” sound grammatically correct.
while:
Pages 3, 4, 5 (three places) and 6 : “Chair Kramer opened the item to public comment, and
there were none” do not.
Item No. 6. Collection Development Policy (NBPL 2)
The state legislature recycles bill numbers each session, so it would be helpful to indicate what
year’s Assembly Bill 1825 the revisions are responding to. Otherwise, many years from now, the
bill being referred to may become uncertain, or at least hard to locate.
One might say something like:
“In conformance with AB 1825 (2024), the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825):”
It would also see more grammatically sound, and more in keeping with purpose of the California
Freedom to Read Act, to say something like:
“In conformance with AB 1825 (2024), the California Freedom to Read Act, it is the intent of
this policy that:”
Without that, some of the list that follows does not sound like statements of policy, but rather like
statements of fact, unaccompanied by any duty to fix them if not true.
Item No. 8. Grant Acceptance from California Library Literacy Services
The staff report says that “If accepted, the funds will be allocated into Library Services Literacy
accounts.” I believe that in accordance with City Charter Subsection 708(f), before the funds can
be allocated they need approval by the City Council.
Item No. 9. Library Activities
On handwritten page 43, I believe the November 19 Spotlight on Science comes on a
Wednesday rather than a Thursday.
On handwritten page 45, it might be noted that the addition of 18 new computer chairs for public
use at the Mariners branch was accompanied by the removal of two public computer stations. It
might also be noted that the 18 wooden chairs, that were removed even though they seemed
perfectly serviceable, would likely have lasted for many years more. It seems very unlikely the
new swiveling, adjustable-height chairs will last as long.