Sonoma County Library

Rohnert Park-Cotati Library Advisory Board Minutes June 20, 2017 – 5:00 P.M.

Conference Room

6250 Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

 

 

CONVENING AND INTRODUCTIONS 

Chair Barbara Utter called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm.

 

PRESENT

Barbara Utter, Hanna Taylor, Merrietta Jaensch.

 

Others Present:  Acting Library Director Tracy Gray, Rohnert Park Council Liaison Amy Ahanotu, Branch Manager Nancy Kleban.

 

Guests: Art Stuckey, Gil.

 

Not present: Library Commissioner Barbara Mackenzie, Ulli Ehlers, Lisa Neuson, Matthew Weinstein, Cotati City Council Liaison Wendy Skillman, Friends of the Library President Pam Novelly.

 

INTRODUCTIONS

 

REPORTS & UPDATES

 

LIBRARY COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

Commissioner not present.

 

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Acting Director Tracy Gray has been attending Library division meetings and community meetings. Staff will be moving to the Rohnert Park facility in the fall including Materials Management and some facilities staff. An architect and space planners are helping design the new space, as well as the space that will be vacated in SCL’s Central branch. The Library Commission is going to appoint an interim director before hiring a permanent director. Budgeted positions have been approved by the Commission. We are collecting feedback on Monday attendance, and providing more outreach on the Monday hours, with press releases, new ads in the Press Democrat, and Facebook postings. Community Conversations are continuing around the County. 

 

BRANCH MANAGER’S REPORT

Branch Manager Nancy Kleban reported evening attendance generally in the upper teens to low twenties (a count of the people in the building at 8:30 pm). Summer reading is going strong with children, teens, and adults participating. We are the first branch to receive a staff multifunction (fax, scan, copier) machine. We have requested an additional half-time librarian or library associate to complete our staffing for the current open to the public 52-hours a week schedule.

 

 

YOUTH MEMBER’S REPORT  

Youth Member Merrietta Jaensch reported that school is out and starts again in August.

 

FRIENDS OF THE ROHNERT PARK-COTATI REGIONAL LIBRARY REPORT

Branch Manager Nancy Kleban reported a successful June book sale. Friends

President Pam Novelly is on leave for the summer. The Friends are awaiting the Library’s wish list. A discussion ensued reassuring that Friends’ donations can be earmarked for use only by the Rohnert Park branch.

 

CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS’ REPORTS 

Rohnert Park Councilmember Amy Ahanotu reported that Rohnert Park and Cotati, along with the County, are applying for quiet zone designations around the railroad tracks, with safety buffers, at the crossings on Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park Expressway and Southwest Boulevard. The Council is revisiting the no smoking ordinance which is due for an update. 

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PAST MEETINGS

The minutes of the April 18, 2017, meeting were approved following a motion by Hanna Taylor, seconded by Barbara Utter.

             

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Art Stuckey expressed his appreciation of the Library as a resource for the community and expressed interest in joining the advisory board.

 

Gil requested that SCL consider adding to its digital collection software like Ubuntu or Fedora, alternative operating systems, that could be circulated and installed by patrons. He also supports additional hours, with hours staggered among the branches.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Members present agreed to participate at the Library’s table at Cotati Kids Day on Saturday, July 8, 9 am to 4 pm, in 2-hour shifts. 

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Four members’ terms are ending this month. Hanna Taylor, due to her class schedule, would miss 3 meetings in a row. The bylaws specify that for excessive absences a letter to the Commission may be sent unless overridden. Excused absences make a difference. Hanna was invited to extend her term. Barbara Utter will contact Matthew Weinstein about his term ending to find out if he wishes to reapply.

 

Celebration and outreach: In addition to Cotati Kids Day, the LAB will do outreach at one Farmers Market Friday, using the new SCL canopy and the spinner with prizes. July 28 was chosen. National Night Out is August 1.

 

 

ADVISORY BOARD INFORMATION ITEMS

None

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m.