Sonoma County Library

Rohnert Park-Cotati Library Advisory Board Minutes

December 19, 2017 – 5:00 P.M.

Conference Room

6250 Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

CONVENING AND INTRODUCTIONS  Vice Chair Lisa Neuson called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm.  PRESENT Lisa Neuson, Ulli Ehlers, Art Stuckey, Hanna Taylor.  
 
Others Present:  Library Commissioner Barbara Mackenzie, Acting Library Director Tracy Gray, Rohnert Park Council Liaison Amy Ahanotu, Branch Manager Nancy Kleban
 
Guests: None.
 
Not present: Barbara Utter, Matthew Weinstein, Merrietta Jaensch, Cotati City Council Liaison Wendy Skillman, Friends of the Library President Pam Novelly.
 
INTRODUCTIONS All present introduced themselves.
 
REPORTS & UPDATES
 
LIBRARY COMMISSIONER’S REPORT Commissioner Barbara Mackenzie reported that at Tuesday’s Rohnert Park City Council meeting, where Jake Mackenzie ended his fifth term as mayor and Pam Stafford became mayor for 2018, she reported to the City on the sales tax measure that increases the Library’s budget from an annual $18 million to up to $30 million. This is being used to increase hours, programs, events and activities as well as materials. We also now have leased books that can be returned after their demand wanes, and will be lending out discovery backpacks, an REI donation, containing parking passes, maps and activities Sonoma County regional parks.
 
LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT Interim Director Tracy Gray reported that following the October fires, the library was closed for ten days. The technological infrastructure went down including staff email, library checkouts and checkins, access to the Internet and Wi Fi in the branches. Gray kept staff, Commission and the public informed. Some branches had smoke issues and the archives at Los Guilicos were threatened with fire within 50 yards. Library books and items valued at about $40,000 were lost in the fires, and all fines were waived for those items. In January our Northwest branch will close for a refresh, with a temporary location nearby where items can be returned, requests can be picked up. In late January, some of the administrative staff will move to Rohnert Park to a building located on the west side of State Farm Drive. The Commission approved purchase of hybrid delivery trucks. The 2018-19 budget will be addressed in a late February workshop.
       
Kiyo Okazaki, Public Services Manager, retired in November after a 41-year career at the Library. `
 
BRANCH MANAGER’S REPORT Branch Manager Nancy Kleban reported that Nick Alva will be joining the staff as Circulation Supervisor in January. Children’s Librarian Kate Nicolson-Willard transferred here from Cloverdale branch on October 30. Adding textbooks is now possible for each branch, contingent on local schools donating copies of their textbooks. Using our new Collection HQ program, items that have not circulated in four or more years have been deselected, and soon we will be balancing between branches, and between holdings and circulations at one branch. Our Virtual Reality equipment gives patrons the opportunity to travel the world, fly a plane, take a driver's test, or explore a fantasy land, through a grant from the California State Library, piloting at the Healdsburg Library and here. A free 5-hour ACT Intensive Preparation class with local test preparation is offered here, as well as Together at the Table, a funded program that encourages our community to come together with decision makers to voice thoughts and opinions on important topics.
 
YOUTH MEMBER’S REPORT   Youth Member Merrietta Jaensch was not in attendance. Hanna Taylor reported that SSU classes ended on Friday for a 5-week vacation.  
 
FRIENDS OF THE ROHNERT PARK-COTATI REGIONAL LIBRARY REPORT Commissioner Barbara Mackenzie reported that the Friends’ next book sale will begin with a members only evening on Wednesday, January 31, and the sale will continue through Saturday, February 3. Volunteers are needed to help at the store and at the book sales.
 
CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS’ REPORTS  City Council Amy Ahanotu reported that new owners of the State Farm parcel across the Expressway presented their plans for a new downtown at the council meeting on Tuesday. This will have an impact on the Library’s traffic. 2020 is the projected completion date. The Council is considering alternative ways to connect the two sides of the Expressway for pedestrian crossing.   
 
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PAST MEETINGS The minutes of the August 15, 2017, meeting were approved following a motion by Ulli Ehlers seconded by Art Stuckey.   PUBLIC COMMENTS – No public present at the meeting.
 
ACTION ITEMS Election of Officers. Lisa Neuson was nominated as Chair by Ulli Ehlers, seconded by Hanna Taylor, and voted in. Art Stuckey was nominated as Vice Chair by Ulli Ehlers, seconded by Lisa Neuson, and voted in.
 
A presentation to the Library Commission was planned for the July 9 meeting. Lisa Neuson will come to the LAB February meeting with a draft plan.
       
DISCUSSION ITEMS Review of recent outreach events:  Founders Day – Saturday, October 7 – Was well attended, with lines of people who were given prizes, books, and information about the library. Future outreach events:  Outreach four times a year was set as a goal: a summer farmers’ market, Rohnert Park Arts Crafts Faire in the winter (possibly with a craft table for children’s participation), Easter Egg (with Public Safety’s invitation) in the spring, and Founders Day in the fall.
 
ADVISORY BOARD INFORMATION ITEMS None.
 
ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.