2013-04-18 PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTESPearland Community Library Board Meeting Minutes
Pearland Library Conference Room
3522 Liberty Drive
April 18, 2013
7:00 p.m.
In Attendance: Cathy Threadgill (County Librarian), Ginny Koenig (manager of the Pearland Westside
Branch), Catherine O'Brien (recorder), Sammy Lucario, Crystal Carbone, Terry Ruiz, and
Geoff Tonini.
Absent: Andrew Fearn (Pearland Librarian), Elizabeth McLane (chair), president of Pearland
Friends Group, and Geiby George
Call to Order
Sammy Lucario called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Minutes
Minutes of January 31, 2012 were review. Terry made the motion and Geoff seconded. Minutes
approved with a correction (period after January 18).
Treasurers' Report
Geoff is following up on an example of a financial report for the city, as mentioned in the by-laws. If the
city can't find one, Geoff will develop something. Catherine said that she does not ever remember a
financial report for the city in all of her years on the board. The balance is the same as last meeting (i.e.,
$5,497.13) with a little more interest. Geoff has found that the amount in the delinquent account is
$294.32. Geoff said that he would need to visit with Fred Cessac to replace his name on the account
with Geoff's. The board agreed to remove the amount from that account and transfer it to the Wells
Fargo account. Rather than wait to take action at the next meeting, Geoff made a motion to draft a
letter to the bank removing the three previous names (Dr. Fred Cessac, Judy Demecs and Penny
Woodward) from the account, since they are no longer members of the board. Terry seconded the
motion. Motion carried unanimously. Geoff said that he may need Mayor Reid's signature on the check
in order to deposit it. He will follow up, and recommended that we keep the money in the CD account.
Background: The money in that account is carry over from building of the library. A suggestion was
made that since it was originally intended to assist with purchasing items for the original library that it
be used for that same purpose, either with the expansion of the Pearland Library or with the Westside
Library when it opens.
Terry made the motion, and Crystal seconded the motion to accept the treasurer's report.
Pearland Community Friends of the Library Report
Terry gave a brief report. They made a basket for the author's dinner. They have discussed
candidates' night or a craft night as some of their ideas. They are no pressed for time. They
want to get more people involved. Cathy explained that the more active friends' grounds (e.g.,
Alvin, Lake Jackson) have strong boards. They develop biannual newsletters, using postage
stamps, to keep the membership informed. They have chairs that oversee each committee.
Some of the committees include breakfast with Santa, luncheon for city council, book sale,
publicity, and patron count. The chairs are responsible for finding and organizing volunteers.
Alvin sends out a letter and has about 90 members. Lake Jackson stopped the newsletter and
saw a severe drop in membership within 2 years.
Westside Friends
The friends' group raised $28,000 on the Crawfish Festival on parking and property rental. They are
meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. in the library—that is April 25, at 2803 Business Center Drive, Suite 101,
Pearland, TX 77584.
Brazoria County Library Representative Report
The foundation dinner is on Monday, April 29, 7 p.m., at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall,
219 N. Arcola, Angleton, TX. The author, Lisa Scottoline, will stay afterwards to autograph books.
Thursday, August 29 is a second author's event: J. D. Davis, author of the book Unconquered: The Saga
of Three Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley. This dinner will be at the Brazoria
County Fairground and will include dinner.
Friday, August 30 is Cathy's retirement party, 2-4 p.m.
Pearland Westside Library Report
Ginny reported that they have received their first delivery of books. The have been shelving. The library
is taking shape. They have a part-time clerk, but they are still short a couple of shelvers. There are some
building issues. Cathy reported that the temperature was set at 68°, for which they were scolded for
not raising it for night time. However, when the temperature is 73°, the humidity is 89%. This is not
acceptable or the books will mold.
County Librarian's Report
The contractor still has control of the building. It is not the city's yet, therefore, the librarians have no
control either. It is dark in the back corner. This is complicated because the lights are on a 3 -hour timer.
They flash a warning after 2 hours and then start a countdown. After an additional 60 minutes, they go
off. There is one switch that must be physically pushed to reactivate the lights.
There are two crash bar doors with signs that say these doors are to remain unlocked during open
hours. These doors need an alarm. Cathy does not feel comfortable without the alarm and won't open
the library to the public until it's fixed. There is too great a risk of books "walking" out the backdoor.
The building is a "fishbowl" with glass on two sides. They will need to place mini blinds in the meeting
room for movies. They don't have all of the furniture yet. There is no computer furniture. The lights at
the circulation desk are red, when the rest of the carpet and furniture is lime green and orange. The red
lights will be replaced and the replacement white ones are on order.
Branch Librarian's Report
The board reviewed the budget provided by Andrew. The city did not increase office supplies, utilities,
telephone or special services. The only increase was in the books, periodicals, and subscriptions line
item. The board members were concerned about how the city will be able to manage two libraries
without an increase in these items.
Cathy has filed the annual report with the state library and the public library association. They are
working on the county FY14 budget. They need a new van for transporting books. They are debating
about adding to the Pearland Library collection for 2015, when the expansion is supposed to be finished.
They will probably add it over 2 years. The expansion will add more open space, computer lab space,
and the children's area. Cathy hopes that they can revisit the floor plan since the bond election was
held 10 years ago and libraries have evolved a lot in that time.
Terry made a motion to adjourn. Geoff seconded the motion.
The next meeting was set for July 18, 7 p.m., at the Westside Library.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine O'Brien