2014-10-16 PEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD MEETING MINUTESPEARLAND LIBRARY BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF PEARLAND
Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 16, 2014 — 7:00 p.m.
Pearland Westside Library — 2803 Business Center Drive, Suite 101
713-436-0995
I. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order by Terry Ruiz at 7:20 p.m.
In attendance: Terry Ruiz (chair), Andrew Fearn, Catherine O'Brien (secretary), David Thrash, Sue
Wheeler, Dale Pillow, and Roshanda Cayette-Contreras.
Absent: George Geiby, Geoff Tonini, and Crystal Carbone.
Guests: Michelle Graham and Colene Cabezas with the City of Pearland Parks and Recreation staff
New members Dale Pillow and Roshanda Cayette-Contreras and the Westside manager Sue Wheeler
introduced themselves. Email and phone list was reviewed and revised.
Action item: Andrew will update and distribute the revised list via email.
II. PURPOSE OF THE MEETING:
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the minutes of the July 17, 2014
regular meeting. Terry made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections. Catherine
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
2. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Treasurer's Report.
No treasurer's report. The CD matured on 21 September. No action was taken. The balance is
$5795.17. Dale asked about the source of the funds, which are donations.
3. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Brazoria County Library System Director's
Report.
David Thrash reported that the Alzheimer's screening will occur in November, and The Rose has
scheduled the mobile mammogram unit. Building out for Westside has begun. They are waiting
to see if they will have to close during the renovation. Part of the ceiling needs to come down to
roll the roof. He is meeting with the contractor tomorrow for details. If closure takes very long,
they may need to scale back to holds and drop-offs. Worse -case scenario is a closure of six
weeks. The sink is already in. Early voting in the meeting room will occur for two weeks (i.e.,
October 20-31, with half-day Sunday on October 26).
Regarding the circulation report that David distributed, DVD circulation has increased since
video stores have closed. Free DVDs at the library is one area where the county is looking to
increase circulation. There has been a decrease circulation at Pearland (-21.43%) and an increase
at Pearland West (105.76%). Circulation of e -materials is up (89.02%).
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The author's dinner is October 30 and is being held in conjunction with Judge Joe King's
retirement. Silent auction baskets have been delivered. It will be held at the fairgrounds in
Angleton. The event has outgrown the church, and the fairgrounds are free. The proceeds go to
the Library Foundation. They will be buying computers with the profits.
Action item: Terry Ruiz will get a flyer to Michelle for distribution.
David encouraged everyone to use their library cards, take the Gale courses. There are 360
courses available. Dale will put it on her agenda to review at the Adult Reading Center. GED
refresher course has been aligned with the 2014 revisions. There are five free songs per week
available and free hours of music that can be downloaded. David provided a flyer to the board
members.
David was asked how he advertises. He responded by word of mouth. It was suggested that the
Pearland magazine could be good resource. Parks and Recreations and the libraries have a
similar customer base. Social media blasts as well as flyers inside the recreation facilities would
be a possible means of advertising. Friends have a distribution list, and each branch has its own
newsletter. It was suggested that the information could be shared with the school libraries. Dale
suggested United for Kids which meets monthly at Pearland ISD is another alternatives. It was
noted that the flyer lacks information about downloading music.
4. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Pearland Westside Branch Manager's Report.
Sue Wheeler reported that programming has been pared down with renovations, but they are
hoping to introduce more programs. The teen group, Fiction Addiction, has been created.
Elementary students are receiving homework help from the Junior National Honor Society. A
lead clerk has now been employed, and they have a full staff. They are looking to develop an
extra adult book group, and with the children specialist, create daytime, weekend, and
bedtime/evening story times.
The meeting room is now available for public use (e.g., Girl Scout troups). One-on-one tutors are
needed for adult literacy program. They may have more room after construction, but will have to
wait and see. There is an increased demand for public computers. They now have five
computers with a waiting list of up to three hours/day. The library could use three more
computers, but there are no provisions for that.
The air conditioning was not working again today, but it wasn't noticed immediately because it
was cooler outside. The library receives instant attention from the city. There appears to be a
clogged filter issue that has been resolved and a sensor problem. Sue will send in a work order
tomorrow.
5. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Pearland Branch Librarian's Report.
Andrew provided the end -of -year budget, and he was encouraged to do everything he could to
spend the budget down.
The branch began with a tween book club that has evolved into a teen book club as the children
have aged. The baby bounce has been so successful that it has split in two because of the growth.
Andrew hopes to be fully staffed by October 30.
The door count is the first week of November. Everyone was encouraged to sign up.
Action item: Andrew will send out the available dates and times.
Catherine asked about the issue with the electronic door that she noticed the last time she did the
door count. There has been no decision on what to do.
When it rains heavily, the roof leaks in the periodical area. The city received an estimate and
fixed the roof, but it has not rained enough to determine the success of the repairs.
There are ten laptops in the lab for teaching computer use. Andrew doesn't know if they have
enough bandwidth for downloading. They are stored in a cabinet where they can be charged.
During a recent fire inspection, it was determined that there was no key in the KNOX box outside
for the fire panel in the building. Andrew put in a work order in July and submitted it again one
month later. Per Michelle, it's a standard key. She also reported that they should have given
Andrew a copy of the inspection report. She noted that the email address has changed and
encouraged Andrew to follow up through the chain of command, beginning with public works.
Facilities now fall under public works.
Action item: Terry will speak with Young Lorfing, City Secretary, about ordinance 187-3. The
language in the by-laws and ordinance need to be revised. The last time they were revised was 14
December 2009.
6. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Brazoria County Library System Board
Representative Report.
Terry reported that she has resigned due to the time of the meeting—that is, noon or 1 p.m. during
the day. Roshanda agreed to serve in the position.
7. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Friends of the Pearland Westside Library Report.
Terry reported that the book sale raised $100+. Another will take place on Friday and Saturday,
October 17-18 at the Westside. She distributed a Friends membership form.
8. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Pearland Community Friends of the Library Report.
Andrew reported on behalf of Margaret Dillie. The basket went to Angleton for the author's
dinner. They have several new members, but they meet irregularly.
The author for the dinner has been changed to Ron Rozelle and Jim Willette, Warden: Texas
Prison: Life and Death from Inside Out. It is held Thursday, October 30. The doors open at 6
p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30.
III.ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Next meeting at Pearland Branch on Liberty is 15 of January 2015 at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine O'Brien