SunnyvaleRTC

The Board of Library Trustees met in regular session in Council Chambers, 650 West Olive Avenue at 7:03 p.m. with Jim Griffith presiding.

Boardmember Pathak moved, and Boardmember Meagher seconded, approval of item 1.A as presented.

Vice Chair Lilly offered a friendly amendment to revise the minutes to reflect a motion by Boardmember Meagher and a second by Boardmember Pathak for approval of the 9/10/07 consent calendar.

Boardmember Pathak accepted the friendly amendment. Motion passed 4-0 with Vice Chair Lilly abstaining due to his absence from the 9/10/07 Board meeting.

2. Draft RTC: Authorization to Accept a Third Year of $10,000 in Grant Funds from the Satterberg Foundation for Tales for Tots: Increasing Storytimes to Young Children in Child Care Centers and Family Day Care Provider Homes, and Budget Modification No. 11:

Administrative Librarian Denniston provided the Board with an overview of the draft RTC, grant and services being offered. She indicated that the grant is the third received by the Satterberg Foundation. Chair Griffith thanked the Satterberg Foundation for inviting and awarding the Library with its third grant.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing, and there being no public testimonies, closed the public hearing.

Vice Chair Lilly moved, and Boardmember Pathak seconded, to recommend to Council Alternative #1 which Accepts $10,000 for a Continuation of the Tales for Tots Program: Increasing Storytimes to Young Children in Child Care Centers and Family Day Care Provider Homes, and Authorize Budget Modification No. 11.

Boardmember Su stated that the grant allows staff the opportunity to provide enhanced Library services.

Motion carried unanimously.

3. Draft RTC: Authorization to Accept and Expend $23,980 in Grant funds from the California State Library through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Early Learning with Families Program for: In the Bag…Stories to Go for Children to Grow, and Budget Modification No. 12:

Administrative Librarian Denniston provided the Board with an overview of the draft RTC. Discussion ensued regarding services being offered to Sunnyvale child care homes and preschools.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing and there being no public testimonies, closed the public hearing.

Boardmember Su moved, and Vice Chair Lilly seconded, to recommend to Council Alternative #1 which accepts $23,980 in federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Early Learning with Families (ELF) funds through the California State Library for the In the Bag…Stories to Go for Children to Grow program, and approves Budget Modification No. 12.

Boardmember Su stated that the grant is a great program and encouraged staff to provide a summary of the results to the California State Library in an effort to be awarded future grants.

Vice Chair Lilly stated that the grant is .5% of the Library’s annual budget and is a great program which staff has made possible.

Motion carried unanimously.

4. Draft RTC: Authorization to Accept $16,894 Grant Funds from the California State Library for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant Program and Appropriate $5,631 from Existing Library Foundation Program Grant Project Funds to Provide a Second Year of Access to Out-of School-Time Online Homework Help, an Online Homework Assistance Program and Budget Modification No. 13:

Director Barrow provided the Board with an overview of the draft RTC. Chair Griffith stated that public hearing items 3 and 4 will provide the Library with $40,874 from the California State Library which is the expected amount the Library will receive from the Public Library Foundation (PLF) funds. Regretfully, the Public Library Fund has not been allocated enough from the State budget for public libraries and will experience a reduction this year.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing and there being no public testimonies, closed the public hearing.

Boardmember Pathak moved, and Boardmember Meagher seconded, to recommend to Council Alternative #1 which Accepts $16,894 Grant Funds from the California State Library for the LSTA Grant Program and Appropriates $5,631 from Existing Library Foundation Program Grant Project Funds to Provide a Second Year of Access to Out-of-School-Time Online Homework Help, an Online Homework Assistance Program, and Approves Budget Modification No. 13.

Boardmember Pathak stated that the grant provides a good program for the children of the Sunnyvale community.

Motion carried unanimously.

Director Barrow provided the Board with an overview of the letter from the Assistant City Manager and the City Manager to Boards and Commissions regarding the Council Study Session held on Tuesday, September 11.

Vice Chair Lilly stated that for the record he finds this to be condescending, patronizing and demoralizing. He is considering whether to serve his full term under this content which is extremely trivializing. He feels the message is for Boardmembers/Commissioners to interact with Council in only one way and finds it incredibly condescending.

Chair Griffith provided an overview of the Study Session and stated that for the most part he agrees with Vice Chair Lilly. He believes other alternatives could have been chosen and is disappointed with Council’s decision, however, he understands the rationale.

Boardmember Pathak stated that he strongly agrees with the Chair and Vice Chair.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing and there being no public testimonies, closed the public hearing.

Director Barrow stated that the November 6 elections will include Ballot Measure B. The Library, with approval from the City Manager and City Attorney, has distributed to residents a revised utility bill stuffer “Quick Facts” and a direct mailer. Both publications are factual information. A Library of the Future article will be included in the Quarterly Report. Boardmembers complimented staff for their work in producing the documents. The “Quick Facts” publication is available to patrons in the Library.

Director Barrow reminded the Board that the Public Safety Community Pancake Breakfast will be held on from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 13 at Fire Station 2 (Wolfe/Arques). Vice Chair Lilly and Boardmembers Meagher and Su will participate with Library staff in the event.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing and there being no public testimonies, closed the public hearing.

Chair Griffith requested that the Monday, November 5 Board meeting be canceled due to lack of quorum. A special Board meeting will be held on Monday, November 12 in the Library.

§ The Friends books sale earned $3,169 at the Library on Saturday, September 15.

§ Employee Appreciation Week was held the week of September 16. Library managers took turns bringing in food each day that week to recognize the accomplishments of employees.

§ There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday, October 14 at 2 p.m. to officially introduce the ‘rejuvenated’ kidspace.

§ Children’s Supervising Librarian Betsy Wachter will be retiring from her position in mid-October. She started work in the City in August 1974. Her retirement party is scheduled from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16 in the Library Program Room.

§ Customer Appreciation Day is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In years past, Boardmembers have served up treats and greeted patrons to help say thank you for using the Library.

§ The 2006 American Community Survey data for Sunnyvale was released in late September. The “Community Profile” web page on the Library site has been updated to reflect Sunnyvale’s changing demographic, social, housing and economic characteristics.

§ The 2007 Resident Survey data was released recently. Among the results pertaining to the Library, 73% of respondents reported having used the Library within the last 12 months; 87% reported the quality of library services as “good or excellent”; 84% reported the variety of library materials available as “good or excellent.” Boardmembers may view the report by visiting ResidentSurvey.inSunnyvale.com.

§ The next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 12 in Library Program Room A.