In attendance were Nina North Murphy, President, presiding; John Dubinsky (via phone), Alison Ferring, Jacque Land, Janet Rainford, Keith Savage, David Sweeney (via phone), and Vince Volpe (arrived at 6:10 p.m.).
Also present were Chief Executive Officer Waller McGuire and staff members Carrie Dietz, Tiffany Davis, Cathy Heimberger, William Jackson, Tonnya Joy, Kathy Leitle, Mary Meyer, Justin Struttmann, Jen Wiese, and Ed Witkowski, Liz Reeves, Foundation, and Lisa Stump, Lashly & Baer.
The meeting was called to order at 5:36 p.m. by Ms. North Murphy.
Minutes: Mr. Savage's motion to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2019 Board Meeting, seconded by Mr. Land, was approved.
Public Comment:
A Library Customer asked that the Library change the way items being held for reserves are now placed on the holds shelves. He has found that the new way that is being tested makes it harder for customers to find their reserves. Ms. Davis responded that this new way was a pilot and that his input will be taken into consideration,
Chief Executive Officer's Report:
Mr. McGuire reported that over Labor Day weekend, Buder Library was closed for several days because of a water/sewage backup in the basement after the heavy rainstorm the night of August 30. The damage cost was over $30,000. There have been previous incidents of water backup in the basement, and preventative measures have been take, but this storm was particularly bad. Over the years, Mr. McGuire estimates that $100,000 - 150,000 has been spent on repairs from such incidents. The Campbell House is adding a small addition/renovation to the museum and asked to use a few of the parking spaces on the 15th Street lot. In exchange, they will be doing some work on the parking lot. An agreement with Claudia Davis, owner of Spiced Just Right, is very close for her company to open in the Café space at Central Library. Mr. McGuire outlined a number of issues at the Cabanne Library. Water penetration on the front has caused the façade to begin pulling away. An engineering study states that it will cost $40,000 - 80,000 to stabilize it. In addition, Mr. McGuire described several incidents that have occurred at Cabanne in which staff has felt unsafe or threatened. These incidents are made more difficult to monitor and deter when the main entrance is closed and access is limited to an entrance from another level of the building. Administration is looking at public safety issues as well as building issues at Cabanne. Mr. McGuire requested that the Board vote to approve that Cabanne Library temporarily suspend services for at least a month to make repairs and to development a plan for handling safety issues. Mr. Savage's motion, seconded by Ms. Rainford, to approve the request, was approved.
- Mr. Jackson presented the Financial report.
- Ms. Wiese presented the HR report.
- Ms. Reeves presented the Foundation report.
New Business: Mr. McGuire presented the Appropriate Use of the Library policy, which had been discussed with the Board in prior months. The policy has been changed to be simpler and more user friendly. The only substantial change is to allow some food in certain areas of Library locations.
Mr. Savage’s motion, seconded by Ms. Rainford, to accept the updated policy was approved.
Mr. McGuire stated that a draft of an update to the Circulation Policy will be distributed to the Board in November, with a vote on the new policy in December. The update will include eliminating fines. Fines can cause place a burden on lower income people, so this is an equity issue. Other Library systems that have eliminated fines have found that they actually get more items back than systems that still have fines. If the Board approves the new policy, it would go into effect in 2020.
Mr. McGuire presented the holiday closings calendar for 2020. Mr. Savage's motion, seconded by Ms. Rainford, to approve the calendar was approved.
Mr. Savage's motion, seconded by Ms. Rainford, to go into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel Matters was approved by a unanimous roll call vote.
The meeting went into Executive Session at 6:31 p.m.
At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Pubic Library on October 7, 2019, the following actions were taken:
| Mr. Savage moved | that the Board approve the minutes of the meeting of September 9, 2019. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. North Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, and Mr. Sweeney.) |
| Mr. Savage moved | that Cabanne Library temporarily suspend services for at least a month to make repairs and to development a plan for handling safety issues. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. North Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Savage moved | that the Board approve the Appropriate Use of the Library Policy. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. North Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Savage moved |
that the Board approve the Holiday Closings Calendar for 2020. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. North Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Savaged moved |
that the Board go into Executive Session. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. North Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe.) |
