Library Advisory Board Wednesday, January 25, 2023 12:00 PM Ruth Sandvik Conference Room

1.Call to Order / Roll Call

2.Approval of Minutes

  1. A.Minutes from Oct 26, 2022 Regular Meeting presented for discussion and approval.

3.Amendment and Approval of Meeting Agenda

4.Persons to be Heard Related / Unrelated to Agenda

5.Director's Report

  1. A.Our library was recently ranked as a “Star Library” by Library Journal, a trade publication for librarians. It received 4 stars, which ranks it in the top 3% of libraries in the nation based on checkouts, visits, program attendance, public internet use, Wi-Fi sessions, and library website visits. This is the seventh time our library has ranked since the awards began 15 years ago. KFSK plans to do a news story on our ranking.

    Martha Cummins and Beth Loesch are now certified passport agents. This has allowed us to expand our ability to offer this service and continue to offer it when staff are out of the office.

    Beth Loesch moved from a part-time clerk position into a full time 6 months Library Tech 1 position at the end of December. She is training on all library tech duties and helping us get many projects done.  We are also creating a staff wiki to document processes and procedures.

    The library will be closed Feb 6-9 for inventory and training. We plan to inventory the DVD, Nonfiction, and Fiction collections. Staff will also attend mandatory Borough Discrimination/Harassment/Bullying Awareness Training. I will attend a day long Borough Manager training.

    The library has received a $14,500 Healthy Communities Grant from the Alaska Community Foundation. The funds will be used for programming for all ages over a 12 month period.

    KFSK’s new program “For the Common Good” recently featured the library’s Robotics Program, interviewing the student teachers and participants, Debra O’Gara and Lisa Schramek-Adams were also featured in a subsequent show to talk about the programming they are both providing for the library with Kari through the Healthy Communities Grant received by the Alaska Community Foundation.

    Curiosity Creates, the library’s weekly afterschool program, has restarted thanks to a generous donation from Kris Norosz and the Rasmuson Foundation.

    Nov/Dec Programming highlights: Holiday displays created by artists Mary Ann Rainey & Pia Reilly graced the lobby, adult programing included Rainforest Writers with Orin Pierson, a very a popular Cedar Bark Ornament Weaving class with Debra O’Gara, Knitting Basics and Beyond with Lisa Schramek-Adams, Yoga with Karen Malcom, and Science Series presentation with Brad Hunter. Children and teen programing included 2-3 ‘Stories In Motion’ offerings per week, Curiosity Creates with Andrea Weathers, Robotics for Kids with student teachers, Adrian Ducat, Nicole Durgan, and Cayden Turland. The GOAT Radio show is going strong with teen volunteers. Lisa Schramek-Adams brought the year to a celebratory close, offering two very popular sessions of Drawing for Kids during the holiday break. All the programming has been filled to capacity the library has been hopping!

    Jan/Feb Programming:  Basic Knitting with Lisa Schramek, Baby Massage & Mommy Care with Jessica Toth of Healing Hands Chinese Therapeutic Massage, Fantasy Map Making for kids with Dan Sullivan & Nicholas Larson, Manuscript Writing with Orin Pierson, Freelance 101 for Creatives with Rachel Cassandra, and a series of houseplant and gardening workshops with Mary Ellen Anderson. On Valentine’s Day we will launch our Winter Reading Challenge: Make the World A Better Place sponsored by the Friends of Petersburg Libraries. This challenge will be the same as last year. Participants can complete the challenge by reading and/or completing activities centered around volunteer work and creating community. Two grand-prize winners will be able to choose a local non-profit of their choice to donate their $500 winnings to.

    We've tackled a few maintenance activities in the last few months:

    Mattingly Electric replaced many lights that were out through the facility.

    Upper Tier Flooring recoated our slate tile floors in the foyer.

    Raincountry contracting installed a new water bottle filler fountain in the foyer, Joseph Quitslund provided the metal backsplash and Cummins Custom Woodworking replaced the vinyl wainscotting with wood paneling both around the fountain and behind the front desk.

6.Unfinished Business

7.New Business

  1. A.The Alaska Community Foundation has recommended these spendable amounts for 2023:

    Art Education Endowment - $3164.36

    General Library Endowments - $6,000 (est)

  2. B.It is requested that the following amounts be released from the Art Education Endowment for spring programming:

    Fantasy Map Making with Nico Larson &  Dan Sullivan - $300

    Manuscript Writing with Orin Pierson - $500

    Painted Medallions with Pia Reilly - $250

    Basket Making With Kathy Rousso - $500

  3. C.The FY2024 Budget Calendar is attached for Board review. A draft FY24 library will be presented at the February meeting.

  4. D.A revised Library Customer Code of Conduct Policy is attached. The original policy is also attached.

8.Discussion Items

  1. A.Friends of the Library Updates

    The Friends have received a total of $1920.46 from Amazon Smile through 11/22/22. Amazon is discontinuing the program on Feb 20, 2023.

    The next book sale will be held Feb 4.

  2. B.It was mentioned at a prior meeting that the library is part of a two year research project with IMLS.  This question is the first of others that will be asked in the coming months to help prepare us for the project.

    What are the most pressing issues facing our community?

  3. C.Next Meeting: Wednesday Feb 22 at noon

9.Adjourn