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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2024-10-09CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO October 9, 2024 Library Advisory Board Library 1 503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us Present: Kent Watson, Pat Walls, Mark Pontarelli, Lilisa Hall, Liberty Planck, Seth Pauley, Joy Fabos, Councilor Corrigan, Anisha Oruganty, Enid Rittman Staff Present: Melissa Kelly, Donna Harlan Absent: Patrick Walsh, Phil Wikelund, FOLOPL Liaison 1. Call to Order The Library Advisory Board (LAB) meeting was called to order by Chair Kent Watson at the Lake Oswego Public Library (LOPL) on Wednesday, October 9, at 7:04 pm. 2. Minutes Motion to approve was made by Fabos and seconded by Walls. The September 11, 2024 minutes were unanimously approved by LAB. 3. City Council Update – Councilor Corrigan Council Corrigan shared the latest updates from City Council meetings. Updates included:  A resolution to appoint two pro tem municipal judges;  A study session related to an EV charging strategy update as well as discussion related to franchise fee rates for PGE  A study session regarding the FEMA Nation Flood Insurance Program and compliance related to the Endangered Species Program  October was proclaimed as Meals on Wheels month  Indigenous Peoples day was proclaimed on October 14  The budget for the biennium was adjusted through the adoption of a supplemental budget  A committee was appointed to study the South Shore Fire Station 4. Public Comment - none 5. Director’s Report - Melissa Kelly Respond to Racism Art Project Site Collaboration update  The timeline has been extended. Currently the projected date to go before Council is early December which will hopefully allow more time for artists to respond to the RFP.  The grant funds that were previously earmarked for this project have a deadline. The City is looking for funding options that would not have the restrictive date.  Respond to Racism is working on writing grants and fundraising to increase the budget for this project. Strategic Plan progress updates  The 2024-2027 Library Strategic Plan features 4 main priorities that support the Library’s overarching strategic focus to improve access for all. o Updates for goal: Serve People Beyond the Building : • Home delivery has over 100 people enrolled. Volunteers, including two new additions who speak Mandarin and Spanish, are being added to meet the demand. • Waiting on response from CAO for the bookmobile procurement contracting. CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO October 9, 2024 Library Advisory Board Library 2 503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us • At the LINCC level, scopes of work for two RFP’s for procurement contacts have been completed for the implementation of hold lockers/library vending machines and to replace self-checkout equipment. o Updates for goal: Create Space to Expand Services : This goal contains 3 subheadings: Expanding services for all; Understanding the scope of facility needs at our current location and addressing high priority needs as appropriate; Continuing to work toward a new/expanded facility that can meet community needs. • Library staff continue to collaborate with community partners each year. Currently staff are planning for the MLK Day Celebration and Lunar New Year, 2025 • Kelly provided a brief history and update to the expanding World Languages collection, services and events:  Librarian April Younglove and 8 community volunteers began to meet and offer guidance on expanding the World Languages collection. The group spoke Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian.  Currently a group of 10 -15 World Language volunteers advise on the collection and programming. The members in this group speak Chinese, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian-Moldavian.  This led to a World Languages Conversation group for adults, which has turned into World Languages Cinema. 30 people attended the first event in September 2024, which included World Languages group volunteers as well as new attendees who were attracted to the program. The WL group volunteers serve as facilitators for film discussion and in the end, this helps the library to continue building community.  April sends an e-newsletter to a group of 100+ people who speak a variety of languages promoting library offerings, and solicits advice about programming, cataloging issues and other topics. • Kelly shared the library property will be experiencing significant tree maintenance work the week of October 14 -18. The library will have 4 trees removed, with replacements to be planted at a later time; additionally, 15 trees will be pruned. The work includes stump and limb grinding and haul away of debris.  Neighbors will be notified of the work via direct letters on doorsteps and an email reminder will be sent to the Neighborhood Association. Public notices will be on library doors, website and social media, to share disruptive noises are to be expected during the working hours of 8 am – 5 pm, and to bring to the public’s attention that there will be temporary partial closures of the Library’s parking lot, sidewalks, adjacent alley and street parking as the tree crew works around the property while maintaining public safety. The notices and emails will also point out that the library will be closed Monday, October 14, for staff training. • Related to the goal to continue to discuss and develop future library service models with the community: work is currently paused o Updates for goal: Increase Awareness of the Library’s value: • October is Freedom to Read Month. Kelly explained the library plays an important role in defending the freedom to read without restriction CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO October 9, 2024 Library Advisory Board Library 3 503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us • September was Library Card sign-up month. 320 new cards were created and we surpassed our goal! • Kelly shared staff is working on sharing messages in multiple languages. Library staff are setting priorities for materials to be translated and are working on outreach strategies as well as making sure staff are trained to how to effectively follow-thru on serving people who speak a language other than English when they visit the library. o Updates for goal: Support Staff Wellbeing and Growth. Kelly provided an update to LAB on upcoming trainings and events Library staff will be attending: • 4 library employees attended the Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference earlier in the month. • The library will be closed on October 14 and will open late on October 23 for staff professional development. Topics include the city’s new training program on DEI, ADA and Sustainability initiatives; best practices for servicing people when there is a language barrier, how to work with an interpreter/utilize the City’s contract for interpretation/translation services and Bystander Intervention in a Public Workplace training. Lake Oswego Reads 2025 Kelly was excited to share the selection committee has made their LO Reads 2025 selection. The Lake Oswego Review will announce the selection later this month with a feature article. Once the announcement has been made, events (such as the giveaways and the author event) can be found on the Library’s calendar.  The author is secured for Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Lakeridge High School.  Kelly expects to have copies of the selected book to share with LAB at the December meeting, if not sooner. 6. New Business Fundraising Kelly started a discussion with LAB about the library year end appeal as well as further fundraising efforts.  The library has better fundraising results in both dollars and number of donors when there is a specific ask.  FOLOPL also participates in a year end appeal for their members. o The Friends website is receiving an update that is expected to be functioning within the next 2 months.  Ideally in the future, fundraising will be part of the Friends expanding work for the library. o 2023 the library partnered with FOLOPL and the Friends matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000.  It is hopeful that the Friends will be able to do more fundraising as they are close to having the technology set up and available, but Kelly didn’t believe they are prepared for a whole campaign.  Kelly posed the questions to LAB if we want to do another year end campaign, or do we shift to another time frame and we have the Friends run the year end appeal. CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO October 9, 2024 Library Advisory Board Library 4 503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us o LAB members made a variety of suggestions for brainstorming ways for people to donate year-round and partnering with local business. o Kelly asked LAB for input for the focus of the year end appeal this year. o Watson suggested having a fundraising campaign for 350K for a bookmobile and through this process can build a template for future capital campaigns. o Kelly thought aligning in spring/summer or with LO reads and working with the friends could be good timing. o Kelly suggested we could still do a year end campaign with a letter asking for Friends memberships to support the library. Kelly and Watson will get more guidance after the Friends meeting and will share with LAB. 7. Chair Remarks – Kent Watson Watson thanked LAB for their feedback especially regarding the Respond to Racism art project. He is excited that we are moving forward with the Bookmobile and is looking forward to working with the Friends. Watson thanked LAB again for everything they do for the library. . 8. Youth Liaison Remarks – Anisha Oruganty and Enid Rittman  Oruganty is excited about the progress on the bookmobile. She inquired if there are any specifics on the age groups that regularly attend the World Languages events and having participants complete a feedback from would provide more information on the demographics. Oruganty asked if there was a way to create a platform where people can share their book reviews and recommendations. She viewed this as an opportunity to encourage more reading and community bonding. This could be online and in person with book bonding and book club events or book swaps to exchange and share. Oruganty saw this as an opportunity to expose different age groups to different books and genres. Kelly shared the library works with the Youth Action Council on a book swap, but there may be room for more ages. Kelly also liked the idea of a new platform and will follow up to see if our ReadSquared program that was used for the Summer Library Challenge has this capability. Kelly also mentioned the library has a Teen Reads Book Club.  Rittman enjoyed going to the teen section of the library this month and was excited to see the banned books were on the shelf and loves that the library is protecting our freedom to read and continues to increase the diversity of the books we can read. Kelly then explained about the Library’s Freedom to Read month premise of instead of one week of banned books, we have a full month in an effort to put a positive spin on the freedom to read. 9. Friends of the Library - Kent Watson  The Friends are going through a complete revamp of their website. Nell and Janet have switched the website to a newer system that is able to work smoothly with all browsers.  The Booktique had one of their best months ever  At the next Friends meeting, Watson and Kelly will discuss a large campaign with the Friends and gauge how they are feeling and will report back to LAB. CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO October 9, 2024 Library Advisory Board Library 5 503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us 10. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Pauley; seconded by Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm. The next LAB meeting will be held November 13, 2024. Respectfully submitted, Donna Harlan