Library Board Minutes for Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Meeting Date

MINUTES of the regular meeting of the Pitkin County Library Board of Trustees on October 9, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 12:00 PM in the William R. Dunaway Community Room.

ROLL CALL:

Trustees Present:

Pres. John Wilkinson (JW)

V.P. Elizabeth Nix (EN)

Sec. Anna Lookabill Scott (ALS)

Tres. Audrey Ellis (AE)

Ashley Connolly (AC) via phone

Austine Stitt (AS)

Elizabeth Stewart-Severy (ES-S)

Alternates:

Chris Keleher (CK)

Heather Kendrick (HK)- Member of the public

Staff:

Genevieve Smith (GS), PC Librarian

Anna Steinberg, PC Staff Liaison

GR Fielding, PC Construction and Assets Director

Jeff Pendarvis, PC Facilities Manager

Molly Ireland, PC Library Deputy Director

Jeffery Bradley, PC Library Deputy Director

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Moved by Austine Stitt, 2nd by Ashley Connolly

Passed by the Board, unanimously

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  • Letter of appreciation from community member Lois Knapp for the recent party thrown on Sept 25th for the Library Card Month celebration.

TRUSTEES COMMENTS & LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:

Trustee Comments-

  • Austine Stitt on speaking with the Cattos, who recently lost their child to a drug overdose, was inquiring about a possible drug prevention program being offered at the library in honor of daughter Bailey.

Librarian’s Report-

  • Building Updates: Moved up from Old Business to respect the guest's time
    • GR Fielding, PC Construction and Assets Director, presented to the Board the same update presented to the BOCC on Tuesday, October 1st, regarding the Library and HHS Buildings’ Electrification project, including history, study results, cost, snowmelt, and visual impact. The decision to move forward with the middle ground option of the air source heat pumps in combination with replacement gas boilers is due to many factors. Timing is getting sorted and will get back to the board about disruptions that will happen most likely in the fall of 2025 that will require some closures of the library.
    • Library Plumbing Incident Report/ Update by Jeff Pendarvis, Facility Operations Manager which began on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 12:30 PM; ECOS called to address health & Safety, closed Library at 5 pm as there was no access to bathrooms, Library remained closed through Sunday, reopening Monday, with closing again Tuesday to reopen again on Wednesday. Getting a second opinion from Brian Flynn with All Valley Resources on how to get a long-term remedy for the issue. Additional updates will be given as things come to light, though the board approved for staff to keep the downstairs closed until they could rearrange the space to make it safe for patrons to return to the area. Additional closures will occur in the area when a fix is determined.
  • Library Programs Updates included Art at the Library, a Costume Making Workshop, Sewing with Jennifer, Trick-or-Treating at the Library, an Annual Costume Contest, and Special Storytimes with Livier Cruz.
  • Operations Updates:
    • Count & Library Staffing: Madison Ledford was Promoted to Youth Services Librarian.
    • Deputy County Manager Rich Englehart is retiring in 2025.
    • Assistant County Attorney, Laura Makar, was appointed to Judge for 9th Judicial Circuit.
  • Technology upgrades of AV- Michael Faas attended nearby expo to see the newest and greatest options in AV equipment as we plan for upgrades in 2025.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Budget 5-year Plan: 2nd Reading

Moved by Audrey Ellis, 2nd by Austine Stitt

Passed by the Board, unanimously

  • Request for Privacy & Confidentiality Policy: 2nd Reading

Moved by Ashley Connolly, 2nd by Elizabeth Nix

Passed by the Board, unanimously

  • Request for Web Policy: 2nd Reading

Moved by Audrey Ellis, 2nd by Ashley Connolly

Passed by the Board, unanimously

NEW BUSINESS- ALL NEW BUSINESS WAS TABLED UNTIL THE NOVEMBER MEETING DUE TO TIME

  • Request for Gifts & Donations Policy: 1st Reading
  • Request Display & Bulletin Board Policy: 1st Reading

REVIEW FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULE 2024

  • Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, 2025, Feb. 12, 2025

ADJOURNED @ 1:30 PM

Moved by Anna Scott, 2nd by Ashley Connolly