The Public Library of the District of Columbia

Board of Library Trustees Meeting

Minutes
Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held at 6:00 pm, Wednesday,
March 17, 2010 at the Parklands Turner Neighborhood Library, 1547 Alabama Avenue,
SE, John W. Hill, Jr., President, presiding.

PRESENT: John W. Hill, Jr., President, Bonnie Cohen, James Lewis, Myrna Peralta,
Brenda Richardson, Kelley Smith, Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian and Secretary-
Treasurer.
ABSENT: Donald Richardson, Vice President, and Richard Levy.

GUESTS AT THE BOARD TABLE: Gregory Chernack, President, DCPL Foundation,

and Susan Haight, President, Federation of Friends.

The meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The motion to adopt the agenda was approved.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion to approve the minutes of the January 27, 2010 Board meeting was adopted.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Hill stated the practice of the DCPL Board of Library Trustees to entertain public
comments at the beginning of the meeting. He went on to explain that persons who
signed their names to the sign-in sheet near the entrance to the library would have three
minutes to address the Board of Library Trustees. Thirteen people signed up to make
comments. Comments included concerns by several people about renovations and the
process for informing the public about the renovations at Washington Highlands; and
several expressed concerns about access at the planned Mount Pleasant Library and
architectural plans for that library. One person thanked the Board for the new Parklands-
Turner Library; another asked about plans for the Capital View Library and if a
directional sign could be put up near the library. Another suggested a needs assessment
to identify a second library site for Ward I besides Mount Pleasant; one person asked
about funding for the Deanwood Library and another had a question about the process for
public involvement in the Library Services and Strategic Plan. Mr. Hill responded to this
particular question by noting that the City Council process will involve the public.

Board member Myrna Peralta asked that issues related to Mount Pleasant be one of the
items for discussion at either the next Board meeting or at a Board Committee meeting.

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Board member Brenda Richardson requested that outstanding issues with the Washington
Highlands library project also be discussed. The Board agreed.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Mr. Hill said that budget issues continue city-wide. The Capital Budget is looking
especially serious. As the city’s revenues diminish, funding for capital spending will get
tighter and tighter. Mr. Hill said that there are also issues with funding and maintaining
the new libraries once they open and that the Library must have the resources to run these
libraries. He encouraged Board members and members of the public to attend the May 3
Budget Hearing at City Council.

CHIEF LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

Chief Librarian Cooper said that the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Library was the setting chosen by the FCC to present key elements of the National
Broadband Plan, a unique opportunity to increase access for people with disabilities. She
highlighted the many events held at all libraries during Black History Month and
congratulated neighborhood library manager Eric Riley for being named a 2010 Mover &
Shaker by The Library Journal and Ellsworth Rockefeller, Children’s and YA Division
Head, MLK Library, for receiving a 2010 Forward Under 40 Award from the University
of Wisconsin.

PARKLANDS-TURNER NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY REPORT

Chang Liu, Associate Director for Neighborhood Libraries, introduced Margaret Dorsey-
Jones, Neighborhood Library Manager, who provided information about the services,
staffing, demographics, and facilities at the Parklands-Turner Library.

BIG READ 2010

Pam Stovall, Associate Director for the MLKML, gave details of the upcoming Big Read
events and activities, which includes a citywide focus on the book A Lesson Before
Dying by Ernest Gaines. The Big Read runs between April 17 and May 15.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

Eric Coard reported that overall spending pressure in the FY 2010 budget is in personnel
services with increases in the costs of fringe benefits (FICA, health care premiums) with
attrition/vacancy savings lagging behind estimates contributing to the pressure. Mr.
Coard said that because of a $500M shortfall in the city, all agencies are being asked to
reduce FY 2011 budgets from the FY 2010 baseline. He then explained the Budget
Allocation Review document to all present.

FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT

Jeff Bonvechio, Director of Capital Construction, provided details of various construction
projects including the soon to open new Neighborhood Libraries at Benning and
Anacostia.

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PUBLIC SERVICES REPORT
Joi Mecks, Director of Communications, outlined plans for new library opening activities
at Benning and Anacostia libraries. She said that special tours, brochures and Fact Sheets
about the structural and environmental aspects of both libraries will be available shortly
before the libraries open. Micki Freeny, Coordinator for Youth Services, provided a
demonstration about the STAR – Sing, Talk and Read – program. Ms. Freeny explained
that STAR is a series of programs for parents of young children to inform them about the
importance of early literacy.

FOUNDATION PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Gregory Chernack, President, DC Public Library Foundation, gave updates on the 2009
Spring Fundraising Campaign, the launch of the DC Literati program, and the Peabody
Matching Grant Challenge where, between now and November 1, 2010, an anonymous
donor will match every dollar up to $50,000 to benefit the Peabody Collection.

FEDERATION OF FRIENDS REPORT

Federation of Friends President Susan Haight reported that the Federation has reached its
first quarter goal of having 20 organizational members and is helping new member
groups set up by-laws, policies and procedures. The Federation has also pledged $32,300
to the Summer Reading Program and is planning a “Take Your Councilman to the
Library Day”.

NEW BUSINESS
There being no new business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:41 pm.

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