LIB 09-16-03 CUPERTINO LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES
September 16, 2003
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Eno Schmidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Sheila Mohan
Janet Riddell
Eno Schmidt
Yuhfen Diana Wu
Absent with Prior Notice: Kathy Stakey
Also present: Melinda Cervantes, Santa Clara County Librarian
Mary-Ann Wallace, City Librarian
MINUTES
In the August 19, 2003 Minutes, under item # 8:.Status Report on the New Library
Project: There was a typo in Ralph Quails' name. With that correction made, the Minutes
were approved as amended.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
None.
CITY LIBRARIAN"S REPORT
Cupertino Library's Summer Reading activities were very successful again this year,
despite being in a temporary facility. The total number of SRC signups was 1,976
children. A total of 1,260 children completed Summer Reading Club, a 64% completion
rate. Children's Librarians put on a series of 3 drop-in craft programs at the temporary
library, with an average attendance of 105 children and 50 adults.
The final SRC program was held in the Cupertino Room of the Quinlan Community
Center, where a performer from the Carnival of Chaos put on a magic and juggling show
for 209 kids and 129 parents, a total audience of 338 people.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Teen Summer Reading was also successful with 211 teens signing up, and 135 teens
completing the program, also a 64% completion rate. Finalists in the "Teens View the
Many Faces of Cupertino" photography contest have been notified, and photos will be on
display during Teen Read Week, October 19-25, 2003.
The annual Thank You party for teens who volunteer their time in the Children's Room
was held last month, and 23 teens participated.
The Friends of the Cupertino Library funded all of the Summer Reading Club programs,
supplies, award books, teen girl certificates, prizes, and the Volunteer Thank You party.
Longtime Cupertino Adult Reference Librarian Sheila Ho recently retired, and will be
moving to Los Angeles
Santa Clara County Library upgraded its operating system to Horizon Sunrise from Dynix
at the beginning of August. All of the libraries, including the temporary library, were
closed for one full day and two partial days for the upgrade. While there are always some
glitches with upgrades, the process went as smoothly as possible.
Cupertino Temporary Library had a total circulation of 135,724 items for the month of
August, 2003. All of the Santa Clara County Libraries had lower circulation figures that
month due to being closed for the operating system upgrade. At the temporary library, as
was the case in other libraries, staff also limited the number of items that could be
checked out during the week of the upgrade.
The temporary library recorded 25,247 visits to the library in August. The average
circulation per hour was 568 items. The percentage of circulation on the self-check
machines was 40% in August. This increased percentage is due in large part to assigning
staff members to encourage and to help the public with the use of the self-check
machines every hour that the library is open. In libraries where there is no staff
intervention with the self-check machines, the percentage of circulation on the self-check
machines is much lower than Cupertino's.
Work is progressing well on the new library. Trenches have been dug, rebar is being
installed, edge forms have been placed, and the library foundation will be poured next
month.
Cupertino Temporary Library will be starting a new Series of Baby Storytimes for
children ages 6 months to 18 months on 6 consecutive Friday mornings in October and
the first week in November at 10:15 a.m. All of the Santa Clam County Libraries are
planning to begin offering Baby Storytimes within this year. We've all had many
requests from the public for this type of service, and are happy to provide it. Flyers are
available at the temporary library.
Starting this momh, Children's Librarians will also be putting out a calendar of all of the
regular sturytimes and any other special programs or activities in the Children's Room.
These calendars are available at the temporary library.
Library Survey Results: The Cupertino Library Commission survey received a total of
212 responses. Librarian Wallace prepared a preliminary report in response to the first
185 surveys received, and will do a final report to include responses from all 212 surveys
for the next commission meeting.
Tour of the new Saratoga Library and Commission Meeting at Saratoga in October:
Commissioners would like to tour the new Saratoga Library together. Chairperson
Schmidt will contact Library Commission Liaison Carol Atwood to post the change of
venue for the public.
Summary of the Teen Librarian's visit to the Teen Commission meeting: This item
has been deferred several times. Teen Librarian Gayathri Kanth made a presentation to
thc Teen Commission at their May 13, 2003 meeting. She talked to them about Teen
Services and the Teen Collection at Cupertino Temporary Library, as well as plans for
the Tccn Area in the new library and got their ideas and suggestions. She encouraged
them to cmail her with ideas, suggestions, and feedback also on thc new teen webpage.
Many of the teen commissioners are regular library patrons, who were already
acquainted with our Teen Librarian from their library visits. Other asked questions about
teen services, and were not familiar with the Teen Summer Reading program. Afier
hearing about it, several said they would be interested in participating and would tell
friends about it.
The teen commissioners were very interested in hearing about the Personal Reading
Picks service available on the Santa Clara County Library website. A couple of the teens
had already used this service and pronounced it "cool." Teens were also interested in teen
programming done by the library, but said that their busy schedules make it very difficult
to attend programs. They are also enthusiastically looking forward to the new library and
to having their own Teen area that will be much larger than the one in the old library.
COUNTY LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
1. Library staff has begun a strategic planning process that will continue through
most of this fiscal year. This process will also include community conversations either
through focus groups or surveys. The resulting roadmap for the Library will influence
future decisions about library services, programs, collections and technology.
2. The JPA has contracted with political consultant Phil Giarrizzo to assist with
planning for the renewal of the Library benefit assessment. The current assessment
expires in June 2005 and the JPA will be placing a special tax on the March 2004 election
ballot.
The Friends of the Los Altos Library met and approved a donation of $20,000 to the
Library campaign. Donations now total $44,000 with an additional $23,000 pledged by
Friends of the Campbell, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga Libraries.
Other meeting dates to calendar:
September 25th 12:00 pm
September 25th 1:30 pm
October 23rd 12:00 pm
October 23rd 1:30 pm
October 23rd 1:30 pm
December TBA
Library JPA Election Committee
Library JPA (Rate, Term, CPI)
Library JPA Election Committee
Library JPA Election Committee
Library JPA (Budget, Resolution of Intent)
Library JPA (CFD Public Heating, Call for election)
3. The Library will be participating in Silicon Valley Reads: One Book One
Community from August 2003 through February 2004. Everyone is invited to
nominate one or more books to be considered for selection as the One Book.
Patrons will be invited to vote for one of the three finalists and then encouraged to read
the book prior to February. Events will be held at public libraries, book stores and
other venues throughout the month of February to celebrate reading and literacy in
Silicon Valley. www. siliconvalleyreads.org
The following recaps our estimated impact of State Budget action upon Library
resources:
Motor Vehicle In-lieu Fees (VLF): The State is returning to the VLF levels of 2
years ago but can not implement the change for 3 months. Through the budget
action, the State will not "back-fill" the amounts owing cities and counties (and
the library) for that three month period. The loss in revenue to the Library is
estimated at $370,000.
Public Library Foundation (PLF): The State has dropped funding from a high of
$58 million in 2001 to $15.8 million. The loss in revenue to the Library is
$421,000.
Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR): The State has funded TBR at $12.1
million, the same as last fiscal year. The Library anticipates receiving $1.4
million in revenue.
The total loss to the Library from State budget decisions is $791,000.
STATUS REPORT ON THE NEW LIBRARY
Correspondence from City Staff: Since Library Commission Liaison Carol Atwood is
not present, this item was deferred to the next meeting. Librarian Wallace attends the
weekly construction meetings. The project is progressing well.
Copy of the Resolution for Naming and Recognizing Donors: A copy was included
with the commission agenda.
NEW BUSINESS
Directions to the Temporary Library: Commissioner Riddell had asked for additional
signage because residents had approached her to say that they had difficulty finding the
Temporary Library. The signs have been installed on De Anza Boulevard, and
Commissioner Riddell, along with the other commissioners, thanks the city for the
additional directional signs.
Report on City Manager Dave Knapp's Commission Survey: This item will also be
deferred to a future meeting.
Fine Arts Liaison Subcommittee: This subcommittee is made up of Commissioners
Mohan and Stakey. Commissioner Mohan said that she and Commissioner Stakey have
not met recently, as Commissioner Stakey has been away.
OLD BUSINESS
Cupertino General Plan Task Force: In the absence of Commissioner Stakey, this
report will be deferred to a future meeting.
Sister City Library: Commissioner Wu had no report at this time.
Friends of the Library: The next Friends meeting will be Monday, October 6, 2003.
The Friends are planning to make a substantial donation to the Cupertino Library
Campaign to furnish the new library.
Library Foundation: Chairperson Schmidt reported that the foundation board will meet
next week and will discuss the new city Naming and Recognition policy.
Mayor's Tea: Commissioner Mohan attended and reported to the commission.
Commissioner Stakey will attend in October and Commissioner Wu will attend in
November.
Calendar: Commission Secretary Sheila Mohan passed out copies of the commission
calendar.
Agenda Building for upcoming Commission meetings: Commissioners would like to
invite Public Works Director Ralph Quails and Cupertino JPA representative City
Council Member Richard Lowenthal to the November Commission meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at 7:00 pm at Saratoga Library,
where commissioners will hold their meeting and tour the new Saratoga Library.
Note:
The Minutes are unapproved until the following Cupertino Library Commission
meeting, where any corrections are noted.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary-Ann Wallace, Community Library Supervisor