LIB 05-18-04
City of Cupertino
Library Commission
Regular Adjourned Meeting
May 18, 2004
1. CALL TO ORDER
At 7:05 p.m. Janet Riddell called the meeting to order at the Cupertino City Hall, 10300
Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA.
2. ROLL CALL
Commissioners: Eno Schmidt, Kathy Stakey, Janet Riddell, Sheila Mohan and Yuhfen Diana
Wu
Citv/Countv Library Staff: Mary-Ann Wallace, Melinda Cervantes, Carol Atwood
Absent: None
Guests: Hema Kundargi
3. MINUTES
None.
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Jeffery DuVall, a Santa Clara resident, called to ask that the new Cupertino Library
Circulation desk accommodate more than one librarian. In addition, he would like to receive
a receipt when returning books to the library.
5. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
6. STATUS REPORT ON NEW LIBRARY PROJECT
Ralph Qualls gave the Commission an update on the Library construction project. The bids
for FF&E came in at 30% below the engineers estimate ($960,700 versus bids of $685,651)
and the bids for the signage came in below engineers estimate by 43% ($150,000 versus
$84,786). In addition, bids were obtained for the County library staff furniture if they would
like to take advantage of those prices. The temporary library will be closed during the month
of September to transport the books to the new location.
Ralph also reviewed the parking situation around City Hall from Memorial Weekend through
October 2004, stating that meetings during the normal work hours will be rescheduled to
other facilities such as the Quinlan Center and/or the Sports Center.
7. CITY OF CUPERTINO LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
Mary Ann gave the commission an update on the April activity. Circulation for the month
was 165,225 with a gate count of 26,951, and the self-check out numbers are not available at
this time. This is the second highest circulation in the County. Long time children's
reference librarian, Bonnie Wang, is retiring. The library plans to continue with Discovery
Days and will be at Eaton school this month. Summer story time begins soon and the
Summer Reading Club theme this year is Track it Down at Your Library.
8. COUNTY LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
a. Technology Utilization. The Library JPA Board has asked the Staff to invest in more
self check out machines for the new library and plans are to open with seven machines.
Richard Lowenthal has recommended a goal of 100% self check for the Cupertino
Library.
b. Statistics - Melinda will be coming back with new reporting on data collected, which
provides system wide as well as Cupertino specific data.
c. Fees and Fines. There is a new policy that will go into effect July 1. Two items in
particular are 1) reinstituting $lIday fine on feature videoslDVDs and 2) instituting
$lIhold after the first three holds. Basic overdue fines were increased to $.25 per item on
4-1-04.
d. Budget - The library JPA Board reviewed a budget reflecting a 12% cut overall with
collections alone incurring a 34% cut. Staff has also proposed cutting all library hours,
closing all libraries on Monday and cutting back on the book mobile. This budget was
built upon the Governor's first proposed budget and they are now looking at additional
cuts. Melinda is pursuing a little known law that exempts public libraries and may save
the shift in funds. She will report more next month. Public Library Foundation monies
may decrease more than $400,000 for fiscal year 04-05.
e. Special Election - The JPA Board is considering going back to the citizenry in a special
election in June 2005.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Select two Commission representatives to the Steering Committee for Opening of the
Cupertino Library and Civic Center - Ralph Qualls gave an update on the grand
opening evening scheduled for Friday, October 29, 2004 with a black tie event. Finger
food will be served in the Library and then a sit down dinner for 160 people will be held
in the new community hall. Dedications will be in the morning on Saturday with the
community hall first and then the Library. Events start around lOam. Events on the
afternoon on Saturday and all day Sunday are unprogrammed and Ralph asked the
Commission for suggestions for these times. Tickets for the reception and the dinner will
be targeted for the chamber, architects and a guest list on a first come, first served basis.
Helios will cater both events, with the goal to raise about $25,000.
Kathy nominated Diana as one of the representatives and Janet nominated Sheila as the
second. All were in favor. Carol will follow up with Chuck Kilian to see if this will be a
problem with four library commissioners at these meetings (Janet is there from the
Foundation and Kathy is there from the Friends). Kathy suggested an alternate plan and
Eno seconded that if there is a problem with a Library Commission quorum, then Kathy
and Janet would represent the commission and the other organizations. All were in favor
of this backup plan.
b. Review Commission Work Program - Janet passed out the Commission goals and work
program for the current calendar year. Discussion followed.
10.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Report on Legislative Issues Breakfast - Diana said that Joe Simitian did a good
presentation. He stated that people feel comfortable working with the new governor.
Many of the other cities had their Council members there, but no one attended from
Cupertino.
b. Sunday Hours Update - Cupertino has budgeted for Sunday extra hours in the amount
of $120,000. However, those funds will go to pay for the FF&E if the Capital Campaign
does not raise the money by July 1st of this year. Mary Ann and Melinda presented
several options on determination of open hours. They are proposing what the funds will
support on a 40-hour service week and Mary Ann walked the commission through the
different scenarios. They have decided to do a survey with library patrons as to what
schedule they would prefer. Janet suggested a touch poll survey and passed out
information on a company that provides this service. Melinda will send an introduction
and the electronic copy of the options, and Kathy, Eno and Carol will put together the
survey for consideration at the next meeting.
c. Goals for 2004/2005 FY - Janet passed out the final reiteration of the Committee Goals.
d. Fine Arts Liaison Subcommittee - Hema Kundargi from the Fine Arts Committee
attended expressing their interest in art in the Library. She invited any commissioners to
attend their meetings. Discussion followed as to whether there would be opportunities to
hang art and Ralph Qualls suggested that the Commissions wait until the library is
completed to see where they feel it would be appropriate to place artwork. It was
requested that an additional art donation of Cyrus the Great is being considered for the
Library. The Commission addressed concerns about the Morion moving back to the
Library site.
e. Sister City Library - Hsin-Chu City has 10 sister cities but Cupertino is the only
donation that they have made to a sister city. Diana was very happy that Michele Hu and
her husband accompanied her to see the Mayor. This donation will come out of their
international exchange program budget. Carol asked that Rick Kitsen follow up on
getting these funds and will forward the information to him. Diana asked if the city
would do something in exchange for this gift.
f. Mayors Breakfast - Kathy passed out highlights of the Mayor's Breakfast. Discussion
followed.
g. Friends of the Library - Kathy stated that Louis Woodruff is very frail and requested
the Commission send her a get-well card. In addition, please save your books for the
lobby sales.
h. Library Foundation - Eno reported that $448,500 has been remitted to the city to date
with many other verbal pledges received. Total income is $530,000. The Teddy Bear
Tea is planned in September.
i. Calendar - Sheila updated the calendar. There was no discussion at this time
11. AGENDA BUILDING - None.
12. REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS - None.
13. OTHER - None.
14. ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING
The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 pm.
~ {);hL~
Carol Atwood
Director of Administrative Services