HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-2024 Library Board of Trustees Meeting Meeting Minutes
Fairhope Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Monday, February 19, 2024
Attendance: Anne Johnson, Andy Parvin, Dan Stankowski,Randal Wright, Tamara Dean
Absent: Debra Langham, Jimmy Conyers
Also present: Nan Denson at the Trustees’ table and 15 Fairhope citizens seated in the Giddens Auditorium
Called to order at 4:01pm by Chair Anne Johnson
Nan Denson, treasurer for the Capital Campaign Account, reported on the current status of the account. The current balance in the account is $694.749.36.
Minutes of the 12/04/2023 meetingwere reviewed and unanimously approved.
Monthly Statistical Report:Tamara noted the increase in adult circulation.
Monthly Employee Report:Tamara announced that all the positions in the circulation department were now filledand that the library is at full staff.She saved the best newsfor last: the
Youth Department of the Fairhope Public Library was recently voted THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS TO HAVE FUN for 2024. This is an honor developed by Gulf Coast Media and is open to all Baldwin
county residents who would like to vote online.
Financial Report:The report was reviewed and the increase in salaries was noted.
There being no further discussion, a motion was made to accept all three reports, seconded and passed unanimously.
Old Business:
Changes to the Reconsideration Form were discussed, voted on and passed unanimously:
-must be a citizen of Baldwin County and have a library card from a Baldwin Co. Library
-the book must be read from beginning to end
-the final decision of the Boardwill be in place for 5 years
2. Randal reported on the upstairs renovation. The city’s bid process has ended and the
low bidder has been announced: Witherington Construction with a bid of $812,000. The City Council must accept the bid; it is on the agenda for their meeting on Feb. 19. After their
approval it will take a couple of weeks before the contract is signed and work can begin.
3.Randal reported on the Friends Chocolate and Champagne Fundraiser. This year the
event had a smaller than normal attendance, but was still an enjoyable evening and asuccessful event. The profit will be a little over $21,000.
New Business:
All Trustees were given a copy of the 67 pageFHPL policies and procedure to read and study in preparation for a review and discussion at the April meeting.
Anne shared the Alabama Public Library Service(APLS) letter from Director Nancy Pack concerning changes to the Administrative Code. (APLS is the governing body for all Alabama public
libraries and the Code contains the regulations and procedures that Alabama public libraries must follow in order to receivestate aid.) These changes will impact members of library
boards across the state.Proposed changes include:
Library boards will need to establish written guidelines for where “sexually explicit or other “inappropriate” material should go in the library. Boards will also need to establish a
process for staff to seek approval for materials recommended, displayed or promoted to children or youth.
Chair comment: The first part of this proposed change suggests that there is even such a thing as sexually-explicit content aimed at children, which is simply not the case.This regulation
could also pave the way toward criminalizing library staff for recommending “inappropriate” material to youth, even if the youth requests it.
Restricting access to materials or services based on a patron’s age, specifically status as a minor, should not be considered an unjust denial of servicebased on age.
Chair comment: This is legal cover which may or may not stand up in court.
Library boards must provide advance public notice of any intention to direct public funds to the American Library Association (ALA), then approve those plans in a public meeting.
Chair comment: Singling out expenditures to the ALA specifically is intended to discourage public libraries from utilizing ALA resources. This nearly 150 year old institution is the
professional organization for librarians and has been the gold standard for leadership training and the source for trends, guidance, and support for public libraries. The Directors
of Fairhope Public Library have been members of ALA for years.
Anne opened the floor for discussion and questions regarding these possible changes to the code. The public has 90 days to comment on the proposed changes (until 4:30pm on April 29)
via letter to the APLSBoard. The Friends of the Fairhope Library are sponsoring 4 letter writing parties to help the community understand the changes and write letters. Board members
were encouraged to write letters as well.
Also discussed was Alabama State Senate Bill 10 which has passed the Senate and has gone to the House of Representatives for a vote. This bill will change the way volunteers are selected
to serve on Library Governing Boards. If this bill passes both houses and becomes law, then the selection of Board members will be done every 4 years and will “serve at the pleasure
of” the local governing body who appointed them.This bill was introduced and written by our Senator, Chris Elliott. Letters to Elliott and our representative, Jennifer Fiddler, are
requested. This bill will politicize the appointments of board members and, as the bill stands,board members could be “fired” at will at any time. The bill also includes burdensome
reporting to state officials every year.
Meeting adjourned: 4:37pmFollowing the meeting, during the public participation section, eleven members of the public spoke in favor of library activites, praised the library staff and
board of trustees for their stand against censorship, and generally found the library to be one of the best things about the city. Respectfully Submitted: