The Gwinnett County Public Library Board of Trustees held its regularly scheduled meeting on March 12, 2012 at the Collins Hill Branch.  Present were Board members Phillip Saxton-Chair, Suzanne Skeen-Treasurer and Dick Goodman.  Betty Atkinson-Vice Chair and Babs Wagoner-Secretary were absent.  Administrative staff members present were Nancy Stanbery-Kellam-Executive Director, Liz Forster-Deputy Director, Jane Walters-Business Services Director, Barbara Spruill-Branch Services Director, Kim Rodriguez-Human Resources Director, Deb George-Materials Management Director, Michael Casey-Information Technology Director and Shannon Sheffield-Administrative Assistant.  Other administrative staff was also in attendance.  Phillip called the meeting to order at 6:33 PM.

 

Report from Nancy Stanbery-Kellam, Executive Director

Author Events

February 8:  Lunch and Listen Luncheon featured Lisa Gardner

February 15:  Meet the Author event featured author Lauren Willig

Upcoming Author Events

April 17:  Meet the Author Series featuring Jan Bath, author and landscape designer

FOL Fundraiser and Author Event

February 26:  American Girl Doll tea party and book chat with Evelyn Coleman

 

Five Forks Branch Renovation - Phase I

Completion of Phase I is targeted for the end of the month.  Although the contractor reported that work is one week behind, he is confident that he can make it up.  Facilities and IT readied the trailers for the Events & Outreach staff and they are already moved it and settled.  The FFR staff providing Holds and general customer account services.  When Phase II starts, the second trailer will provide computer access to customers.

 

People and Stories Programming 2005-2012

Barbara Spruill read a written report by Karen Harris who was unable to attend the board meeting.  Karen Harris, Norcross Branch Manager spearheaded this program in 2005.  People and Stories/ Gente y Cuentos programming invites audiences to enter the world of the humanities through the reading and discussion of literature.  Short stories of literary merit are read aloud and discussed using a method that draws upon the life experiences of basic readers.  GCPL program attendance to date is 1,000 participants.  According to CEO Pat Andres, and Program Coordinator Stephanie Hanzel-Cohen,

Gwinnett County Public Library is the leading library in the Southeast of People and Stories Programs.

 

County Meeting with Chairman Nash and others from the county

Five Goals - $1.5M Contingency Funds

Goal 1 - Long Term Planning- Taking a look at what the “library of the future” means to Gwinnett.  Plan will resemble the Gwinnett County 2030 Unified Plan.

 

Goal 2 - Library staff will provide a financial plan and the tool used for the financial planning process to explore future scenarios at various levels of funding.  As a related topic, the House approved and now the Senate is considering, funding library capital improvement projects.  GCPL has 12 projects being considered for funding with $730,740 of local funding and $319,070 that would come from the state. 

 

Goal 3 - Hours of Operations - Complete a comprehensive review of the library hours.  Give detailed reports about the different options we studied that resulted in the current hours.  The county would like us to look at the feasibility of adding more hours. 

 

Goal 4 - Organizational Structure Review - County’s Performance Analysis Team to conduct a review of the library’s operation.  The outcome of this would be the development of a Balanced Score Card which is performance-based outcome software the county uses for all their departments.  We recognize that some of our measurable will be suited for this and some are not.

 

Goal 5 - Implement the 6 Pillar Program (increase non-tax revenue)

1. Advertising  2. Fundraising  3. Endowment to $25 million  4. Affiliate Program  5. Sponsorship Programs  6.  Donations