OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMISSION (LAC)
MINUTES - April 26, 2004
Main Library West Auditorium

I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Scott called the LAC meeting to order at
5:10 p.m.

Roll Call
Commissioners Present: Tracey Scott, Victoria Kelly, Evelyn Wesley, Lottie Rose, Arthur Noble, Judi Hirsch, Beatrice Wong.

Commissioners Excused: Deborah Eudaley, Sharon Crandall

Commissioners Absent:

Staff Present: Director Martínez, Gene Tom, Gerry Garzón, Leslie Rodd, and Rosalía Arteaga-Romo (recorder).

Guests: Genevieve Katz, Marian Sylvestre.

Disposition of Minutes
Commissioner Wong made a motion to approve the minutes of March 29, 2004, as amended. Commissioner Hirsch seconded the motion and all commissioners present approved the minutes.

II. REPORTS

a. Chairperson's Report

Chairperson Scott and Commissioner Hirsch attended the Legislative Day in Sacramento.
Introduced two incoming commissioners, Genevieve Katz and Marian Sylvestre, who have been nominated and will be officially appointed to the LAC by the Mayor at the May 4, 2004 Council meeting.

b. Director's Report

Staff has been busy working on the mid-year budget review and doing performance appraisal for library staff.
The Library has received positive press due to the Measure Q passage, and the upcoming National Library Week events.
Distributed copies of the new Library Annual report.
Budget Update - Gene Tom distributed and reviewed the final OPL budget mid-cycle adjustment for FY 2004-05. The figures are offered as estimates and the bulk of additional Measure Q funds will go to staffing expenses. He added that the costs to cover the audit of Measure Q, and for the economic engineer to conduct a survey to obtain the square footage for the parcels, are not included in this adjustment. The City Auditor will review Measure Q expenses and prepare a report for Council. The budget review will be submitted to Council for approval in June.
Gerry Garzón briefly talked about the plans to enhance and upgrade the Library's technology in several areas: the upgrade of the Library's Integrated Library System (the Catalog) which was first installed in 1989 and is still a text-based system; the Library's wide-area network, which is inadequate to handle the amount of traffic throughout the libraries; and the integration of self-serve technology such as self-checkout systems, into the OPL. Leslie Rodd added that we already have computers for the disabled and also obtained a grant to improve these services.
Leslie Rodd reported on the different events taking place during National Library Week, among them author Daniel Ellsberg. Ms. Rodd also mentioned that the Library received two grants; one will be used to purchase DVD's and books in Hindi and Punjabi for the Golden Gate Branch, and the other will be used for the Summer Reading program. Staff has also submitted 7 requests for funding for the Teen Zone, as well as teaming up with Mervyn's to do another literary grant program. Director Martínez acknowledged the hard work that Ms. Rodd has put into these grant proposals.
Gerry Garzón reported that the Citizens Action Committee is resuming their meetings and will discuss including the Main Library back into the Master Plan Project.

Commissioner Kelly, who's served on the Advocacy Committee, stated that there seems to be a resistance in the community to the idea of a new Main Library project given the economic trend; staff should be aware of the sentiment.

Commissioner Kelly is also concerned about the new self-checkout book machine at some libraries, which traces what library patrons read. Does this technology interfere with patron's confidentiality rights? Mr. Garzón replied that the chip in this machine (RFID) does not keep any patron information that could be accessed, and he reassured that the patron's confidentiality is safe. The RFID is now in place at the new Chávez Branch, the first one in Oakland.

c. Commissioners Advocacy Report

Commissioner Hirsch attended the Legislative Day and mentioned the wonderful editorial in the Oakland Tribune regarding Leg. Day
Commissioner Hirsch also met with a librarian from Berkeley Public Library who mentioned that BPL has a system to clear fines for students with overdue/lost books called "Clean Slate". She suggested that maybe OPL could develop a similar program for students only, and not do a complex campaign such as the amnesty program.
Chairperson Scott reported that staff and commissioners who attended Legislative Day got an opportunity to talk to Assemblywoman Ellen Corbett' aide, legislative representative for Hayward, Castro Valley, and Oakland. Ms. Corbett is on the Board of approval for Proposition 14 and her aide gave us good insight information regarding Prop. 14 state funding. They also met with staff from office of Lonnie Hancock, Wilma Chan and Don Perata. It was a good day in Sacramento with substantial meetings, and it appears that our legislative representatives are aware and caring about library issues.

III. OLD BUSINESS - None

IV. NEW BUSINESS - None

V. AGENDA BUILDING

Branch Update Report
Master Plan Update
RFID Update
Prop. 14 Public Hearings - Staff would like to conduct public hearings and would like to ask the Commissioner to help by writing letters in support of Prop. 14 funding for the OPL.

VI. OPEN FORUM

VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Library Commission would meet on May 24th due to the Memorial Day Holiday on May 31st.
The LAC would like to hold its June meeting at the new Chávez, and the September meeting at the Asian Branch. Staff will confirm these dates with the branch managers.
Commissioner Hirsch asked whether staff could develop a form to recruit more students to join the Youth Leadership Council. She would like to recommend a couple of students for appointment.
Chairperson Scott announced that Commissioners Hirsch and Rose are no longer on the LAC as a result of Mayor Brown appointing new commissioners. Chairperson Scott acknowledged both Commissioners for their commitment to the Library and serving on the Commission.

Meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.

Submitted by,

Carmen Martínez
Library Director