Library Board Meeting Update

Submitted by Ann Decherd

Last night the Board met at the Cumming library. Highlighted agenda items include:

Election of Officers:

The Board voted in officers for the next year: Kristin Morrissey as Chair, Christy Winters as Vice Chair, and Lisa Stortzum as Secretary/Treasurer. After the vote, the Board presented flowers and thanked Mary Helen McGruder for her leadership during 2022 and the years prior. These officer changes became effective at the conclusion of the meeting.

Collection Development Policy Revision:

The revised Collection Development Policy was approved. Effective December 1, changes include:

• Specifying that “eligible cardholders” may participate in the formal review process. The wording of the current policy allows non-cardholders and people who reside outside of the service area to formally challenge materials in the collection. “Eligible cardholders” would include any current cardholder (including those with free or purchased out-of-county cards) and anyone eligible for a free card.
• The prevention of the same item from being reconsidered multiple times in a short timeframe. The wording only allows multiple challenges to the same item if new information is provided.
• Codifying our current practice to retain the item in the collection during the process.
• Aligning the material disposal wording with the Capital Assets policy stating that materials could be offered at public sale by FCPL, the Friends and Advocates, or by an authorized third party.

Denmark Update:

The Denmark planning team is continuing the permitting process, finalizing furniture selections, and selecting interior signage. We expect to issue a furniture bid in the next few weeks.

The team is working with the County Procurement department to issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to general contractors.  An RFQ is the pre-qualification stage of the procurement process. Only those contractors who successfully respond to the RFQ and meet the qualification criteria will be considered for final selection. Once that process is complete and a selection is made, we can estimate the timeline for groundbreaking and completion.

Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund II (GEER) grants

On November 8th, Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) announced the launch of its GEER Device Replacement Grant. This grant is funded under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund II (GEER) from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act for device replacement due to the increase in use during the pandemic. As a result, all 60 public library systems in Georgia will have the opportunity to receive new devices (Chromebooks, hotspots, and Playaway Launchpads). FCPL will receive 108 Chromebooks (and at least one charging cart), 27 hotspots (with one year of data), and 44 Playaway Launchpads. Launchpads are tablets pre-loaded with content for children, designed to be circulated. 

We are exploring options for maximizing the use of these devices in our community. For example, we may choose to circulate them directly to FCPL cardholders, or we could decide to make them available to local non-profit organizations. We already have enough Chromebooks for circulation (i.e., several are available at any given time), so we will be looking for other ways to get these to residents who need them.

State Major Repair and Renovation (MRR) grants

GPLS’s matching-funds program (MMR) assists library facilities with deferred maintenance projects and improvements.  This year’s grant has assisted with numerous completed library projects, including converting LED lights, workroom construction at PR, and replacing HVAC units at CU, SF, and HP.  

Last night Holly updated the Board on the current projects –the interior upfits planned for the HP Quiet Room and HQ’s lobby area.  HP’s Quiet Room changes include new flooring, wall color, study carrels, and soft seating.  At HQ, the walls will be painted, a small glassed-in conference room will replace the reception desk, and the bathrooms will be updated with new tile.