Minutes

LIBRARY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Draft Minutes

Meeting of August 20, 2008

Room 278, City Hall

San Francisco, California

Chair Sue Cauthen called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

Roll Call: Present: Ted Bamberger, Sue Cauthen, Lucille Cuttler, Linda Guitron, Roger Kallen, Margaret Lee, Neil Mills, Clarice Moody, Michael Olinger, Douglas Ryan, Jan Seeman, Gladys Soto, Peter Warfield, Dan Weaver.

Absent:  Enne Braun, Carlyn Halde, Jenny Situ.

Minutes: Joanna Schaller agreed to take the minutes for this meeting. Charles Moody, husband of member Clarice Moody, volunteered to monitor the tape recorder.

General Public Comment: There was no public comment at this time.

Information Technology Presentation by San Francisco Public Library (SFPL)

Vivian Pisano, head of the Information Technology department at SFPL, spoke about the redesign of the SFPL website and answered questions from Library Citizens Advisory Committee (LCAC) members. Among other things, the new website will have a better content management system, as well as an entirely new design that is simpler and easier to read and find links to pertinent information. Concerns the LCAC voiced included a need to (1) develop an easier way to search the online catalog, (2) display the Library Commission and the LCAC on the library’s homepage, and (3) improve the search function that searches the entire SFPL website (especially making LCAC and Library Commission recognizable search terms). Ms. Pisano stressed that the library’s web team is working on a way to improve the catalog search, as well as the function that searches the entire website for terms like LCAC. She said she and the web design team can take into consideration the LCAC request to be displayed more prominently on the new website.

Ms. Pisano also discussed the BLIP (Branch Library Improvement Program) section
of the website, which has not been kept current despite the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between SFPL and the Department of Public Works) provision providing for such updates. She informed LCAC that the library is working with DPW to ensure that this information is up-to-date. Once the new website is in place and the new content management system is in use, the updates to sections of the website, such as the BLIP section, can be done much more quickly.

The design team consists of the library’s own web team along with outside consultants. Ms. Pisano encouraged LCAC members to contact her (vpisano@sfpl.org) with any input or suggestions on how the website can be improved. Ms. Pisano also agreed to give LCAC members a tour of the IT department and to work with the chair to set it up.

Library Bathrooms Presentation: Maintenance and Availability

Roberto Lombardi, the Facilities Manager at SFPL, spoke about issues relating to the restrooms at the Main Library and SFPL branches, including safety, maintenance, locks on doors, bathroom remodels, and security. Specifically, he addressed the issue of the locked doors and the state of the bathrooms at the Chinatown branch. Currently, he is working with the Department of Public Works to replace the older locks on doors at Chinatown and other branches. Librarians lock the doors at Chinatown to prevent vandalism but should post a sign indicating where to get the key. Mr. Lombardi emphasized that LCAC members can inform City Librarian Luis Herrera of any facilities issues they discover, noting that Mr. Herrera is “highly aware of and actively involved in” facilities issues at the libraries.

Lombardi favors a “bathroom monitor” program to supplement work of the custodial staff, though additional funding is required.

BLIP Webpage Updates: Weaver moved and Cuttler seconded the following resolution urging that the BLIP webpage be comprehensive and up-to-date and post both SFPL challenges and successes.

The resolution passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION: UPDATE BLIP WEBSITE

Whereas the June 26, 2008, San Francisco Grand Jury Report said that San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) should (1) have a website that is comprehensive and up-to-date and (2) post on the city’s website SFPL’s challenges as well as its successes; and

Whereas the May 9, 2008, draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) stated that (1) SFPL and DPW “share responsibility for maintaining the BLIP (Branch Library Improvement Project) web page and (2) the BLIP and chief of branches staffs work with SFPL’s public affairs office to develop the materials;” and

Whereas community ability to track BLIP status is an essential aspect of public participation in the project;

Therefore be it resolved that:

The Board of Supervisors’ Library Citizens Advisory Committee urges SFPL and DPW to assure that the branch renovation and construction information on the BLIP website is comprehensive, up-to-date and easy to navigate.

Prompt installation and maintenance of this MOU-mandated webpage will provide a process for timely, informed review and input by the community.

And be it further resolved that:

The BLIP project and its website follow Sunshine Ordinance requirements for posting meeting notices, including a two-week advance notice for irregularly scheduled meetings.

Yes: Bamberger, Cauthen, Cuttler, Guitron, Kallen, Lee, Mills, Moody, Olinger, Ryan, Seeman, Soto, Warfield, Weaver.

Motion carried 14-0.

LCAC & Commission Web Presence: Lee moved and Guitron seconded a motion to pass a resolution requesting that the redesigned SFPL website provide a link to the Library Commission and the LCAC on the home page, and include an LCAC webpage with data describing the group’s origin, function, mission statement and contact information.  After discussion and amendment, the the following resolution passed:

RESOLUTION: IMPROVE WEBSITE REDESIGN

The Board of Supervisors Library Citizens Advisory Committee tonight passed a resolution urging a San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) website that has clear links to the Library Commission and the Library Citizens Advisory Committee (LCAC) on its home page. The resolution follows:

The redesign of the SFPL website should provide for:

l. A link to the Library Commission and the LCAC on SFPL’s home page.

2. An LCAC page with data describing the group’s origin, function, mission statement and contact information.

Yes: Bamberger, Cauthen, Cuttler, Guitron, Kallen, Lee, Mills, Olinger, Soto, Weaver.

No: Moody, Ryan, Seeman, Warfield.

Motion carried 10-4.

North Beach Library: Chair Cauthen gave an overview of the issues surrounding the proposals for the new branch library building in North Beach, and its impact on BLIP. This will be discussed at the next LCAC meeting.

Missing Books Task Force: Olinger moved and Ryan seconded a motion to pass a resolution recommending that SFPL complete regular searches of the collection to determine which books or other items are lost and/or missing. The resolution also requests that a process be established for replacement when missing books are identified. After discussion and amendment, the following resolution passed:

RESOLUTION: MISSING BOOK PROCEDURE

The Board of Supervisors’ Library Citizens Advisory Committee (LCAC) tonight passed the following resolution:

Whereas the LCAC passed a resolution December 13, 2006, urging San Francisco Public Library to monitor and search its collection for lost books and evaluate potential replacements; and

Whereas the LCAC heard a presentation July 17, 2008, on missing book counts, reordering lost books and related data;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The LCAC recommends that the SFPL complete its plans to do regular computer searches of the collection to determine which books or other items are lost and/or missing.

When missing books are identified, a process of determining eligibility for replacement should be undertaken and documented as part of the missing books  process.  Written criteria should be established and utilized to decide if a missing  book or  item should be replaced  or not. 

The criteria should include the  borrowing history of the item when it was in the collection, the importance of the book or item for the collection, and other criteria to be developed.

Yes: Cauthen, Cuttler, Guitron, Kallen, Lee, Olinger, Ryan, Seeman, Soto, Warfield, Weaver.

No: Bamberger, Mills, Moody.

Motion carried 11-3.

Minutes: Guitron moved and Ryan seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes of the July 16, 2008, meeting. The minutes were approved by a vote of 13-1.

Yes: Bamberger, Cauthen, Cuttler, Guitron, Kallen, Lee, Mills, Moody, Olinger, Ryan, Seeman, Soto, Weaver.

No: Warfield.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2008, at 6:00 PM in Room 278 of City Hall.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.