Parks and Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

Should we test the microphones, Bethany? Test?

Hello. Hello? Testing? Check. Test. Check. Alright. We'll go ahead and start, and we'll hope that he will walk in anytime. Alright. Okay.

So I called the 01/22/2026 closed session meeting to order. The public can access live meetings, h t t p s, bulletin.registrar.com on Spectrum Cable channel three and AT and T U verse channel 99, and the public may address to our Library Board of Trustees either in person or virtually by joining the Zoom meeting online or by telephone. If you would like to join the Zoom meeting, please go to zoom.us/join or call 605-0252 and please enter the Zoom meeting ID 1607079419, and please use the Recent feature if you would like to speak for any item or discussion. So the instruction can be found on the agenda. And I think now we are going to do the roll call, please.

President Su Lin Chen? Present. Vice president Dashwood Dale is absent. Trustee Lisa Wojsap? Present. Corresponding secretary Jennifer Sarvis? Here. And trustee Megan Watson?

Here. So we have the closed session. We wanna see if there any public comments at this time.

There is one member of the public who is on Zoom. If you would like to make a public comment at this time for the closed session item, now would be the time to raise your hand. Seeing no hand raised and having no one in chambers, I believe we're okay to move on.

Okay. Now we're going to go to the closed session, and we'll be right back as soon as we're done. Thank you.

Yes, President Kim. We'll adjourn the closed session and come back to open session.

Great. Okay. So let's adjourn closed session and come right back to the regular meeting at 06:00. Perfect timing. So now let me call the 01/22/2026 regular meeting to order.

The public can access live meetings, https:bulletin.registrar.com on Spectrum cable channel three and AT and T U verse channel 99. And the public may address to our board Library of Trustees in person or virtually by joining the Zoom meeting online or by telephone. If you would like to join the Zoom meeting, please go to zoom.usjoin or call 605-0252, and the Zoom meeting ID is 100060779419. And please use the raise hand feature if you would like to speak. With that, could we start the roll call, please?

President Xu Ling Chen? Here. Vice President Joshua Dale?

Present.

Trustee Lisa Wojzab? Here. Correspondent Secretary Jennifer Sarvis?

Here.

And Trustee Megan Watson?

Here. Alright. So Trustee Dale, can they lead us pledge of allegiance, please?

Absolutely. Would like to please rise and place your hand? Right hand over your heart. Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, trustee Dale. Alright. Now could we have our director to give the closed session report?

My pleasure, president Chen. The board of trustees received an update for the recruitment of library director. Internal interviews were held last Saturday. A candidate was identified. Thank you. That's my report.

Thank you. And we're moving forward with the regular session. And could we And so could we come back to our director for the report please for the regular meeting?

My pleasure. At the January 20 City Council meeting, Trustee Megan Watson was reappointed. With the absence of the vice mayor, the reappointment of Trustee Dale will be on the Council City agenda February 3. For the main library update, I will start with adult services. They had a wonderful holiday season program called Partners in Chime, a concert at the library that was held on the December 13 with more than 70 attendees.

This group of adults played chime instruments similar to handbells. Everyone had a wonderful time, and all the hits of the Christmas carols were included, Jingle Bells, George of the World, and Silent Night. This group is a class in the North North Orange County Community College District, and we're very grateful that they came to the library. The dude wears my yarn has really grown and is gaining momentum. I'm happy to say that on Saturday, December 20, they hosted a yarn swap, special edition, where members brought in their their yarn from home and other supplies to share with their fellow crafters.

Coming in January, they have an idea to look for organizations where they can they can create scarves and other things and actually donate them to local organizations. So I'm happy to to see that. The gaming community continues to join the two monthly board game programs. One was held on December 6 with more than 70 attendees. And at the Hunt Library on the December 20, they had 50.

And, also, the people are enjoying the zen meditation at the library, which I still need to come to Saturday, December 13 at the main library. The Friends of the Library two day book sale. Please join us next week, the thirtieth and thirty first, for unbeatable deals on fiction, nonfiction, children's books, DVDs, and much more. And if you are a member of the friends, you can shop one hour early. I will be there. Is that ten to eleven? Okay. Early hour. Wonderful. Thank you.

For the children's department, the winter reading officially ended on January 10 where they had 285 children register and a 153 finished. They've had more kids reach every level than last year, and more than half of those registered to finish the program. Story times have returned, and next week, January 20, is our first twilight tales of the year. Circulation of the new front desk shelving has been installed, and it looks great. If you haven't walked in the main library, there's a beautiful there it says Wheeler, Fullerton Library, and it's all in these wonderful lighted, alphabet pieces that look really nice.

And so they've really helped to organize that back area of the library. There's a nice screen there so we can be able to promote programs. And during Christmastime, she had a wonderful, what was it, a fireplace to make it feel toasty in the library. We wanted you to know that patrons are reporting such appreciation for the Wi Fi hotspots and many checking them out repeatedly. Thank you very much to the foundation who continues to support that wonderful program.

And now with the 37, it looks like even more people are getting to enjoy the hotspots. Circulation services received wonderful comments as as very impressed with our library. They love the auto renewals, and Fullerton Public Library is the best. I'm happy to report that in terms of staffing, the full time library technical assistant position will go through its first round interviews this month, and the thirty hour library clerical assistant position closes closed this week, I believe, on the eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth. Yes.

This week. And so we hope to have those positions, in the library. And, again, with those positions, we will be able to reopen up the passport office and extend the hours of when they'll be open. So we're looking forward to the the day they get to come on board. There will be a mystery date with a book. Yay. For the we're looking ahead, February, and and February will also be the return of library lovers month. For teens, the teens, they had their winter program also. 28 participated and picked up a bingo sheet. They completed it.

They got a goodie bag. And, also, our teen librarian has introduced new volunteer opportunities for students in seventh to twelfth grade. There's a volunteer page on the website. Now they can, do book reviews to get volunteer credit. They can do home craft kits to make friendship bracelets or lanyard key chains.

And those completed projects will be used as incentive prizes at various library events. Teens can also attend the TAB meetings to earn volunteer credit. Both the supervisor Keith Lee and Emily continue their partnership with La Vista High School for the spring semester. They will be attending their club rush events, student ambassador meetings, and STEAM week. TAB meetings continue to meet twice a month. The art hour continues once a month where one of the TAP members designs a craft for school aged children. And teaming up with our adult librarian, Amanda, they're looking forward to hosting the next seasonal craft. Would you if you haven't seen it, it's a beautiful decorating of candle George with pressed flowers. Really pretty. So, hopefully, you'll get to join us with that.

Again, another, another kudos for the hotspots being available for usage. They're very much needed for job search, homelessness, making appointments, shopping, of course, keeping in touch with family. So thank you so much again to the foundation. And the hunch report. Jaime was been on vacation, so today I called him and said, hey. Tell me what's going on at the hunt. After school club is, one to four. The craft hour for adults will, I believe that's a new program. It'll start the first Thursday of every month going forward. Class visits have returned.

The lighting has been, fixed, I guess. It's more light in the in the library space. And, also, they experienced during the during the rainy season a fallen tree, a big fallen tree at the back, and they took almost six hours to remove it. So it's it's luckily, no one no no property was hurt. No one got hurt. Thank goodness. But, it's all been taken care of. So thank you to our city staff for doing that. And I also wanna let you know that staff development day is rolling along. We have our schedule.

We will begin at 08:30 in the morning on Friday for February 13. And we will have a wonderful presenter. I believe I mentioned him last last time. Mister Robert Caratsu, the former library director for the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library and this current executive director of the California he's interim executive director of the California Library Association, and he will be here with the staff talking about communication and all these facets. And we're looking forward to inviting him and welcoming him into the library.

We will also have Paloma Bayante, and she's bringing a workshop that she did at, the California Library Association where she taught and will teach us mindfulness, some yoga techniques to reduce workplace stress, regulate the nervous system, and promote calm throughout the day. So we're looking forward to that. And we have a wonderful taquero, a taco person coming to give the staff lunch. So we're looking forward to having a full day, a fun day, the February 13. And then I was asked also this is a time of the year that, as I understand it, that you receive just a report on the restricted accounts of the library with the friends, with donations as well as the foundation.

So I'm here to report on the foundation, the or both of them. The foundation, we have, as of December 31, $12,683 that will roll over. And the friends in that account, thank you so much, $81,347.38. So we're very grateful for all the hard work that the friends do to raise money for the library, and also what the foundation does, to help us make sure that we have the resources and things that we need for this wonderful community. So we thank them both.

And I believe that is the end of my report. Yes. That's the end of my report. If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. Oh, I was gonna tell you two more things.

One of them is that the library yesterday submitted a grant proposal application, actually, to have an adult literacy program here at the Fullerton Library. So we are we are encouraged that we'll be able to make that happen. And this particular program will be volunteer using volunteers, training volunteers to be able to be paired one on one or in a small group setting, native English speakers who do not get the reading and writing skills that they need and they want to improve on them. So we're very excited to be able to offer this service to this community because in the past, when people have asked for it, we've referred them to neighboring libraries. And now they can just stay in Fullerton.

So I really wanna thank Kyle Sumudio because it's coming out of adult services and Amanda oh gosh. I forgot her last name. Amanda. The wonderful Amanda. Ortega.

Thank you. Amanda Ortega who actually is a volunteer with the Santa Fe Springs Public Library Literacy Program, and, and she will actually be the one kinda taking the lead for this program. So I will keep you I will keep you updated if our application is approved, so please cross your fingers. We also have another grant that we will be finishing up called the empowered empowering access grant. And this grant will give certain items to libraries such as, whatever was called, a Charlie cart.

And it is something that you can take to help promote nutrition. You can do some cooking on it and help children just have better eating habits. Also, a book bike with a big box that you can take around and do pop up things. I know. So I think we're going to go after the bookbike. Bookbike is on it. Something like a lighted table, for children to, to have in the children's area. And let me think what else. I'm sorry. Privacy boosts.

So these privacy boosts are just really so that you can give people just some privacy. So we're looking at those items. Those are the things the staff has ended identified, And so, we'll keep you updated on how that grant goes, but we're hoping to at least get some of those items in the library. And that's my report. I'm happy happy to answer any questions.

Great. That's very exciting. Any questions, comments from our board of trustees?

I have a question on, who are these potential funders? So what organizations are putting forth these grants?

It's the California State Library. Okay. It's money that is it's federal money that is given to the state to use for different programs in the state. So it's coming from the California State Library. And the one, the Empowering Access Grant, I believe it's coming from the state library, but it's being managed through the Southern California Library Cooperative.

Okay. So there's no private foundation funds No. On any of these

Okay. Thank you. Oh, no. Thank you for the question.

Any other questions?

I don't have a question, but, I did attend the Twilight Tales, on Tuesday with my family, and the theme was snow fun. And

let me tell you, we did

have snow much fun. There was a snowball fight, and we made little crafts and read books about snow and sang songs. And the kids had a blast and cannot wait to go back and met some friends there, and they're gonna bring even more friends next time. So they were so excited that they could go to the library until it closed. They were making announcements. Were like, we're here so late. The library's closing. So, I mean, they saw the library in an entirely new way. It was oh, my daughter was like, no, it's okay. I'm gonna hide over here. You can I was like, oh, my gosh? That's the dream to just, like, wake up in the library. So they had just an amazing time, and they can't wait for next month.

Great to hear. Great to hear. Thank you.

I had never heard of this Charlie Kirk thing, but I just googled it right now. And, wow, that's so exciting and so cool. I also wanted to say there's only four spots left for the arts and crafts the seasonal craft night. So if you have not signed up, please sign up because I just took two of the last six spots. But the craft nights are amazing, and I'm so happy that we're continuing to have the seasonal winter and now this Valentine's one. They're always so cool. So thank you for providing that.

Thank you so much. I'll pass that along to the staff.

I want to say that I visited the library, and I was very pleased to see the front with the shelf change and the lid up. We love bulletin. I thought that was very sweet, the walking and be able to see that. Okay. That's something positive.

And, also, you know, after Christmas, New Year, then coming to the Lunar New Year. So as our Hung Library is hosting the Lunar New Year celebration, Jaime reached out to me and obviously because we celebrate that in our culture. And so while I'm working with him to find people to read Chinese stories, I look at both main library and the hang library for our collections of Chinese bilingual books, and I find it very limited. Mhmm. So I'm thinking if I have to go order books for Russian or German will be extremely difficult because I would not know what to order.

So I feel like I can relate to that. So I see even though in the main library, the bilingual books are older, but the contents actually are rich but very limited quantity. So if we can expand on that, that would be great. Thank you. Hong Library, the books are new, but I'm not sure what the selection criteria.

I I'm sad to say that I don't find them to be very up to date or attractive even though they are new near new books, and and they they are new. I'm hoping if I can help out making connections of volunteers because, you know, the teachers that are bilingual that can help out, you know, help with the book selections or whatever the process that can make things more attractive, that would be nice. And I don't know what is the budget situation. I I'm just thinking if we can expand the bilingual book collection, not just Chinese, you know, I mean, any other languages that suitable and popular in our community, I think that would be really nice. And again, if I can help out to, you know, refer volunteers to help out in any way the library need, I'm very happy to do that.

Thank you, President Chen, for your words. I know that we have had some discussion on on a weekly meeting about the availability of books in in different languages. Whether that be Spanish, you can kind of find it, but still, it it is it can be limited, but Chinese. So that's a discussion that we're having. I appreciate your words, and we're gonna take be taking a look at that and maybe even look at other libraries and find out where they're getting some of their books in different languages, including Chinese, Korean. Yes. Absolutely. So thank you. I will pass that on to the

make a comment because the Chinese characters are very challenging. I mean, it sounds like the most challenging words, you know, the language to learn, right? So the characters are so many and so difficult to learn, but when students start learning Chinese, they do start learning the enunciation first. We either call Zhu Yin the Taiwan system or Ping Yin the China system. And I would appreciate if the books actually has the characters and both the Zhu Yin and the Ping Yin so people that are not familiar with all the characters, they can actually read, like the beginning readers. Right?

Mhmm.

They can read those or and be able to practice reading and get more excited about reading as well too. Yeah. Just like how young students learning that you go from, you know, less words, right, to more words and, you know, more pictures to no pictures at all. So I think it's a progression, and I think will be helpful for people that actually are interested in learning to read too.

I I appreciate that. And and I will say that we have someone that can help to connect us with native English speakers so that we can make sure that we're sure of the content is what I wanna say.

I wanna take this opportunity to thank Fullerton Chinese School because I was able to reach out to them, and they are going to bring Chinese teacher to read the Chinese stories at the Lunar New Year celebration. They're also going to bring volunteer to help out with arts and crafts for the Lunar New Year celebration as well too. So I thought that was

And thank you for mentioning that. I I I did forget the arts and culture that is gonna happen. That is the seventeenth, correct, of February?

That's the

At Hunt. The

New Year Day. Correct?

The New Year Day.

And that's seventeenth.

And and also, you may have heard that there will be upgrades to the chain to the council chambers. And so because of the upgrades, these two pieces will be removed, and they will live in the library. Yay. She's very happy. I spoke to the author I mean, excuse me, the artist today and let her know. In fact, she's gonna come. She says, oh, no. No. I have to be there because the way that these were put on here, I mean, I said, yes. You will.

So she'll be here Monday, but, where they're going to to be, relocated to is when you come into the the entrance where the cafe is there and you're gonna walk to the the conference center, the two blank big walls that are there, they'll now reside there. So I think they're gonna look really nice there. She's very happy to hear that they're going to the library, and more people will be able to see to see them. So thank you. Yes. Great. Thank you.

And then let me just expand a little bit on what we were just talking about with the, all, the non English resources that we offer as many as we possibly can in the library. We love to and that has been such a growth in our circulation is those resources. And we've intentionally tried to collect as many as we can. For us, there are technical challenges in that, in that it's not just our ability to assess the items for suitability to join our collection. Because if there are languages that none of our staff are fluent in and have certifications and we can't necessarily verify the content, but also the cataloging and records for the systems, that involves a lot of highly technical records.

And some of it, we are able to borrow from other libraries records that are existing. But if that's not something that exists anywhere that's freely accessible, it's not something that we can create if we're not fluent in that language.

So what is the solution?

If we had staff that had abilities in other languages. And that's why we're a lot more able to offer Spanish and Korean resources is because those are represented in our staff.

Bethany, can I ask you a quick question? Are those are there resources on Libby that are already

I

approved, embedded in

our OverDrive rep Okay. All the time about how we want more languages available. We have purchased just about everything that is available in those languages that we we can get access

to.

Have we promoted those in those languages? Have we maybe done videos and pushed those out in those languages to let people know

that it's sure another thing that we kind of need to have people who are fluent in those languages to produce that content.

Right.

So but what we do have that is available in many languages and is one of the most used resources in the library is Overdrive magazines. That gets used in several different languages. I believe it got used in 17 different languages last year. So that is something that is sponsored in part by the friends, which we really appreciate, but is the thing that we have access to most easily that is on other languages because those records we can verify.

But you guys have pushed out award winning videos. It sure would be nice to have some multilingual videos as well.

Do do we know offhand if we have open spots for library staff for one or two positions that would be appropriate for producing that kind of content so that we could target, Mandarin speakers or Korean speakers or Cantonese speakers?

I'll chime in. The two positions that are that are currently being where the recruitments are open, knowing a language is not a a criteria of it. So it just have we're just gonna have to find a way to bridge that that challenge in terms of speaking Chinese or being able to vet Chinese. So we I I wrote it down. We're gonna look to find to find some gonna We may need outside help if we don't have people on staff, and we may look toward the universities, possibly the colleges.

Can we reach out to our members of of the Friends of the Library?

We can we can. We can. I we I think and I know you appreciate that. We just have to make sure that whatever we put in the library is something that that we all want in the library. Right? Not that we're telling people what to read or what not to read, nothing like that, but just that it's written correctly. And even things like that, we have to make sure. So, let's see what we can do.

I feel that our community has lots of volunteers, and we should be able to tap into our community for whatever language that we need.

I think that is true. I also know that there are libraries in other areas of LA County, for example, like Cerritos, like Monterey Park. And I think we can reach out to them and ask for their help. Even because they've already been vetted, we know what's popular, those kinds of things. So I will note these things down, and we can start to do that kind of research to just find we can bridge that gap in a way that is most beneficial to the community. So we'll see what we can do.

Please. Thank

you. Absolutely. And one more thing I just remembered. I'm going to send you a link tomorrow, but next week is a statewide initiative called Every Story Counts, a day in the life of your public library. And what the state library is asking its libraries to do is just take a snapshot of a day. Our day is next Wednesday. So snapshot could be how many people come in the library, how many things are checked out, what programs. But there's also a survey, a five question survey about how Californians are using their library. So I will send you that. It is available in English, Spanish, Korean, and simplified Chinese.

And so we're promoting that, through the library on social media. The survey opens on Monday, but I'll make sure that you all have it, and please send it to to your family members. I'll be sending it to the friends of the foundation too. So the more that we can that we can kinda get a snapshot and in the end, the state library is gonna compile all this data, and it'll be available for for us to to share with our community partners, grants, and any other way that we can just let people know how the libraries are being used. A lot of people still think that libraries, you go in there and pick a book, and you have Google.

So what do you need a library for? Little do they know how relevant the public library is in this day and age. So now I think I'm really done. So thank you again.

And that email is going to go out Monday along with a reminder for the book sale. And then the one thing that you asked me to remind you on was thanking Public Works for the beautiful paint job.

Thinking Public Works for the beautiful exterior paint job that they thought of. So Joe Nichols, our maintenance our facilities manager, he came and said, you know what? We let's walk the library. Yeah. That need to paint it. So if you haven't noticed that it looks brighter, they didn't clean it. They paint it. Well, cleaned it, then they painted it. It looks great. Thank you, Bethany, for reminding me. It it looks great. And new year, new library outside.

Great. Just wanted to throw in too. I just wanted to thank you guys again. You saw me the other day. I came out with bags bags of books in my hands. I always so love visiting the bookstore. And there's so many books, current books. Some of them just don't even look like they've been touched. So many, book club, titles that are current that a lot of people are reading, and I just really enjoy that. And it's so well organized.

Everybody's in there. Everybody's excited. And it was just nice to walk through in a quiet afternoon and just look around and see all, you know, how many residents we serve and different groups and different ages. And so I just really enjoyed it. So thank you.

This is a question that maybe Bethany can answer. I was looking at the statistics, and I noticed that in April, there was a huge spike in traffic at the hunt. And I was wondering if you remembered what event or events had spiked that.

That was the elevator partial closure

Ah. That

we had. So if you notice, traffic at the main library went down.

Yeah. Okay.

It was because we hosted all of our programming at Hunt. So we had but we didn't have huge drop offs in the number of people attending programs. They just had to do them in a different building. It

was. Great memory. Thanks. I appreciate your answer. Alright. Should we move forward with our foundation? I know the meeting is on Monday.

We haven't had a meeting since your last meeting.

So Right. Right.

Not much. So I'll I'll look forward to giving you an actual update when we have our meeting on Monday, and then after the after that, the next trustee meeting.

Great. Thank you. Our friends were excited about the book sale.

Yes. We're excited. I'll leave with that. Currently, we are boxing books downstairs, and staffing requests have gone out. You know, there's a lot of staffing that covers the days where we prep for the book sale. There's two days that goes into that and two days of the book sale and then another day of cleaning up. So a lot of staffing, a lot of books, but it should be it should be a really good book sale. A lot of people are interested. So, I was gonna bring that one up. And since we're on book sale dates, the May book sale date that we had had to be changed.

I believe there's election coverage, something going on. And so our book sale that will take place instead will be in June, June 12, and June 13. '13. So if that was on your calendars at all changed. Let's see. A wonderful thing. We were able to present Beatrice with the check, for $75,250, as well as a check-in the memory of Kathy Dasney. The friends do a $300 donation there, and we'd had someone make a $50 donation that we included. So, we were pleased to be able to do that.

Thank you.

Looking forward to the activities tomorrow as well. Hopefully, we'll have lots of people there. Let's see. Don't have very much else. Serving with a purpose conference in Ontario. That's 05:14. That was brought up at the the board meeting. And I believe we usually look for four people to attend. I've attended twice, and I really find it to be a great conference. Kind of a funny story.

The author of the author last year was William Kent Krueger. Looking forward to meeting him. Little did I know we asked this man to take our picture, without realizing he was the author. So so, you know, we need to be doing a better job,

I

guess, of researching the authors. He was very kind, a very modest man, a great storyteller. His hour just was unbelievable to listen to, and, of course, we all get a book. So hopefully, we can get some new people to attend. It's a full day activity, and some of us, it's kind of a long day, but it's a really great one.

So I'm really encouraging that. We got the year end numbers from our treasurer for everything that we brought in and everything that we spent. And last year, we brought in let's see. 100 and oh, here it is. We brought in $87,000 660 $87,664.

And after, our expenses, which totaled $80,951, we had a positive number of $6,712. Now those expenses include the $70,000 that we gave to the library last year. And, we only had two book sales last year because of the elevator. So that was, that was a pretty good year for us. Hoping to be able to, you know, have an even bigger year with three book sales this year.

And our hours for the bookstore were altered somewhat, and that kinda cut down a little bit on our, our traffic. So it was a pretty good year. And we always have to, of course, look at that before we can agree as to the amount to donate, and we were so lucky to be able to do that. So I think that's I think that's everything I have. Are there any questions?

I saw this booksell sign at YMCA. Oh. So I thought, great. However, that we're able to put signs everywhere, I think it's excellent.

What happens is we pass those out to friends. We have many friends that go over to the y, and they get these signs posted in coffee shops, Wise, They kinda just appear, I guess, with approval. But, yeah, that's very nice. We'll be getting the banners up. No. We aren't gonna have the banner on Harbor. I guess it wasn't wasn't our turn. But, we'll be getting the banners up front, and, and we're getting some information in the newsletter. And I think we're gonna be we're gonna have a real successful, book sale. Word-of-mouth is great.

And all those people that are already our members, they get their postcard in the mail with their membership this time, and they're ready. So yeah. Thank you.

Wonderful. Thank you so much.

Yes. My pleasure.

Could we see are there any, public comments?

While we wait to see if someone approaches the podium, if you're on Zoom and you'd like to make a public comment, now is the time to raise your hand. I I am seeing no hands raised in Zoom and no one approaching the podium. Last call if you'd like to do so. Seeing none, public comments will also open up for each agenda item. Thank you.

Alright. So we can move forward with the consent calendar. Any questions?

I had a question about a couple of the expenditure line items. There's expenditures for a company called Mobile Citizen and another one for Unique Management, and I was just curious what both of those were.

I'm happy to handle that one. Thank you. Mobile citizen is our hot spots. That's the annual expenditures for the data plans as well as the new devices that, as you heard, patrons are already excited about, and we're very thankful to the foundation for providing. And then unique management is our newsletter and digital messaging platform as well as the automated phone messages. And we have made that an annual expense, and that is also wonderfully provided by the foundation.

Thank you for the explanation.

Of course.

Thank you.

I'm calling you to ask. I was gonna ask. And I'm happy to see there's a piano tuning. Uh-huh. So that's that's nice to keep it up, you know, make the piano nice with the song. I'm curious about, you know, the expenditure. So right now, we're about half of the year, and I see the maintenance repair. Was it, like, the percentage is 3955%? I'm just curious. Is it because of budget situation, or was it not

Are you at number six oh, sorry. 6501?

Yes. Just kind of so out of proportion. Intumbered.

You know, what did it say when it was? I can look into that. I'm wondering if it isn't the I wonder if it's the elevator repairs. It could be that. Because, as you remember, three of us got stuck at different times, and they had to come out and do it. I can look at that. I'll look at that for you and get an answer for you, President Chen. That's my

to the budget. You know, how can we maybe do a better budget situation.

Three of you got stuck in the new elevator?

Yes. Yes. At different times.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you. I hope I'm remembered for more than that. People still meet me. I'm like, you're the you're the I was was number two. Got stuck in the elevator. That's that's

Bad luck. You broke our new elevator.

I hope the city doesn't maybe pay 17,900 and or 700,000. That's my guess, but I will look. I don't see, yeah, I don't see a date here. So happy to look into that.

And I assume this is our last baker and tailor, or do we continue

There may be a little bit more trickling. It as they're a largely out of business company, I'm not sure they're highest on accounts payables list to make sure that those get paid in an expedient fashion when we also have other extant vendors. But towards the end, there may be a handful left. Any

other questions? Could we just make a make a motion?

I move to approve the consent calendar.

I second that. Alright. Let's take roll call vote.

Joshua Dale? Yes. Jennifer Sarvis?

Yes.

Megan Watson? Yes. Lisa Wozab? Yes. And Soo Lin Chen?

Yes. Now we're gonna move to our regular business, and I guess it's January. So 2026, it's time that we have election of our new officers.

It is time. And I wanna thank Lucinda. She sent a script, if you will, for the nomination process. And although I think some of it's cut off is yours is your copy cut off too, Ruth?

Sorry. Okay. It is. But I can read off of them Perfect.

Thank you so much. I think I figured out some of it, but some I I didn't.

Okay.

So go ahead.

Would you like me to start?

Yes, please.

Would you like to start? Okay.

No. Go ahead.

The chair can ask the members to make nominations for chair. And when members have offered all nominations, the chair will ask for a motion, second, and vote to close the nomination process. The nomination ends when the legislative body votes in the affirmative to close nominations, and the chair asks members to state their preferred nominee using the roll call vote roll call vote process. If a nominee receives majority support, the nominee becomes chair. If no nominee receives majority support, the legislative body continues discussion and voting until one member receives majority support and becomes chair.

Nominees may withdraw from consideration during this process to facilitate consensus. The incoming chair repeats the nominations process for the vice chair and corresponding secretary selection. So at the this time, Sulin, you can ask the members to make the nominations for chair.

Do we listen to public comments first, or are we gonna move to our nomination?

We can, ask for public comments.

Now would be the time if you'd like to raise your hand in Zoom to speak to this item or approach the podium.

Seeing no one doing either of those, I believe we may move on.

Alright. Let's move forward with nomination for our chair.

Well, assuming she is interested, I would nominate miss Chen as the president and chair. I have been very, very pleased and happy with how she has struck a balance between ensuring that we have, some unanimity, mostly human unanimity, but also appropriately and diligently making sure that we're all serving our duties and asking the right questions. And I I I if she's willing to do it again, I would I that would be my nomination and recommendation.

I'm very honored. Thank you.

Are you willing to serve?

That's the question.

Okay. Yes. Thank you. I'm I'm very honored.

Is anybody else

I think we asked for, was it a a second motion and then another nomination?

If, you're all in agreement, you can ask for a motion to send second and then vote to close it.

So there's a nomination?

Yes. If each of you would like to say out loud who you nominate first. Josh Dale, nominated, Sulling, and then we go to the next person.

And So you want everybody to To

say Yes. To say who nominate. Uh-huh. Please.

Okay. Do we wanna go from Same. Sam? Come this way. I think she want to know who you want to nominate for chair.

Which way

are we starting? Whoever want to say it.

I also agree. Same.

Not I'm in agreement.

So here it says if a nominee receives majority support, the nominee becomes chair or president in our case. So, Sulling.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

So much

For for the outgoing the outgoing chair and the incoming chair.

Thank you for filling me. Willing to serve again.

I I truly appreciate our board of trustees. Attendance is amazing. The enthusiasm is amazing. And and in spite of that, we are, you know, really appointed by different council members. Like, we work so well together, and we have different background, you know, different strength.

But, ultimately, we really all just want the library to do well. And I think it's great that the diversity of us, everybody bringing our patch and our experience and and support, you know, the library and the staff. So I I sincerely appreciate this opportunity, and thank you all for, you know, spending available part time to contribute as well too. Thank you. So let's move forward with our vice president. Any nomination?

My suggestion, and I apologize for being so forward, my suggestion is that I believe, trustee Watson would would serve in that role very well if it's that's something she's you guys all would. But, you know, she has, shown a lot of an she's always shown initiative. But this this past year, she's shown a lot of initiative in terms of of letting letting her presence and her her thoughts and her very good ideas be known, you know, even going back to the arts and culture, committee. And and so that's that's my nomination.

I agree. I agree. I was gonna say I would I would second that if we're ready for that.

We're such an easy boy that we all agree. Argue

about these. Either that or I have very Machiavellian, designs here. You guys don't know what they are yet. There there is a plan.

Thank you for saying such nice things.

So do we, do we need to say our agreement, or do we

Yes, please. Yes.

Each Yes. Alright. Megan.

K.

Okay. Megan. Megan. Alright. So we got unanimous. Well, congratulations, Megan.

Congratulations, trustee Watson.

Congratulations. I don't think we're gonna go to these multiple vote things

that you talked about. I see. Like, she's encouraging us to come up with different names. Alright. So now let's move on to corresponding secretary.

Who wants to start? I I can do

I'm happy to continue the role, but I'm also happy to pass the torch.

I'm happy to nominate Jennifer.

I agree.

I agree. I agree.

I know that we just did this whole process and we all stayed exact or I guess Josh and I switched. But thinking about, you know, moving forward potentially with a new library director, perhaps this continuity is a good thing having Suwan be the yeah.

I just think that that's a that's

a good idea. So do need to make a motion for all these things?

Or

Yes. Let's make a motion to accept all of the appointments.

I've moved to accept all the appointments.

I second. I second. Arthur.

Let's see. Joshua Dale?

Yes.

Jennifer Sarvis?

Yes.

Megan Watson?

Yes.

Lisa Wojzab?

Yes.

And Suleen Chen?

Yes.

Thank you all for making it so easy. Yes.

Now we have an important job is to work out our mission and our vision statement.

Thank

you. Is there any direct report, public comments? I know we have it on our website, but I do feel that with the new assignment of arts and culture, I would like to make modification, but I'm happy to listen to public comments first.

I was just gonna say, it's my understanding this is the annual review to do just that, to read through it, and to see if there's any amendments that you would like to make. So are there any public comment?

For this item, there are no hands raised in Zoom, although now is the time should you like to or approach the podium.

Now I'm an English learner, so I'm gonna just read out my version, but please chime in and make it better. I am all for it. So I love everybody's critique and and support and, you know, revision. So the mission of the Fullerton Public Library is to serve the diverse needs, voices, and experiences of our community by fostering learning, providing equitable access to information and resources, inspiring creative thinking, and enriching life through culture and the arts. The library brings the Fullerton community together as a welcoming civic space where ideas, stories, and knowledge are explored and shared.

The library collects, preserves, and makes available materials of educational, culture, recreational, and lifelong interest in both print and electronic formats through books, media, programs, technology, and artistic and cultural expression. The Fullerton Poppy Library connects people to ideas, creativity, and one another. In its selection of books and other materials, the Fullerton Popular Library upholds the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of the press as guaranteed by the constitution of The United States. The library also adheres to the principles adopted by the American Library Association, the library bill of rights, the freedom to restatement, and the freedom to view statement.

That's beautiful. It was very beautiful. It was

Is it possible to send

it to us just because it's Yes.

I different than what is very happy to. Do I just email that now, or what do you like me to

do? Oh, my only suggestion would be to add something that has to do with our historical collection regarding the community. Was there anything in there about our historical collection? Because we had a list of the different areas. I I thought it was beautiful. I was just wondering if we could add something about our, like, our history room or our historical collection that we have.

The library collects, preserves, and makes available materials of educational, cultural, recreation, and lifelong interest in both print and electronic formats. So in there, you want to where do you want to edit?

It's hard

to find.

Perhaps after see it. But Yeah. After and in in electronic formats, including in the local history collection or through the local history collection?

Yes.

I do have a question just in, like, administratively because I loved it. It is longer than what we have currently. Is there just thinking about a mission statement and vision statement are usually, like, a a short summary. Is there a balance of, like, we don't need to say every single thing that we do? Because I feel like preserves kind of implies that historical, like, preservation. Like, I'm just trying to think of, like because we could literally just make it a giant long list of everything that we do. What's the what do we usually do with the mission statement?

In my experience, mission statements are very short. Yeah. But what we could do, and if if it you can all look at it if you like. I'm happy to take your notes, take what, president Chen has has, crafted, which is beautiful, and maybe come up with different versions of it. And maybe we put it on your February agenda to take a look at. You've all seen it, and we'll just try to work with with different lengths. And and maybe that would be helpful.

Are we on a specific timeline?

No. Okay.

I the only, thing that I had noted, before coming to the meeting was made available in print and electronic formats because I think that we had talked about maybe a library of things and other to narrow it down to Mhmm. Print and electronic feels narrow as opposed to open.

Okay. It's like a variety of formats. I'll these down.

We could say physical and electronic formats.

It could, yeah, could be physical. Yeah.

I also will say in looking at the vision statement, I think that that cultural piece shows up a lot more in the vision statement than in the mission statement. And I don't know if we remember why that is. Like, why does the vision statement talk more about culture than the mission statement? Like, why does

I I do not. And I you that was beautiful. I would probably adopt that word for word subject to the Oxford comma issue. But here's my question. What's the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement?

Well,

I I I understand what a mission statement is, I mean, in a couple different contexts. I don't understand. And and I'm not I'm not saying this to be sarcastic or go, I I honestly don't know why you have a vision statement if you need a if you already have a mission statement. So maybe somebody can explain or has a context for me.

Apparently, it is that the mission is what we are currently doing. Vision is what we want to do. Future aspirations. So that library of things or, like, expanding our, you know, bilingual collection, like, that would be our vision. Potential makerspace, adult literacy, like, that would be vision versus mission is, like, here's what we already do.

Alright.

So maybe that's why the cultural is in there because we've kind of,

like, had the cultural aspect.

Right. The vision is kind of like this guiding these guiding principles. If you look forward, see what's available, it kind of makes you your vision. The mission is what the library stands for, kind of generally as it is right now. But also, there is a little bit of it's just not the inert values that you hold.

I do see encourage literacy in the love of reading in all age groups. I do see that, but it really would be nice to incorporate it somewhere about literacy classes or education in some way.

I've also heard it described as the mission statement is the what and the vision statement's the why.

So are we gonna push this to February so we can all Any motion?

You can make a motion to and the motion would be if if it if if I'm saying this correctly, and please correct me if if I'm not, that the you give the library direction to, to look at the vision statement, the draft that was written by president Chen, the notes that I'm taking about literacy, including the physical items of what libraries do into it to come up with different versions to look at next month. That's a long that's a long

I would motion to ask

Say it fast.

Say it

the library director to take president Chen's version, incorporate notes from our conversation, and present us with potential options at

our next meeting.

Second that. Let's take a vote.

Joshua Dale? Yes. Jennifer Sarvis? Yes. Megan Watson? Yes. Lisa Wojzab? Yes. And Soo Lin Chan?

Yes.

Alright. So our oh, no. Thank you for the support. I just feel like there's a new responsibility. We need to incorporate that into our mission and vision statement as well too. So next, it's our funding request to Fullerton Library Foundation. Let's listen from our, director.

Thank you, president Chen. So this item, will be presented to the to the board of to the library foundation board next week. And just so you'll know, I did send this to the foundation because they're meeting after the trustees. Usually, it's before it goes to them, and then it comes to you. This way, we don't have to wait another month.

So thank you for their understanding on that, and thank you as well. But this is a request that we will be making, for up to $220,000 for the funding of technology upgrades in the Osborne Auditorium following its renovation. So currently, the library received a grant to do some upgrades to the Osborne and then it but to the physical space, the the flooring and things like that, not the technology. So we just kinda saw the opportunity to make the upgrades there so that it really is a a space that is just better equipped for those who rent it and for the library who does programs. Upcoming on Tuesday, we will provide the foundation with the details of a funding request for a large upgrade.

The Osborne Auditorium will be going under major changes this first, six months, and it is part of the, forward number two grant from the California State Library. The upgrades in technology will closely follow the upgrades made to the library conference center in 2024. These upgrades will include a new laser projector, projector screen, upgraded speakers, a touch panel to control the whole system. The upgrades as we see it will be crucial in the future function of the room and bring the age of the technology to current standards. The city is expected to go out to bid for proposals for the construction element of the renovations, part as part of the building forward grant slated for March.

It may be pushed to April. It seems to kind of get pushed every once in while. The library will be partnering with Glassbox for the technology, and and the same team will be involved in the conference center the carbon center technology upgrades. So, we want to let you see that this will will be, will be presenting. It is pending the approval of the foundation board, but it is here for your, I guess, approval.

Can you talk about the difference that we talk at the foundation meeting that the system changes. Right? It used to be that we, get reimbursed for whatever our request is. Right? And I think the foundation has made the changes that they're going to pledge for the year. And then Would you like would you like

me to speak to that?

Yeah. Can.

Oh, okay. Yes. So, prior to this year, the foundation would, would support the library through reimbursement. And when I first came on board, I think it was October, we met with them and we just really explained just how we acquire things, how they come up. And after that really productive discussion, they made the decision that now every January, February, they will give us the check up front for the for the for the year prior with the it's called the pledge.

And so last year was, well, we got the one for 2024 last year. And this January, could be in February depending on what the schedule is, we will get the the pledge amount for 2025. So we'll actually have it on hand to be able, to spend it. And then what we do then is things come up that we want to get for the library, we go ahead and present it to them to let them know that we're how we're using the pledge. And every quarter, they'll be getting a expense report of how we're using the pledge through the year.

And it's made a really big big difference in terms of just knowing that the money is there and and in our planning for the year. So but for items, big items like this, then we would go go to them independent of that.

The Osborne project has been going on for a while. About six years ago, we did a tour of what those changes were gonna be, and I know they have morphed over the years. There's been some funding delays, other stuff. I think it might be helpful for the current trustees and for me because I don't know what's still on the table and what's not to maybe be able to take a tour and and take a look and see what they're doing in there whenever that would be convenient for the library staff. I I would I'd love it if if that opportunity were available.

The last time, and former trustee Peyton will remember this, we went through and we talked about the accessibility changes to the to the stage area and the changes with regard to the the piano and and changes to the tech booth. And so I I I would just be interested to have an idea of what's what what the final plans are gonna be.

Absolutely. And

I appreciate that too because I I do have a question. I know that many of the rentals are done for, music recitals, things like that. And I know that we talk about projection screens and all of that, but are we including any performance lighting?

I was actually involved in the meetings about the performance lighting. So they brought me and and then my husband who also does theatrical Great. Lighting, met with the city architect and and that team. I think it was in must have been a year ago, February or March Okay. To to talk about the lighting in that room, not only for use in a actually, very similar lighting to this.

Oops. Right.

More uplighting softens the space as well as actual theatrical lighting fixtures that they brought in and specced out for the space.

Okay. Fantastic.

So I will talk to Alec. We have a team. It's Alec, Jaime, and Keith is involved as well because it's in the children's space. Ask them, to come up with some time. We'll get ahold of all of you and see when it's convenient to go through there.

I know that Glassbox intends to be in there, I wanna say it's late February, March, so we'll try to get that for you. And then anything that's been, changed or updated based on just as time goes on, we'll make sure that those are included for you. Well, you can get a tour. And one of the things that was suggested to you on the remodel side for the 4th Floor, because that'll happen later this year too, is we wanna put up a big poster of the rendering of what it's gonna look like downstairs so that people can start to get excited about what the 4th Floor will look like. So I

think it's nice to have, like, a visual. Right?

So we can Right.

Imagining what it's gonna be.

Absolutely. And I believe the actual work to the the Osborn is I wanna say it's three months in total.

We had we had talked to to Judy previously about having sketches and things out regarding the Osborn and and potentially spending more

on

signage and things like that. And especially if you're going to do any kind of fund a need because at the end if there's things that there's a gap being able to visually see it I think is really helpful.

Thank you. A couple of things, and definitely along those lines are that we are very grateful that the foundation's able to hopefully sponsor this expense because we it is a significant cost savings to be able to do it all at once as opposed to having to then re rip out the wall to do the wiring and various things. Rhonda and I are also providing technical support. We are very grateful, and it's very much a feature for usability for our public who use the space to align the system as closely as we can to the conference center and make those as similar of experiences as possible. So we do appreciate that. We also have not yet taken public comment on this item.

No. If anybody finished asking questions, we always welcome public comments, of course.

We do not have anyone approaching the podium, and now would be the time to raise your hand on Zoom. Just wanted to make sure we covered that base.

Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. I want to echo those sentiments. It's a lot easier to do those kind of upgrades while the entire room is going through renovation.

Yeah. It's the whole plan, so that works nice. K. If there's

I with with much thanks again to the foundation, I would move to accept, direct the library director to make the request and to accept the funding from the foundation for $20,220,000 dollars, for the technology upgrades to the.

Thank you. Second that.

Joshua Dale? Yes. Jennifer Sarvis? Yes. Megan Watson? Yes. Lisa Wojzep? Yes. And Su Lin Chen?

Yes. We absolutely appreciate the foundation support and help. We look forward to amazing Osborne. Alright. So next one, it's the funding request for external book return system.

Yes. So this came, from the our our supervisor of circulation services. As you know, there was a time when the book when the book's order was down or not down. Well, it was down because of the the air conditioning was not sufficient in there to keep it to keep it cool. So that's been that's been fixed, and we're grateful, it's working fine.

It also just kinda led us to think maybe we should have a, like, a traditional book return outside of the library for people. We know that there is already a parking space where you can just pull up and then use the book return. But I know that sometimes if you have children in the car or it's cold outside, it's raining, it would be nice to just have something closer to that space so that someone can just go ahead and return their items. So that was the reason why we looked at a book return. This would also mean that the hunt would get one too, which would be great because if people live on that side of the city and it may be easier for them to drop their things off there at the book return, at the hunt, knowing that even though the library's not open all week, but it's still an option for them as well.

So, I will say something about this item. We were going to go to the foundation asking for the request for this money. And when I sent it out, to them to let them know that they would see this this item was gonna come to the trustees this month because of the way the meetings are. I was told that there's a good chance, great chance, that we will get the pledge, for last year soon. And so that is great.

Especially with this item, the vendors for these items, the quotes are only good for thirty days. And so we wanna make sure we lock it in before it it can go up. So, so instead of asking for this, just so that you know, we will be using last month's last year's pledge amount to pay for this item. So, again, very grateful to the foundation to be able to do that. But it was to approve the purchase of three outdoor book return bins to improve patron access, security, and service continuity at both the main library and the Hunt branch.

And the amount is not to exceed 18,000. For the foundation, they do have the actual quotes, and it's right under there, so we're going to be able to adhere to that amount.

Is there any concern about vandalism?

That was my question.

That hasn't been my experience. Most book bins that are outside, I mean, you can always put something in it, but they're pretty they're made pretty secure. That's why there's I think that's kind of why they're so expensive. And I have not experienced any kind of vandalism with them. I hope that that does not happen. But once you put something in there, it does close-up. We'll have to monitor that. Trustee, do.

Would would the here's my question. In terms of graffiti and other, defacing, yeah, is that something that comes out of the library's budget, those costs, or is that something that comes out of public works, if, for example, with the hunt? Do we do we know?

My guess would be we our first call would be to public works and our maintenance staff. If whatever graffiti is on it, do they have what they need to to to clean it, to take it off? And we would start there.

I I can say that we did have an incident of someone tagging the physical library building last year, and public works were wonderful, and within an hour had taken care of it. And I know that there's the concern that there would be vandalism potentially inside the book drop, but that's also a concern with the sorters as well. So that that's kind of a concern either way. And I will say that the exterior book drop's a lot less expensive if something goes wrong with it.

No. Understood. And I, yeah, I I can envision the sorts of things that could be put in it. My my concern would be, for example, if, there was a lot of graffiti such that it became unsightly pretty quickly, which can happen even with the best efforts of public works just because when you're cleaning graffiti off something over and over and over again, it it gets dulled. It gets faded. So I my my only concern would be just keep an eye on it and make sure it does not detract from the overall aesthetic around the hunt or around the main library if it becomes the target of of scofflaws.

I, Thank you. I have

not a solution to that problem, but a suggestion in thinking about our roles, arts, culture. Yeah. Feel like a book drop, kind of like how a lot of cities have been painting their light boxes that are on sidewalks. Like, it gives a local artist, maybe a school, an opportunity to create artwork that would go on the book drop, which then potentially would make it less it's not a blank slate anymore, maybe less appealing. The Whittier public libraries have drop boxes. I was gonna ask, you mentioned putting it close to that spot. It's not gonna be a drive up. It's gonna be

you have to get out

of your car? Or

If if you're the passenger, you might be Just chuck it in there. I know. I you know what? We we walked the area because there is gonna be some landscaping changes that I'm getting feedback. Landscaping changes that will will need to to take place in some point of cement. I wanted that too. That was my first thing. Can you just drive up to it and just open the windows?

So are there gonna be I'll say

that I like it.

Be two at the same location?

Because if there's three, there's one at the hunt, and there's two here.

Right. So one of them is for books, and the other ones would be for DVDs. Right.

Yeah. We did used to have one that I was able to drive up and just put my books in.

Yeah. Think they're more secure than that now is the problem. You have to be really close to them to get them open and get your stuff in. And so I think if you make them drive up, the concern is that, you're gonna have people running their car mirrors into them and stuff. I don't

There there's there's things to to to consider when you're driving up to them.

There's also ADA considerations for walkways and spaces.

Yeah. Yeah. So My

I'm in total agreement about them being community art spaces. Another opportunity might be also to look at what it would cost to possibly wrap them like you you do with a car or more of a vinyl finish on the outside. And would that be more cost effective? You know, is there some type of surface that doesn't encourage I mean, it's a little bit easier to get graffiti off, or would it be less expensive if they were wrapped and rewrap? I don't know.

I'm not sure. I've never had that experience. But what I will do is I'll go back and I'll ask Alicia to talk to her colleagues, other circulation supervisors in Orange County and different systems to just maybe pick their brain a little bit about what they did to their book returns and if they have any suggestions that we could possibly take here. What

were the possible challenges and what's the solutions to work with it.

Absolutely.

I I would

This is the picture of the the type from the yeah.

Yeah. I would suggest that we set an agenda item if the other trustees or the chair are up for it for listening to and having folks come and pitch their ideas for artwork for the bins at one of the upcoming meetings, maybe not the February, but possibly the February or the March. And and then, you know, encourage folks to to show up and and make pitches so that we can do some arts and cultural stuff. Because I agree. I think I think that's a great idea.

I I and to be honest, I think that's in the larger sense of of Fullerton and the arts and cultural stuff, we should be soliciting and asking local artists to be doing that to all of the city controlled utility boxes and drop off boxes and things like that. There's there's no reason to not do it. And, you know, we have a fairly I don't wanna say terrible, but a significant enough graffiti problem that I that I think it would be decent solution to it and maybe spare public works a little bit.

Yeah. I know that council member Valencia, specifically in her district, has been doing research on this and looking into that. She knows a little bit more of, I guess, the ins and outs, and she's actually trying to work on a policy because the way I understand it is that the city doesn't necessarily have a set policy. So that's something that she's working on right

now

as

I'm smiling because I'm just amazed. I think you all are psychic. Please tell my future.

You're gonna be greatly missed.

I will say, and I wasn't gonna say anything only because it was a very initial conversation that I had with the director of public works. And, he did share with me, council member Valencia talking about art in public places. And the signal boxes came up. So him and I are going to have more discussion. I want to be able to really come here with the plan knowing that that now you're, because of the charge of of, arts and culture that now this body, you know, has assumed.

And so I think we're you're all on the same page. We're all on the same page. I'll bring you more as I know more. But I will go back and talk to Alicia, talk to other libraries. And I think the idea of just art or I've seen art contests and then they turned into that that middle school children do with the theme. I've seen different things, local artists come in and and and that's what they do and based on a theme or based on direction. And so I'll get more information for you, but I think that there's a there there is a desire to really put art in public places. So

You know, I love the idea to beautify our city, the public spaces, with the beautiful art.

Yes.

It looks like these particular ones that you're looking at, it's an added decal. So it would be art that would be applied through a decal in instead of perhaps a a wrap because you need to get the inner parts out of the you know, to take the books and wheel them into the library and stuff. So some sort of art that would be applied in that way that hopefully the manufacturer would have more information on.

I can ask Alicia to do some research for you all. And go ahead.

Well, I was going say in the vinyl application issue is interesting. I think there are drawbacks to doing a whole wrap of like a library return box. But you could certainly if you if you have folks, give you art that's gonna be displayed for six months or a year or eighteen months, whatever the decision is on on the side of a library return box, you might wanna do it in a vinyl decal form that's such that when it gets defaced, it can be reprinted and put back on the side again.

True.

Yeah.

It's more cost effective than trying to have them come back out and repaint it or however it might otherwise be repaired.

Okay.

Or different

Thank you.

Have a chance to.

And and that does remind me that there are two other things that we need to talk about with this item. And one is that any art application would also be an additional cost that is not covered by this item as is, and that we still have not taken the opportunity for public comment on this item.

Well, I think we're still asking questions, so we will do that. Any I mean, there's pretty good comments and questions that we have. You want to see anyone want to have make comments from the public? Or make anyone to say something? Oh, I was just

gonna say I'm so glad that we're doing this, and I I think that it will really help out. I liked that you highlighted the ability to keep our very expensive sorting machine safe because now it is not gonna have to be, like, there will be other options for people to donate or donate deliver their books back to the library. So that's nice.

I did show up on a day when the library was unexpectedly closed, it's like, take your books back home. And I was like, no late fees, so we're okay. But now I have to make another trip back. So this Exactly.

Or do we make take a renewal?

No. Automatic renewal. This would be a really just a boon for for us.

Thank you. Are there any public comments?

Now would be the time to approach the podium or raise your hand in Zoom. Seeing none, I believe we're okay to move on.

Could we make motion on this item?

I move that we approve the funding request.

I second that motion.

Ray, let's take a vote.

Joshua Dale

Yes.

Jennifer Sarvis Yes. Megan Watson

Yes.

Lisa Wojzap Yes. And Celine Chen.

Yes. And

this item will come back to you as an agenda item about the boxes itself.

May I follow-up on the usage of our library space? Because I think now it's a new year. I think a while back, we talk about how infrequently hung library was used. And in comparison to our neighboring cities, spaces, how busy they were to have put people in eighteen month wait list, hours seems to be much, emptier, much more challenging in making reservation. So I would like to follow-up to see if the system has made changes or if the reservation has made improvement.

Are we able to bring money into the city with our beautiful spaces? If we can have some updated information on that, I really appreciate.

I can contact the deputy city manager who's also overseeing parks and recreation and ask that question and get an update.

Maybe a 2025 look, right, look back of what's what has happened.

I'm in agreement. I think it would be really helpful to find out, you know, what is our rate of which we are they're booking the hunt for quince's weddings, just if we could get an idea of special event rentals. And then I know that the district office has been using it quite a bit as well. And I know that there is an agreement between the district and Hunt or through the city to a certain extent. And I know that there's been some tech challenges, but I would love to be able to see some type of report on that, like what was And if there's any plan to promote

the usage that could generate revenue, that would be amazing.

Thank you.

Yes. Great. Any questions, comments?

I I have a couple of comments before we adjourn.

I don't think we do we take the vote? Oh, no. Oh my god.

Well, then I guess We do not. We're we're Sorry.

Alright. Let's do that.

Joshua Dale? Yes. Jennifer Sarvis? Yes. Megan Watson? Yes. Lisa Wojzap? Yes. And Su Lin Chen?

Yes. You're like, we do. Alright. Your turn.

Alright. First of all, I wanna thank Good Hands for one for their donation to the French restricted or, yeah, restricted account. Very generous appreciated. Second, I would like to ask, former trustee Payton if there is a good time coming up where he would be available after a meeting to go out and grab a beer and catch up, with the current trustees. Mister Payton has a lot of experience and had a lot of great ideas when he served, and I would certainly like to hear how everything's going. But he also has a very busy legal practice, so I don't wanna put him on the spot. So if, there's a good time, you know, let us know, and and we

I will second that.

No. I would, yeah, I would love that too, but I'm also worried about the Bronx. So I

would ask. Well, what what

Only two. Only two at a time.

Yeah. Was gonna question that.

We discuss, library.

And that is the same issue also with the tours of Osborn to consider. Ah. So

Brown Act, we can't.

Yeah. Because of We can

do it at the same time. We up to two people. Right?

Yeah. Something can be done. I know we've in the past years, we've done some kind of tours. Editions. Uh-huh. So something can be done.

I was

gonna say

I was given a private tour. Yeah.

I know we had to do that for the input. Remember the input?

That's correct.

I right. I think at the time we were having the meetings at the library, they weren't here in the chambers. Yeah.

So you could, like, agendize a field trip?

Mhmm.

Okay.

Well and I would ask that we agendize going out and buying Sean some beers after the meeting.

You know? We we we support we support local we support local small business here.

That's right. We're gonna go we're gonna go right across the street to the brewery. And then my my final comment I wanted to make is, you know, we're we're in another period of transition here. It's very briefly from our last period of transition. I wanna thank from the bottom of my heart Beatrice for serving as our interim library director.

This is such a difficult role to step into with people you don't know and personalities and egos that have to be massaged, and, and I'm just talking about me. And it's you have been an absolute godsend, and I'm and I'm so grateful for what you've been able to do. I mean, I I certainly thought and envisioned that somebody could just come in here and put their head down and just try not to make waves and and ride it out, and that would have been perfectly acceptable. You've done so much more than that. You have you have stepped up, and, I'm personally gonna miss you. I think I speak for the others. We're all gonna miss you. Thank you so much.

Oh, I really appreciate it. And and you all have been the library, the staff, just been a a real blessing to me. And getting to know such dedicated people that love their library and they and they and they show it. You see it in your actions. It's very edifying for me and just a reminder just how important libraries are. And so I thank I thank you for the opportunity.

Yes, We don't want you to be a stranger.

I will not be a stranger.

I I really appreciate the fact that, you know, you you you stepped up. You, you know, you stepped forward. One of the things I said, we don't need to do this quick. We need to do it well. I didn't anticipate

that we would have

you much longer. But there's so many ideas that you brought in, enthusiasm, new perspective, new eyes. And so we really appreciate that. And the fact that you came in already feeling the love for our community and a community that is not your own. But I feel like you feel that it is your own now. And so we hope that you will come back frequently.

Thank you. I appreciate that very much. Yes. I will.

I think I especially appreciate the staff event, the the treasure hunt. I think anything you can do to bring the staff together, it's incredible.

Thank you. We had a lot of fun too. Thank you. And kudos to the staff. They did a great job.

Great. With that, should we adjourn the meeting tonight? Alright. We'll see everyone. Good

night.