Library 1995/11/15 Minutes of the regular meeting of the Anaheim Public Library Board for
November 15, 1995.
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PRESENT: Glenda Flora, Chairman; Marjoie Rothrock
Vice Chairman; Cristian Miller; Mary Lou Pekar;
and Patricia (Patsy) Tafolla.
ABSENT: None.
ALSO PRESENT: Dave Morgan, Assistant City Manager, City of
Anaheim; Tasneem Ghazali, Chairperson,
Michael L. Roston Creative Writing Contest
Committee; Connie Blomeyer, Library Board
Liaison, Friends of the Anaheim Public Library;
Mary Raffel, Chairman, Friends of the Anaheim
Public Library; and William J. Griffith, Library
Director.
CALL TO ORDER: The agenda having been posted at 11:00 a.m. on
November 9, 1995, the meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m. by
Chairman Glenda Flora.
PUBLIC FORUM : No members of the public were present to address the
Board under this item.
ACTION ON THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 25. 1995:
Marjorie Rothrock moved that the minutes be approved as submitted.
Motion was seconded and carried.
LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Mr. Griffith announced that he has been
reassigned to the City Manager's Office as of December 1, 1995 to begin
working on a number of special projects. He noted that he is looking forward
to the challenges the new position will offer, but will miss the Library
Department. He said he feels very strongly about the need for libraries and
will continue to do everything he can to promote Anaheim's library system.
Dave Morgan, the Assistant City Manager, will begin overseeing the
operations of the Library Department as of December 1. Mr. Griffith said he
wanted to alert Mr. Morgan and the Library Board Members to several
ongoing Library projects that would not be completed prior to his departure:
(1) The Michael L. Roston Creative Writing Contest fund has sustained a
Toss because the monies were deposited in the City's account. Mr. Griffith
said he feels the City or the Library Department should make restitution for
the lost monies. Dave Morgan noted that he would look into the situation
and would seek the support of the City Council; (2) Book acquisitions are
being reviewed. The new acquisitions procedure has not yet been finalized;
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(3) The WPA paintings which used to hang in the Carneige Library building
have been appraised between $175,000 - $200,000. Facility Maintenance
has been asked to provide estimates on the cost of mounting the paintings.
It is hoped the mounting costs can be raised through private funding; and (4)
Mr. Griffith noted that he met with the Mother Colony House Advisory Board
on November 13 concerning the concept of relocating the House. He said
the Board expressed a great deal of interest in the project. In response to a
query from Glenda Flora regarding bookmobile stops, the Library Director
reported that a new stop west of Highway 39 will be instituted after the first of
the year. Several sites are currently under evaluation.
REASSIGNMENT OF LIBRARY DIRECTOR: Dave Morgan noted that Bill
Griffith has been Anaheim's Library Director since 1957 and has built the City's
library system during his 38 -year tenure. He pointed out that while Mr. Griffith is
leaving the Library Department, he will not be leaving the City. Mr. Griffith's new
position in the City Manager's Office is viewed as a permanent reassignment and
will involve his working on a number of City -wide issues. Mr. Morgan said he will
arrange to meet with each of the Board Members, with Library staff, and with Bill
Griffith to discuss issues, concerns, opportunities, and the goals of the Library. He
explained that there are a number of options to consider and is estimating that it
will take approximately 60 -90 days to make an assessment regarding the future
organizational status of the Library Department. He said the City's aim is to make
the Library a more highly visible resource in the community.
FUNDRAISING: Marjorie Rothrock informed Dave Morgan about the Library
Board's proposal to solicit funds for the purchase of children's library books
by affording utility user's the opportunity to include a donation to the Library
when making their utility payment. Mr. Morgan said he would look into the
feasibility of the proposal and report back to the Board on the matter at their
next meeting.
PROPOSED ROSTON BUDGET: Tasneem Ghazali, Roston Committee
Chairperson, presented the proposed budget for the 1995/1996 fiscal year
and briefly reviewed each of the line items. She announced that the prize
money has been increased from $15 to $25 for the elementary school
awards, from $25 to $50 for the Jr. High winners, and from $50 to $75 for the
Sr. High awards. The grand prize amount will remain at $100. Patsy Tafolla
moved that the Roston Creative Writing Contest budget for the 1995/1996
fiscal year be approved as presented. The motion was seconded and
carried. Mrs. Ghazali noted that a set of World Book Encyclopedias had
been donated to the Roston Committee last year and had been presented to
the contest's grand prize winner. The Library Director said he would see if
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he could arrange for a set of the books to be donated again this year.
BOARD COMMENTS:
(A) Cristian Miller thanked Mr. Griffith for all the things he's done
for the Anaheim Libraries during his 38 years as Director.
Mr. Miller noted that he would be attending the Canyon
Hills Friends' meeting on November 16 and said he would
check with them about holding the February or March 1996
Library Board Meeting at the Canyon Hills Branch.
(B) Mary Lou Pekar voiced her appreciation to Mr. Griffith for
his years of service to the Library. Ms. Pekar noted that
she felt a Joint Powers Agreement with libraries in neigh-
boring cities could be beneficial to the Anaheim Public
Library system.
(C) Marjorie Rothrock remarked on Mr. Griffith's knowledge of
the community and said she has learned a great deal from him.
Mrs. Rothrock reported that she and Patsy Tafolla had attended
the Community Services Board Workshop with the City
Council and found it very productive.
(D) Patsy Tafolla expressed her appreciation for Mr. Griffith's
contributions to the Library. She mentioned that the Neigh-
borhood Councils presented their wish lists at the regular
Community Services Board Meeting and that Mike Blanco,
Chairperson for the Central City group, spoke about the
bookmobile. She said she and Cris Miller will attend the
Citron Neighborhood Council Meeting on November 28.
(E) Glenda Flora asked the Friends' representatives if they
would like to update the Board on the group's activities.
Connie Blomeyer noted the October book sale was very
successful and the used book table by the main entrance
of the Central Library continues to generate a steady stream
of purchases. The Friends recently donated money to buy
wooden puzzles for the Children's Room.
Ms. Flora noted that Mr. Griffith has had an incredible impact
on the Library and thanked him for the contributions he has
made while Director. In anticipation of the lack of a quorum
for the December 27 Library Board Meeting, Ms. Flora moved
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that the Library Board schedule a planning workshop on
December 13 at 6:30 p.m. The motion was seconded and
carried.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 p.m. to a planning
workshop to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 1995.
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• Ch a irman Secretary