Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – June 20, 2017

AGENDA

June 20, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

Back of the Yards Branch

2111 W. 47th Street

  1. Welcome and History of the Back of the Yards branch (info only)
  2. Approval of minutes for the May 16, 2017 meeting (action required)
  3. Schedule of Requisitions, Contracts and Licenses (info only)
  4. Kelly Fund Investment Allocation (action required)
  5. CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
  6. Commissioner’s Report (info only)
    • New Central District Chief, Maggie Clemons
    • 2018 Budget Update
    • ALA Chicago 2017
    • Quarter 3 Priority Projects
    • Special Report: Teen Summer Challenge
  7. Other Business
  8. Public Comment

Next Board meeting:

September 19, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center

Thomas Hughes Children’s Library

400 S. State Street

Open Session Minutes

Physically Present:

Christopher Valenti, Lynn Lockwood, Jodi Block, Dominique Jordan Turner, Patricia Gaytan Perez

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:

None

Absent:

Linda Johnson Rice, Denise Gardner, Barbara Bowman

 

Welcome and History of the Back of the Yards branch (info only)

Pedro Leon opened the Board meeting with a brief history of the Back of the Yards branch. Mr. Leon began employment with the Library as a Page many years ago and worked his way up through the system and is currently acting branch manager at the branch. The Back of the Yards branch is one of CPL’s newest state of the art facilities. Previously housed in the Damen Strip Mall, the new 9,000-square-foot library was relocated into the ground floor of the new Back of the Yards High School last August. The branch is a full-service public library with materials offered in English and Spanish for adults, children and teens as well as weekly children's and family oriented programs, YOUmedia space for teens and two large meeting rooms for public use. The branch is also currently partnering with the Greater Food Depository to offer lunch to children during out of school time starting tomorrow through September 1st.

Approval of the minutes (action required)

The Board voted (5-0) to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2017 meeting.

Schedule of Requisitions, Contracts and Licenses (info only)

Baronica Roberson, Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance, presented the quarterly report on contacts and purchases made for magazines, books, databases, periodicals and articles of educational and instructional nature. For this quarter (April 1 – June 15, 2017) a total of 1281 invoices were paid totaling $1,468,427.66 to various vendors.

Kelly Fund Investment Allocation (action required)

Timothy Schlindwein, managing principal at Schlindwein Associates, provided an overview and recommendations for CPL’s Hiram Kelly Fund.

Schlindwein and Associates began managing the Fund in 2002 on a non-for-profit basis. The firm does not act on a discretionary capacity, but instead works with the Library and Board liaisons to the Fund by providing recommendations for its rebalancing on an annual basis. Overall the Fund is doing well based on the standards that had been set forth. After an in-depth review of the Fund’s assets and performance Mr. Schlindwein’ s recommendation was to continue maintaining the Kelly Fund with the current investment allocation.

The Board voted (5-0) to keep the current investment allocation for the Kelly Fund.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)

Rodney Freeman, Assistant Commissioner of Central Library Services provided an update on the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library on the 2nd floor of HWLC. Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services presented the Capital Building Projects and Facilities report on neighborhood libraries.

Projects Under Construction

  • Thomas Hughes Children’s Library – Scope: completion of design, bidding and delivery of construction for the 24,620 sq. ft. Thomas Hughes Children’s Library with upgrades to technology infrastructure. Current activity: THCL is complete, the branch was unveiled to the public in a soft opening on June 19th along with the launch of the 2017 Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge. As a reminder, the library closed to the public on November 5, 2016. The remodeled space combines traditional library service with early literacy, Maker Lab activities and STEAM learning. The main “plaza” allows families and children of all ages to gather and hang out. Additionally, early learners, elementary learners and tweens each have their own designated “neighborhood” with computers, collections and activities. This flagship space will serve as the model for future children’s spaces.
  • Woodson – Current activity: east façade metal panel installation is 100% complete including at the penthouse level; the roof parapet installation is 100% complete and the roof surfacing is 75% complete; the south, west and north façade windows are being installed; the terra cotta framing on the south, west and north facades has begun with the terra cotta being installed on the west façade; work on some of the interior renovation has begun and is on pace to be completed at the same time as the exterior work.

Major Maintenance and Repair Projects

  • Sulzer – Phase 1: exterior work is complete. Phase 2: interior work – drywall repairs and painting around the windows and interior perimeter of the library has been completed; contractor as begun installation of the new BAS to control temperatures inside the building, completion anticipated in August; pricing is currently being reviewed for the other interior improvements including the reconfigured circulation desk, new flooring, and upgrades to lighting, the auditorium and community rooms and the staff lounge.
  • Blackstone – Scope: full tuck-pointing and repair of the masonry on exterior walls; foundation wall repairs; roofing and window repairs; HVAC upgrades; interior repairs to drywall and plaster of water damaged areas, new flooring, paint throughout, reconfiguration/upgrade to the circulation desk, renovations to the children’s area and community room. Current activity: exterior work began on 6/12; interior work to begin in September.
  • Chicago Bee – Scope (pending funding): expansion of current landmark building; envelope repairs; new mechanical systems and BAS for HVAC; controlled lighting; early learning center; YOUmedia Digital Lab; upgrades to the fire alarm system, technology infrastructure, circulation desk, community room, restrooms, flooring and paint. Current activity: initial walk-through with JOC contractors (FHPashen) was held on 6/13 and the facility assessment is nearing completion; programmatic and design coordination with 2FM is in progress; pricing to be finalized.
  • Kelly – (no changes) Scope: tuck-pointing, repairs to stone entry stairs, minor landscaping, window repairs, mechanical and fire alarm upgrades; restroom upgrades; build out of an Early Learning Area and a YOUmedia space for teens; new flooring and paint throughout; upgrades to the circulation desk and additional power/data connections. Current activity: contractors are preparing final package; construction start estimated for end of June 2017.
  • Austin – Scope: complete roof and skylight replacement. Current activity: Roof – demolition scheduled between 6/5-6/23, installation of new roof planned for 6/23-7/14; Skylight – installation to take place in September.

Projects In Planning

  • Early Learning Spaces – Early Learning spaces have been completed at the West Englewood, Little Village, West Pullman, Legler, Budlong Woods, Toman and Austin-Irving branches; for Q3, early learning spaces at Sulzer and South Chicago branches are in planning; planning is in place for early learning spaces at Thurgood Marshall, Woodson, Sherman Park and Kelly branches to be completed in Q4.
  • Whitney Young – Scope: Renovation and addition to the existing 10,400 sq. ft. library. Current activity: finalize design drawings and FF&E plan; anticipate closing the branch in Q4 with a fall groundbreaking.
  • CPL-CHA Partnership – Reminder: new libraries are being built for the Altgeld, Northtown, Roosevelt and Independence branches. Current Activity: weekly meetings are being held to discuss development, logistics, design and other topics regarding each branch. These new branches are expected to be completed by December 2018.
  • CPL is in active discussions with the Obama Foundation for construction/build out of a branch in an area that does not currently have a branch library; will have more information on whether we will move forward by the end of July.  

Commissioner’s Report (info only)

Commissioner Bannon highlighted the following:

  • CPL welcomes Maggie Clemons as the new Central District Chief at CPL. Maggie began her CPL career in 2008 in the Social Sciences & History department at the Harold Washington Library Center and most recently assisted with opening the Back of the Yards branch, a site co-located with a CPS high school.
  • The City has not approved the full budget amount of $7mil for CPL in the past 3 years. CPL is reconciling with the City on how to move forward. CPL’s 2018 process begins on July 7th; CPL departmental budget hearings will be calendared between Aug-Sept; CPL will present their budget to City Council in late October; the 2018 budget passes City Council in November and will become effective January 1, 2018. The CPLF budget process has been moved up to integrate with the City’s budget process. At this point, the Foundation has not committed to CPL’s budget proposal.
  • The American Library Association’s (ALA) annual conference will be held in Chicago this year beginning June 22nd -27th at the McCormick Place. CPL is hosting a number of the key activities at HWLC in support of the conference.
  • Quarter 2 priority projects for CPL that have been completed include:
      • Legler Branch Upgrades
      • Thomas Hughes Children’s Library Renovation
      • Tween Services Development Plan
      • Teen Lit Fest
      • On the Table
      • 2017 DPLA Fest
      • Harold Washington Summit
      • Customer and Collection Management Platform Implementation
    • New projects for Quarter 3:
      • 2017 Innovation Summit
      • Feasibility Study of Obama Presidential Center Branch library
      • Chicago Bee Branch Renovation Project
      • New West Loop Library
      • Reverend Clay Evans Exhibit

A special report on the 2017 Teen Summer Challenge along with other exciting events happening over the summer for teens was presented by Jeremy Dunn, Director of Teen Services at CPL and Teen Library Associate Jaime Bravo who manages the summer program for teens at the Back of the Yards branch.

Teen Services librarians, library associates and YOUmedia mentors have worked diligently to develop the “Elevate Your Voice” program for this summer’s Teen Summer Challenge June 1st- Sept 1st. The program is designed to motivate teens to create a positive change in their lives or in their community and to also recognize someone who has made an impact and been an inspiration to them. Branches will offer various programs such as the Mini-Grant Project: Are YOU on Snapchat? in partnership with artist Jose Luis Benavides at the Back of the Yards branch, to influence teens to learn new skills, explore their interests and connect to others who have encouraged their development.

Teen Services is also partnering with (PRO)ject US to run summer-long programs for media, fashion, music and publishing at various locations and maker faire-style events at 3 branch locations: Thurgood Marshall, Chinatown and Back of the Yards. CPL will again partner with Adler Planetarium to offer programs over the summer as well. Adler has offered to provide 10,000 solar eclipse glasses that will be distributed to CPL locations citywide prior to the solar eclipse on Aug 21st

Other Business

None

Public Comment

None

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library at the Harold Washington Library Center located at 400 S. State Street.

Commissioner’s Report

Guests: Jeremy Dunn, Dir. of Teen Services & Jaime Bravo, Library Associate

New Central District Chief

CPL is thrilled to welcome Maggie Clemons as our new Central District Chief. Maggie graduated with her MLIS in 2007 from Dominican University and began her CPL career in 2008 in the Social Sciences & History department at the Harold Washington Library Center where she co-chaired the Patron Instruction Committee, creating and teaching classes for patrons with an emphasis on CPL databases.

In 2011, Maggie took a position at the new Richard M. Daley Branch in West Humboldt Park and developed strong relationships with community organizations and worked collaboratively with them to create adult programming. Also in 2011, Maggie returned to Dominican University to complete her K-12 school media certification, which blended her interests in public service and education.

Most recently, she was branch manager of the Back of the Yards Branch, where she had the unique opportunity to plan and open this site co-located with a CPS high school. At Back of the Yards (“along with my amazing staff”), she reintroduced the community to library service, and has developed strong and sustainable community relationships. We are so excited to have Maggie on the BRAT Team, where she will bring a fresh, community-based, forward-thinking perspective.

2018 Budget Update

CPL Budget

  • July 7 – 2018 budget requests due to the Office of Budget and Management (OBM)
  • July 28 – The City’s 2018 Annual Financial Analysis is published
  • Aug-Sept 2017 – CPL department budget hearings
  • Early Oct 2017 – Mayor’s 2018 budget address to City Council
  • Mid-late Oct 2017 – CPL departmental budget hearing before City Council
  • Mid Nov 2017 – 2018 budget passes City Council
  • Jan 1, 2018 – 2018 budget effective

CPLF Budget

ALA Chicago 2017

The American Library Association’s (ALA) annual conference will be held in Chicago this year beginning June 22nd -27th at the McCormick Place. CPL is hosting a number of the key activities at HWLC in support of the conference including daily and VIP group tours and several meetings, receptions and seminars. This year’s conference will feature Reshma Saujani, the Founder and CEO of the national non-profit organization Girls Who Code; award-winning television and film actress Sarah Jessica Parker; and Hillary Rodham Clinton the first woman in U.S. history to become the presidential nominee of a major political party.

Quarter 3 Priority Projects

Completed in Quarter 2:

  • Legler Branch Upgrade
  • Thomas Hughes Children’s Library Renovation
  • Tween Services Development Plan
  • Teen Lit Fest
  • On the Table
  • 2017 DPLA Fest
  • Harold Washington Summit
  • Customer and Collection Management Platform Implementation

New Projects for Quarter 3:

  • 2017 Innovation Summit
  • Feasibility Study of Obama Presidential Center Branch library
  • Chicago Bee Branch Renovation Project
  • New West Loop Library
  • Reverend Clay Evans Exhibit