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[EBR Library Board of Control on May 15, 2025.]
WELCOME TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL.COULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? AND DON, MAY YOU LEAD US.
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 AMEN.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE? OKAY.
THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS TO THE MINUTES.
THEY WILL BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED HERE.
NO SPECIAL ORDERS AT THIS TIME.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE'RE GONNA MOVE UP THE AGENDA ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS, UM, TO ABOVE REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR.
SO WE'RE GONNA REVIEW PROPOSED PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE PARCEL LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY AND CONSIDER A VOTE TO FORWARD TO THE METRO COUNCIL FOR DELIBERATION.
MS. KATRINA STOKES, ASK THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LAND ACQUISITION.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT, AND I MOVE THAT WE VOTE TO FORWARD THIS TO THE METRO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
MOVING ON TO REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR.
THE FINANCIAL REPORT, FINANCIAL REPORT WILL BE READ BY MS. RHONDA PENS KNOT FOR 2025.
OPERATING EXPENDITURES THROUGH APRIL 30TH ARE $14,541,303 AND 98 CENTS ARE 26.43% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET THROUGH APRIL.
WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT NO MORE THAN 33% OF THE BUDGET.
ALSO, WE NOW HAVE A FINALIZED ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR 2024 OF $118,477,757.
INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER IS ABOUT $1.7 MILLION IN 2024.
CARRY FORWARD FUNDS THAT WERE JUST APPROVED FOR EXPENDITURE THIS YEAR.
CASH COLLECTIONS FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR 2025 REMAIN AHEAD OF THOSE COLLECTED IN 2024 AS WE ARE APPROXIMATELY $2.9 MILLION AND 5.23% AHEAD OF THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FINANCIAL REPORT? THANK YOU.
TECHNOLOGY IS OUR FRIEND TODAY.
SO, UM, IT'S BEEN A BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION AT EACH OF YOUR SEATS TO YOUR OWN INVITATION TO JOIN US ON MONDAY, MAY 19TH OUT AT THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY AS WE OFFICIALLY BREAK GROUND FOR PHASE TWO.
UH, IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST PHASE.
LARGEST THE ONE WHERE WE ACTUALLY WORK ON THE REAL BRANCH.
UH, IN FACT, UH, OUR CONTRACTOR, SIENNA, UH, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, HAS ALREADY STARTED.
YOU WILL, UH, NOT, THERE WON'T BE A HARD HAT TOUR OR ANYTHING.
WE'LL BE OUTSIDE FOR THIS GROUNDBREAKING.
UH, IT WON'T LAST TERRIBLY LONG.
GROUNDBREAKINGS ARE OUT IN THE SUN, AND, UH, WE WILL HAVE FANS FOR YOU AND WATER AND HARD HATS AND YOUR SHOVELS.
SO, UH, IF YOU CAN JOIN US, THAT WOULD BE LOVELY.
WE'LL SEE YOU AT 10 IN THE MORNING ON MONDAY, MAY 19TH.
SOMETHING THAT I AM SO PLEASED OF, I, I INVITED YOU ALL TO JOIN US IN
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JANUARY WHEN WE HAD A PREMIER OF FREE FOR ALL THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WHICH IS THE INDEPENDENT LENS DOCUMENTARY.WE SAW THE SHORTENED VERSION OF IT IN THIS ROOM IN JANUARY.
WE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO SEE IT.
UM, THEY AIRED IT ON PUBLIC TELEVISION IN APRIL.
THEY AIRED IT MULTIPLE TIMES, PLUS IT WAS AVAILABLE.
IT'S STILL AVAILABLE JUST TO STREAM THROUGH INDEPENDENT LENS.
IT, THIS WAS THE EXTENDED VERSION.
THE DIRECTOR'S CUT, UH, IF YOU WILL, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE IN IT.
THERE'S TAMIKA, UH, THEY DID A RIDE ALONG WITH TAMIKA AFTER THE FLOOD.
THEY HAD COME OUT AND MET TAMIKA AFTER HURRICANE, UH, KATRINA.
AND THEN CAME BACK YEARS LATER AND, UH, SAW THAT OUTREACH SERVICES AND THAT LIBRARY SERVICES WERE ALIVE AND WELL IN BATON ROUGE AND IN LOUISIANA.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY COMMENTS.
PEOPLE ARE JUST SO PROUD THAT AT YOUR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY WAS FEATURED IN THIS REALLY WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY.
EVERY TIME I WATCH IT, I DO CRY.
AND, UM, YOU'LL GET FRESHLY MISSIONED UP.
I GUARANTEE WE ARE FRESHLY MISSIONED UP BECAUSE WE HAD STAFF TRAINING DAY, UH, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UM, WE CAN NEVER GET THE ENTIRE COMPLEMENT ALTOGETHER BECAUSE MANY OF OUR PART-TIME WORKERS HAVE DAY JOBS.
BUT OUR FULL-TIME WORKERS WERE HERE.
AND A GOOD LEAD NUMBER OF OUR PART-TIME STAFF JOINED US.
UH, WE USED THE FACILITY NEXT DOOR AT THE BRECK THEATER.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS PODIUM AND THIS GIANT SCREEN.
UH, WE WERE NEXT DOOR WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, IN THE INDEPENDENCE PARK FOR THE MASSED CONVOCATION.
SO THERE'S KATRINA LAURIE, THERE'S, UH, ADAM ST.
PIERRE, OUR PRESIDENT OF OUR FRIENDS GROUP.
UM, THERE'S ME, THERE IS ONE OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS, CARRIE, UH, PATTERS PATTERSON WITH, UH, CONTINUUM OF CARE, TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AND RELATED TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS IN OUR AREA AND HOW WE WORK TO MITIGATE THEIR SITUATIONS.
AND, UM, WE EVEN HAD VISIT BATON ROUGE JOIN US.
THERE'S GARY, OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF VISIT BATON ROUGE, INVITING US ALL TO BE AMBASSADORS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE COMPLETED THE TRAINING AND EARNED MY PEN.
WE, UH, THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER, IT KIND OF KICKS OFF, UH, A CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN.
LET'S, LET'S SHOP AT HOME, Y'ALL.
LET'S BE TOURISTS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
THERE'S A LOT TO DO IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
SO WE DID A DEEP DIVE ON PAGE 22 OF THE NEWSLETTER.
AND YOU CAN YOURSELF GO TO VISIT BATON ROUGE AND TAKE THE 30 MINUTE TRAINING AND BE CERTIFIED AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID BREAKOUTS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT WAS A VERY FULL PROGRAM ALL DAY LONG.
I JUST LOVED SEEING SOME OF THESE PICTURES.
THERE WERE BREAKOUTS ABOUT MAKING AND THE, UH, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE HAVE IN THE VARIOUS MAKER SPACES AND THE BADGING PROGRAMS. WE HAD, UH, THINGS ABOUT THE INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM AND THE WEBSITE SOFTWARE UPDATES.
WE HAD A GUEST SPEAKER ON NARCAN.
WE HAD, UH, UM, CPR TRAINING IN THIS ROOM.
AND Y'ALL, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE CRAP TEST.
UH, WHERE THEY COME UP WITH THESE ACRONYMS IS THE SAME PEOPLE THAT MADE THE CRACK UNIT, I'M SURE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER, FOR COMPUTERS IS A CRACK UNIT.
WELL, THE CRAP TEST HAS TO DO WITH REFERENCE VALIDATION AND, UH, IS THE RESOURCE ACCURATE? AND, UM, ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO, SO THERE WAS A VARIETY OF TRAININGS MADE AVAILABLE DURING THE DAY.
UH, WE HA HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT WE NOW HAVE LIBRARIES AT HEART AT TWO OTHER LOCATIONS.
THEY'VE JOINED DELMONT GARDENS WITH A BLOOD PRESSURE KIOSK AND CIRCULATING
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KITS.AND I, I REALLY LIKE, THIS IS AT CARVER.
I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S TUCKED RIGHT IN THIS WINDOW BAY.
UH, BUT PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IT.
AND THEY'RE COMING IN AND THEY'RE TAKING THEIR PRESSURE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UH, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PERSON THAT MAKES SURE TO COME MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK JUST TO KEEP, KEEP UP WITH THINGS.
GARDEN DISCOVERIES, Y'ALL,
UH, REMEMBER THEY START IN HERE AND THEN THEY GO OUT.
SO THIS MONTH IT WAS USING NATIVE PLANTS AND WE, WE WERE BEATING 'EM OFF WITH A STICK.
AND I MUST TELL YOU THAT THESE SEED GARDENS HAVE REALLY EXPLODED HERBS, SEEDS.
THE KIDS ARE GETTING IN ON THE ACTION.
SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY, UH, ENJOYING THAT ASPECT OF WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER IN TERMS OF THE TRAININGS, THE BOOKS, THE MAGAZINES AND THE SEEDS.
NOW, NOW WE LOVE TO BE FRIENDLY WITH LSU AND SOUTHERN AND BRCC.
SO WE, WE LOVE TO BE A PART OF THEIR LIVES.
THE OUTREACH VEHICLES GO TO THOSE CAMPUSES.
WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET CARDS.
SOMETIMES WE GUEST SPEAK IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. SOMETIMES THEY GUEST SPEAK IN OUR ROOMS FOR, UH, PROGRAMS. UH, 'CAUSE YOU CAN BET WE ASK THEM AND THEY, THEY WILL COME.
SO THIS MONTH, UH, IF, IF YOU WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE HERE, IT'S GONE NOW, SO IT'S TOO LATE.
BUT THE LSU ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS DID A WHOLE MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATION OF TOTEMS. THERE WERE 20 TOTEMS UPSTAIRS.
EACH ONE REFLECTING THAT INDIVIDUAL STUDENT'S CONCEPT OF WHAT HOME MEANT TO THEM.
SOME OF THEM MADE NOISE, SOME OF THEM WERE ELECTRIFIED.
UH, SOME OF THEM WERE COLLAGE.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU, I'D BE WALKING DOWN THE THIRD FLOOR AND I'D SEE HEADS WITHIN THESE TOTEMS OF PEOPLE OF VERY VARIOUS SIZES AND AGES, JUST WANDERING THROUGH, READING THE LITTLE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE STUDENTS AND EXAMINING HOW THEY EXPRESSED THEIR CONCEPT OF HOME.
IT WAS HERE FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
AND I HEARD MORE THAN ONE PERSON SAY, OH, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT AT HOME.
THEY WERE GONNA DO IT FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY.
KIND OF LIKE A TIME CAPSULE, BUT NOT IT'S A TOTEM.
SO THAT WAS HERE, UH, THE STEP TEAM CAME BACK.
WE HAD, UH, A FEW MINUTES WITH THE BATON ROUGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL STEP TEAM WHEN WE PREMIERED RED STICK RHYTHMS. AND WE LOVED THEM SO MUCH, WE INVITED THEM TO COME BACK.
SO THEY CAME BACK AND THEY ALMOST DID, THEY DID THEIR NAMING CEREMONY HERE.
AND WE ALL FELT LIKE WE COULD, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CONGO LINE.
I'M JUST SAYING, OKAY, WE ALL WERE ENERGIZED BY THAT.
SO I WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT WE'RE PART OF ALL OF THIS.
THE KIDS WERE HERE THIS LAST WEEK FOR THE MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT, AND YOU PASSED A COMMUNITY INSTALLATION ON YOUR WAY INTO THE LIBRARY TODAY.
IT, IT'S, I THINK, FULLY REALIZED.
THERE'S MAYBE ONE MORE THING TO GO UP WITH IT TO ANNOUNCE WHAT THAT EXHIBITION IS.
BUT THE BRONZE HEADS IN THE LOBBY COMPRISE THE, UH, SCULPTURES.
EACH ONE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FREED BECAUSE OF THE INNOCENCE PROJECT.
SO EACH ONE HAS A BIOGRAPHY AND IS, AND A LITTLE, UH, A LITTLE STATEMENT ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY.
IT WILL REMAIN UP FOR TWO MONTHS, AND THERE WILL BE AN EVENT IN JULY TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
WE FEATURED THE YOUNG HEROES AT THE RIVER CENTER BRANCH, AND I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT WITH THE LIBRARY OF THINGS, NOT JUST BLOOD PRESSURE KITS TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
HOW ABOUT DO, DO SOME PUZZLES? NOW WE'LL TELL YOU THAT SPEED PUZZLING MAY NOT BE THE THING THAT LOWERS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
UH, THAT MAY RAMP IT UP A BIT.
WE'LL BE DOING THAT IN A FEW DAYS AT JONES CREEK.
BUT, UH, THE IDEA OF CIRCULATING THE PUZZLES, YOU REMEMBER, WE'VE BEEN CIRCULATING THE GAMES FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I THINK THOSE ARE KEEPING SOME FAMILIES TOGETHER.
UH, SO JONES CREEK SAID, WELL, WE, WE JUST WANNA DO A PUZZLE EXCHANGE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT AS A PROGRAM AT A NUMBER OF BRANCHES, YOU KNOW, ONCE A YEAR OR TWICE A YEAR.
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THEY, THEY'RE GOING ALL IN.THEY'RE GONNA DO IT ALL THE TIME.
SOUL FOOD FEST WILL BE HERE AT THE MAIN LIBRARY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THERE WILL BE FOOD EVERYWHERE.
LAST YEAR THERE WERE 32 VENDORS.
THIS YEAR, I EXPECT AN EQUAL NUMBER OF VENDORS.
I EXPECT MUSIC ALL DAY LONG ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
AND THEY'LL ALSO SHOW DOCUMENTARY FILMS THAT RELATE TO, UH, SOME LOVELY INDEPENDENT FILMS. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT HENRY TURNER AND HIS CREW.
UM, SOME WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS WORK TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'M REALLY INTRIGUED ABOUT, AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THIS, IS JOHN SINGLETON IS JUST A LOCAL HISTORIAN AND OFFERED TO DO A PROGRAM ON LAST ISLAND, OR AS I LIKE TO CALL IT, LOST ISLAND.
THIS IS THE ISLAND THAT REALLY TOOK IT ON THE CHIN DURING THE 1856, I BELIEVE.
UM, HURRICANE, AN UNNAMED HURRICANE.
THEY DIDN'T GIVE THEM NAMES AT THAT TIME.
AND WE'RE ALL FASCINATED BY THIS STORY.
SO HE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK FOR THE BATON ROUGE LECTURE SERIES.
WE HAVE AUTHORS RO COMING UP, AND IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR NEWSLETTER, I, WE GOT AUTHORS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE HAVE THE, THE AUTHORS, LOCAL AUTHORS ARE COMING.
WE HAVE A AUTHOR'S WORKSHOP WITH ALEX JENNING, THAT'S THE YOUNG MAN THAT CAME FOR THE MICROCON.
UM, HE IS THE AUTHOR, UH, LEGITIMATE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF, UM, UH, PERILOUS GRAVES.
UH, STEVE COLBY IS GONNA DO WORKSHOPS THE NEXT DAY.
AND HIS, HE'S A WRITER, BUT HE'S ALSO, HE LOVES TO COACH OTHERS.
SO HE'S GONNA TALK, UH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE TO WRITE, UH, OR ARE INTERESTED IN WRITING ABOUT MYSTERIES AND ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY.
UH, OTHER FORM FACTOR BREAK, AIB, THE WRITER'S LOUNGE.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS FOR YOU TO REALLY ENJOY, EXPLORE THE WRITTEN WORD THIS MONTH.
OF COURSE, WE, WE DID A LOOKIE LOU BACK SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS.
WE STARTED DOING THIS DURING COVID AND MORE THAN 30,000 OF OUR, UH, THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO SAY IT.
OUR PATRONS HAVE WATCHED THESE MORE THAN 30,000 TIMES SINCE WE STARTED THIS.
THAT'S, THAT'S SOME WATCHING Y'ALL.
UH, AND IT'S AUTHORS OF EVERY TYPE, FICTION, NON-FICTION, SELF-HELP, COOKBOOKS.
UH, IT'S ALL OVER THE, AND, AND EVEN AUTHORS WHO TALK ABOUT HOW TO BREAK INTO THE WRITING BUSINESS.
LET'S, LET'S, WE, WE JUST MISSED ANXIETY.
BUT THE NEAT THING ABOUT THESE ARE IS THEIR ARCHIVES.
SO I CAN GO BACK IN THIS WEEKEND, WATCH THRIVING WITH ANXIETY AND GET CALM, OR I COULD DO THE GENIUS OF JUDY.
UM, MORE LIKELY I WOULD BE WATCHING.
SHE'S ONE OF THESE BREAKOUT MYSTERY AUTHORS.
AND I THINK, UH, THAT BOOK HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PLAY.
SO I THINK THAT'LL BE A FUN ONE TO LISTEN TO.
WE WILL BE HOSTING ANOTHER STRICTLY BUSINESS NEXT WEEK.
AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE ARCHIVED.
AND THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR CONTENT THAT YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE OUT ON THE BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT.
AND THEN OTHER WAYS IS, UH, ABOUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
UH, THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR ANYONE THAT'S STARTING TO SAVE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GROW THEIR WEALTH.
THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT.
THE LIBRARY HAS SO MANY WONDERFUL RESOURCES.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR OWN ACCOUNT FOR MORNINGSTAR OR VALUE LINE OR STANDARD IMPORTS.
WE HAVE IT ALL FOR YOU WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD LIBRARIES CHANGED LIVES, FEATURES.
WE SAW HIM LAST NIGHT AT THE METRO COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE, REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT GONNA CALL IT CLUB ANYMORE.
'CAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WAS.
THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD TO COME SOMEPLACE AT A CERTAIN TIME.
THEN WE CALLED IT A PROGRAM AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ONE.
IT WAS LIKE, NO, IT'S ALL SUMMER LONG.
WE WILL BRIBE YOU TO READ ALL SUMMER LONG, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA CALL IT A CHALLENGE FROM NOW ON.
WE WILL KICK IT OFF ON THURSDAY, MAY 29TH, HERE AND EVERYWHERE AND NEW THIS YEAR.
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I MENTIONED IT LAST WEEK OR LAST MONTH.WE NOW HAVE THE LENDER CHALLENGE, WHERE IF YOU ARE A, UH, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT, YOU CAN VISIT ALL 15 OF OUR BRANCHES IN ONE DAY.
AND YOU WILL NOT ONLY GET YOUR CERTIFICATE AND COME TO THE LENDER FAMILY FET AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT YOU WILL EARN A WONDER.
YOU'LL GET TO POUR YOUR OWN GIANT, GIANT, UM, MEDALLION CREATED USING THE WONDERS OF THE 3D PRINTER AND SUBLIMATION PRINTING AND ALL THE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE MAKER STUDIOS BECAUSE WE PRINTED IT OUT, THEN WE MADE A MOLD, THEN WE POURED THE MOLD AND THEN WE MESSED WITH IT.
SO IF YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU TOO WILL EARN SUCH A THING.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER KINDS OF CHALLENGES IF YOU CAN'T QUITE DO IT ALL IN ONE DAY.
UH, AND THERE'S EVEN ONE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HOME BOUND AND CAN'T GET OUT BECAUSE EVERYONE'S A WINNER.
EVERYONE'S A WINNER AT THE LIBRARY.
UH, MOVIES ON THE PLAZA WILL BE BACK HERE.
WE WILL START WITH THE WILD ROBOT, THEN WE'LL DO INSIDE OUT TWO THEN WISH.
SO YOU REMEMBER, THESE ARE MOSTLY FOR THIS SIZE OF A HUMAN BEING, BUT THE USUALLY THE LAST ONE, OR NEXT TO LAST ONE IS MAYBE FOR THIS SIZE OF A HUMAN BEING.
UH, BRING YOUR BLANKET, BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIR.
WE WILL OF COURSE HAVE OUR OWN CHAIRS.
BUT, UH, A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL, UH, AND AS ALWAYS, THE AFTER MOVIE DANCE PARTY.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THERE IS ONE THING I DID WANNA SAY THAT'S NOT QUITE SO HAPPY.
UM, WITH OUR HOME LIBRARY PROJECT, WE'VE BEEN, UH, USING A AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AND THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM WAS CUT.
SO WE WILL LOSE THE SERVICES OF THAT VOLUNTEER.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE SOME THINGS AROUND SO THAT THE NEXT PHASE OF THE HOME LIBRARY PILOT PROJECT IS NOT AT RISK, YOU KNOW? SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST GOT TO FILL IN AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE WITHOUT THOSE MAN HOURS EVERY WEEK.
SO IS THAT DUE TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS? YES.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS.
UM, OUR FRIENDS GROUP HAD DONE A MATCH FOR THE VOLUNTEERS HOURS, BUT, BUT IT WAS, IT HAD TO BE MATCHED LOCALLY THROUGH SERVE, SERVE AS THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF AMERICORPS.
SO THEY ADMINISTERED IT AND THEY HAD THE SEED MONEY FOR IT, AND THEN OUR FRIENDS GROUP MATCHED THAT.
BUT, UM, LUCKILY WE GOT THROUGH MOST OF THE YEAR, UH, FOR SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THE PILOT, WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR TO GO, I THINK, FOR THIS PILOT PROJECT.
UM, THE LAST OF THE CLASSROOM VISITS WERE ALREADY OVER WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WOULD BE CUT.
WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE IN OTHER WAYS BECAUSE, UH, MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER VOLUNTEER POOL THAT WE CAN USE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS INVOLVED IN RUNNING THE HOME LIBRARY PRO PROJECT.
THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICS AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO HAVE THAT SERVE, VOLUNTEER ON SITE 20 HOURS A WEEK GETTING IT DONE.
SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS USE SERVE.
LOUISIANA SERVE BATON ROUGE, A LOT OF SCHOOLS TOO.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, IMPACTED ALSO THE INTERNS THAT, THAT THEY USE HAVE ALSO.
I THINK THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH CLOSED THEIR DOORS, WHICH IS VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATE.
AND A LOT OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO, SO THAT'S THE SAD NEWS.
BUT THE HAPPY NEWS IS COME OUT TO VILLE ON MONDAY, GET READY TO GET YOUR HAIR ALL HELMETED UP.
MOVING ON TO OTHER REPORTS, MAINTENANCE AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE REPORT WILL BE READ BY MS. LAURIE JUS.
SO FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, THE MAINTENANCE REPORT, UM, COVERS THE FACT THAT AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, THE ENERGY
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RECOVERY VENTILATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.AND IT'S VITAL TO MAINTAIN THE LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS, PARTICULARLY IN THE ARCHIVES AREA.
AND THAT PART TO REPLACE IT IS ON ORDER AT ALL OF THE BRANCHES.
THE CONTRACTOR IS STILL WORKING ON THE PAINTING OF THE CURVES AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS FOR THE MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR OUTREACH, MULTI-BRANCH AND THE ROOFING PROJECT, THERE'S CURRENTLY NOTHING NEW TO REPORT.
BUT FOR THE BOILERS PROJECT FOR EDEN PARK AND GREENWELL SPRINGS, THE FACILITY STAFF REVIEWED THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES IS REQUESTING A MORE DETAILED COST ESTIMATE, UH, FOR THE BLUEBONNET BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS.
FACILITY STAFF ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO OBTAIN QUOTES TO REPAIR THE OUTDOOR PATIO FLOORING.
AND AFTER THOSE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE, THEY'LL, UM, THEY PLAN TO PRESSURE WASH AND CLEAN THE PATIO AREA AND TO REPLACE THE PATIO FURNITURE.
UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY DISCUSSING FURTHER RENOVATIONS TO THE BUILDING AND WE'LL BE USING THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN TO WORK WITH ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES TO COMPOSE A SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE CHILLER PROJECT.
THE CONTRACTOR IS STILL WORKING ON THE FINAL PUNCH LIST.
AND FOR THE BAKER BRANCH, EXCUSE ME,
LORI, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN WORKING ON THE, UH, BLUE BONNET PATIO AREA? UH, FOR A WHILE NOW? YEAH.
THAT, THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING ALONG.
UM, THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF, UM, WAS A PART OF THE ROOFING PROJECT RENOVATION, SO THAT KIND OF GOT EXTENDED.
UM, BUT, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT IN A, IN A SEPARATE CONTRACT.
MOVING ON TO MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS.
JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS TO GO OVER QUICKLY.
UH, FIRST, AS MANY ARE AWARE, THE METRO COUNCIL APPROVED THE INITIATIVE FOR THE 11.1 MILLAGE, UH, FOR THE LIBRARY TO BE DIVIDED INTO THE 8.34, THE LIBRARY'S PURPOSES, AND 2.8 FOR THE CITY PARISH.
THE INITIATIVES FOR THE COUNCIL ON AGING AND MOSQUITO ABATEMENT ALSO PASSED.
MEANWHILE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO VOLUNTARILY DELETE THE INITIATIVE FOR THE ALIMONY TAX, WHICH THE METRO COUNCIL GRANTED.
SO THE, THERE ARE NOW ONLY THREE INITIATIVES GOING FORWARD TO THE BALLOT ON THE NOVEMBER 15TH ELECTION THIS FALL.
WE WILL BEGIN THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE DETAILS FROM THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
FOR NOW, WE CONTINUE TO ADVISE ALL INTERESTED AND CONCERNED PATRONS AND THE LOCAL MEDIA THAT WE ARE.
WE ACCOMPLISHED OUR TWO MAIN GOALS, FIRST OF ALL, WHICH WAS TO, UH, RECEIVE DEDICATED FUNDING THAT THE FUNDING REMAINED DEDICATED, EXCUSE ME.
AND THAT THE MILLAGE RATE IS AT A LEVEL BY WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE OPERATING OFFERING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND TO MEET THE GOALS OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE ARE CONTINUING, UH, MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR'S, UH, OFFICE.
OUR NEXT ONE IS ON TUESDAY, MAY 20TH.
UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE CURRENT ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING, SUCH AS THE LENGTHY HIRING AND ONBOARDING PROCESS FOR NEW JOB CANDIDATES.
THE ISSUES WITH THE TIME KEEPING SOFTWARE EXECUTIVE TIME, WHICH STARTS THE WORK WEEK ON SATURDAY, ISSUES WITH MUNI, THE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON MARIJUANA, WHICH INCLUDES EVEN THE LEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS AND WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO EARN OVERTIME.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO COME TO SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION ON THESE SOON.
UH, FINALLY, UH, I HAVE BEEN MAKING A POINT OF ATTENDING THE HOMELESS PROVIDER STRATEGY MEETINGS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
NOW, UH, THIS IS A COLLABORATION OF MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE PARISH, WHICH OFFER OFFER SERVICES TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UH, TWO PEOPLE FROM THE START CORPORATION, ADDIE AND AMANDA HAD REACHED OUT TO US A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WE MET LORI AND ALLISON COOPER FROM, UH, UH, DOWN AT, UH, RIVER CENTER.
WE MET, UH, 'CAUSE THEY HAD HEARD THAT QUITE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE GATHERING AT OUR RIVER CENTER LOCATION.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM THE LIBRARY STAFF TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY TIMES AND LOCATIONS THAT THEY SEE THE MOST ACTIVITY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM THEY'RE TRYING TO CONNECT, UH, IN ORDER TO HELP THEM CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES, UH, IN ORDER TO HELP THEM HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, OF COURSE, THE RIVER CENTER BRANCH QUITE OFTEN SEES A NUMBER OF PEOPLE DURING THE DAY.
UH, MANY STAY JUST ABOUT FROM OPEN TILL CLOSE.
AND THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAVE THE CASEWORKERS WITH THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAD SIGNED WITH THEM TO PUT CASEWORKERS
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AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS, UH, AROUND THE PARISH.MOST OF THEM ARE ONLY ABLE TO BE THERE IN, WELL, THEY'RE ALL ABLE TO BE THERE IN THE AFTERNOON, IN EVENINGS.
SO NONE IN THE MORNINGS SO FAR.
UH, OTHER LOCA, OOPS, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
OTHER LOCATIONS INCLUDE MAIN, UH, HERE AT MAINE, UH, BLUE BONNET, CARVER, GREENWELL SPRINGS.
UH, WE WISH THAT WE COULD EXPAND ON THAT CONTRACT, BUT OF COURSE THAT WOULD REQUIRE MORE FUNDING ON OUR PART.
SO THE FACT THAT THE STARK CORPORATION IS STEPPING UP AND SAYING WE WOULD LIKE TO BE AT THESE SAME LOCATIONS, PARTICULARLY, UH, IN THE MORNINGS, UH, SUCH AS ALLISON, UH, HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE LINING UP AT THE DOOR READY TO COME IN.
AND SINCE THE CASE WORKERS CAN'T BE THERE IN THE MORNING, THE STAR CORPORATION CAN, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN COME AND, UH, BEGIN MAKING THE, THE RE FORMING THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND HELPING CONNECT THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
SO, UH, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION.
THEY HAVE HIGHLY COMPLIMENTED OUR STAFF.
I I ALWAYS HEAR ACCOLADES, ESPECIALLY FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR STAFF HAVE USE THE TOOLS AND REPORTING, UH, THAT THEY HAVE IN ORDER TO HELP GET PEOPLE THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED.
THEY SAID THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN THE MOST DESCRIPTIVE, AND QUITE OFTEN THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE FOLLOWING UP TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HELP AND CONNECT WITH GOT THE HELP THAT THEY NEEDED.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR STAFF FOR THAT VERY REASON THERE.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS, UH, ABOUT ANYTHING I'VE DISCUSSED HERE? NO.
IN THAT CASE, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE, UH, TWO OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, MS. JALISA VALADE, UH, WITH BRANCH SERVICES.
SHE TOOK, UH, LAYLA RILEY'S PLACE WHEN SHE WAS PROMOTED.
AND LAUREN YOUNG, WHO IS THE MANAGER OF OUR SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH, UH, INVITE YOU LADIES TO COME UP AND, UH, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
UM, JUST ANOTHER CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD TO PASS IT.
YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CONSOLIDATE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PARISH OR THE PARISH.
AND SO THIS, THIS CAN BE USED AS A TACTIC TO, UH, FORCE IT TO FAIL TO FORCE DECONSOLIDATION.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE USED TO STRATEGIZE BASED ON THE DEFICIT WITH THE CITY PARISH.
AND SO IF WE DON'T COME TOGETHER AND WE SHOULD GET WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MESSAGE IS THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS SAVE OUR PARISH ON BILLBOARDS, SAVE OUR, AND, AND IN EVERY, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST, WHATEVER WE PUT ON THERE, PUT A CONSISTENT AND A CONCISE MESSAGE THAT THE VOTERS UNDERSTAND AND THEN CAN RETICULATE TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, THEY VOTE NO.
SO, SO IF, IF AS A LIBRARY WE HAVE TO TAKE AS SERIOUS GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AS WE DID NEGOTIATING BECAUSE, AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS, AND THIS IS WHAT, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, WHAT DR. BECKER SAID LAST NIGHT, I THINK IT'S 40 YEARS.
WE'VE HAD THIS MILLAGE OUT THERE.
AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE SAID IT PUBLICLY.
HE SAID, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE TRUST OF CITY PARISH, WE HAVE LIMITED THE SPREAD OF DISEASE THROUGH, AND OBVIOUSLY JUST, UH, INSECTS IN GENERAL, BUT THE DISEASES THAT COME WITH MOSQUITO, MOSQUITO BITES, HE SAID, AND BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT, WE'VE DONE IT WITH FIDELITY, THEY'VE TRUSTED US.
HE SAID, NOW THE DISTRUST IS THERE FOR THE CITY AND WE'VE TIED OUR BRAND WITH YOURS.
I'M JUST KIND OF SUMMING UP WHAT HE SAID.
SO WE'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE IF THE MESSAGING DOESN'T GO RIGHT, NOT ONLY DO WE LOSE AND THRIVE, BUT THE MINUTE WE PUT IT BACK OUT THERE INDEPENDENTLY, THE TRUST OF THE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT PROGRAM IS GONE.
SO I SAY THE SAME THING FOR THE LIBRARY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE HISTORY, IT'S ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR NO IN THE FALL.
AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR FUTURE LIBRARY SUPPORT ON THE BALLOT? AND THEN IF THE ANSWER'S NO, WE HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THE CITY'S WAY OFF IN TERMS OF BEING IN, IN WORSE CONDITION THAN THEY WERE WITH ST.
SO I'M, I'M PRESSING THAT BECAUSE I JUST LEFT THE MEETINGS WHILE I WAS LATE HERE.
[00:35:01]
A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WITH BUSINESS LEADERS, UM, OTHER AGENCIES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE VOTE OUT, WE GET A CONS, CONSISTENT AND CONCISE MESSAGE.BUT MAKE SURE THE LIBRARY HAS, HAS A SEAT AT THAT TABLE AS WELL.
UH, UH, OH, AS FROM WHAT A FOLLOW UP, UM, THE, UM, WHAT I AM GETTING THROUGH THE PEOPLE I TALK TO, UM, WHO APPROACH ME ALL THE TIME IS THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS, UH, INITIATIVE TO PASS THAT, THAT THEY KNOW HOW THE LIBRARY USES ITS MONEY, IT'S TRANSPARENT, EVERYTHING IS OUT THERE, BUT THEY WANT FROM THE CITY PARISH A, A PLAN AND A, A TIGHT PLAN TO KNOW HOW THE MONEY, UH, IS GOING TO BE USED SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE IN THEIR VOTE.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, MONEY FOR THIS, MONEY FOR THAT.
THEY ACTUALLY WANT A TIGHT PLAN ABOUT HOW THE MONEY IS GONNA BE USED.
SO I'M JUST BRINGING THAT, UH, UP AS WE GO ALONG.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT BEFORE Y'ALL START ON THAT.
I THINK WHAT, WHAT, WHAT MS. KATHY JUST SAID WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM A THOUSAND PEOPLE.
SO I BELIEVE AS A LIBRARY BOARD, I PROPOSE THAT WE PUT UP SOME SORT OF SINGLE DOCUMENT WHERE THE LIBRARY BOARD SENDS A NOTE TO THE ENTIRE METRO COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION REQUESTING THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN THEN RE-ARTICULATE IT TO OUR BASE, EXCUSE ME, SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN THEIR TRUST, BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT THE MILLAGE DOES NOT HAVE ANY, UM, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN EVERYBODY ELSE'S MOUTH FOR THIS ELECTION IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE DEMAND, IT MAKES IT A PUBLIC RECORD, UM, THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE, I'M GLAD, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT, BECAUSE JUST LIKE THEY WANT US TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND, UM, AND WE HAVE ALL THESE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING.
THEY CAN'T JUST EXPECT EVERYONE TO VOTE YES.
BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH A GREAT SYSTEM AND MOSQUITO'S GREAT.
SO, UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY TOO IS WE NEED TO TALK TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY WANTED DETAILS AND IF WE WANNA SUPPORT, BUT WE ALSO AS JUST CITIZENS WANT TO KNOW TOO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH IT.
SO THAT'S, BUT CANDICE, YOU JUST SAID, YOU JUST SAID SOMEBODY THINK ABOUT, YOU QUESTIONED OUR MILLAGE AND WHERE ALL THE MONEY WAS GOING AND WE HANDED YOU A DOCUMENT AND A, AND A LINK TO A WEBSITE.
WHERE'S THE THRIVE VR WEBSITE? EBR? HOW CAN WE SEND A LINK TO SOMEBODY ELSE? AND ON THAT WEBSITE IT SHOULD DETAIL AND OUTLINE WHAT YOU WANTED FROM THE LIBRARY FOR US TO PROVE THAT WE WERE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING IN RETURN.
I WORK IN BRANCH SERVICES UNDER LAURIE.
UM, I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE SEPTEMBER.
UH, BUT I'VE BEEN WITH THE LIBRARY SINCE 2013.
UH, I STARTED OUT AT EATON PARK AS THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AND WAS THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND GOT PROMOTED TO, UH, JONES CREEK.
I WAS THE CIRCULATION LIBRARIAN FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.
STAYED AT JONES CREEK AND MOVED TO THE REFERENCE DEPARTMENT AND WAS THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
UM, AND THEN A FEW YEARS AGO I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND TRY TO BECOME A BRANCH MANAGER AND, UH, MOVED TO EATON PARK.
UH, WAS THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AS THE BRANCH MANAGER AND CAME BACK TO JONES CREEK, UM, AS THE BRANCH MANAGER THERE FOR A SHORT WHILE BEFORE I GOT, UH, PROMOTED TO BE IN BRANCH SERVICES.
UM, SO I'M IN CHARGE OF FIVE OF THE COMMUNITY BRANCHES, UM, SCOTLANDVILLE, UH, ZACHARY BAKER, EATON PARK, AND, UH, THE NEW SOUTH BRANCH.
I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH EBR HILL VERY LONG, HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A 25 PLUS YEAR EXPERIENCE WITH A CAREER IN LIBRARIES PLUS, UH, SEVEN YEARS IN A CLASSROOM TEACHER.
SO I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUTTA STATE.
[00:40:01]
I STARTED IN LIBRARIES WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND JUST ABOUT WORKED IN JUST ABOUT EVERY DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, IN THE LIBRARY WORLD.SO, YOU KNOW, I COME WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
I STARTED HERE IN 2021 IN CIRCULATION AT MAINE HERE AT GOODWOOD.
AND THEN MOVED TO THE CIRCULATION HEAD AT THE RIVER CENTER BRANCH IN 2022.
AND NOW I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE BRANCH MANAGER OF THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY.
UH, WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT OUR RENOVATION.
EVERY DAY I GET TO WATCH IT AND I GET REALLY, REALLY EXCITED.
THE PATRONS ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THEY COME IN, THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE? SO WE KIND OF TALK TO 'EM ABOUT IT, SHOW 'EM THE PLANS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT THE COMMUNITY IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THEY COME IN, THEY TELL US ABOUT IT, THEY USE IT, THEY USE THAT LIBRARY.
THEY CAN'T WAIT TILL IT'S DONE.
THEY USE IT AS A HUB FOR, YOU KNOW, THE STUDYING.
'CAUSE WE'RE, OF COURSE, WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO SOUTHERN, SO WE GET A LOT OF STUDENTS, WE GET A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THEY USE IT AS, YOU KNOW, THEIR LITTLE HELP FOR THE CONTINUING THEIR STUDIES AS LONG AS THEIR COMPUTER SERVICES.
AND THEY ALSO BROWSE THE BLACK HERITAGE COLLECTION.
I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THAT THAT COLLECTION IS THERE.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR NEW BRANCH.
AND TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMMING, I'M SORRY, YOUR PROGRAMMING AT SCOTLANDVILLE AND ALSO, UM, THE TRANSPORTATION TO THAT PARTICULAR BRANCH.
UH, IF THERE IS A, A TRANSPORTATION, YOU KNOW, UH, THERE WERE PEOPLE, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ALSO PROGRAMMING THAT PEOPLE ATTEND.
UH, WELL, AS OF RIGHT NOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE ANNEX, SO WE HAVE MOVED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING.
SO, AND I JUST GOT THERE IN NOVEMBER.
SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN DOING A WHOLE LOT OF PROGRAMMING, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST KIND OF ON THE FLY A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE ON BIKES.
THEY'RE COMING FROM THE BUS SYSTEM, THEIR CARS, THEY'RE WALKING.
I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT IT ALL.
I THINK IT, ISN'T IT A BUS STOP, LIKE RIGHT IN FRONT? IT IS.
THERE IS A BUS OUT RIGHT IN FRONT THERE.
AND SO, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAMMING WAS LIKE AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
THAT'S WHAT, THEY HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITY BRANCHES, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THAT ANNEX THAT'S SO MUCH SMALLER, THEY DON'T HAVE THE REQUIREMENTS RIGHT NOW.
THEY STILL WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE THOUGH.
UM, SO THEY'LL HAVE SUPPLIES FOR THAT.
AND ADULTS THAT COME IN AND CHILDREN THAT COME IN, THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT THE MONTHLY PROGRAMMING IS NOT THE SAME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE JUST ISN'T THE SPACE AT THE MOMENT TO DO THAT.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE 19TH.
MOVING ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, COMMITTEE REPORTS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS UPDATE ON THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY COURT WILL BE READ BY MS. LORI.
SO FOR THE SOUTH BRANCH, ALL FURNITURE HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND INSTALLED, INCLUDING AN ADORABLE BOAT FOR THE TODDLERS IN THE CHILDREN'S ROOM.
UM, BEGINNING IN THIS WEEKEND, THE BRANCH WILL BE OPEN FULL COMMUNITY BRANCH HOURS, THEREFORE THEIR OPEN HOURS WILL BE FROM NINE TO EIGHT, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, NINE TO SIX, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND TWO TO SIX ON SUNDAYS.
UH, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PUNCH LIST AND FINAL ACCEPTANCE.
AND WE'RE STILL HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL HAVE A DEDICATION CEREMONY IN JUNE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BRANCH? NO, I, I WILL TELL YOU THE, THE SOUTH SIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CAN, UM, HELPING WITH THE, WITH THE GRAND OPENING.
THEY'RE THRILLED WITH THE LIBRARY.
TELL 'EM ABOUT THE BOAT, ABOUT THE CEREMONY.
[00:45:01]
LIBRARY WE'VE BEEN EXPANDING WITH INTERACTIVES FOR THE CHILDREN.CARVER HAS SOMETHING, EDEN PARK HAS SOMETHING.
RIVER CENTER HAS SOMETHING, AND SCOTLANDVILLE IS GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING, UH, JONES CREEK.
THEY ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE IDEA WAS GERMINATED, THAT INSTEAD OF THE LITTLE COLORING TABLE, THEY WOULD HAVE A BOAT.
AND THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE MAKE THE BOAT FOR US AND PAINT THE BOAT FOR US, BUT WE CAN'T WAIT A YEAR FOR THAT.
WE BROUGHT THE BOAT, THE BOAT WAS INSTALLED.
THE CHILDREN ARE NAMING THE BOAT IN A CONTEST.
WE HAVE ORDERED THE THING THAT YOU BREAK ON A SIDE OF THE BOAT AND THEY'RE GOING TO EAT CHIPS OF HOY AND DRINK JUICE BOXES.
AND WE ARE GONNA ROW OUR BOATS IN A LITTLE.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE A CEREMONY TO CHRIS IN THAT BOAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NAME IS GOING TO BE.
I, IT, IT WILL PROBABLY BE USS SOMETHING.
IT WILL NOT BE BODIE MCBOATFACE.
IT WILL BE HOPEFULLY SOMETHING MORE ARTFUL THAN THAT.
BUT THE MINUTE THAT BOAT GOT IN, Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS AND LORI AND LAYLA AND JSA, THEY GOT THEIR, THEIR DESKS ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING AIMED SOMEWHERE THAT THAT BOAT GOT IN.
AND I SWEAR WITHIN FIVE MINUTES THERE WAS A KID IN THE BOAT, AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER KID IN THE BOAT.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER, TODAY THEY SENT ME A PICTURE FROM THE SECURITY CAMERA.
IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE PETER PAN THERE.
UM, I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS A BOAT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YES, IT'S A, A PLACE FOR BOOKS.
YES, IT'S A PLACE FOR STORY TIME, BUT IT'S ALSO A PLACE FOR KIDS TO MINGLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO BY THE TIME WE'RE DEDICATING THE LIBRARY, THAT BOAT WILL BE CHRISTENED AND WE ARE GONNA MAKE LABELS WITH OUR CRICKET AND STICK THAT ON THERE.
UPDATE ON THE SOUTH, I MEAN SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH.
UM, AND REITERATING WHAT MARY MENTIONED EARLIER, THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR SCOTLAND BILL THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY MORNING, UM, MAY 19TH AT 10:00 AM WITH COUNCILMAN KENNY AND MAYOR EDWARDS IN ATTENDANCE.
AND THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE DEMOLITION, DEMOLITION WORK THAT'S NEEDED BEFORE THEY CAN GO INSIDE AND REMODEL AND CAN BEGIN.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THAT.
MOVING ON TO COMMENTS BY THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I WANT TO, UH, SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO KIPP HOLDEN'S FAMILY AND ALL OF HIS, UH, PEOPLE THAT CARED AND LOVED KIPP.
UH, HE LOVED THIS COMMUNITY AND, UH, HE DID A LOT TO THE BEST HE COULD DEFINITELY TO, UH, MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
UM, ALSO ON ANOTHER SAD NOTE, UH, THERE, UH, HAD A TAX THAT WAS FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT DID NOT PASS.
AND, UH, THAT IS VERY SAD IN MY EYES.
UH, THAT MAKES ME FEARFUL FOR WHAT'S COMING, FOR ALL THE TAXES THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING.
UH, FORTUNATELY THE BRIGHT SIDE IN THAT LITTLE SCENARIO IS THAT THE SCHOOLS, UH, TAX IS ALL PASSED FOR EAST BATON ROUGE, WHICH IS, IS A GOOD THING.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE I HANG MY HOPE FOR, UH, OUR TAX AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
IF THERE'S ANYONE OUT THERE THAT IS NOT SURE ABOUT THIS TAX, UH, THEY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH CLARITY, CALL ME.
COME SEE ME, COME SPEAK TO ME.
I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU AND EXPLAIN HOW THIS WORKS.
WELL, FOR NOT ONLY THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, BUT FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, I'M, I'M EASY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH.
MY PHONE NUMBER IS (225) 413-7203.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, UH, CONSIDER VOTING, UH, FOR THE TAX, FOR THE BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY TO KEEP US DEDICATED, TO KEEP US WHOLE AND MOVING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
PERHAPS A NEXT MEETING, UH, MARY, IF THERE'S A, UH, ANY KIND OF UPDATE ON THE, PERHAPS I MISSED IT FOR THE, THE SPACE ACROSS THE WAY WITH, UH, ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT WITH B REC OR ABILITY TO WE MAKE HERE TUESDAY.
HUH? WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ON TUESDAY IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
[00:50:01]
MAKERSPACE.IS THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS HEARING NONE ADJOURNMENT? YES.