[EBR Library Board of Control on January 15, 2026.]
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WELCOME TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL, REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 15TH, 2026.
MS. DOLORES, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? I PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MR. RONNIE PIERCE, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIAL ORDERS AT THIS TIME.
MAY WE TAKE ITEM SEVEN UNDER NEW BUSINESS AND MOVE IT UP ON THE AGENDA TO, UM, ABOVE REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR? IS THAT OKAY? YEAH.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, NUMBER ONE, UH, AMEND THE BYLAWS, ARTICLE SIX, ALLOWING THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT STANDING COMMITTEES WITH A MAJORITY, UH, VOTE OF THE BOARD, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, ANY BOARD COMMENT.
DO WE NEED SECOND? OH, I, I DON'T KNOW WHY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT.
THAT AMENDMENT, UM, HAS PASSED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, CALL FOR A VOTE OF THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE A, UM, ANYONE HAS A MOTION OFFICERS TO BE, UH, ELECTED OR CORRECT? CAN THIS TEMPLE PRESIDENT LUTHER VICE PRESIDENT SECOND? THAT WELL, YEAH.
DO WE, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
MOVING ON TO REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR FINANCIAL REPORT.
THE FINANCIAL REPORT WILL BE READ BY RHONDA PENANT FOR 2025.
OPERATING EXPENDITURES THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST ARE $46,966,078 AND 64 CENTS ARE 85.37% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET THROUGH DECEMBER.
WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE BUDGET.
THESE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHILE EXPENDITURES FOR THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR ARE FINALIZED.
CLEANUP TRANSFERS ARE PROCESSED AND INTEREST EARNINGS ARE POSTED.
THIRD QUARTER INTEREST EARNINGS WERE JUST POSTED LAST MONTH, SO IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THE FOURTH QUARTER IS AVAILABLE.
CASH COLLECTIONS FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR 2025 REMAINED AHEAD OF THOSE COLLECTED IN 2024, AS WE WERE APPROXIMATELY $2.4 MILLION AND FOUR POINT 11% AHEAD OF THE SAME PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, RHONDA.
MOVING ON TO ASSISTANT REPORTS.
ASSISTANT REPORTS WILL BE READ BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARY STEIN.
OKAY, SO WE HAVEN'T, UH, BEEN ABLE TO SHARE THIS KIND OF THING FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.
OF COURSE, YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR DECEMBER NEWSLETTER AND NOW YOUR JANUARY NEWSLETTER, WE WERE CELEBRATING SEASONS, READINGS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE BIG BOOKS AND ALL THE BIG NUMBERS THAT WE'RE REPORTING.
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UM, HAPPY TO TELL YOU, A GREAT BIG, BEAUTIFUL LIFE JUST LED THE WAY, BUT, UM, ATMOSPHERE, STRANGERS IN TIME, THE TENANT.WE EVEN HAD ONE NONFICTION BOOK, WOO, WITH, UH, BY JOHN GREEN, MAKE IT TO THE TOP FOR OUR ADULTS AND FOR THE KIDS.
NOW, ON YOUR DESKS, ANTOINETTE HANDED OUT, CAUGHT OFF THE PRESS AS OF AS OF LIKE 30 MINUTES AGO.
I FINALLY GOT THE LAST DATABASE NUMBER.
SO THIS LITTLE SHEET ON YOUR POWERPOINT IS OF AS OF THE 12TH.
THIS LONG PIECE OF PAPER IS CURRENT AS OF A HALF AN HOUR AGO.
SO I CAN UPDATE THE NUMBERS FOR OUTREACH VISITS AND DATABASES.
BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS WE LIKE TO SAY IN THE ESTATE SALE, BUSINESS NUMBERS ARE UP.
UH, I'M JUST SO PLEASED, PEOPLE COMING BACK TO THE LIBRARY, PEOPLE USING THEIR CARDS, PEOPLE CHECKING OUT BOOKS, PEOPLE DOWNLOADING BOOKS, UH, CERTAINLY ASKING REFERENCE QUESTIONS, VISITING, ATTENDING PROGRAMS. REALLY WONDERFUL NUMBERS.
NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK ON YOUR REALLY GIGANTIC CHART CHART, YOU'RE GONNA SEE WAY DOWN AT THE BOTTOM WHERE I'VE GOT TWO STARS UNDER WIFI USE.
AND YOU'RE GONNA NOTICE THAT THE WIFI USE FROM LAST YEAR IS A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER THAN IT WAS.
WELL, 2024 WAS A BIGGER NUMBER THAN 25.
UM, A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER, BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S BECAUSE WE CHANGED SYSTEMS, AND THE NEW SYSTEM COUNTS A DIFFERENT THING.
SO THE NUMBER FOR 2026 WILL BE A BETTER COMPARISON OF APPLES AND APPLES.
RIGHT NOW, I'M COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES BECAUSE IN THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM, IT WAS, IT WAS COUNTING PINGS.
AS YOU MOVED THROUGH THE BUILDING, AS YOU STAYED A LONG TIME, IT WOULD CHECK AGAIN AND MAYBE COUNT YOU TWICE BECAUSE YOU WERE HERE THAT LONG.
NOW, THE SYSTEM, WHEN YOU COME IN THE BUILDING, IT COUNTS YOU ONCE.
YOU COULD BE HERE FOR SIX HOURS USING OUR WIFI.
YOU COULD BE HERE FOR FIVE MINUTES USING OUR WIFI.
SO THESE LITTLE HASH MARKS ARE NEVER ALL THAT.
UH, THEY, THEY DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT YOU TO WORRY WHEN YOU SAW THAT NUMBER.
SO I FELT IT WAS WORTH CALLING OUT.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S ONCE PER DAY OR ONCE PER ONCE PER DAY, OKAY.
AND AS WE KNOW, PEOPLE, THEY COME AND GO.
UM, AS SPENCER, SO ELEGANTLY CALLED IT BUTTS IN SEATS, UH, HOW LONG DO PEOPLE STAY IS A IS NOT GOING TO SHOW UP IN THE HASH MARK FOR COMING IN THE DOOR.
COMING IN THE DOOR JUST TO DROP OFF.
COMING IN THE DOOR TO STAY FOR A THREE HOUR WORKSHOP IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF USE.
AND, BUT THEY BOTH EQUAL ONE HASH MARK.
SO NUMBERS NEVER TELL THE WHOLE STORY, BUT THEY START TELLING THE STORY.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN, UM, OTHER LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER THAT ARE STARTING TO CIRCULATE.
THE NUMBERS DO INDEED HELP TELL THE STORY BECAUSE IT STARTS WITH PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR ASKING QUESTIONS AND HAVING LIBRARY CARDS.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY A GOOD NUMBER.
AND WE HAVE THEM, Y'ALL, WE DO HAVE THEM.
SO, UM, UH, SO THIS WILL BE PUT OUT ON THE WEBSITE TOMORROW.
UH, AN OLDER VERSION OF IT IS ALREADY THERE, BUT NOW I'M KIND OF HAPPY WITH THE NUMBERS.
AND THEN FOR THE CARD HOLDERS, THAT 20 23, 20 24, IS THAT WHEN WE HAD TO, YES.
WE HAD TO, WITH, WE HAD TO CUT BACK ON ALL THOSE CARDS.
WE HAD TO CANCEL ALL THOSE STUDENT CARDS.
AND SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW RULE.
WHENEVER YOU HAVE A NEW WAY OF COUNTING SOMETHING OR A NEW RULE, UM, IS WORTH TAKING NOTE OF, UM, UH, WE ARE COMPARED WITH, UH, SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER LIBRARIES IN THE SAVANNAH ORANGE BOY SYSTEM, AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE LEAD THE PACK AS FAR AS MARKET PENETRATION AND, UH, NUMBER OF CARD HOLDERS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ONE CARD HOLDER IN THE FAMILY, BUT THEY'RE ALL USING THE LIBRARY.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S A HASH MARK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, BUT IT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
UM, I AM SO PLEASED TO TELL YOU, UH, WE WERE HINTING AT THIS A MONTH AGO THAT WE WERE ABOUT READY TO GET STARTED WITH THE CHECKOUT LOUISIANA MUSEUM'S LIBRARY PROGRAM.
UH, THANKS TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE STATE LIBRARY OF LOUISIANA.
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ALL THE STATE MUSEUMS ARE PART OF THIS PROCESS, AND, UH, BRYCE WAS ABLE TO GET OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM TO WORK WITH IT.IN MIDDLE OF DECEMBER, SOMEONE POPPED IN AND SAID, IT'S WORKING.
IT WAS LIKE, YES, ALERT THE HOUNDS.
UM, I ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE WHO'VE USED THIS, UH, USED THEIR LIBRARY CARD AND THIS APP, UH, TO CHECK OUT A PASS FOR THE WORLD WAR II MUSEUM TO GO TO THE WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM.
THERE'S WONDERFUL MUSEUMS ON HERE.
SO THE NEXT STEP IS WE ARE GOING TO ADD LOCAL MUSEUMS THAT DON'T HAVE TICKETS, BUT TO PUT THEM THERE FOR, UH, DISCOVERY PURPOSES.
AND THEN OUR LOCAL MUSEUMS WHO DO FIRST FREE SUNDAYS TO PUT THEM IN THERE FOR DISCOVERY, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WHEN THE USS KID COMES BACK.
AND THEN WE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH THE LOUISIANA, WITH KNOCK KNOCK AND THE LOUISIANA ARTS SCIENCE MUSEUM AND SEVERAL OTHER MUSEUMS TO, TO ADD THEM TO THE ROSTER JUST FOR EAST BATON ROUGE, PA PARISH LIBRARY PATRONS.
BUT, UM, PEOPLE ARE JUST OVERJOYED WITH THIS PROCESS.
I'M, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM TO HAVE THAT GO LIVE.
WE DID SEE A LOT OF, UH, GRINCHES AND ELVES AND MRS. CLAUSS AND, UM, PEOPLE WITH VERY LONG WHITE BEARDS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM ALL LAST MONTH, AND WITH THE BOOKMOBILE FLEET OUT AND ABOUT TO ALL KINDS OF PLACES.
UH, OUR SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE SEASON WAS LADY CHOPS AND MADAME DULCIMER, AND THEY, THEY ALSO BLITZ THE BRANCHES.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT REALLY WAS A LOVELY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU'RE THE PAWPAW SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU ARE GONNA BE DANCING AND DRUMMING BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE WITH YOU.
WE WILL HAVE THEM BACK AGAIN FOR A CELTIC CELEBRATION IN MARCH, AND THEN WE'LL SEE THEM AGAIN IN THE SUMMER.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT LADY CHOPS CAME TO US BY WAY OF STOMP, SO SHE REALLY HAS THE CHOPS.
I AM HAPPY TO ALERT YOU TO LIFE IN THE A ZONE WILL BE THIS COMING SATURDAY, RIGHT IN THIS ROOM.
AND THEN THERE'LL BE A, UH, A SMALL SERIES THAT FOLLOWS IT, ONE IN FEBRUARY AND ONE IN MARCH TO KIND OF TAKE IT THE NEXT STEP.
THIS IS PEGGY SWEENEY MCDONALD.
YOU MAY REMEMBER HER FROM, UH, MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE CAFE DU MALL, WHICH WE DID DURING THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR, SHE HAD JUST HAD THAT BOOK.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, STANDING ROOM ONLY IN THIS ROOM.
ALL, ALL THE, ALL THE FRIENDS WERE HERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN LOUISIANA WITH FOOD CULTURE.
WELL, SHE IS TAKEN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TURN BECAUSE OF A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING IN HER LIFE.
SHE, UH, WAS IT, IT IS A GIFT AS AN ADULT CHILD TO HELP YOUR PARENTS AS THEY GO THROUGH.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE A CARETAKER OF YOUR PARENTS.
NOW IT'S OUR TURN TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
AND SHE WAS ABLE TO ASSIST HER MOTHER ON HER, UM, ALZHEIMER'S JOURNEY, AND THEY CALLED IT ONE PINK CLOUD MOMENT AT A TIME, BECAUSE HER MAMA REALLY REMEMBERED THERE WAS, THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPH, UM, THERE WAS AN IMAGE WHEN THE SKY TURNED PINK, AND IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL, AND THEY HUNG ONTO THAT.
SO THIS IS HER MEMOIR, UH, OF THAT JOURNEY.
VERY USEFUL FOR ANYONE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS IN THEIR FAMILY.
AND THEN IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, THEY'LL BE KIND OF LIKE A JOURNALING EXERCISE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS WAYS FOR YOU TO, UM, TO ENGAGE AND HELP YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY AS YOU MAKE THAT VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY.
AND, YOU KNOW, TURN, FIND THE BLESSINGS WHERE YOU CAN, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS.
I KNOW THIS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
MY DAD HAD LEWY BODIES DEMENTIA, WHICH IS THE AMAZING BLEND OF ALZHEIMER'S, PARKINSON'S, AND HALLUCINATIONS.
UH, AND IT, IT, IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH HIM ON THAT JOURNEY, BUT I WISH I'D HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT WOULD'VE HELPED ME.
SO I INVITE YOU TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
OF COURSE, THE BOOK WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION, AND WE'LL BE SEEING MORE OF PEGGY LATER.
ALYSSA TROS CLAIRE BACK THIS SUNDAY WITH THE GET ORGANIZED SERIES.
AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA START AT THREE.
IS IT TWO 30? IS IT THREE? WE'LL COME AT TWO 30 AND
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WE'LL GET YOU READY, BUT IT'S GONNA START AT THREE.UH, SO THREE EPISODES IN JANUARY, UM, UH, THIS SUNDAY.
THEN THE NEXT, AND THEN, UH, IN FEBRUARY 8TH, UH, THE PROCRASTINATION ONE, UH, I'M ALL, IT'S ALMOST FITTING THAT IT'S LAST, UH, IN THE SERIES, BUT WHEN ALYSSA COMES, SHE, I LEARN SOMETHING EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO HER.
UH, BECAUSE ORGANIZATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT PUTTING THINGS IN PRETTY BOXES, IT GOES WAY BEYOND THAT.
SO I INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THAT.
UH, WE'RE ALSO INVITING YOU TO START WRITING AND PREPARATION FOR ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL KICK OFF IN MARCH.
WE ARE GOING TO BE READING POETRY, SETTING OURSELVES IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
UH, TO, TO THAT END, WE ARE SOLICITING POEMS FROM CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS.
WE ARE GOING TO PUBLISH OUR OWN ANTHOLOGY.
UH, WE'LL PROBABLY PUBLISH IT ONLINE ON BIBLIO BOARD, AND THAT WAY EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET IT, AND WE WON'T HAVE TO TAKE A YEAR TO PRINT IT, AND WE WON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR PRINTING.
SO WE'LL PUBLISH IT ON BIBLIO BOARD.
LIKE I SAID, THE SERIES KICKS OFF IN MARCH.
UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL POETS.
POETS LAUREATE ARE ENJOYING SOME, UH, SHARING SOME OF THEIR ADVICE WITH US, AND WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THEM LATER ON IN THE SERIES.
SO, UH, I'M REALLY THRILLED ABOUT THIS.
UH, POETRY, WHEN YOU'RE WRITING IT OR WHEN YOU'RE READING IT, IS A HEALING EXERCISE CAN BE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THIS SPRING SERIES.
OH, Y'ALL, WHEN WE HAD THE CAR SHOW HERE, WHAT A BUZZ.
AND JOHN SINGLETON IS GOING TO COME AND SHOW THE HISTORY OF THE BATON ROUGE CAR DEALERS.
SO IT'S BUSINESS AND IT'S CAR GUYS.
UH, AND HE'S ALREADY GIVEN, UH, ENOUGH INFORMATION SO THAT THE BATON ROUGE ROOM HAS AN EXHIBIT ALREADY IN THEIR, UH, SLEEPING BEAUTY CASES UPSTAIRS.
UH, IT IS FASCINATING AND FROM AN ECONOMIC VIEWPOINT, UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE ECONOMIC IN INDICATORS FOR VITALITY, THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT HOME STARTS AND CAR BUY, AREN'T THEY? SO OVER OUR HISTORY IN BATON ROUGE, AS YOU KNOW, FLORIDA BOULEVARD WAS CAR CITY, WASN'T IT? AND THEN IT WENT TO AIRLINE.
SO LET'S THINK, WHERE, WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE ARE THE DEALERS? WHAT ARE PEOPLE DRIVING? SO, UH, JOHN SINGLETON WILL BE HERE TO SHARE SOME OF HIS, UH, HIS COLLECTION WITH US.
A LOT OF OTHER THINGS COMING UP, INCLUDING ON MONDAY MORNING AT NINE O'CLOCK, WE'RE INVITING YOU GUYS TO JOIN US AT HOW PARK, AS THE INSPIRATION CENTER IS DEDICATED AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO THE LIBRARY? BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF IT.
THE LEARNING AND LITERACY LAB THAT WE ARE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOUNDATION OF BATON ROUGE PARENTS MAGAZINE, WHICH IS A FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP FOUNDATION.
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A DEPOSIT COLLECTION FOR PRESCHOOL AND EARLY ELEMENTARY WITH BOOKS.
IT'S GOT THE PRESS START READY, SET, GO THERE.
IT'S A READING BUDDY TO READ TO, UH, THEIR COMMUNITY HELPERS, IMAGES ON THE WALL, BECAUSE THIS WHOLE CENTER IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LOUISIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF LETTERS THERE.
UH, IT WILL BE COMMUNITY POLICING STATION.
THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL GYMNASIUM.
THE TEENAGERS HAVE A PODCASTING STUDIO.
THERE IS COMMUNITY LAUNDRY, THERE'S A COMMUNITY KITCHEN THERE.
AND WE'LL BE THE, UH, WE'LL BE HOSTING THE DEPOSIT COLLECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THE YOUNGER ONES.
SO NINE O'CLOCK IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND, WE DO NEED TO KNOW, SO WE CAN ADD YOUR NAME TO THE AGENDA.
THERE WILL BE A FORMAL RIB RIBBON CUTTING.
WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD FUN WITH THE SURREAL AND THE STACKS.
THERE'LL BE A SHOWCASE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE'LL BE HOSTING THE BLACK BOOK AND FILM CULTURE FEST.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, FEBRUARY 11TH IS THE DATE THAT THE METRO COUNCIL WILL HEAR, DISCUSS, AND VOTE ON THE LIBRARY'S TAX MILLAGE PROPOSITION.
AND I WANNA, UH, TAKE JUST A MOMENT AND SAY A, IT'S A CONTINUATION.
SO IT'S A NEW PROPOSAL, BUT, UH, TO CONTINUE THE SAME OLD TAX.
SO IT'S A NEW PROPOSAL, BUT IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE SAME TAX THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING SINCE 1986.
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UM, MORE ON THAT LATER.MID-CITY MICROCON IS COMING UP.
SUPER TAX DAY AND ADDICT TREASURES AND COLLECTIBLES, AND HERE'S SOME FUN PICTURES TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, UH, UH, BUSINESS, UH, STRICTLY BUSINESS GOING RIGHT ON.
WE HAD DAVID BROOKS ONLINE, UM, YESTERDAY OR TWO DAYS AGO, AND MORE GOOD SPEAKERS COMING UP.
BUT NOW WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER AT YOUR SEATS, YOU HAVE THE POWERPOINT THAT IS NOW ONLINE.
UH, IT WAS SHARED WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESS CLUB AND THE METRO COUNCIL.
WE HAVE YOUR, UH, FAQS, WHICH ARE ALSO ONLINE, SIX PAGES OF TINY PRINT.
UH, THAT'S THE UNDER BRIDGED VERSION.
UH, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING WHERE THE ANSWER'S NOT, DOESN'T GEL FOR YOU, OR IT NEEDS MORE OR LESS, OR YOU KNOW, IS IT A SIN OF OMISSION? IS IT A SIN OF COMMISSION? DO WE NEED TO, TO REVISE SOMETHING? PLEASE LET US KNOW.
OR IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU A QUESTION THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANSWERED ON THOSE SIX PAGES, LET US KNOW BECAUSE MAYBE WE, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO BEYOND SIX PAGES.
THAT'S NO PROBLEM ON, ON INTERNET.
WE CAN GO AS BIG AS WE WANT, BUT I THINK SIX PAGES IS A GOOD NUMBER.
UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO HAVE BEEN FOUR, BUT WE NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THE DEF DEFINITION OF WHAT'S A MILLAGE.
AND MY FAVORITE ONE, WHAT'S FUN BALANCE, IT'S NOT A SURPLUS.
UM, THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE SPELLED OUT EACH TIME.
WE CAN NEVER ASSUME THAT PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER OR KNOW THEM, UH, OR THAT WE'LL REMEMBER ALL THE INS AND OUTS.
SO PLEASE TAKE A, A MOMENT TO LOOK OVER THOSE THINGS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE TIMELINE, FEBRUARY 11TH AT THE METRO COUNCIL, IT WILL GO TO THE VOTERS ON JUNE 27TH.
THE RATE IS 9.5 MILS, WHICH IS CERTAINLY LOWER THAN THE ASSESSMENT CHARGED TO US ALL IN, IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2025.
IT IS A LOWER RATE THAN THE PREVIOUSLY ROLLED BACK MILLAGE.
UH, YET IT WILL DELIVER EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED IT TO BECAUSE OF FRESH INFORMATION.
RHONDA WAS ABLE TO GET FROM THE ASSESSOR, FINANCE, BUDGETING, TALKING TO ALL THE EXPERTS, BECAUSE A MILL WILL DELIVER A LITTLE BIT MORE PER YEAR THAN WHAT WE DETERMINED WAY BACK IN FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THE OLD PLAN.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY BASIC THING RIGHT THERE.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT FUNDS ALL OPERATIONS AND FULLY RESTORES THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN.
STRAIGHTFORWARD, SIMPLE, AND ALL THAT IS ONLINE.
NOW, I'M HAPPY TO SHOW YOU, UM, THIS WAS IN THE ADVOCATE, UH, LA UH, ON THURSDAY LAST WEEK.
SO THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE MILLAGE.
ALSO IN THE STADIA THIS WEEK WAS THE PRELIMINARY, UH, BY THE NUMBERS, UH, WHICH YOU HAVE TO TELL YOUR STORY, YOU HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE.
AND, UH, IN FACT, SOMEONE SAID, WHY DO YOU ADVERTISE? AND WE SAID, BECAUSE WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
UH, THERE'S SO MUCH IF WE DON'T TELL YOU, YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY FIGURE IT OUT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MARY, ARE YOU GONNA, UM, DO ANY KIND OF, UH, INFORMATION SESSIONS, UH, LIKE THAT WAS DONE FROM THE THRIVE PROGRAM OR NOT? WELL, IT'S A MUCH SIMPLER, UH, UH, PLAN.
SO WE WILL DO SOME, BUT WE WILL NOT DO 120
EACH BRANCH WILL CERTAINLY HOST A SESSION OR TWO, MAYBE ONE EACH MONTH, AND MAYBE A FEW MORE HERE AT THE MAIN LIBRARY.
BUT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN INVITED TO ARE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND BOOK CLUBS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE ENERGY WILL GO.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO COME AND SPEAK.
KATRINA AND I SPOKE TO BRAVER ANGELS LAST WEEK.
UM, UH, I'VE BEEN INVITED TO, UH, UH, A LITERARY SALON NEXT MONTH, AND THEN THERE'S SOME OTHERS COMING UP.
SO NOW'S THE TIME TO START LAYING IN THOSE KINDS OF DATES, ESPECIALLY AFTER APRIL, BECAUSE ALSO, THIS IS A SIMPLE THING.
WE, NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK IS IN APRIL.
GOT A LOT OF FUN THINGS HAPPENING IN APRIL.
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SEEMS LIKE A GOOD TIME TO KICK OFF A MORE FORMAL OVERT CAMPAIGN.BUT IN THE MEANTIME, ANYBODY WHO WANTS US TO COME AND TELL THEIR HOMEOWNERS GROUP, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEIR CLUB, THEIR KIWANIS, THEIR ROTARY, THEIR LIONS CLUB, THEIR ANYTHING, UH, WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO COME AND SHARE THE INFORMATION THAT WE KNOW WITH THEM, BECAUSE IT'S A SIMPLE PLAN AND WE KNOW THE INFORMATION.
NOW, TIMELINE ABOUT WHEN THOSE SESSIONS MIGHT START, THOSE SESSIONS WOULD, THE PUBLIC SESSIONS IN LIBRARIES WOULD START AFTER APRIL 15TH.
IN FACT, WE WOULD DO ONE DURING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK.
UM, AND THEN WE WOULD DO AT LEAST ONE AT EVERY BRANCH IN MAY AND, AND PROBABLY IN JUNE AS WELL.
SO YOUR POWERPOINT HAS THE TIMELINE OF WHEN EARLY VOTING IS AND WHEN VOTER REGISTRATION THAT'S IN THAT POWERPOINT ABOUT THE MILLAGE.
AND I, I'M JUST SO PLEASED THAT, UH, THE CONCEPT FOR THIS MILLAGE IS, AGAIN, IT'S IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THE PEOPLE ASK FOR IS THE PEOPLE'S PLAN.
THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA HELP US WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER.
AND WE WILL BE ASKING YOU GUYS, UH, OUR FRIENDS GROUP HAS ALREADY STATED, THEY WANNA ASK YOU GUYS TO MAKE LITTLE VIDEO CLIPS OR, YOU KNOW, CAN WE DO A, CAN, CAN WE GET A QUOTE? CAN WE GET YOUR PHOTO FOR, FOR THEIR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS? THE LIBRARY WILL DO INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGNS, BUT THE FRIENDS GROUP, UH, CAN DO SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE VOCATIONAL, SO THEY'LL BE CALLING YOU.
MOVING ON TO OTHER REPORTS, MAINTENANCE AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
E MAINTENANCE AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL BE READ BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LAURIE.
SO FOR THE PAST MONTH AT THE BAKER BRANCH LIBRARY, THE CARPET WAS CLEANED, UM, AT THE BLUE BOND REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY.
A MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON AIR HANDLER.
UNIT NUMBER THREE AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, A MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON AIR HANDLER UNIT NUMBER EIGHT.
IN ADDITION, A PLANNED LIGHTING UPGRADE TO LED LIGHTS IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND LASTLY, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE WORK ARE BEING DONE ON THE MEETING ROOM.
PARTITION WALLS AT THE BLUE BONNET, CENTRAL GREENWELL SPRINGS AND SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARIES.
UM, UNDER MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE ROOFING PROJECT, THE CONTRACTOR IS STILL ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AT JONES CREEK AND BLUE BONNET REGIONAL BRANCHES, AS WELL AS AT DELMONT GARDENS BRANCH.
AND THEY PLAN ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AT THE ZACHARY BRANCH.
NEXT, UH, FOR THE BOILERS PROJECT FOR EDEN PARK IN GREENWELL SPRINGS ARCHITECTURAL SERVICE EX EXPECTS THESE PROJECTS TO GO OUT FOR BID SOON, AND WE STILL EXPECT THE PROJECT FOR THE EDEN PARK LIBRARY TO GO OUT FOR BID FIRST.
AND FOR THE CHILLA PROJECT, THE CONTRACTOR IS CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE FINAL PUNCH LIST.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS.
MINE IS ALSO GOING TO BE QUICK
I I JUST HAVE TO SAY REALLY QUICKLY TOO, 'CAUSE I SAW THAT PICTURE OF THE LOVELY CHRISTMAS TREE UP AT THE BAKER BRANCH, AND, UH, PLEASE TELL ME AGAIN WHO WAS IT THAT DOES THAT DECORATION? ANGELA, ANGELA LOCK.
I I'VE SEEN HER MARDI GRAS TREE TOO, AND I'M JUST ASTONISHED THAT THAT MUST TAKE HOURS.
BUT IT'S JUST, I'M, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED AT THE CREATIVITY THAT SO MANY OF OUR STAFF DOES PUT ON DISPLAY, UH, FOR OUR, FOR OUR LIBRARIES.
SO I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO GO OVER.
UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY PARISH HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, UH, REGARDING THE LAYOFF AVOIDANCE.
THEY HAVE SENT US A LIST OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEING DISPLACED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND WE ARE WORKING IN ORDER TO GET THEM INCORPORATED INTO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE BEING SENT TO, UH, RATHER DIVISIONS HERE AT, UH, HERE AT MAINE.
I THINK THAT THEY ARE SITTING THERE NOT SENT WAIT, ONE IN A BRANCH? THAT IS CORRECT.
ONE, THERE IS ONE IN A BRANCH.
I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? I'M SORRY.
UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AS EMPLOYEES FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE BEING DISPLACED, LAID OFF FROM THAT POSITION.
THERE ARE A FEW THEY ARE SENDING HERE, MOSTLY HERE TO MAINE.
AND THEN ONE PERSON, I BELIEVE IS A LIBRARY TECHNICIAN TO ANOTHER BRANCH.
BUT I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT LATER
[00:30:01]
TO DATE.UH, NONE OF OUR CURRENT STAFF HAVE BEEN BUMPED FROM THEIR POSITIONS, BUT, UH, SHOULD ANY, SHOULD THAT CHANGE, UH, I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IS THAT NOT OUR CALL? IT'S NOT OUR CALL.
NO, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY THAT SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN OUR STAFF.
THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN? YES.
THE ONES THAT ARE COMING IN ARE COMING INTO VACANT POSITIONS.
UH, THE ONLY OTHER THING TO MENTION IS OF COURSE THE NEW PROPOSITION, UH, FOR THE 9.5 MILLAGE WAS INTRODUCED TO IT BEFORE THE METRO COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
WE HAD SOME VERY LOVELY COVERAGE BY OUR LOCAL MEDIA.
UH, MARY AND I, OF COURSE HAVE ALREADY HAD AT LEAST ONE OR TWO SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
AND OF COURSE THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME VERY SHORTLY.
I HAVE HAD PEOPLE PULL ME ASIDE, UH, OFF THE CLOCK TO ASK, OKAY, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT IS ON THIS PROPOSITION? I SAID, I PROMISE YOU IT IS JUST US GOING FORWARD.
AND, UH, OF COURSE GIVE THEM THE DATES AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT ON THE TIMELINE.
SO, UH, ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANYTHING I'VE SAID HERE? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVING ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, UNFINISHED BUSINESS UPDATE ON THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY
ALL RIGHT, SO FOR THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY PHASE TWO RENOVATIONS, UM, THE ROOFING WORK IS ONGOING, INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF SHINGLES WATERPROOFING.
THE BRICK VENEER WORK IS ONGOING.
EXTERIOR SHEATHING IS ONGOING.
INSTALLATION OF GYPSUM WALLS CONTINUES ON THE INTERIOR ALONG WITH TAPING AND PAINT, PRIMING THE CONCRETE PAPER SUPPORT IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH COURTYARDS AS WELL AS THE SOUTH, AS WELL AS THE SIDEWALK LEADING TO THE NEW FRONT ENTRANCE, UH, FLOORING AND WALL TILES ARE BEING INSTALLED IN THE NEW RESTROOMS. THE RETRACTABLE STAGE IN THE MEETING ROOM WAS INSTALLED.
MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL EMPLOYMENT WORK ARE ONGOING AND THE PROJECT IS NOW EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF APRIL, THOUGH THIS COULD CHANGE.
AND I HAVE A FEW IMAGES I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU.
SO THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING WITH A VIEW OF THE NEW FRONT ENTRANCE.
UH, WE GOT TO SEE IT ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND IT'S REALLY COMING TOGETHER.
HERE'S THE POURING OF THE CONCRETE SIDEWALK AT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
THE SOUTH COURTYARD PAVERS ARE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE ARCH ARCHIVES BUILDING AND THE NEW BUILDING, NEW RENOVATIONS.
HERE'S A VIEW OF THE REFERENCE AREA WITH THE RESTROOMS AND GYPSUM AND YOU CAN SEE THE WALLS, THE, AND WHERE THEY'VE ALREADY FINISHED PRIMING IT.
HERE'S THE RESTROOM FLOORING TILE THAT'S BEEN INSTALLED.
AND HERE'S THE BEAUTIFUL WALL TILES IN THE RESTROOM.
UH, THE MEDIUM ROOMS WITH A VIEW OF THE NEW STAGE AREA.
AND I HAVE A CLOSEUP OF THAT FRONT VIEW OF THE NEW STAGE THAT'S BEEN INSTALLED ON THE DAY WE WERE OUT THERE.
HE WAS WORKING ON IT, SO THEY TOLD US TO STAY BACK 'CAUSE HE WAS BEHIND THERE INSTALLING THINGS.
UM, VIEW FACING THE NEW PROGRAM ROOMS AND CONFERENCE ROOMS. AND HERE'S A VIEW OF THE NORTH SIDE COURTYARD AND FINALLY A VIEW OF THE SOUTH SIDE BRICK INSTALLATION THAT OCCURRED.
UH, SO IT'S REALLY COMING TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY'LL HAVE IT ALL DONE BY APRIL, BUT AGAIN, WE'LL SEE.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, THE UPDATE ON THE BAKER BRANCH LIBRARY.
MISS FOR LAURIE? SHE THOUGHT SHE GO READY.
THIS IS GONNA BE SHORT, UM, ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES AS IT HAS INFORMED US THAT THE CONTRACT IS STILL BEING REVIEWED BY GFP ARCHITECTS, BUT THEY EXPECT TO HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT SOON.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, THIS IS JUST A, UM, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STAGE
[00:35:01]
OF THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH, IS THAT AN ACTUAL STAGE THAT I'M THINKING OF? IT'S AN ACTUAL STAGE.IT'S, BUT THIS IS A RETRACTABLE STAGE, SO THIS ONE WILL ROLL OUT AND ROLL BACK IN.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT WORKS.
AND, UH, IT'S LIKE, HERE'S ON THE WALL AND NOW HERE'S THE STAY.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A, A WONDERFUL ADDITION.
IF, IF IT WORKS, THINGS COME UP IN THE FUTURE DEPENDING ON WHAT, UH, BRANCH IT IS BECAUSE, UH, I MEAN, WE HAVE THINGS OUTSIDE HERE.
WE HAVE THINGS INSIDE HERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A, UM, YOU KNOW, AN ACTUAL PLATFORM.
I GUESS THAT, UM, SO, UM, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE CAN LOOK AT HOW THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED AND HOW IT WORKS OUT.
AND SEE IF IT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO OUR OTHER BUILDINGS.
BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA.
WE'LL USE THIS AS OUR EXPERIMENTAL BRANCH.
ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, COMMENTS BY THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL? WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT 2025.
Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB WITH, UM, JUST YOUR, YOUR REGULAR DUTIES, YOUR REGULAR JOB, AND THEN ALSO WITH TRYING TO, UM, WORK ON GETTING AT, UM, THE TAX PASS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO THIS FIRST PART OF THE YEAR.
SO WE ARE ALWAYS HERE, HERE TO HELP.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND I APPRECIATE THE BOARD AS WELL.
WE APPRECIATE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR OH, THANK YOU.
FINALLY, STATE FOR JUST A MOMENT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF, WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S SUPPORT AS WELL.
THAT HAS BEEN A LOT TO US ALL.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PENNINE THAT I WANT TO, FOR MY CONDOLENCES FOR YOUR LOSS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR? UH, THAT'S UNIMAGINABLE TO ME TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, UH, I, I, I JUST, I HEARD FOR YOU, UH, NO, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO, BUT IF THERE WAS, I WISH I COULD DO IT FOR YOU.
ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS, RIGHT.