1 CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING
Monday, December 12, 2022
4:00 PM
Location: MB City Hall/remote (hybrid)
A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the Library Commission was called to order by Chairperson Bond at 4:04 pm at City Hall in person and remotely via Zoom (hybrid).
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners, Jones, Levitt, Newell, Vice Chairperson Schreiner, Chairperson Bond Absent: Darrow
Others Present: Community Services Manager (CSM) Jan Buike, Sr. Management Analyst (SMA) Linda Robb, Recording Secretary Rosemary Lackow
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 14, 2022
A motion was made and seconded (Levitt/Jones) to approve, with the following changes on Page 2:
a. Learning at the Library: Revise the sentence starting “Update:” to read:
“Update: they are lining up authors, possibly for January 21st, Belinda Tang, possibly Peggy Currey for May, and possibly Icey Smith for October/November.”
d. Library Appreciation Party : In the fourth line, strike “Appreciation Partner Lunch” and replace with “Appreciation Events”
Ayes: Levitt, Jones, Newell, Vice Chair Schreiner, Chair Bond Nayes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Darrow
The motion passed 5-0-0-1
D. CEREMONIAL – None
E. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-Minute Limit)
Librarian’s Report – Library Manager, Josh Murray
Manager Murray announced Library sponsored events:
In-library events: 1) Make a Memory Frame children’s event Thursday, December 15, 4 pm; 2) Make Your Own Pop-up Card teen event, December 13, 4 pm; and 3) Book Clubs: 1/9/23 the evening adult book club will meet to discuss “The Book
2 on Form and Emptiness” by Ruth Ozeki (call library to reserve a book copy) and 1/19/23 the senior club will discuss “A Map for the Missing” by Belinda Tang.
Persons interested in these events may register on the library website LACountyLibrary.org/events.
Farmers Market, December 13, Friends of the Library (independent of the Library) will have a booth (inaugural – the success of this event may determine if the event is repeated) and Caitlyn the children’s Librarian will be performing a story time at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Murray suggested that the Commission follow-up directly with the Friends.
F. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Work plan updates/consideration for 2023:
The Commission discussed work plan items and reviewed draft slides for the upcoming joint meeting with Council in January. For items that had a slide, an Overview, Project Status, Next Steps, Budget, and Future work plan items were addressed and suggested edits. Items discussed or with a slide included:
a. Learning at the Library (formerly Afternoon with an Author ) Commissioner Jones led review of draft slides. It was s uggested that the photo from last year be replaced with one for an upcoming event author and in the budget section, account for cost of bookmarks (1,000 made).
b. East Manhattan Beach Library Services. – no update, taken off work plan. c. MB Poetry Event – Commissioner Schreiner showed the draft slides and led discussion; it was suggested that the budget be increased to $200. d. Library Appreciation Party –Commissioner Jones led discussion . This program features two appreciation events for the public library staff (lunch in November and brunch in May) and certificates of appreciation for school librarians are given in June. No revisions were suggested for the slides.
e. Library Commission Book Giveaway (Formerly No Strings Attached) Vice Chair Schreiner led a review of the draft slides; it was suggested and there was strong support that the program could be shifted so as to expand to areas outside the city where there is need especially for children. Suggestions for revising slides: pluralize program title (Giveaways) and a dd something to reflect expansion outside of the city as discussed; and adding (or mentioning in presenting) an estimate of the number of books given away so far . The Commissioners liked the idea of keeping some kind of an estimate (x boxes or individual books) ongoing to have data.
f. Story Adventure – Chair Bond led discussion; revisions to t he draft slides included having a graphic that would show what a story walk looks like. D iscussion focused on the status and coordinating with Public Works and the eagle scout Henry
3 who is in town for a limited window and wants to be present at the install. A mock ribbon cutting was discussed if the permanent install cannot be accomplished by January 15th (when Henry returns to college).
g. Library Photo Op Day – Commissioner Jones le d review of draft slides.
Discussion focused on the “Magicians inside the library” which is intended to attract attendees into t he library. Options were discussed, the consensus was to check into “MakMo”; Commissioner Jones will book the event for June in the library.
h. Entertainment Series – Commissioner Jones led discussion. Suggestions for the slides included: staff to review and make minor edits based on input . Perhaps instead of a Rod Stewart impersonator, look for an entertainer more familiar to younger audiences, or local talent.
Briefly the Commission discussed scheduling their next regular meeting which would be rescheduled as it would fall on the same date as the joint council meeting. i. Library Awareness Initiative – Commissioner Levitt led discussion of ideas about this new 2023 Work Plan item (no slide to review). The Commission discussed having five Saturdays, each dedicated to a MB elementary school; at each event, there could be a book scavenger hunt in the library, with a SWAG giveaway and library card sign up drive. Commissioner Levitt will meet with Mr. Murray very soon and discuss in more detail including library protocols and needed agreements.
G. STAFF ITEMS – None reported.
H. COMMISSION ITEMS – Happy holidays were expressed among the commission and staff.
I. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved and seconded (Bond/Newell) to adjourn the meeting the joint Council meeting on Monday January 9 (hybrid). The motion passed by voice vote, 5-1