THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING

MINUTES
WOODRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009

The regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22,
2009 at the Woodridge Neighborhood Library, 1801 Hamlin St., NE, John W. Hill, Jr., President,
presiding.

PRESENT: John W. Hill, Jr., President, Donald Richardson, Vice President, Richard Levy,
James Lewis, Kelley Smith, Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian and Secretary-Treasurer. Quorum
established.
ABSENT: Bonnie Cohen, Myrna Peralta, Brenda Richardson

GUEST AT THE BOARD TABLE: Richard Huffine, President, Federation of Friends

The meeting was called to order at 6:20 p.m.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The motion to adopt the agenda was approved.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The motion was made and adopted to approve the minutes from the May 27 Board meeting.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President John Hill noted that Mayor Fenty has released a revised version of the FY10 budget.
He also said that the Library’s focus in FY10 will be keeping neighborhood libraries on track to
open while maintaining high levels of customer service. Finally, Mr. Hill talked about the
Library Board’s decision to close the kiosk libraries due to budget and staffing restrictions and
because the kiosks do not provide the kind of service residents of the District deserve.

CHIEF LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper spoke on the Library’s Summer Reading program, and also on
the upcoming Teens of Distinction celebration—to be held on August 3. She thanked Board
Member Kelley Smith for her dedication to helping to plan the event, who in turn thanked the
DCPL Foundation and the Federation of Friends for their help. Ms. Cooper highlighted the
achievements of Anovia Craven, a teen employed in MLK Memorial Library’s Business, Science
and Technology division. This led to a discussion on the success of the Teens of Distinction
program and the Highsmith Award, which the program recently received from the Urban
Libraries Council.

WOODRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY REPORT

Janette Graham, Manager of the Woodridge Neighborhood Library, gave a brief history of the
Woodridge Library and informed those in attendance of the services that it offers to the
community. She also gave statistics on library usage and the diverse neighborhood that
surrounds Woodridge Neighborhood Library.

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Board of Library Trustees Meeting
September 23, 2009
CONTRACTS REVIEW COMMITTEE
Chief Business Officer Eric Coard and Chief Procurement Officer Wayne Minor discussed the
dynamics of the pilot Mentor/Protégé program, and Mr. Coard also informed everyone that the
Library recently submitted contracts to City Council for both the Tenley Library and for the
renovation of the Georgetown Library.

NAMING OF NORTHWEST ONE LIBRARY

Ms. Cooper highlighted the fact that the name “Northwest One” was suggested during a
community meeting that was held by DC’s Deputy Mayor. She also mentioned that the library,
formerly known as Sursum Corda, will share the proposed name with the community that
surrounds it. Mr. Hill moved that the new name be adopted for this neighborhood library. The
motion was seconded and it was approved.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

Agency Fiscal Officer Tammie Robinson reported that at this point in FY09, most of the funds
for personnel services and non-personnel services have been obligated. She also said that the
deficit that the Library projects will be closed by year end. Finally, she mentioned that the
Finance Office’s focus through the end of FY09 will be to make sure that all unobligated funds
are used.

Mr. Coard gave details on the large revenue shortfall that is expected for FY2010. Despite this
shortfall, the Library’s ultimate goal is to open its 6 new neighborhood libraries during FY2010
and to work within the proposed budget.

FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT

Jeff Bonvechio, Director of Capital Construction, explained the status of the 24 construction
projects that are going on within the DCPL system, which are moving forward on schedule. Any
delays, he said, are being mitigated by the construction companies. Ms. Cooper commended
him, his staff and the construction companies for their work. Mr. Bonvechio also reported that
the renovated teen space at MLK Memorial Library would be opening soon, and that the
Parklands-Turner storefront would be opening this Fall.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING

Interim Director of Library Services Nancy Davenport gave background on the “We the People –
Picturing America’s Bookshelf” program, which the Library is holding with support from the
National Endowment for the Humanities. Ms. Davenport reported extensively on how the
materials that are included in this program could be used within public libraries to further engage
discussions on art and current affairs.

PUBLIC SERVICES REPORT

Ms. Davenport gave circulation statistics from around the Library system and details on the use
of facilities such as meeting rooms. She also mentioned the effect that the loss of some morning
hours has had on the use of library space, the use of PCs, and on circulation at the neighborhood
libraries. Finally, Ms. Davenport introduced Carrie Wolfson, the Library’s new Volunteer
Services Coordinator.
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Board of Library Trustees Meeting
September 23, 2009
LANGUAGE ACCESS ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING/REPORT
Ms. Davenport highlighted the local law that states that the Library must offer its services in a
number of languages. As a result, the Library must hold a public meeting each year to gauge just
how well services in different languages are offered. More help is therefore needed from the
Mayor’s Office of Human Rights to identify needs for certain languages in the communities
surrounding the neighborhood libraries.

FOUNDATION PRESIDENT’S REPORT

There was no report.

FEDERATION OF FRIENDS PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Federation of Friends President Richard Huffine mentioned the push to change the Federation’s
bylaws so that it can operate as an umbrella 501(c)3 organization. This would allow individual
Friends groups to operate as nonprofit organizations under that umbrella. He also reminded
everyone that he will not be running as President of the Federation during elections in October,
but will instead serve as the President of the DC Library Association.

NEW BUSINESS
There was no additional new business.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Hill reminded everyone of the protocol to follow during Public Comments. A member of
the public presented a formal challenge to the Library over the city paper. A member of the
Shaw community expressed concern about the Federation of Friends’ lack of response to her
group’s attempts to become a full-fledged Friends organization for the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw
Library. The Teens of Distinction program received praise, and one community member
expressed concern about the closing of the R.L. Christian Library. The Vice President of the
Woodridge Friends called attention to her belief that the library had fallen off the list of
upcoming improvements projects. Further comments included concern about the planned
expansion of the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library and the use of stimulus monies.

Meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

Document #5
Board of Library Trustees Meeting
September 23, 2009