[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY FOUR OH ONE, AND I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
COULD WE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS? ONE NATION, GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
NOW WE HAVE SOME INTRODUCTIONS.
TERRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WE WILL GO ALONG.
TERRY THOMAS, SECTION TWO, DISTRICT TWO.
KATHY COOPER FROM DISTRICT FIVE, SHAUNA KOPA, DISTRICT SIX AS CHAIR, DISTRICT 11.
JANET PORTER, VICE CHAIR, DISTRICT EIGHT, MILLER, UH, CHAIR DISTRICT 10 A TENCHI, BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.
I AM YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR, AND I HAVE WITH ME, UM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM WHO I'LL INTRODUCE INDIVIDUALLY IN MY, UM, DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
BUT THIS IS THERESA FERISH, LEE RAMEY, DARLENE SIMMONS, TRACY COX, AND ILEANA HERRICK.
UH, DID YOU GET THEIR NAME? YES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE GUEST? THEY ARE BOTH MEMBERS OF FAB FAMILIES AGAINST BOOK BANNING, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
UM, AMANDA, DO WE HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE OR COMMUNICATION? NO, MA'AM.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START YOUR REPORT? I WOULD IF WE, UM, APPROVE THE MINUTES FIRST.
SO, UH, THE MINUTES WERE, WERE SENT OUT THE JULY 16TH MINUTES.
UM, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS? NO.
ALL IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE MINUTES.
OH, WE CAN HAVE THE LIBRARY DIRECTORS REPORT.
UM, IT IS, UM, A VERY SPECIAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT IN THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED, I MENTIONED THAT I HAVE GUESTS WITH ME.
AND SO AS USUAL, I'M GOING TO FRAME, UM, THESE INTRODUCTIONS AS WELL AS OUR UPDATES ALONG THE LINES OF OUR STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS.
SO, UM, FIRST I'LL START WITH PERSONNEL.
UM, IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'VE RECEIVED OUR LATEST ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, AND YOU'LL SEE IN THAT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE VACANCIES.
THAT IS THE SENIOR LIBRARIAN FOR YOUTH YOUTH SERVICES AT HILTON HEAD.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY POSITION OPEN AS WELL AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
IN THIS, UM, REPORTING PERIOD, WE HAD THE PROMOTION OF JULIE BASCOM FROM THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY.
SHE HAS LONGSTANDING LEAVE FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, BEEN THE SENIOR LIBRARIAN FOR YOUTH SERVICES AT HILTON HEAD, BUT SHE IS NOW THE MANAGER OF THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY.
SO, PRIOR TO JOINING US, UM, 13 YEARS AGO AND SPEARHEADING THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT AT THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY, SHE WAS A BRANCH MANAGER FOR 10 YEARS AT A FORMER LIBRARY.
SO IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THIS IN-HOUSE TALENT AND WE EXPECT THAT JULIE WILL, UM, BRING THAT DEDICATION AND VISION TO LEADING, TO LEADING THE ENTIRE HILTON HEAD BRANCH.
WE ALSO WELCOMED A NEW MEMBER TO OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM.
YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT DEVELOPING THE POSITION WE CALL THE USER EXPERIENCE LIBRARIAN.
UM, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE TO YOU LEE RAMEY.
SHE'S GONNA COME UP HERE AND ALSO SAY A FEW WORDS TO YOU, BUT SHE JOINED US ON JULY 28TH.
SO SHE'S WITHIN HER FIRST FEW WEEKS WITH US.
SHE'S ALREADY CONTRIBUTED TO WELCOMING NEW STAFF, HELPING THEM GET ACCLIMATED TO OUR CULTURE.
AND, UM, SHE'S ALSO FAMILIARIZING HERSELF WITH US.
UH, SHE IS NO STRANGER TO LIBRARY SERVICES AND, UM, HAS EXPERIENCE AS A YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN AND SHE SERVES ON LIBRARY SCHOOL FACULTY.
SHE TEACHES LIBRARY SCHOOL CLASSES AND MOST RECENTLY WAS SERVING AS YOUTH SERVICES CONSULTANT AT THE STATE LIBRARY.
SO SHE COMES TO US WITH THAT UNIQUE MIX, MAKING HER, UH, I THINK PERFECTLY SUITED TO BE OUR FIRST USER EXPERIENCE LIBRARIAN, WHERE SHE WILL FOCUS ON STAFF TRAINING, ONBOARDING, AND ENHANCING THE OVERALL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE.
LEE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF? YEAH,
[00:05:01]
THANK YOU, AMANDA.I WROTE SOMETHING DOWN AND I LOOKED DOWN AND I WAS LIKE, THIS IS WAY TOO LONG, SO I'M GONNA SHORTEN IT,
UM, BUT THIS IS REALLY WONDERFUL TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO MEET ALL OF YOU.
AND, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY TEAM.
LIKE AMANDA SAID, I'VE JUMPED IN AND I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, LEARNING THE ROPES AND, UM, HELPING OUT WITH DIFFERENT PROJECTS HERE AND THERE AND MEETING ALL THE STAFF AT THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES.
AND I'M REALLY FOCUSING RIGHT NOW AND JUST LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I'M FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, UM, WENT TO SCHOOL IN CHARLESTON, BUT WAS NEVER REALLY FAMILIAR WITH BEAUFORT.
SO I'M REALLY JUST HAVE BEEN ENJOYING, UM, GETTING TO KNOW MY NEW CITY.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME, WHAT IS USER EXPERIENCE? YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT SAME QUESTION.
UM, SO I READ RECENTLY THAT USER EXPERIENCE IS HOW A PERSON FEELS WHEN USING A PRODUCT OR SERVICE.
UM, AND ANOTHER DEFINITION COULD BE BE KEEPING USERS AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING MEANS THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS INTENTIONAL.
SO FOR ME THAT MEANS LOOKING AT ALL THE DETAILS.
UM, THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM HOW WE DESIGN A WEBSITE, HOW WE, UM, CREATE BOOK DISPLAYS, HOW WE GREET PATRONS WHEN THEY ENTER THE LIBRARY.
UM, I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING STAFF FEEDBACK ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR LIBRARY EXPERIENCES FOR PATRONS.
AND, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
UH OH, DID I MOVE YOUR WELCOME, WELCOME.
OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE FOUR GOALS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, JUST TO KEEP THOSE GOALS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MINDS.
THOSE ARE COMMUNICATION, USER EXPERIENCE, SPACE AND COLLECTION.
THE PHOTO YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS OF LINDSEY WHO SERVES ON OUR BOOKMOBILE SOUTH, AND THAT'S HER PARTICIPATING AT A BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT AT OSCAR FRAZIER PARK IN BLUFFTON.
SO IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION, OUR OVERALL STRATEGY IS TO DELIVER TIMELY, RELEVANT COMMUNICATION BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
UM, UM, THE MAIN PERSON WHO DOES ALL OF THIS IS TRACY COX, AND I'M GONNA INVITE HER UP TO, TO INTRODUCE HER TO YOU.
SHE'S OUR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AND SHE'S BEEN WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY FOR 17 YEARS.
UH, SHE BRINGS A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY AS AN ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITY.
SHE OVERSEES OUR PRINT MATERIALS, LIKE OUR BROCHURES, THE STICKERS, BOOKMARKS.
SHE ALSO RECEIVE, UH, DRAFTS AND SENDS OUT THE, THE DIGITAL NEWSLETTER THAT YOU'RE
WE CALL IT THE CURRENT, BUT IT COMES IN YOUR INBOX EVERY MONTH.
UH, SHE ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO OUR INTERIOR EXTERIOR SIGNAGE.
SHE WRITES PRESS RELEASES, UM, AND SHE ALSO, UM, CONTROLS OUR LIBRARY'S PRESENCE ONLINE, BOTH IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE.
SHE ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY'S PIO AND OFFERS INFORMATION TO THE COUNTY WHEN THEY WANT TO SUBMIT LIBRARY INFORMATION TO THE PRESS.
SO, UM, UNDER TRACY'S LEADERSHIP, UH, THIS MONTH AND THIS WEEK, I SENT YOU A NOTICE ABOUT THE YOUR STORY VIDEOS THAT ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THIS WAS A PROJECT THAT TRACY AND HER TEAM WORKED ON.
UM, SHE'S ALSO WORKING ON A WEBSITE REDESIGN FOR US AS WELL AS INSTITUTING AN INTERNAL, UH, VISUAL EXPERIENCE TEAM OF OUR STAFF WHO WILL HAVE AN EYE FOR LOOKING AT DETAIL AT EACH OF OUR BRANCHES TO KIND OF HELP MAKE SURE THAT VISUAL EXPERIENCE IS WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR.
SO I WANNA INTRODUCE TRACY TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE DOES.
UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.
I REALLY, TRULY ENJOY SHARING EVERYTHING THAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AMANDA MENTIONED THE, TELL US YOUR LIBRARY STORY.
UH, WE WERE LOOKING FOR AN IDEA TO SUPPORT, UH, LIBRARY CARD SIGNUP MONTH, WHICH IS THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
UH, SO WE WANTED TO TRY TO CREATE A PROJECT TO CREATE AWARENESS OF THE LIBRARY AND TO COMMUNICATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HAVING A LIBRARY CARD.
UH, SO WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR LIBRARY STORY WITH US, AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH RESULTS.
WE HAD OVER 27 STORIES SUBMITTED FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE WAS THAT 12 AGREED TO A VIDEO INTERVIEW.
UM, WHICH FOR SOMEONE WHO'S CAMERA SHY, I WAS ASTOUNDED BY THAT.
AND WE HAD FIVE WHO WERE WILLING TO COME IN AND HAVE THEIR PHOTO TAKEN.
UM, ALL STORIES ARE HOSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, UNDER THE YOUR STORY PAGE.
UH, SOME ARE VIDEOS, SOME ARE JUST TEXTS, SOME ARE PHOTOS.
UM, A FEW MORE WILL BE ADDED SOON 'CAUSE SOME MORE HAVE CONTINUED TO TRICKLE IN AND THE SHORT VIDEO CLIPS WILL BE SHARED ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES SO THAT YOU CAN VIEW THOSE AS WELL.
UM, AMANDA ALSO MENTIONED THE WEBSITE REDESIGN.
OUR CURRENT WEBSITE WAS LAUNCHED ALMOST, I THINK IT WAS NINE YEARS AGO.
SO IT'S TIME FOR US TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE THE WEBSITE MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE USER FRIENDLY.
WE'RE ABLE TO CHECK AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE CLICKING ON MOST.
[00:10:01]
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO MAKE THOSE ITEMS MORE, UM, VISIBLE ON THE MAIN PAGE.UM, AND THE GOAL IS TO LAUNCH THE NEW SITE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE DON'T HAVE A DATE SET YET, BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON IT.
AND THEN ALSO THE VISUAL EXPERIENCE TEAM IS IN ITS INFANCY RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO GET LIBRARY STAFF WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE, UH, SIGNAGE AND VISUAL DISPLAYS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR BRANDING STANDARDS.
I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT I DID WATCH SOME OF THE STORIES AND THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED.
SO MUCH ENTHUSIASM IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE LIBRARY.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT FORWARD.
OUR NEXT, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL IS USER EXPERIENCE, WHERE WE WANT TO PROVIDE LIBRARY VISITORS WITH A FRIENDLY, INFORMED, AND USER-FOCUSED EXPERIENCE.
UM, FOR THIS SECTION, WE WANNA GIVE YOU A SUMMER READING RECAP.
SO THE PERSON WHO IS THE BRAINS BEHIND OUR SUMMER READING AND SYSTEM-WIDE PROGRAMMING IS THERESA ISH.
UM, SHE'S OUR PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS LIBRARIAN.
UM, PRIOR TO JOINING BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY THREE YEARS AGO, UH, THERESA SPENT HER FIRST FOUR YEARS AS A LIBRARIAN IN BOSTON IN HER LAST THREE YEARS AT LIVE OAK IN SAVANNAH.
SO, UM, OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE HERE, AND SHE SERVES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY WORLD.
SHE SERVES TO COORDINATE THE MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT YOU KNOW OF AT LIKE SUMMER READING AND WINTER READING.
UH, SHE ALSO IS THE PERSON BEHIND OUR STORY WALKS, UM, OUR HOLIDAY CHEER DAYS.
SHE HELPS TO PLAN OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS AND THEN SPECIAL SYSTEM-WIDE PROGRAMMING THAT YOU SEE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
BUT ESPECIALLY AT TIMES LIKE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK OR SEPTEMBER LIBRARY CARD SIGNUP MONTH, SHE LEADS MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMERS TO TRY TO, UM, STAY CONNECTED, SHARE RESOURCES, AND COLLABORATE ACROSS ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS.
SO, UM, SINCE WE JUST WRAPPED SUMMER READING, I KNOW THERESA'S READY TO SHOW YOU.
DO YOU WANNA TALK FIRST OR DO YOU WANNA SHOW THE VIDEO FIRST? WE CAN SHOW THE VIDEO.
WE HAVE A SHORT, UH, RECAP VIDEO FOR YOU ON WHAT WAS SUMMER 2025? IT INSIDE.
WELL, THE INTENT WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE MUSIC WITH THAT VIDEO, BUT YOU KNOW, AS TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETIMES OUR FRIEND AND OUR FOE, UM, IT WAS ACTUALLY, UH, I FEEL LIKE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE BECAUSE THEN IN THE VIDEO CLIPS YOU GOT TO KIND OF HEAR A LITTLE GLIMPSE INTO OUR BRANCHES AND JUST THE BUSTLING NOISE THAT HAPPENS DURING SUMMER READING
[00:15:01]
ESPECIALLY.UM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL YEAR ROUND SUMMER READING IS WHEN THAT HAPPENS MOST.
SO WE MADE IT, WE OFFICIALLY ARE DONE WITH SUMMER READING.
I KNOW OUR, UM, PUBLIC PROBABLY MISSES IT, BUT OUR STAFF IS READY TO GET IN THE SWING OF EVERYTHING FALL THIS YEAR.
WE SERVED, UM, 2,892 FREE LUNCHES.
THAT'S 180 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
SO 180 MORE LUNCHES THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO YOUTH IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, TOTALLY FOR FREE.
WE HAD 487 PROGRAMS WITH 10,722 ATTENDEES, WHICH IS NO SMALL FEAT.
UM, EVEN WITH THE ADDITION OF PORT ROYAL, THAT IS STILL SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 400 ADDITIONAL GAME BOARD FINISHERS FOR OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
WE HAD 2,545 FINISHERS, WHICH IS THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD WITH OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
SO I FEEL LIKE, UH, A MOMENT OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF, FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK WITH THAT.
UM, WE HAD 879, UH, PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED THE GAME BOARD AND DECIDED THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THEM, AND THEY WANTED TO KEEP READING THIS SUMMER AND COMPLETED OUR SUPER READER BONUS ROUND.
AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU ADD THE PARTICIPATION OF THE GAME BOARD AND THE SUPER READER, BONUS ROUND ADULTS ACTUALLY, UM, OUTDID THE KIDS IN THAT REGARD, WHICH I CAN SAY IN ALL THE SYSTEMS I'VE WORKED IN, I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
SO WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED THAT WE HAD AMAZING KID PARTICIPATION, BUT ADULTS WERE AWARE THAT THE PROGRAM WAS FOR THEM TOO.
WE ALSO SAW OUR NUMBERS FOR AGES ZERO TO FIVE, NEARLY DOUBLE.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, LOTS AND LOTS OF NEW FAMILIES COMING IN, UM, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I CAN TELL YOU EVEN FOR, UM, THE SUMMER READING FINISHERS, THEY ALL COME TO ME IN A SPREADSHEET.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY I SAW THAT WERE FOUR MONTH OLD, THREE MONTH OLDS, SIX MONTH OLD.
IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE THE MONTH OLDS, UM, PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
SO WE LIKE TO THINK THAT SOME OF THE ADULTS WERE EVEN THE CAREGIVERS FINALLY REALIZING IF YOU ARE READING TO YOUR CHILD, THAT COUNTS FOR THEM AND IT COUNTS FOR YOU AS WELL.
SO YOU BOTH MIGHT AS WELL GET REWARDED.
SO TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, LAST YEAR WE HAD 59 WINNERS.
THAT BY ITSELF IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO BEAUFORT COUNTY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE DONATIONS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE US FOR EVERYTHING FROM CHICK-FIL-A GIFT CARDS TO, UH, A HOTEL, TWO NIGHT HOTEL STAY AT ESA.
UM, AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OUR READER REWARD CARD, UM, SOME OF THEM DID THAT AS A LITTLE FREE TREAT AND GAVE US GRAND PRIZES.
SO THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO SEE.
SO IN ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR SUMMER READING TO OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THEY FUNDED A TON OF OUR PAPER PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW, GAME BOARDS AND ALL OF THAT.
THEY ALSO MADE SURE THAT EVERY LOCATION HAD A CHILDREN'S WINNER WHO WENT HOME WITH A KIDS KINDLE FIRE PRO, OUR FRIENDS GROUPS, UM, BLUFFTON, HILTON HEAD AND BEAUFORD.
THEY MADE SURE THAT EVERY ADULT AND TEEN WENT HOME WITH A TOTE BAG.
THEY MADE SURE THAT EVERY LITTLE KID HAD A LITTLE STUFFY READING BUDDY.
AND THEY ALSO, UM, HELPED US GET SOME GRAND PRIZES AS WELL.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OUR KIDS' NUMBERS WOULD NOT BE WHERE THEY ARE WITHOUT THEM.
THEY MAKE SURE EVERY YEAR AT THE END OF SUMMER OR AT THE END OF SCHOOL, THAT KIDS GO HOME FOR SUMMER WITH A GAME BOARD IN HAND.
SO THAT ALWAYS HELPS OUR NUMBERS AND WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE, UM, TO MELISSA MURRAY AND RYAN COPELAND FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THAT.
AND THE OVER 60, UM, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AS I JUST MENTIONED, THAT DONATED, UM, THEIR TIME, UM, MONEY OR JUST PRIZES TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
AND NEXT YEAR, IF WE HAVE ANY, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PALEONTOLOGY, ARCHEOLOGY, UM, OR DINOSAURS, UH, NEXT YEAR THE THEME IS, UH, UNEARTH YOURS, UNEARTH A STORY I SHOULD SAY.
SO ADULTS, YOU KNOW, GET YOUR JURASSIC PARK ON KIDS, YOU KNOW, JUST COME READY WITH A LITTLE LAND BEFORE TIME AND ALL OF THAT.
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT NEXT YEAR.
[00:20:01]
10-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IS REALLY INTO DINOSAURS.YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE A HOME RUN.
I'M SURE WE HAVE OUR FIRST SUMMER READER,
UM, COULD YOU EXPLAIN, UM, WHAT PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM ATTENDANCE IS AND WHAT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT GROWTH? YEAH.
WHAT, WHAT THOSE ARE JUST PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER, JUST PROGRAMS HAPPENING FROM JUNE AND JULY.
YEAH, SO ANYTHING FROM JUNE 1ST, ALL THE WAY TO JULY 31ST.
SO KEEP IN MIND, WE, UM, DID ADD PORT ROYAL.
THEY CAME ON BOARD JUST AFTER WE FINISHED SUMMER READING LAST YEAR.
SO THEIR PROGRAM NUMBERS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN 2024.
HOWEVER, THAT PAIRED WITH JUST, UM, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FROM OUR PROGRAMMING STAFF.
THEY HAVE JUST, EVERY YEAR IT'S MORE AND MORE, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS ALL THE TIME.
THEY COLLABORATE AT OUR MONTHLY PROGRAMMER MEETINGS.
UM, AND THEY'VE, THIS SUMMER, MORE THAN EVER, THEY REALLY WERE TRYING TO FIND A PERFORMERS ALSO TO HAVE, WHICH ALWAYS DRAWS A BIG CROWD.
I THINK MOST OF OUR CITIZENS WOULD BE BLOWN AWAY BY THE THOUGHT THAT WE HAVE 487 PROGRAMS MM-HMM
IN TWO MONTHS AT OUR SIX BRANCHES.
I MEAN, IS THAT A NUMBER? LIKE ANY OF YOU ARE, ARE YOU? WE NOT ALL ODD BY THAT.
AND I DO WANNA ALSO NOTE THAT, UM, INCLUDES AS WELL, SURPRISINGLY, BOOKMOBILES, UM, OUR BOOKMOBILES.
UM, WHILE YOU MAY NOT THINK THAT THEY TYPICALLY HAVE PROGRAMS, THEY WORK WITH ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS SOMETIMES TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE A BOOK CLUB, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND, UH, BOOKMOBILE SOUTH EVEN HAD A BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK, UM,
AGAIN, EVERY ADULT THEY SAW, THEY WERE LIKE, YOU CAN'T TAKE A BOOK OUT UNLESS YOU TURN IN YOUR GAME BOARD.
AS USUAL, I, I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW UPCOMING PROGRAMS. SO, UM, WE ARE HAVING A SERIES CALLED BEAUTIFUL TRASH THAT IS OUR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE SERIES FOR THIS UPCOMING, UH, FALL.
THIS WILL START, UM, WITH DATES THIS SEPTEMBER.
THE, THE WORKSHOPS WILL BE ON TURNING TRASH INTO TREASURE.
AND THE ART, UH, THE ART, OUR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE IS EEZ CHURCH.
AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS RESIDENCY THAT, UM, THE COMMITTEE WHO, UH, FIELD FIELDED OUR APPLICATIONS AND ULTIMATELY SELECTED VALEZ IS THE FACT THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE OFFERING THESE WORKSHOPS BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
SHE CAN SPEAK, UM, BOTH VERY FLUENTLY AND WILL BE PROVIDING BILINGUAL EXPERIENCE.
UM, SO THOSE EVENTS ARE COMING UP IN BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE LAW TALKS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
UH, SO IF THERE'S A TOPIC OF INTEREST, PLEASE ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO ATTEND.
UM, WE ARE ALSO, UH, ROUNDING IN THE CORNER INTO HISPANIC HERITAGE, UH, CELEBRATIONS.
AND SO OUR BLUFFTON LIBRARY IS GOING TO BE HOSTING A HISPANIC HERITAGE ART EXHIBIT.
AND THE OPENING RECEPTION IS NEXT MONDAY AT FIVE 30 AT THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR CULTURES, OUR STORIES, WHICH IS A HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION.
THAT'S AN ANNUAL TRADITION NOW AT THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY.
AND THAT IS, UM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE FOURTH.
PLEASE JOIN THEM FOR THAT CELEBRATION.
YOU'LL SEE THE, UM, VARIOUS POCKETS OF THE HISPANIC CULTURE LIVING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ON DISPLAY.
UH, WE LOVE THAT EVENT AND IT'S WONDERFUL.
OCTOBER IS ALSO GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE AWARENESS MONTH.
SO WANTED TO BE SURE TO POINT OUT SOME VERY SPECIAL WORKSHOPS WE HAVE.
WE WILL HAVE QUEEN QUET TWICE.
UM, AND THAT'S A REAL TREAT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HER.
AND THEN WE ALSO WILL HAVE A FORMER ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, DORN SHA BATSON.
SHE'LL BE RETURNING TO DO A WORKSHOP, UH, A PAINT, A PAINTING WORKSHOP AT ST.
AND THEN FINALLY, I KNOW SOMETIMES OUR LOCAL HISTORY PROGRAMS ARE OF INTEREST TO, TO YOU.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THAT I'VE NOT SEEN OUR LOCAL HISTORIAN, GRACE CORDIAL PRESENT YET, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS IS CALLED TALES FROM THE CRYPT DEATH IN THE ARCHIVES.
SO IT'S QUITE TIMELY FOR OCTOBER.
COME HERE ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THEY FOUND IN THE, IN THE STORIES BEHIND THEIR DEMISE.
SHE'S GONNA BE HOLDING, HOLDING THAT HERE IN THIS ROOM ON MONDAY, OCTOBER THE 27TH.
OUR NEXT STRATEGY, BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE NEXT GOAL, UM, I DO WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING I'VE BEEN EXCITED TO WORK ON AND BRING TO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME.
HOW MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM HAVE EVER TRIED TO FIND AN EVENT, A PROGRAM EVENT HAPPENING ON OUR WEBSITE, LIKE FINDING AN EVENT LOCATION ON OUR CALENDAR, OR TRIED TO BOOK A MEETING ROOM? GREAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT BETTER.
[00:25:01]
CONFIGURATION STAGE WITH LIBRARY MARKET.UM, LIBRARY CALENDAR IS THEIR PRODUCT, BUT IT WILL COMBINE IN ONE PLATFORM, OUR EVENT LISTINGS AND OUR MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS AND MAKE A SEAMLESS, WE HOPE, SEAMLESS, UM, EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO BOOK RESERVATIONS IN THE MEETING ROOMS AS WELL AS ATTEND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT IT IS ABOUT A FOUR TO SIX WEEK CONFIGURATION PHASE BEFORE WE HAVE ANYTHING TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.
SO BEAR WITH US AS WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT I DO BELIEVE THE END RESULT WILL BE WORTH IT.
UM, WE CHOSE LIBRARY MARKET BECAUSE AS YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, THEY ARE SIX TIME AWARD-WINNING AND THEY'VE WON THE MODERN LIBRARY AWARD FOR THEIR PRODUCT THE PAST SIX YEARS IN A ROW.
SO WE ARE BRINGING WHAT WE HOPE TO BE, UM, UH, A NEW ENHANCEMENT TO OUR LIBRARY WEBSITE.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OH, OKAY.
AND NEXT I WANNA TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR SPACES, OUR FACILITIES DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD.
WE'VE REPLACED THE CARPET IN THE HALLWAY AND THE LARGE MEETING ROOM AT HILTON HEAD.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME MORE BEFORE AND AFTER PICS, PICTURES IN JUST A SECOND.
WE'VE REPLACED A FEW EXTERIOR SIGNS IN THIS BUILDING, AND THEN I ALSO SUBMITTED A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE LIBRARY FOR STUDY PODS.
SO I'M GONNA EXPLAIN ALL THREE OF THOSE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES.
THIS WAS THE BEFORE AND AFTER THE HALLWAY ON THE LEFT IS, UH, HILTON HAD POST, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A REPAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR.
BUT THE, UM, PICTURE ON THE OTHER SIDE IS THE AFTER ON THE TOP IS THE MEETING ROOM BEFORE ON THE BOTTOM IS THE MEETING ROOM AFTER, AND THEN THIS IS THE EXTERIOR SIGN.
YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE IT UP CLOSE WHILE YOU'RE HERE TODAY IN PERSON TO REALLY CAPTURE IT.
BUT THE PREVIOUS SIGN, UM, WAS FADED AND IT HAD SOME GROWTH, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL GROWTH ON THE CORNER.
SO THE NEW SIGN DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE.
SO I WANNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY WRITE THE GRANT FOR STUDY PODS.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF A STUDY POD.
IT IS A SELF-CONTAINED, UM, SOUND ABSORPTION CUBICLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAS A DOOR, IT HAS A FAN, AND IT, UM, REDUCES SOUND TO, DOES A 30 30 PLUS DECIBEL SOUND REDUCTION.
I, I GOOGLED THAT TO FIND OUT.
OKAY, WELL WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT LITERALLY MEANS THAT, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY QUIETER THAN SOUND ABSORPTION MATERIAL THAT GOES ON WALLS.
SO YOU GET A, A DEEPER SOUND REDUCTION IN THE STUDY POD THAN YOU WOULD IN A ROOM THAT IS OUTFITTED WITH, UM, LIKE RECORDING ROOM TILES OR THINGS THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN A RECORDING STUDIO.
IT DOESN'T MAKE IT SOUND PROOF, BUT IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE SOUND.
IT HAS A FAN ON THE TOP, SO THAT AIR IS CIRCULATING THE WHOLE TIME THAT A PERSON IS IN THERE.
IT HAS, UM, ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.
IT HAS USB OUTLETS, UM, IT HAS ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING IN THERE AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THESE.
MY FAVORITE FEATURE OF THIS PARTICULAR BRAND IS YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON THE SCREEN, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF HIDDEN CASTERS.
SO IF IT DOESN'T WORK IN ONE SPOT, WE CAN THEORETICALLY SLIDE AND, AND, AND RE AND WHEEL TO ANOTHER SPOT WHERE IT MIGHT WORK BETTER.
IT ONLY, IT COMES OFF OF A TRUCK READY TO GO.
ALL WE NEED TO DO IS PLUG IT IN TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET SO THAT IT GETS THE ELECTRICITY THAT IT NEEDS TO RUN.
UM, I'VE ASKED, I READ, I WROTE THE GRANT, UM, TO THE STATE LIBRARY TO ACQUIRE TWO OF THEM.
UH, THAT WAS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT I COULD REQUEST IN THE GRANT.
UM, AND ACCORDING TO THE FUNDING AVAILABLE, I, I PROPOSED THAT WE WOULD PUT ONE STUDY POD IN, IN THIS BUILDING AT BEAUFORT BRANCH AND ONE IN BLUFFTON BRANCH.
BLUFFTON BRANCH HAS NO STUDY ROOM.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT ADDING A STUDY ROOM WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US WHEN WE DESIGNED PORT ROYAL, AND IT HAS BEEN USED, UH, FREQUENTLY.
WE ALSO HAVE STUDY ROOMS AT HILTON HEAD, UM, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD, UM, PEOPLE ASK FOR THEM AT LOBI O.
SO, UM, HAVING THEM HERE AS WELL AS BLUFF AND IS KEEPS, KEEPS US CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF A USER EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE.
BUT IT ALSO ENHANCES THE, THE STUDY ROOM CAPABILITY BY OFFERING THE SOUND ABSORPTION FEATURE.
SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MODEL THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE TWO PEOPLE.
DO YOU HAVE JUST A QUESTION? I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, IF THE GRANT WERE AWARDED, UM, TWO QUESTIONS.
ONE WOULD BE KIND OF THE TIMELINE FOR THE GRANT AND FOR OBTAINING THE PODS.
AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, WOULD IT JUST BE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE RESERVATION POLICY? HOW WOULD THAT WORK? SO FIRST QUESTION IS HOW LONG, UM, WE, I SUBMITTED THE GRANT IN THE, THE FINAL WEEK OF AUGUST.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATED
[00:30:01]
TIME ON WHEN WE WILL GET THE NOTIFICATION, BUT FROM THE MOMENT THAT I GET NOTIFICATION, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE VENDOR AND THESE, UH, PODS SEEM TO SHIP WITHIN TWO WEEKS, SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LONG TIME FROM, UM, ORDERING TO RECEIVING.UM, AND THEN AS SOON AS WE CAN INSTALL THEM, WE WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE.
UM, OUR MEETING ROOM POLICY ADDRESSES YOUR SECOND QUESTION, UM, WHICH IS THAT STUDY ROOM USE DOES NOT REQUIRE A LIBRARY CARD, AND IT IS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
AND WHERE WOULD THESE BE PLACED IN THE FACILITIES IN BLUFFTON AND, UH, BEAUFORT? SO FOR BEAUFORT, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS HALLWAY, WE'D LIKE TO CLEAN UP THE, THE CLUTTER THAT IS IN THE HALLWAY AND WE'VE MEASURED, AND WE CAN FIT A POD RIGHT HERE, UM, IN EYESIGHT TO STAFF, BUT ALSO NOT EAR EARSHOT,
UM, AND THEN ALSO IN BLUFFTON IN THE NONFICTION AREA, THERE'S A NICE CUTOUT IN BETWEEN THE COLUMNS IN ALONG THE WALL WHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE TABLES.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT ONE RIGHT THERE IN LINE WITH THOSE TABLES TO PROVIDE A, A SOUND ABSORPTION OPTION FOR SOMEONE STUDYING OR WORKING.
OUR, UM, OUR LAST GOAL IS COLLECTION.
BUT LET ME, LET ME, I DID PROMISE I WOULD GIVE SOME CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE ON THE GRANT.
UM, LEE, IN HER FIRST 30 DAYS, SHE ASSISTED WITH WRITING THAT GRANT.
SHE WAS, SHE HELPED ME GET SOME OUR INITIAL THOUGHTS TOGETHER ON THAT.
SO I DO NEED TO GIVE CREDIT TO HER FOR HELPING ME GET STARTED ON THAT.
OUR OUR FOURTH GOAL IS COLLECTIONS.
AND I KNOW, JOE, THIS IS VERY MUCH AT YOUR HEART IN TERMS OF COLLECTIONS, AND I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TWO PEOPLE WHO, UM, PROVIDE, UM, COLLECTIONS, MATERIALS, ITEMS THAT ARE CHECKED OUT, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE.
SO SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, I HAVE TWO IMPORTANT UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOU.
OUR SOUTH CAROLINA LENS CONSORTIUM IS GROWING BY TWO LIBRARIES.
WE'RE ADDING GREENWOOD AND SALUDA.
THAT SHOULD BRING US UP TO 23 PARTICIPATING LIBRARIES.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR USAGE, WE HAVE TWO CAMPAIGNS GOING RIGHT NOW.
NUMBER ONE IS A READ, RETURN REPEAT CAMPAIGN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT, UM, IF YOU HAVE BORROWED AN EBOOK OR AN EAU BOOK, YOU CAN RETURN IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP IT THE FULL THREE WEEKS.
AND IF YOU RETURN IT, IT MAKES THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE GET IT QUICKER.
SO DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT THE WHOLE DURATION OF THE LOAN.
IT WILL HELP THE LINE KEEP MOVING.
IF ONCE YOU'VE ENJOYED IT, YOU CAN PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT IN TERMS OF OUR HOOPLA IS THAT WE'VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF FLEX BORROWS.
THOSE ARE THE, THE ONES THAT YOU'RE WAITING ON YOUR, YOUR HOT COPIES, YOUR BEST SELLERS, THE ONE COPY PER USE MODEL.
WE'VE INCREASED THE AMOUNT THAT CARDHOLDERS CAN HAVE FROM FIVE AT A TIME TO EIGHT AT A TIME, SO THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE BEST SELLERS.
I DO WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO YOU, THE FACES BEHIND OUR COLLECTION.
SO DARLENE AND ELIANA, IF YOU'D COME UP AS THEY'RE COMING UP, I'LL INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU.
DARLENE SIMMONS IS THE TECHNICAL SERVICES MANAGER.
SHE OVERSEES OUR ENTIRE TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S BEEN WITH THE LIBRARY FOR NINE YEARS.
SHE STARTED AT LOKO AND SPENT SOME TIME THERE BEFORE BECOMING A CATALOGER.
AND THEN NOW IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, SHE MANAGES OUR ACQUISITIONS, OUR CATALOGING, ALL THE PROCESSING THAT HAPPENS TO THE MATERIALS, AND SHE TRACKS JOE CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING EACH YEAR ACROSS OUR STATE AID COUNTY ALLOCATIONS, FRIENDS GROUPS AND FOUNDATION.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND SHE AND HER TEAM KEEP, KEEP US UP TO DATE.
SHE ALSO SUPERVISES OUR DIGITAL RESOURCES LIBRARIAN.
SO TOGETHER THEY'RE STEERING OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS IN HOOPLA.
FLIPSTER, THE NEW YORK TIMES WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE AND ANCESTRY SUPPORTING THAT WORK IS, UM, ELIANA HERRICK.
SHE'S OUR SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SLASH FISCAL ANALYST SLASH EVERYTHING I NEED TO FIND IN ONE PLACE.
SHE'S OUR DETECTIVE ON STAFF AND SHE'S BEEN WITH THE LIBRARY FOR 20 YEARS, SO SHE KNOWS WHERE EVERYTHING IS.
ACTUALLY, SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 21 YEARS.
UH, SHE ENSURES THAT ALL OF OUR BILLS ARE PAID, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.
SHE ENSURES THAT ALL OF OUR REPORTS ARE ACCURATE AND THAT FUNDS ARE EXPENDED IN LINE WITH COUNTY PROCUREMENT RULES.
SHE IS A STICKLER FOR MAKING SURE WE DO EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT.
SHE PREPARES THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT YOU SEE.
UM, SHE REVIEWS THE TIME SHEETS BEFORE THEY GO TO PAYROLL.
SHE LOOKS AT EVERY HOUR AND EVERY CLOCK IN AND CLOCK OUT.
AND SHE MANAGES ALL THE OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE LIBRARY, LIKE ORDERING LIBRARY CARDS AND OFFICE SUPPLIES.
SO TOGETHER THE TWO OF THEM KEEP, KEEP OUR LIBRARY HUMMING.
AND SO I WANTED TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO
[00:35:01]
SAY HEY TO YOU AND FOR YOU TO SEE SOME FACES BEHIND THE WORK THAT WE DO.IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT FOR YOU TO DO?
IT MAKES ME SEEM LIKE I'M PRETTY AWESOME AND I APPRECIATE THAT
UM, I WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED WHEN I WAS JUST VOLUNTEERING OUT AT ST.
HELENA LIBRARY WHEN IT WAS STILL AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT I WOULD BE A PART OF THE ADMIN TEAM HERE.
SO I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
UM, I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY SO MANY MANAGERS, STAFF, OUR FORMER DIRECTOR, OUR CURRENT DIRECTOR, THE FORMER TECH SERVICES MANAGERS.
UM, THEY ALL SEEM TO SEE SOMETHING IN ME.
THEY SUPPORTED ME, THEY PUSHED ME TO GROW, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE STANDING HERE.
I HOPE TO BE A PART OF THE SYSTEM FOR YEARS TO COME.
UM, WELL I'M VERY HAPPY TO WORK FOR AMANDA, THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
UH, WE WORK A TEAM, DARLENE, AMANDA, AND I, TO DO THE BEST, UH, FINANCIAL REPORTS.
I LOVE TO CHECK MUNIS, MUNIS, THE ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE, THE FINANCE USE, SO TO SEE ALL THE EXPENDITURE THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE.
I KEEP A LOT OF CONTACT WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
UM, NO, AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE STUFF, I CALL THEM EVERY DAY.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE PIECE OF MY JOB IS THE FINANCIAL STAFF.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION IS MORE THAN JUST ME.
I I THINK I NEED THAT ON A T-SHIRT.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE FOR ME TO DO? RIGHT,
UM, EACH OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, WHAT I, WHAT I WANTED YOU TO SEE TODAY, NOT ONLY WERE THE UPDATES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT I WANTED YOU TO SEE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME THAT DOES THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY, BUT THAT I HAVE THIS AMAZING TEAM TO RELY ON WHO HELPS US GET TO THE FINISH LINE.
I TRY TO TELL THEM THAT ALL THE TIME.
I THINK THEY KNOW THAT, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF LIBRARY HISTORY HERE, BEAUFORT COUNTY HISTORY HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTISE HERE.
AND, UM, THIS LIBRARY SYSTEM IS BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE MET.
AND THAT WOULD CONCLUDE MY REMARKS.
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF US,
YEAH, SHE'LL GET YOUR, SHE'LL GET YOUR NAME, ROSS.
A LITTLE LESS, UM, GLITZY THAN WHAT WE, UH, JUST EXPERIENCED HERE, BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S JUST EQUALLY AS AS INTERESTING HERE.
UM, THIS WILL BE A BRIEF REPORT BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY TWO MONTHS INTO OUR FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLY JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THERE ISN'T MUCH THAT WE HAVE TO REPORT HERE.
AND WE'LL GO OVER THIS IN, IN THE SAME SEQUENCE THAT WE'VE DONE AS BEFORE.
AND STARTING WITH OUR SPECIAL FUNDS PAGE.
AND UP AT THE TOP HERE, TOP LEFT IS WHERE WE'RE BEGINNING.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED OUR FIRST INSTALLMENT OF STATE AID, UH, $257,000.
STATE AID CAME IN QUARTERLY, UH, QUARTERLY INCREMENTS THIS YEAR.
THE STATE HAS DECIDED IN THEIR INFINITE WISDOM TO DO IT TWICE A YEAR.
SO WE'VE RECEIVED OUR FIRST ONE HERE, $278 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN SPENT AS YET, SO THAT'S MONEY THAT'S BEING CARRIED OVER FOR SPENDING IN THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR HERE.
UM, MOVING OVER AND JUST FOR A SECOND, TALKING ABOUT IMPACT FEES.
UM, YOU'LL SEE, AND THIS IS ILIANA'S FINE REPORT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE FAR RIGHT HAND CORNER HERE, IMPACT FEE TOTAL 5,398,000, CALL IT FIVE, CALL IT $5.4 MILLION, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE ON HAND AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
UM, THE IMPACT FEE ARRANGEMENT IS ACTUALLY DIVIDED INTO SORT OF AN OLD SYSTEM,
[00:40:01]
NEW SYSTEM.UH, IN 2023, UH, THERE WAS A NEW IMPACT FEE ARRANGEMENT THAT'S PUT, WAS PUT IN PLACE.
SO ON OUR OLD SYSTEM OF SIX INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE 4.2 MILLION.
AND ON OUR NEW DISTRICTS, WHICH IS REALLY JUST NORTH AND SOUTH OF ABROAD, UH, WE HAVE 1.2 MILLION.
WHAT I WANNA POINT OUT AT, AT THIS POINT HERE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE, AT THE, AT THE, AT THE UH, VIDEO, AT THE, AT THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE IMPACT FEES NORTH ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND IMPACT FEES SOUTH ABOUT 200,000.
SO CURRENTLY, AND THIS IS SINCE, SINCE SINCE THE, THE CHANGE BETWEEN NORTH AND THE SOUTH AND THE OLD DISTRICTS HERE, MOST OF THE MONEY THAT'S COMING INTO OUR IMPACT FEE BALANCE IS REALLY NORTH OF ABROAD VERSUS SOUTH OF ABROAD.
AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN THAT THE SPENDING HAS TO BE DIRECTED INTO THOSE PARTICULAR, UH, SERVICE DISTRICTS HERE.
UM, THEN MOVING OFF TO THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE HERE, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL TRUST AND THERE'S BEEN JUST A FEW DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN, HAVE CHANGED PLANS HERE.
WE HAD ABOUT $4,000 IN INTEREST IN THE, IN THE ENDOWMENT, $31 IN EXPENDITURES FOR THE BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, DISTRICT COLLECTION.
AND WE ALSO HAD A NICE DONATION OF $15 WHICH CAME IN THERE.
NOTHING MUCH REALLY HAS TRANSPIRED IN, IN THOSE ACCOUNTS THERE.
UH, JUST LOOKING AT THE IMPACT FEE AREA, JUST FOR A SECOND HERE, WE HAVE, I SAID $5.4 MILLION.
AND OF THAT, OF THAT BALANCE, UM, $2.4 MILLION IS REALLY WHAT WE CALL ENCUMBERED.
THAT IS IDENTIFIED WITH PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE PRO PROJECTS NAZAR ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH LEAVES ABOUT $3 MILLION IN, IN UNENCUMBERED UM, BALANCES, WHICH REALLY MEANS THAT GOING FORWARD HERE, THE LIBRARY IS IN GOOD FINANCIALS SHAPE TO HANDLE ANY UPCOMING FUTURE CAPITAL OBLIGATIONS OR PROJECTS THAT MAY COME ABOARD HERE.
SO LET'S MOVE OVER TO THE NEXT PAGE HERE, WHICH LOOKS AT OUR BUDGET EXPENDITURES.
AS I SAID, WE'RE ONLY TWO MONTHS THROUGH THE YEAR HERE.
UM, OUR, OUR BUDGET AS IDENTIFIED HERE IS OVER $7 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.
AND THAT'S UP $1.1 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE, SO WITH THE NEW PORT ROYAL LIBRARY BEING FULLY FUNDED FOR THE YEAR, THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL SPENDING AT, AT THIS POINT HERE, WE'RE TWO MONTHS THROUGH THE YEAR, 17%, IF YOU WOULD.
AND WE'VE SPENT 11% OF OUR ALLOTMENT HERE, WHICH IF YOU LOOK RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF LINE THERE, YOU'LL SEE 11% AND, UM, 20%, WHERE 20% OF THE YEAR, UH, EXPENDITURE ON OPERATING EXPENSES, AND THEN ABOUT 10% ON PERSONNEL SERVICES.
AND THE LAG IS REALLY NORMAL VACANCIES THAT OCCUR.
AND, AND WE HAVE MONEY THAT'S BEEN BUDGETED BUT NOT EXPENDED HERE.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS REALLY 17% OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR, 11% SPENT.
WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE HERE.
THERE'S NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY THAT JUMPS OUT.
SO IF WE COULD JUMP OVER TO THE FINAL REPORT HERE, WHICH IS OUR MATERIAL EXPENDITURE REPORT.
AND AGAIN, YOU THINK 17% OF THE WAY TO THE YEAR, WE'VE ONLY SPENT $64,000.
THIS IS QUITE NORMAL BECAUSE LIBRARY MATERIAL EXPENDITURES ARE REALLY LUMPED IN THE BACK OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, 64,000 ONLY SPENT IN IN TWO MONTHS HERE IS QUITE NORMAL.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT PRIOR YEARS EXPENDITURES PATTERNS, THIS IS WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.
THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY THAT YOU'LL SEE IS REALLY SPENT ON HOOPLA.
AND THEN A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT ON, ON BOOKS HERE, NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS QUITE, QUITE CONSISTENT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, BUT LET ME LOOK AT THE FULL FISCAL YEAR ON MATERIALS EXPENDITURES JUST FOR A SECOND HERE.
BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AT OUR COUNTY MATERIALS BUDGET, AND THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS, HAS IDENTIFIED AS SPENDING FOR LIBRARY MATERIALS, WE'RE ABOUT $528,000.
THEN WE ADD IN OUR FULL YEAR STATE AD AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 515,000.
AND NORMALLY WE GET ABOUT $50,000 OR SO FROM THE FENCE.
SO WHEN WE PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER HERE, WE'RE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS YEAR.
AND THAT TO ME IS SORT OF BREAKING THAT MAGICAL
[00:45:01]
WE'VE COME CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT I THINK IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WE'LL BE SPENDING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR LIBRARY MATERIALS, WHICH IS AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.
AND I THINK, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP HERE BECAUSE YOU GET, YOU ARE THE PEOPLE HERE THAT MAKE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE HERE.
SO THAT'S THE FINANCIAL REPORT IN A NUTSHELL, TWO MONTHS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING GOOD.
WE'RE, WE'RE COMFORTABLE HERE.
THE BUDGET'S ON TRACK, MATERIAL SPENDING IS ON TRACK, AND WE HAVE A NICE TARGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR FINANCIAL REPORTS? OKAY.
I WANTED TO GET YOU TO, UM, SIGN THE OUR SECOND FUNDING CERTIFICATION DOCUMENT TO RECEIVE OUR NEXT, UM, INSTALLMENT OF STATE AID.
YOU, YOU MAY REMEMBER IN OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, WE SIGNED, UH, THE MEMORANDUM AND THE FIRST COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT FUNDING CERTIFICATION FORM.
UM, THE STATE LIBRARY IS ASKING THAT WE DO A SECOND FUNDING CERTIFICATION FORM TO RECEIVE THE SECOND PAYMENT OF STATE AID.
WANT THE PRINTED NAME ON THE SAME LINE? WE PASS THAT OVER PLEASE.
AMANDA, IS THIS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE FROM NOW ON IN TWO SECTIONS? THIS IS HOW IT IS FOR THIS YEAR.
UH, IT MAY CHANGE IF THE LEGISLATURE MAKES A CHANGE NEXT YEAR, BUT THIS WAS, THIS WAS WHAT WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT NEXT YEAR MIGHT HOLD.
UH, SO WE'LL CONTINUE ON TO, UH, THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE.
JANINE, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT? I DO.
UM, AND KEEPING IN LINE WITH THE COMMITTEE'S GOAL OF PERIODICALLY REVIEWING EXISTING POLICIES AS WELL AS DEVELOPING NEW POLICIES.
CURRENTLY THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE WORKING ON REVIEW AND POTENTIAL REVISION OR AMENDMENT TO SOME EXISTING POLICIES, INCLUDING OUR COLLECTION POLICY AS WELL AS OUR RECONSIDERATION FORMS. SO WE HAVE STARTED THAT PROCESS.
WE ANTICIPATE MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE PROVIDING SOME REVISIONS OR SOME POTENTIAL DRAFTS TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION IN OUR NOVEMBER MEETING.
KATHY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I WOULD, I'M THRILLED TO REPORT THAT AT THE END OF AUGUST, AMANDA APPLIED FOR A STATE LIBRARY, UH, GRANT, A TOTAL OF $2,500.
AND SHE LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT WE'D BEEN AWARDED THE FULL AMOUNT AND IT'S TO, UM, OFFSET OUR CONSULTANT FEE FOR OUR NEXT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
ISN'T THAT NICE? AND WE'RE HAVING A COMMITTEE MEETING AFTER THIS TO START OUR PLANNING PROGRAM.
UM, UH, REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE.
DO YOU HAVE A REPORT, JANET? YES, I DO.
WE HAVE NO REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION.
UM, SHAUNA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT LIBRARY FACILITIES COMMITTEE? AMANDA COVERED, UM, THE UPDATES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION FROM, UM, SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN MY DISTRICT ABOUT THE, UM, THE PRITCHARD V PROPERTY AND HOW THAT IS COMING ALONG.
IF THERE'S ON THE PROCESS, THERE IS NO UPDATE TO THAT PROCESS.
UM, LIAISONS, UH, BRENDA POWELL IS NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUFORT, UM, FRIENDS MEETING.
WAS THERE ANY INFORMATION? SURE.
THEY ARE GOING TO MEET TOMORROW, UM, FOR THEIR FIRST MEETING OF THE FALL.
AND, UH, ROSALIE, WERE YOU ABLE TO ATTEND THE BLUFFTON UH, FRIENDS MEETING OR NOT? NO.
UH, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION MEETS NEXT WEEK, I WILL SAY FOR HILTON HEAD.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A MAHJONG GROUP.
IT'S AN INSTRUCTIONAL, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, SO I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU.
UM, WE, WE, UM, UH, THE, IT'S A LIBRARY PROGRAM, BUT THE LIBRARY PURCHASED CARD TABLES AND CHAIRS, AND WE SIGNED UP WITH A LIMIT OF 12 PEOPLE, AND WE HAD 13, AND WE HAVE A WAITING LIST OF EIGHT.
UM, IT'S, IT SEEMS TO BE THE, THE REALLY THING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO PLAY.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT HILTON HAS BEEN ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
[00:50:01]
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU A QUESTION BECAUSE THEY HAD ASKED ME TO TEACH THIS A WHILE AGO.ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS PAYING FOR THE MAHJONG CARDS.
OH, HOW I, HOW, HOW I DID THAT WAS I PURCHASED 12 CARDS AND THEN I TOLD THEM SOME OF 'EM HAD CARDS ALREADY.
SO I TOLD THEM THAT THE CARDS ARE $15, I COLLECTED THE CARDS, AND I WILL, THEY BRING ME THE MONEY NEXT WEEK.
THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THAT WORKED.
AND, AND THEY'RE ALL HAPPY TO DO THAT, TO PAY THE $15, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE, OF THE GAME.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT A LIBRARY FEE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE? WE HAD, UH, 13.
WE STARTED WITH, WE HAD 13 PEOPLE TO PLAY.
UM, ONE LADY CAME JUST IN CASE NO ONE SHOWED UP.
AND SO WE INVITED HER TO, TO WATCH.
THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME AND IT'S, UM, IT'S NICE TO SEE PEOPLE GET TOGETHER.
AND THEN THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT LIBRARY PROGRAMS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST A WIN-WIN FOR THE LIBRARY, SO.
UM, IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS,
I HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM DAVID LAUDERDALE FOR PROPOSAL TO HONOR JONATHAN DANIELS AND JOHN JAKES FOR THE LASTING CONTRIBUTES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY.
NOW, UH, JONATHAN DANIELS WAS HERE EARLY WAY BEFORE THERE WAS A LIBRARY.
HE WAS THE, UH, I BELIEVE HE WAS THE FIRST EDITOR OF THE ISLAND PACKET.
AND, AND HE HELPED PUT THAT TOGETHER.
UM, HE SUPPORTED, HE, HE PUSHED TO GET, HE PUSHED TO GET A LIBRARY.
HE HAD EXTRAORDINARY, UH, VISION AND ADVOCACY.
HE ADVOCATED, UM, FOR THE LIBRARY AND ITS GROWTH AND, AND THE CULTURAL INSTITUTION OF, OF HILTON HEAD.
UM, HIS SUPPORT FOR THE LIBRARY PREDATED THE LIBRARY ITSELF.
UM, HE, HE CONTACTED PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE AND HE GOT THEM ON BOARD.
OTHER PEOPLE THAT, UM, UH, THAT, THAT WERE INFLUENTIAL IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY WHEN IT WAS IN 1962, I'M SURE IT WASN'T VERY BIG.
UM, HE MOVED, HE, HE STARTED ADVOCATING FOR A LIBRARY BEFORE HE MOVED HERE.
AND THEN IN 1967 WHEN HE MOVED HERE, UH, HE PUSHED FOR A LOCATION ON THE NORTH END.
UH, HE, AND THROUGH THE LIBRARY, THROUGH THE NEWSPAPER, HE STARTED A COLUMN WITH THE FIRST LIBRARIAN, HALLE PATTERSON, UH, ASKED HER TO WRITE LIBRARY NOTES.
SO THERE WAS A COLUMN IN THE, IN THE, IN THE ISLAND PACKET.
UM, HE DE WHEN HE, HE SPOKE AT THE DEDICATION OF THE FIRST LIBRARY, UM, EXPRESSING THAT HE, UM, THAT, THAT THE LIBRARY WAS A PLACE OF KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURE AND COMMUNITY AND, AND BELONGING, WHICH IS KIND OF THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE LIBRARY.
SO HE WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH THAT.
AND, UM, UH, SO, SO THE REQUEST WAS TO, TO, UH, NAME THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM AFTER HIM, UH, IN HILTON HEAD, THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM, HE'S, HE STARTED ORIGINALLY COLLECTING MATERIALS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM BEFORE THERE WAS AN EVEN A LIBRARY.
JOHN JAKES, I'M, I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH JOHN JAKES.
JOHN JAKES WAS PART OF THAT AS WELL, ADVOCATING FOR THE LIBRARY.
UH, HE, UM, HE WROTE A SERIES, HIS SERIES RECONCILES THE, THE SERIES NORTH AND SOUTH IS, UH, THERE'S A THREE PART THREE BOOK SERIES.
IT WAS WRITTEN AT THE LIBRARY AND ALL THE RESEARCH WAS DONE AT THE LIBRARY.
SO HE WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH THAT.
HE, UM, WHEN THEY BUILT THE LIBRARY, THE HEALTHLAND LIBRARY WHERE HE IS NOW, UH, HE AND HIS WIFE RACHEL, WERE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS, UH, SERVING ON THE FRIENDS BOARD.
THEY PAID FOR THE LITTLE AUDITORIUM THAT'S AT IN THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY.
THEY PROVIDED GENEROUS FINANCIAL REPORT.
AND, UM, THE CULTURAL IMPACT HE FREQUENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HILTON HAD, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HIS HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND A HIGH PROFILE LITERARY CAREER.
DREW ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARIES.
HE ALSO WAS AWARDED, UM, HE WAS HONORED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, HONORED BY THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON LIBRARIES AND AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FOR HIS OUTSPOKEN, UH, SUPPORTIVE LIBRARIES.
SO HE'S WELL RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS WELL.
SO I AM WONDERING IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AND WE CAN DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD NAME THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM AFTER JONATHAN, DAN DANIELS.
AND, UM, LET'S START WITH THAT.
[00:55:01]
PRESENT AN ALTERNATE SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.I'M, I'M CERTAINLY SHE WANTS A MOTION.
WE HAVE TO DO A MOTION FIRST AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS IT.
YOU HAVE TO DO, I CAN'T DO A MOTION.
WHO SECOND THE MOTION? I SECOND.
UM, I'M CERTAIN THAT MR. JAKES AND, AND MR. DANIELS HAVE DONE ONE OF THINGS ON BEHALF OF THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY.
I DO, HOWEVER, DON'T BELIEVE THAT RENAMING THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM IS REALLY AN APPROPRIATE STEP.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM HAS HELD THAT NAME FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY, AND THE NAME ACTUALLY DESCRIBES THE PURPOSE OF THE ROOM, WHICH IS REALLY A REPOSITORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA INFORMATION.
UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT RENAMING IT IS GOING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF MEMORIALIZING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY.
I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE LOOK AT ALTERNATE APPROACHES AND THAT THAT COULD BE A WALL PLAQUE OR SOME OTHER MEMORIAL ACTUALLY ILLUSTRATING AND TALKING TO THEIR CONTRIBUTION MORE DIRECTLY.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE APPROACH TO THIS WAY OF HONORING THOSE THAT HAVE MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIBRARY.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA NAMING THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM, WHICH HAS HELD THAT DESIGNATION FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE BECAUSE THAT NAME ALSO APPEARS ON MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS, UM, AND, AND OTHER FACILITIES THERE.
AND I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT RENAMING IS GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT.
AND I ALSO DON'T, DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY OF COMMEMORATING THE CONTRIBUTION TO THESE PEOPLE.
BUT YOU DESCRIBE WHERE THE REQUEST IS COMING FROM.
IT'S COMING FROM, UH, A MAN WHO HAS BEEN WRITING FOR THE ISLAND PACKET FOR 40 YEARS.
AND HE'S VERY INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, HE GETS, HE, HE UNDER, HE UNDERSTANDS THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
HE'S MET SO MANY PEOPLE AND DOES STORIES, LOCAL STORIES ON DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ALL OF BEAVER COUNTY.
UM, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WHO MADE THIS.
AND HE DID NOT KNOW THESE PEOPLE, BUT HE KNOWS HE, HE KNOWS THEM AND HE KNOWS, UH, PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM, KNEW THEM.
AND HE IS, UH, HE HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THAT, THAT WE MAKE SOME, HE, HE'S HAPPY TO DO ANY KIND OF AN HONOR.
BUT, UM, I THINK WHAT HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT, AND I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO, IS THAT THE HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY IS KIND OF GOING BY THE WAYSIDE.
NOW WE HAVE THE BDC AND WE CAN ALWAYS GO UPSTAIRS AND RESEARCH IT, BUT VERY FEW PEOPLE FROM HILTON HAD KNOW ABOUT IT OR EVEN COME UP THERE.
AND, AND I THINK BLUFFED IN THE SAME WAY.
I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SPECIAL, IT'S NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DO RESEARCH, BUT I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF A WAY OF PRESENTING THESE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR HISTORY, IN, IN THE LIBRARY AS WELL, IN THE BRANCH LIBRARY.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT I THINK, I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO, TO MR. LAUDERDALE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A RECOGNITION.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A NAMING.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH.
UM, I SHOULD KNOW THIS AS THE CHAIR OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE.
THAT BEING SAID, DO WE AS, UM, THE LIBRARY, DO WE HAVE A POLICY? UM, I KNOW THAT WE KIND OF HAD SOME THINGS HAPPEN LAST YEAR WITH THE NAMING OF A BUILDING.
THIS IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MEMORIAL TO CLEARLY, UH, TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
BUT DO WE HAVE, UM, OBJECTIVE CRITERIA UPON WHICH WE USE TO EVALUATE THIS TYPE OF REQUEST? WE DO.
AND WHAT IT SAYS, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN THAT KIND OF DAY
SO IT DOESN'T, UH, TO NAME A LIBRARY AFTER SOMEONE IS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME TO NAME A ROOM OR A COLLECTION OR SOMETHING.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, SOMEONE WHO'S VERY, UH, UH, ACTIVE, HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE OR HAS MAYBE MADE A VERY GENEROUS DONATION TOO.
UH, CERTAINLY JOHN JAKES HAS DONE BOTH.
AND JONATHAN DANIELS HAS ALSO DONE BOTH.
SO I THINK WE'RE WELL WITHIN OUR RIGHTS TO DO SOMETHING.
[01:00:01]
JUST WHAT IS IT THAT WE REALLY WANNA DO? MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION WOULD BE WITHIN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, CURRENTLY, HOW MANY OTHER ROOMS AT OTHER LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF DESIGNATION? I DON'T BELIEVE, UH, I DON'T IF ANY DO.WE DON'T HAVE A COUNT, BUT THERE ARE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT ROOMS GET GENERAL, HAVE HAD.
I MEAN, THE ROOM THAT YOU'RE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW, OUTSIDE OF IT, THERE'S A PLAQUE IN HONOR OF A FORMER BOARD OF TRUSTEE THERESA DUNN.
THE PHOTOS IN THIS ROOM, THERE'S A PLAQUE THAT, UM, COMMEMORATING THE PERSON THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN DONATED FOR.
THE ACTUAL BEAUFORT DISTRICT COLLECTION ON THE SECOND FLOOR IS CALLED THE PAUL SIGMUND ROOM.
IT'S NOW THE, WHEN IT FROM BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS A MEETING ROOM COLLECTION.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, NAMING AND RECOGNITION THAT WE DON'T HAVE HISTORY FOR THAT WE SHOULD DO AN AUDIT UP.
UM, SO I DON'T HAVE A, A NUMBER.
NO, THAT'S, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
BUT UNDERSTAND THE BROADER SCOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE LIBRARY HAS KIND OF TRADITIONALLY, UM, TAKEN ON TO HONOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE POLICY, I DO HAVE IT UP IF YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO READ THAT UP.
IT'S TWO SENTENCES THAT YOU ADDED LAST YEAR TO THE DONATE GIFTS AND DONATIONS POLICY.
AND IT SAYS THE NAMING OF LIBRARY ROOMS, AREAS, SPACES OR BRANCHES, PROPOSALS FOR NAMING SPACES OR DONATED ITEMS IN THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR REVIEW.
AND THEN PRE PRESENTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR APPROVAL.
AREAS WITHIN THE LIBRARY MAY BE DESIGNATED TO HONOR AN INDIVIDUAL'S EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM OR A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION.
UM, SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, AND THAT IS TO NAME THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM AFTER JONATHAN DANIELS.
UM, WOULD YOU, UM, I'M GONNA TAKE TO SEE HOW, OR IF WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT ANOTHER MOTION IN, UM, OR LET, LET'S VOTE ON THE MOTION FIRST.
HOW MANY WOULD, UH, HOW MANY, RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN NAMING THE, THE LIBRARY.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA ROOM AFTER JONATHAN DANIELS IF YOU ARE.
TWO
SO IN THE MEAN, SO LET'S GO TO THE SECOND PIECE.
I MAKE, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. DANIEL, UM, BY A PLAQUE OR OTHER RECOGNITION OF THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIBRARIES.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT SECOND? OH, YES.
SECOND, JANINE, OR IS JOHN? SECOND.
WANNA SPEAK TO THAT? I'M ALL ALL IN FAVOR OF IT.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE OUR HANDS.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, WORK ON THAT? AND, UH, IS THERE A LITTLE HOW TO DO THAT? IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS TIME? I'D BE GLAD TO WORK ON THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE GRACE CORDIAL UPSTAIRS, WHO I'M SURE WOULD BE OKAY.
THAT'S ALL FOR, THAT'S ALL FOR THAT.
WHERE ARE WE? UH, I THINK WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, SO THAT IS JUST THE BOARD IS, IS IN THAT IT'S A DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYMENT, APPOINTMENT, UH, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION, DEMOTIONS, DISCIPLINE OR RELEASE OF AN EMPLOYEE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING YOU ALL.
AND THEN THERE'LL ALSO BE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UM, THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S, UH, ANNUAL EVALUATION.
AND I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[01:05:21]
I AM MEMORY CAMPBELL, AND THIS IS BEAUFORD COUNTY MOMENTS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY.
THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM.
OUR FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY COOKED WITH RICE IN ONE POT, WE CALL IT A RICE OR SHRIMP OR AN OYSTER PERLOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES.
SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
OKRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS WE, WE, WE RAISED THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO, AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS IS EMERY CAMPBELL, AND THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.