2021-03-10 Minutes
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Brockway Memorial Library Reference Room
The meeting called to order at 8:30 a.m. Present were Michelle Brown, Library Director, Kathleen
Redmond, President, Christine Gay, Vice President, Cheryl Gowing, Laura Farley, and John
Camp, Secretary.
Public Comment: None
Presentation: None
Guests: None
1. Approval of the Minutes of the February meeting: Ms. Redmond moved to approve
the minutes; Ms. Gay seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Community Alliance Report: Ms. Gowing reported on the February Miami Shores
Community Alliance Meeting via Zoom and presented the report.
a. The focus of the Mayor’s Report is:
i. The Mayor’s Ball 2021 fundraising event in March is entirely virtual and
begins today. The virtual auction/fundraising event will be up for one
week. The theme of the event is “Raise Up,” a week-long event designed
to secure grant funding.
ii. The Army Corps of Engineers has received funding to address sea level
rise in South Florida. A plan was in the works to build a floodwall to
protect residents of Miami from storm surge, but Miami Shores is opposed
to the wall and is pushing back on the proposal.
iii. The 2021 Village Council election is April 13th.
3. Financial Report:
a. Ms. Brown reported that she made an amendment to the capital request for next
year to add two new computer work stations.
b. Ms. Gowing moved to accept the report, Ms. Farley seconded the motion, and it
passed unanimously.
4. Circulation Report: For the month of February, the Library circulated 2,877 items, and
221 holds were placed. The total circulations were 560 greater than the prior month. Total
circulations for February were 721 fewer than February 2020. This discrepancy is
accounted for by the fact of the Covid pandemic generally and the Library’s Covid-related
reduced schedule.
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There were 66 digital magazine checkouts on Overdrive, which was implemented on
January 28, 2021. There were 29 unique searches on Ancestry.
The Library added 104 adult items, 49 children/youth items, and 61 media items. 52
outdated books were weeded from the collection, mostly juvenile and adult fiction titles.
Staff repaired 140 items.
The Library added 13 patrons in February – 6 adult residents, 3 child resident, 2 adult non-
residents, and 2 child non-residents. The total patron count is currently 6,507.
5. Old Business
a. Ms. Brown has invited a volunteer to return to work on the ongoing digital
archiving project, which will enable the Library to fulfill its archiving progress
obligation to the Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN) in
connection with a $2,500 grant received from SEFLIN for the digital archiving
project
b. The Library’s Saturday morning yoga program is moving to Optimist Park
because the lawn on the north side of the Library building is no longer available
because of the Library expansion construction.
c. Ms. Brown reported that she spoke with the Village Manager and Code
Enforcement about whether parking on the south side of the Library can be
restricted to Library patrons and was told that the Village cannot restrict parking
in those spaces. Ms. Brown had asked that the parking bumpers be re-painted
with “Library Parking Only” messages.
d. Ms. Brown reported that she discussed with the Village Manager and Code
enforcement the need to add handicapped parking on the south side of the Library
to provide easier access to the temporary ramp installed in the front of the library
during the expansion construction project, but she was told that handicapped
spaces will not be added to the south side of the library and that the current
designated spaces on the north side of the building will continue to serve as the
only handicapped spaces.
e. The Library explored whether to offer One-Day University offerings through the
Library but decided not to do so at the present time.
6. New Business:
a. Gardening Class: The Library is holding its first in-person class since Covid-
related restrictions were put in place in 2020, a gardening class with Miami Seed
Share in May.
b. Miami Shores Senior Center: The Library is exploring use of the Senior Center
at 9900 NE 2nd Avenue to host group classes and gatherings, as the space allows
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for greater social distancing. At the present time, classes are restricted to twelve
or fewer participants.
7. Other Items
a. Library addition construction update: A temporary ramp is being installed at
the front entrance to the Library to accommodate visitors during the expansion
construction. Delivery of the ramp was delayed because of winter weather
elsewhere in the country but is being installed this week.
b. Miami Shores Walking Tour: The Historic Preservation Board has proposed a
series of walking tours of historic Village homes over three Saturdays in May (5/1,
5/8, 5/15). Historic Preservation Board member Patrizia Bonaduce will conduct
the tours. The cost will be $35.00 per person, and proceeds will go towards the
construction of the Library’s new children’s wing.
c. Story Walk: Mr. Camp inquired whether the Library would consider installing
“story walks” around the Village, children’s stories posted along designated
walking routes in the community to encourage reading and movement. Ms. Brown
and the children’s librarian will research the project and report back to the Board.
d. Monthly Library Calendar of Events: Ms. Gay proposed that the Library post
its monthly calendar of events at the Miami Shores Recreation Department Tot Lot.
e. Membership Drive: The Board discussed the Library’s undertaking a membership
drive around the opening of the new children’s wing.
8. Announcements:
a. National Library Week is April 4 – 10, 2021.
b. Virtual Village Kids’ Book Club: The Magic Half by Annie Barrows – March 18,
3:30pm (registration required).
c. Virtual Brockway Reading Circle: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou – February 8,
7:00pm.
d. Women’s History Month Virtual Event: Edith Head: The Woman Who Dressed
Hollywood – March 19, 7:30pm.
e. Murder at the Library Virtual Book Club: Black Widows by Cate Quinn – March
24, 7:00pm. This event features the author and requires registration in advance.
f. The next scheduled Board meeting is Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 8:30am.
9. Public Comment: None
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10. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Ms. Gay; seconded by Ms. Gowing. Meeting
was adjourned at 9:22am.
Respectfully submitted by John A. Camp, Secretary