2022-04-13 LB MinutesBoard of Trustees Michelle Brown, Library Director
Christine Gay, President
Kathy Redmond, Vice President
Cheryl Gowing, Secretary
Laura Farley
Nancy Frehling
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 8:30am
Brockway Memorial Library Reference Room
10021 NE Second Avenue
Miami Shores, Florida 33138
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 8:58 a.m. Present were Michelle Brown, Library Director; Christine Gay,
President; Kathy Redmond, Vice-President; Laura Farley, Nancy Frehling, and Cheryl Gowing, Secretary.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
PRESENTATION: Historic Designation and Marker for Brockway Library
Patricia Bonaduce, Liangy Calli, John Bachay of the Miami Shores Historic Preservation Board asked the Library
Board to consider applying for local historic designation and marker for Brockway Library. Local Historic
designation would protect the structure from future demolition, help preserve the aesthetic character of the
Village, and make the Library eligible for historic renovation grants. Exterior renovation and additions would
still be possible, subject to the approval of the Historic Preservation Board and as long as the principal structure
remains intact. Applications for local historic designation are submitted to the Historic Preservation Board, along
with accompanying documentation. John Bachay is available to assist with gathering the required
documentation. The Historic Preservation Board makes recommendations to the Village Council for approval
of historic designation. Once historic designation is approved, the Library may apply to the State for a historic
designation marker.
GUESTS: Expected guests, Village Manager Esmond Scott and Assistant Village Manager Tanya Wilson
were unable to attend due to illness.
1. Approval of the minutes of the March 9, 2022 meeting. Motion to approve by Laura Farley, seconded
by Nancy Frehling. Motion passed. Motion for a correction to March 9th minutes by Kathy Redmond,
seconded by Laura Farley. Motion passed.
Approval of the minutes of the March 16, 2022 Special meeting. Motion to approve by Kathy Redmond,
seconded by Laura Farley. Motion passed.
2. Community Alliance Report – Nancy Frehling
Nancy Frehling noted the Brockway Library Board hosted the April Community Alliance Meeting. The
Mayor’s Brunch was very successful, raising more funds than the last gala event.
3. Financial Report
Ms. Brown noted that Library spending was at an appropriate level for halfway thru the current fiscal
year, with expense totals at 51% and revenues at 26%. Funds received for the yoga classes have not yet
been tallied. Motion to approve the Financial Report by Cheryl Gowing, seconded by Kathy Redmond.
Motion passed.
4. Circulation Report
For the month of March, the Library circulated 3155 items with 56 holds.
There were 25 digital magazines and 272 e-book/e-audio checkouts on Overdrive; 365 searches on
Ancestry; and 7 sessions on Mango Languages.
The Library added 84 adult titles; 42 children’s titles; 19 media; 34 donations. Ten titles from Juvenile
Fiction were weeded.
The Library added 46 new patrons in March: 22 adult residents, 2 adult non-residents; 13 child residents
and 9 child non-residents. The total patron count is 6802. There were 2,359 in-person visits.
Volunteer Archivist Kimberly Hynes spent 4 hours on digital archive activities, but expects to do more
in April in preparation for Green Day. Brockway will have a booth at Green Day on Village history as
part of the 90th anniversary celebrations. Residents are encouraged to bring memorabilia to share with
the Library and/or be digitized and returned.
The Social Media report is on hold. It was noted that the Village has found that Facebook is decreasing
in popularity over Instagram. The Village Social Media manager is considering how to reach more
people. Brockway hopes to be able to return to having library events also listed on the Library’s
website, in addition to the Village calendar.
It was noted that attendance for the virtual puppet theater sessions have declined. The Library hopes to
resume in-person puppet presentations in the fall.
Ms. Brown reported that Village Council had a very positive reception to her update report on the
Library at the April meeting.
5. Old Business
• Continuation of Salary Review for Library Director: Ms. Gay reported on her meeting with
Village Manager Mr. Scott concerning compensation for Library Director Brown. The Village is
conducting comparable salary reviews of Village directors with other local municipalities. Mr.
Scott expects the review and decision on compensation changes to be made soon, with review and
approval by Village Council in July. Ms. Gay noted that Ms. Brown has received no increases
other than cost-of-living.
• Library Card Policy for Barry Students/Teachers: Motion to approve the following policy by
Kathy Redmond, seconded by Cheryl Gowing. Motion passed.
“Barry University students living on campus are eligible for a free Library membership with proof
of residency, renewable yearly. Cards will expire at the end of the academic year on May 15th.
Students remaining on campus throughout the summer months may request an extension. Barry
University faculty may request a free annual Library membership with proof of current Faculty
ID, renewable yearly.”
• Digital Offerings: Ms. Brown reported that she intends to use Miami Shores Community
Alliance Grant funding for a pilot subscription to BrainPOP, Jr. targeting K-3rd Grade ($2155). If
the resource proves popular, she will include an annual subscription into the next budget cycle.
• Entrance flooring final tile selection: Motion to approve using the presented tumbled limestone
12x24 rectangular tile for the library entranceway by Kathy Redmond; seconded by Nancy
Frehling. Motion passed.
6. Other Items
• New Copy Machine: Ms. Brown recommended obtaining a 60 month lease for a new copy
machine similar in size to the current that can also do color prints and scanning. Village Finance
has approved the expenditure for the lease. Motion by Kathy Redmond, seconded by Cheryl
Gowing, to approve removing the process of depositing copier revenue into the Library Trust.
Motion passed.
• Initiation of 2022 Library Policies Review: Deferred to next meeting, beginning with a Room
Rental Policy for the new wing.
• Construction Update: Construction of the new wing is expected to finish in May, with a Grand
Opening date TBD. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy will be requested, allowing the
wing to open in advance of the completion of the secondary ramp from the Reference Room.
7. Announcements and Special Events
• Fine Arts Gallery Night reception on April 28th
• Haitian Heritage Month – Storytelling with Edwidge Danticat May 7th at 10:30am
• May – Historic Preservation Month: 2 bus tours on Mid-Century local architecture on May 14th
and May 21st; Historian Paul George lecture on May 21st.
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Sushi Making May 12th at 6pm.
• Next scheduled Board Meeting: May 11, 2022 at 8:30am.
• For detailed program/event listing, please refer to the Library’s April calendar.
PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn by Nancy Frehling, seconded by Laura Farley. Meeting adjourned
at 10:15 am.