 So now we're to the public comment portion of the meeting and I do have I've got a lot of names signed up I'm going to do my very best Make it possible for as many people to have the chance to address the board as possible The way we do that is I've got a sign-up sheet So when I call your name, please approach the front. Please address the board with your public comments And then there'll be three minutes for each person that signed up again I can't guarantee based on the number of people that we have signed up and we can get to everybody I'm just going to start with the first name if you choose not to use your entire three minutes. That's okay If you hear the time on my phone go off that would be your indication that your three-minute time limit is up And it's time to allow somebody else to be able to speak so with that said I'll call the first name on the list I apologize if I Don't pronounce your name correctly. I'm going to do my best based on based on what I see here on the on the piece of paper But the first person to speak is Laura Rose is Laura Rose they will speak. Thank you Hello, I live here in Oconee County. I'm a reader. My mom was a librarian children's librarian I have two assumptions that I want to make to begin with and the first And one of those assumptions is is that all of you are citizens and that all of the members of your local boards are Also citizens of the United States. That's my first assumption. My second assumption is that all of you are well-intended about the library I don't think any of you have an agenda that you're trying to promote at the library That is of a political nature. So those are my first two assumptions about Whether we have or need a new citizens advisory board We already have one and that's you and your people back home my next comment I would like to apply About why some people may be calling for an additional citizen advisory board and it seems to me That one of the reasons that people are afraid They're afraid that if a child reads a book that might be Inappropriate to their parent somehow that book is going to cause them damage Well as far as I know and I could be wrong about this no book no idea No opinion has ever killed anyone People kill people People kill people not books not ideas not opinions No one has been Changed from being homosexual to heterosexual because of a book No one has ever Gone to the hospital because of a book because of an idea or because of their opinion And it seems to me that if we have issues with books our best opportunity is not to read it And if we have issues of other people's children reading a book We should let their parents exercise their parental rights and make that decision We're worried about our children's safety. Let's stop play blaming the stranger danger It's not stranger danger. That's not the main source of a child's vulnerability cousin Matthew It's my it's brother Mark It's Pastor Luke It's Father John It's people they know and they need to learn how to say no to the person that's familiar to them So there are books out there that could help a young child learn how to say no I'm all for them and I would think people who care about their children's safety would also be for them. Thank you Thank you Lord. I will say I apologize We don't we don't have a ability for somebody to have a microphone here today I don't have a microphone and the public speakers don't have a microphone either addressing but Laura Thank you for being very clear and I don't hear very well. So thank you for speaking So I'll move to the next name on the list again, Lisa Great. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today and I always know I've been an active patron of the Athens regional system for about 30 years However, I've recently become aware that there are some controversies brewing and so I'd like to height a few things the three different categories categories, I'll call policies things I appreciate and maybe a few concerns So with policies when I've gone looking for what policy is in the library I support the mission statement emphasizing providing resources to all communities member members of the community It's consistent with the time-honored American Library Association and their support the constitutional right to free speech within the limits of the law I support the clear statement that the responsibility for patrons use of the library resources rests solely with the patron or a minor Minors parents and not with the library and I wholeheartedly support the policy that all children under 10 must be accompanied and actively supervised At all times by a responsible adult I think that sets a good balance of discuss ability and responsibility As far as things I appreciate based on my personal experience with the system I really appreciate the library employees. They are professionals They do their jobs really effectively and I'm just so grateful that they're there Second, I appreciate that while funding is always limited They funds have been used to create a collection and curate a collection that encourages discourse and lifelong learning for the entire community Not just me not just somebody else but the entire community and third I appreciate that the procedure for citizen input and challenging materials is clear and includes a review by a committee of Professionals and a decision by the relevant board members. I think it's appropriate For concerns, I have two first that there are reports that our library employees are being harassed for doing their job and I That breaks my heart threats and name calling are inscusable And I appreciate that the board in the minutes of some of the meetings Support calls for civility and let the citizens know let us know how we can help because that's just unexcusable and Second, I'm concerned that there may be a proposal for a citizens committee to be involved in the material selection or reconsideration Presumably as a means to limiting availability of resources that don't align with their viewpoint. I strongly object to such a citizens committee It's not necessary in my opinion and potentially could be harmful to the mission of a library depending on how it's used In summary, I think our community has been very well served by the library system Going forward my friends and I will be more proactive in protecting it as a treasure for the treasured resource for the community And I really appreciate your service Thank you, Lisa. The next thing on the list is Dan Mackie. I will pass these people said everything I need to say. Thank you All right, the following name is Rita Kelly Rita Kelly Clark County and Abed user at the library I Don't know What we have come as a country. We're afraid of everything any more I always think that the US used to be a can-do will do we're fine kind of country and now we're scared of our shadows And I don't understand being scared of books. It reminds me of Which I hate to say but Nazi Germany it reminds me of the regulation and the Banning and the burning of books and there I'm more scared Or afraid that there aren't kids at the library I don't understand I go to the library quite often days nights I don't see kids there, and I don't understand why we're afraid of a child reading a book in a library I mean most of time you can't get them off tablets and Computers and everything else so to me. It's almost just ridiculous because I'm a previous Retired school psychologist and a reading is a necessity, and we don't do enough to get our kids reading let alone banning books I also feel like As a colleague of mine said we need to protect the public interests versus private interests Just because you have a private interest doesn't mean it should impact all of us as public citizens And I'm afraid of things like that will I always thought to people who right or left but radical Extremism on the right has always been this huge thing about family values family values Well, if you are a family that values you're Taking care of your kids and being with your children Then you will be monitoring their reading and you will decide what's appropriate or not appropriate And I don't understand this that you think you need to monitor our books When you should be caring about your own books or your own family's books So I would say no citizens committee necessary I'm against all kinds of book banning or book regulation Next thing on this is Pat Peterson, right? I'll just speak from here Because it's going to be short I speak I live in Clark County and I speak to the issue of restricting or banning books If someone enters the library and they want to browse the topic if the book is not on the open shelves Then in effect it is banned from them unless they know what topic or what specific title to ask for in a restricted area It's important that we allow People to make their own choices about books and to also make a choice for their young children So please do not restrict books and certainly don't ban any of them. Thank you Next name is Richard Daniels. Hello, and my name is Richard Daniels. I live in Athens in Clark County I raised two boys with my wife. We raised two boys in the area We lived in we were residents and homeowners in Hope Thorpe County and Madison County as well and and so the idea of this regional library system Has served our family extremely well One county one organization can't do this can't have the kind of resources that We all enjoy as a as a as a regional library system and so That's to say We We've done it right. We all have done it right. We've got a great system We've got a great system as a regional library. Our individual branches are also excellent and and Are being used and and you as a board and we as citizens have kept the library Relevant in a time when you know, maybe ten years ago Even I would have thought that maybe everything's going virtual. Maybe maybe libraries are obsolete Our Athens regional library system is is is thriving. It's it's it's a thriving resource of enlightenment in all corners of these five counties and I really appreciate that I really appreciate the people in the system Who who who make that happen? I've read the book selection procedure and the book review procedure and I think it's right on I Think if it's if those aren't broken, we need to keep keep that good system in place I echo the comments of my colleagues who are concerned about Library employees taking the brunt of some compliance. I think that's a terrible chain and I Just want to thank you as a board for keeping this library vibrant and let's by all means keep it open Keep it a diverse resource for all members of our community So the next name is Kathleen Sanderson Okay, hi Kathleen Sanderson, I'm a resident of Athens Clark County. I'm very familiar with the library I'm a patron a lot and I was on the friends of the library board So I'm very familiar with the operation of the library system the regional system. I think it's absolutely Wonderful, I think thank you all for your service. I think the staff in the library is excellent and wonderful Obviously, they're very highly trained professionals I think we should leave the decisions to the highly trained professionals and not handed over to a board of citizens that Whatever agenda that they may have and I want to repeat what a number of people have said But I think if people are concerned about what their children are reading the most effective way for them to do It is pay attention to their children and not go meddling in what other people's children are reading And I am a lawyer and what I learned in law school about free speech and free access is the remedy to Troublesome speech is more speech and I think that's probably true about literature too that the The problem if there's a problem with some book that it's more books. It's not cutting them out and Just a really practical note. I remember when I was a kid Maybe it was a while back, but if you said to me and my friends when I was a certain age Oh, don't read that book. I mean that Who remembers catcher in the ride? Because you have swear words in it So I think the idea of telling children. Oh, you can't get this book out of the library is misplaced and Thank you again for your service Next name on the list list is Lisa. Is it Mindy? Yeah Hey, I apologize Initially because I have a native New Yorker and I'm just not as polite So you forgive me on my particular style of expressing myself So I want to say to begin with there are certain folks with whom I differ on a couple of Inconsequential things the first being that they have Absolutely no right to decide what my children may read Anyone else's children for that matter. They are completely within their rights to choose reading matters for their own children Until of course their children reach the age of majority and at that point They'll be wearing their RuPaul t-shirts and reading catcher and I've had to write Story of oh The other minor matter is that we just have a We difference of opinion as to what obscenity means I find the Choice the desire to inhibit people from allowing their children to make choices is Much much more obscene than hearing a four-letter Word in a book or finding out that Mary has two monies In conclusion let the librarians who actually went to university to become a librarian do their jobs without these Puriant snouts breathing over their shoulders don't voice your narrow-minded Full Christian How am I supposed to follow that My name is Mark Evans and I live in Athens-Clarke County. I sit on the board of education. I'm the vice president of the board But I'm here today because I'm Jack and Tillie's dad And I don't want anyone to tell me how to raise my kids And I don't want anyone to tell me what my kids can and cannot read other than me That is my job That is a sacred obligation given to me and in my religion from God Right to expose them to the world and have them see the world as it is. I do not want a citizen's advisory board To make these decisions for you We have placed this trust in you and you have placed that trust into the librarians The librarians that have spent multiple years in university Go to multiple different trainings to ensure the quality of the information that goes to our children So while I thank you for your service and I know that this is gonna be a tough slog because These folks are loud. I know I see them. I hear them that comment list. I get that comment list all the time and I Appreciate you holding the line for democracy and I appreciate you as a parent for allowing me to do my job And be the parent to Jack and Tillie. Thank you Next on the list is Patrick Conley I want to thank everyone here, and I want to honor all the work you do To make information free and available to the public It says public library. So that's all of us I've raised two beautiful children Madison County Athens-Clarke and O'Connor and the idea that another parent could limit the availability of knowledge to my children is abhorrent and I believe antithetical to the word liberty and I'll just close with a simple metaphor Now I personally I Cannot stand and sure They are repulsive and repugnant and the idea of putting one in my mouth makes me gap But I would never be so I'm breaking on the word arrogant To go to the local pizza shop and demand they take anchovies off the menu. I Can choose not to do But that's my choice And again, I want to thank y'all what other people have said. Thank you for holding the line to keep Information free and available to all the citizens Thank you The next time on this Andrea well Andrea I think you'd know why we're all here and it's not because they're sexually explicit material in these library books I mean if that was really the case then pretty much the whole young adult section You'd have to move that over into the adult section of the library, right? I mean, that's really what we're talking about. So what we're talking about here is that there's All these book challenges that we're hearing about I mean they have a common theme in them, right? So it's about families who are LGBTQ plus and their stories, right and children So that's what we're really talking about here. This is one of the issues that's coming up and unfortunately I think that this is going to be talked about for a while. I don't think that there's any end in sight I'm sorry Sorry to say that But because every single time one of these challenges happens and the book gets moved You know, there's a win So there's more there's more challenges that come up and every single time that they don't win You know, then there's just more push and more drive like okay. We have to fight harder, right? We have to do more emails. We have to reach out more We have to get these books moved off of these shelves because we don't want to see them here They need to be over there in the adult section of the library or maybe in another room I heard that at the last meeting or You know, let's just put them back in the closet, right? So this library is all about the library when I went online and I looked at your mission statement You know, the library is here for all families so that all families feel like they belong here And it's your job as a board to make sure that that mission is carried out, right? So your job is to support the people that are working at the library doing the work providing the resources bringing those books You know so that families can access them having those programs available so that all families feel like they belong here because all families belong here and I think that it's relevant this week to Pope Martin Luther King because you know it's weak and so he said that Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that Hate cannot drive out hate Only love can do that And I really hope that as a board when you're serving on this board that you're really working hard to drive out this darkness And hate because I know you're feeling it. You're hearing it You're feeling it and I'm sorry that that you're in that position But that's your role right now, right? And I hope that you you know just work to really shed light on what the real issue is here and that you continue to stand up for love Next thing we'll sign up list is Tina Mills I'm Tina Mills Thanks everybody for being here and thanks for your service and I've already heard everything in my wonderfully prepared speech from all my Friends out here, so I just want to say that I sit on the city council at Winterville And I have full faith in our librarian Deidre Murray And I have full confidence in all the decisions that she makes for our library And I don't think she has any help and we do not want me desire any help with her decisions for our library So thank you so much Next name is Mark. Is it vanilla? I'm sorry. Yeah, howdy I First like to say that I appreciate How well spoken and thoughtful everyone's been it's It's really heartwarming and I appreciate you all very much expressing yourselves about this Very important issue. I'm a Resident I live right down the road from here and I've lived all over the country and been a Library fan and patron from my entire life libraries Have not a great deal to me and my family my extended family my friends and I believe To the nation it's a little discouraging that times the maybe reliance on library resources slipping away, and I do believe that some of the Partisanship and and Control issues are exacerbating that I'd like to see that You know return to a more equitable situation the Board has done a fantastic job the Librarians as everyone's mentioned are wonderful the whole system here is incredible and it provides a great amount of Information and all kinds of positive influence and Things that we that go beyond what any of us can even see for children and Generations moving down the road one of the best parts of any library I've been to has always been the history section and History will teach us with even a cursory reading that allowing partisan fascists Overly constrained religious and Similar influences on what we read what we think what we can see What we experience is Literally the start to the road for the death of intellect and Society I can't Underline how serious this is to me and obviously Everyone here. Thank you for what you do. I don't think you need a bit of help to decide Hi, my name is Glenn level my wife and I live in Athens where we raised our two children now in college with support of the public schools in the Public Library, I appreciate this opportunity to address the board Public libraries which provide free community access to books newspapers and other information more broadly Play a critical role in our democratic and free society But that in mind I want to express my support for our library's current collection development policy which holds quote Which quote upholds the right of the individual to secure information? Even though the content of that information may be controversial Unworth it ox or unacceptable to others in quote the policy also correctly supports the broad quote informational Educational cultural and recreational needs of the general population of the region in quote As such I believe that everyone should expect to be able to find and see themselves Reflected in the library, but everyone should also expect to find See and discover the ideas of people unlike themselves This ability to discover and access a broad spectrum of ideas and representations aren't exclusive that aren't exclusively our own Is an essential feature of our libraries? It's a feature that will if we take full advantage of it both surprise and challenge us It's also a feature that will at times offend us In fact, if we aren't offended from time to time that our libraries probably aren't doing their jobs very well So I'd like to thank both the board and the staffs of our libraries for doing their jobs Well, and for their continued support of a mission that includes providing our community with resources that encourage discovery Imagination and lifelong learning I'm a resident of Athens-Clarke County, and I have two kids one of whom is here. She's in fifth grade and I have a senior at Clark Central and The library system in Athens is something that's incredibly important to me. I feel like libraries give me faith in humanity When things are really dark, when we've got a library, we have this whole entire idea Based on making sure that we all and I mean all have access to information and amazing programming for our children, for our teenagers One thing that I feel very strongly about is lack of information is Much more dangerous than information I don't think as one of the previous people said that accessing any of these books will hurt any children But I do know and what we've heard from many many voices of adults who were previously children is that Not seeing your own life your own family your own fear any of those things reflected in the literature available to you In the media available to you is harmful Having your life banned Has repercussions. So as a parent to two children who I have been pleased to watch grow up and become their own people Whether I enjoy those people or not to support The fact that there's information out there that I may not even know that they need and so anyway Thank you library for existing. I apologize on behalf of my fellow citizens to all the library staff who've had to endure any abuse And I do not support a citizens advisory board Lisa Freeman My name is Lisa Freeman. I live in Athens-Cart County and I just became concerned How books were going to be chosen for our library system? I Don't know how much I have to add except For me the library was the one place. I knew that I could go that I was welcome. I Was a lonely kid and I knew that I would go to a library and I was surrounded by the carriers and the voices and the The stories of everyone and that's what the library needs to be. It needs to be stories of everyone and There used to be no exclusion and I guess that's all I have to say Chris Erwin Good afternoon. My name is Chris Erwin. I'm a citizen of Madison County I'm a firm believer in the library system And I believe that a citizen's board is not necessary. I wanted to read to you a definition of Liberty the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority of one's One's way of life behavior or political views The public library is for the public as it's been said by so many people Keep it that way for everyone. I do not restrict any books Unless gone through the proper process, which I agree is very strong and reliable a good friend of mine is a employee The library system and she is on that board every view So I understand the whole process and thank you for what you do and serve on this board as volunteers I have served on many of volunteer in terms of I know the pressures and the time commitment it takes So thank you very much for your service Will a my name is will I I'm in a county resident. We've been just up the road and just wanted to share my perspective I agreed completely with really everything that's been said here, and I want to say from my perspective as a Father-free adult children who none of whom love anchovies unfortunately Try as we might That's a fact, but I'm looking for how to get them back in the county and Find a books on that. I would appreciate that too However, as a retired military officer, I would like to say I've seen a Lot of things around the world It's a source of power resources strength Restricting ideas does not prepare anyone to include our children or adults For life in the world from a perspective of where I sat We need to do people that have more to Virginia. It's not us So I encourage you. Thank you for what you're doing volunteers You're under fire Understand that you're doing a moral Allison You were actually the last name Approximately 40 minutes of public comments, so I'll just say that that closes the public comment portion, but thank you Thank you for your public comments. Thank you for being respectful in those comments and then kind of for following the rules Right and addressing the board and keeping to your time limits and thank you for for your thoughts and your expressions in that So with that, we do need to move onward with the remainder of our agenda today But thank you again for your public comments. The next item on the agenda is to accept the financial report for fiscal year 2020 or quarter two Don't say we're here either. Usually that's your I'll give everybody I So any questions on the It's fantastic if you choose to say if you could just please allow us to conduct our meeting so if you need to talk maybe you could step outside So hearing none If there's specific questions do we have any No, I was looking at computer and software the line item that's over I was wondering if it was some unexpected expense or I'm wondering if it was the software or something Well, yes, that's part of it That it's on over. We're taking a closer look at that. I'm wondering if some of the some of the computer software maintenance should be in actually in supplies But yeah, ADP is it's certainly Um Yeah, I kind of figured out about the show but I figured out at least that Right So we're working on cleaning all of that up and you know, it'll get It's getting better and better as I'm sure you all Not at this point we may wind up amending the budget x quarter That's okay Yes, those are consultants and people that we've used As you know, we we've hired an attorney. Um, and so that's coming out of that We've had some Some help with our accounting and and so that's come out of that And so yes, basically the professional fees and contract labor has been The the source of those those contracts that we've made Motion a second to uh, except I'll say the financial report Any further discussion? All I'm saying all in favor say aye Any opposed? Thank y'all So when I move on to the regional reports We'll start with I can spark in actually fairly brief The friends have announced that their book sale will begin on March the 16th Forward to another successful one. Wintervolt had a particularly sweet report this time They've started a new chess program for the kids, which I thought was wonderful Or not just me a lot of people thought was wonderful. Then they were doing some things on the building itself I think there was some floor repair because There had not been a moisture barrier under part of the library But anyway, that's all being attended to and then they started a project as much as sounds much like storyboard to me They're gathering stories from patrons about what they like about the library and then there'll be sharing those with other folks at different times And I think that's basically it. Thank you Hey Jack Next on regional reports will be frank again so, um It was a bit of a mixed bag this quarter We were down in circulation of patrons, but we actually had a branch closed For six weeks. So Livonia Branch if you're unaware, there was a car accident that took out a phone pole There were some power surges. The wiring was a whole big hot mess. So After calling it experts due to smoke and What not in the library they did have to shut down for six weeks. That was some pretty extensive pretty expensive repair work So in terms of just looking at the statistics of the library, we were down However, programming initiatives have gone really well Um for adults and children's programming. We do have new children's specialists coming on in Royston Um, we've got some of our adult programming that's expanded the crochet club. I think is is one of them that's growing So, I'm pretty pleased overall. Um, we are also rebuilding some initiatives in relationship with the Franklin county board of education who's not necessarily Um been a partner in the last few years with covid and everything was transpired I think many of us are looking to kind of rebuild how can we support our local education systems? and so There was a really productive meeting with the school superintendent by a select group from the Franklin county board And we're going to be invited to have further discussion with them Potentially to talk about additional funding partnership opportunities, so As mentioned at the last regional meeting we were recently The recipients of not one but two generous gifts from a former patron who passed away. Um, this is Ruth Webb We are exploring ways to invest that money that is most advantageous, but still within the scope of the law But you're finding that there are some constraints related to how we can invest that money as a Entity of local government. So we are working towards that just to make sure that the money is, you know available For as long as possible We unfortunately have kind of stalled out in our discussions of Expanding the play card into our school systems. We've gotten really close to that There was a point of contention in the opt-in versus out for our students We're hoping to follow Clark and economy in the near future with that. It is something that we're really interested in and invested in and then We do have a new Applicant being set forward to the board of commission and we are really excited about that And of course as the trend has been once we fill a seat we get a seat. So we are going to have another vacancy Um starting in march. So we are looking around if you know anyone else in madison county who would like to serve who would like to have All of our numbers were up for this quarter and Just going smoothly Thank you. So I will give the economy county report I'll say that since our last meeting the former Watkinsville branch of the economy county library closed For the move to This location. So you are here. All right, and we are excited We're excited about finishing things up and being open to the public there because a lot of work that has gone in for This new library facility at this location Hopefully other members of the region can maybe see what the vision has been and also not being Maybe it's traditional as a standalone Library but but part of a larger gathering place where people in the community can come We're hoping that the housing currently under construction between us and bonnet shoals road will be filled with lots of library volunteers So we're excited and also at the same time we have another library branch in economy county that's in bogart every time I've been to that bogart branch since The former Watkinsville branch closed. It's been very busy because instead of supporting just a portion of the county It's been supporting the entire county. So I'm sure staff at the bogart branch will be very thankful When this branch reopens and we can we can have services throughout the county as well. So again, thank you Overthorpe County I initial like to say that overthorpe county library is still in the same place. So you We've had the friends of the library have been very active and very supportive. They've had a number of programs book sales and other craft sales that Supported and they've been very successful in that Uh, and they've also reached out to the wider business community and listing members, uh, to support the support the library At the library, we've had a number of children's programs have been very successful The Liscari week which we put on before which involved games and crafts and included staff in costing I walked in and didn't quite recognize our um, branch manager when I first saw ourselves It's very successful on that. We also had to drive through Trump our treat in our parking lot in which people Parents came by with their children and they were given three books and a treat the three books having been provided by the friends of the library At number of Christmas events and we've had several outreach programs including programs at the local school at the rotary club and actually we had Appearance of several members of the staff including the regional staff at the maxis christmas parade Having to know that because I was working the parking lot But that was very helpful We also had adult programs Lunch and learn which is also supported by friends of the library an open book club And then a program called afternoon online for adults Just so you know, we only serve coffee But otherwise, uh, we've been very busy and appreciate the support of the community that we have Thank you. Thank you. All right. I'll see the director's report Oh, good afternoon I'll make this as brief as I can We've had some time working with abt. Uh, that's the company that is outsourcing our payroll Dory that and good who it's not here today And sue quinn who is here today assistant director Sue quinn have been working very hard to get this process up and running You know, it's uh, so often Uh, these these large companies make it sound like it's going to be an easy process to get through but We have found that we've had to do quite a bit of work to To move that process through and so both lory and sue have worked extremely hard to make that happen The next step with the adp process is getting all of our staff to register their time electronically They'll be able to do that on their telephones from Some of them from other locations And That should be easy also on their phones. They'll be able to see their w2 their time sheets. They can request time off So we're really moving into a uh, a new new era for our timekeeping and our cable Let's see The Athens regional library strategic plan activities We've put on the table for everyone to see for the board to take a look at I believe it was Male too. I hope so maybe not But these are the activities that the regional board the regional staff have decided on That we're going to try and get accomplished as many as we can For through the end of this fiscal year. I have to give many thanks to our executive assistant Teresa Price because she is the one that Actually is keeping us on track. She created a project management campaign for us for each one of these objectives and activities so that we can Keep track of where we are where we need to be and If we need to make changes in the timeline, we'll be able to do that So I I would like to thank Teresa for that I also wanted to thank our collections manager Lindsay Josie who is here today and one of the people that we can congratulate and for all of her hard work with some of the issues that The Athens regional library system has been going through and her support and dedication to that but Recently in addition to all of that She's recently with her team rolled out Online streaming source called hoopla. I don't know how many of you are aware of hoopla But now we have hoopla as part of our Athens regional library system and you can stream DVDs movies CDs Books on tape in addition to liby And all kinds of other things. So please take a look at that at our hoopla and If you are currently using Netflix or prime, you may want to see if it's available on hoopla for free with your library Staff development day was actually very very successful this year. I want to thank nakay who's Wave your hand. It's in the audience and ashley who's in the audience They were our co-chairs for staff development day, which was uh, extremely Successful across the region Surprised not surprisingly, but we're here. So I can't share that the akone county library staff They won the most valuable team award and jessica simpson. I don't know if jessica is here right now But jessica if you see her she won the staff of distinction award and so Congratulations and kudos to them I'm also asking and we can talk about this at some point to meet with the with the finance committee and the executive board for To go over budgeting and financial procedures. We've also enlisted the akate of that Enlisted the aid of accountant patty. I'll go to help us with that. So I will be in touch to talk about this board This board's financial committee to start working with us a little closer on some of the things that That we need to get done The legislative day for georgia libraries has not yet been announced when it is I will let you know when perhaps we can get another Van For staff to attend and and the board members to attend New board member orientation will likely take place in march every year we have orientation either done by julie walker our Our state librarian or one of her assistants as our deputy state librarians So we'll probably we have a lot of new board members I had initially thought that we could go to each one and just do them separately But it's we're getting more and more of them. So I think it may be wise to just have another Major Orientation in place for all the new board members We have new state mileage fees. They're not they don't seem like they changed very much from last year, but those need to be Those are an action item And obviously the grand opening for a coney park is Going to be a soft opening We're not going to be doing any speeches or anything with the weather and making sure that we have all the equipment that we need So we'll probably do a grand opening for a coney sometime in the spring But we will be open february 3rd at 10 o'clock and there's all kinds of wonderful activities that are going to be going on all day. So I hope everyone Please tries to make that We are looking to We have listened to to what some of our patrons are saying. I appreciate everything that everyone said here and we are looking at ways to To make the library accessible to as many people as possible And to provide that kind of access. So Um, we will be talking with the our selectors and the management team of the library to To make sure that we're providing access in the best way that we can to support parents of all children and Continuing to have the books in the library that need to be there Um, I've updated we've updated the patron responsibilities and conduct policy um And there is a new banning policy for the board's review And I hope you all have had a chance to take a look at that And that's my Thank you Any questions I'd be happy to respond Any questions for Val and her Director We'll move to the committee reports on their One of our members of our finance committee is not here. I don't believe we have a finance community report But based on the new business action items from the link about the director report I would expect there will be a finance committee report at our quarterly meeting Is there I'll just go down the list here to see if there's any Report your update community's community. So I'll start with personnel Okay Usually we don't have at this meeting for personnel policy We're going to discuss the we'll call it the patron behavior policy Okay Yeah, I do want to discuss it now or later. Which which is the best I think just as we're going through this on the on the policy report, it would help be helpful for me if we go ahead and talk about this now Okay, um I don't have a printed copy of it here, but I can pull it up I was able to communicate some I had some I'm on the policy committee and I had some concerns about some of the possible interpretations of Some of the policy a lot of the concerns were Answered in a response by one of the assistant directors that was there was very helpful so I Still have a little bit of issue with some of the language in it However, I and I understand that this is very minor edits that they're being asked about however I I think the policy Before could have been that too, right being asked to look at the whole entity Um It was very helpful for me to have to see the patron Responsibilities and conduct the ending matrix So I would suggest adding that to the policy so that people can see that and it is public on the website just like it is like the policy itself is already I didn't look on the website, but having been sent the The patron behavior Policy it's helpful to see what the progress is of the incidents and how the escalation Right. So just for clarification We're talking about patron behaviors part of the policy is the clarification on what some of those expected behaviors are Every branch is different, but we want to make sure our staff is is protected as well I think just first for clarification I think I've seen the email you did but I'm not sure that everybody so there is a matrix that kind of articulates You know what a first offense would be What a second offense would be Is that that's a clarification and I don't believe it's currently Specifically attached to the personal behavior policy. It may be somewhere else with it It's considered a guideline. Okay. I would recommend making an attachment and including it would be my recommendation So that everyone is on the same page Um, and that there's an understanding of the process as it advances My issues were things that I felt like could be perceived as Being towards certain individuals or types of individuals things like Fallow smell I can't remember the exact But I just want to be sure that we're not That we're being inclusive in our policies as well and I think having the matrix sets everyone up for the same Um Expectations so that it's not as much upper I don't know. It just didn't sit quite right with me. I didn't I thought that I know it's a tricky line to walk But I also as a public building You know when it's 18 degrees out or when it's very hot I hate to turn people away, especially if that's their avenue means the library and their avenue into our services Because a smell or What bags they're carrying? I understand there's I want there to be a safety parameters within that But I just want to be cognizant of that and I also think that since we haven't on staff social worker There are times where maybe perhaps some of those things make more sense And I think that could be included in the verb of morning in the first time is referring as well to the resources Which I think is done, but I'd like to see that articulated in the policy Okay Those are our guidelines that our staff has The social worker is at the Athens-Clarke county branch And some of the issues that the Athens-Clarke county branch is Baxter street are specifically to support our staff They also support the staff and other Our other counties In that they have A voice or if something to back them up if something should happen at their location But the the issues that we are experiencing in Athens-Clarke county the The the behaviors are the behaviors. We are not attacking or looking to Look towards any one group of people Everyone is invited to stay in the library and to be in the library and they are And they are all the time There are behaviors though that we find challenging for our staff And we have to address those in the behavior policy And this is not this isn't a new behavior policy. This is this one was just tweaked a little bit We've had this behavior policy in place for quite a few years at least seven or eight and The so the behavior policy has been in place for quite some time The matrix has been matrix has been in place for quite some time We review that on a regular basis to make sure that it is fair And the staff guidelines for What you do, you know, everyone gets a first warning Everyone gets a second warning Everyone gets that third warning and that third warning may be the time that we're we ask them to leave for the day one day until they can come back and abide by the behaviors This doesn't happen very often in in the other Counts we got it first well and as part of the regional board so also in the interest of And on the policy committee as part of at the inner the region Reviewing the whole policy despite of the just tweaked Offering my opinion. It's just that everyone votes however they want to vote. I just I think that the matrix provided a lot of context that was missing from the policy. So I don't think it was Is Inappropriate how it's laid out in the escalation. I think it's generous. I just think there's important context when looking at policy So we can we can talk about that a little bit more when we get to that new business action item. I think those are Very good points. We appreciate you sharing those as well. Is there is there anybody else on the policy committee? that had anything that So, uh, I don't believe we have a need for a report for the nominating committee Today is real hard. Thank you So on the uh, next item on agenda is old business Make sure you don't have any old business items on this so that means I'll be a good job. Last time I took care of all the new business items But we do have a couple or we have three new business items on the agenda next So the first would be uh, the approval to meet regularly with the finance committee and the executive board to discuss Budgeting and finance procedures. One of the things I'll kind of add some context to that So our fiscal year would be July 1 through June 30th. That's what's established Several of our funding entities are established that way too, whether they be counties or whether they be cities or different Maybe wars of education right some but not everyone somewhere on a calendar year So the issue becomes if we're only preparing for what you might consider budget time In the spring waiting up to the the end of a fiscal year at the beginning of a new fiscal year Then we may miss some of those opportunities because well Those that are on a calendar year that starts from January 1 those meetings will be much more factored in the fall than in the spring so Hopefully haven't made sense with that but do I hear any motion For approval to meet regularly with the finance committee and the executive board To discuss budgeting and finance procedures I still move. Thank you. Do I hear a second? Any further discussion Since public work county is one of those red-headed step-childs that does calendar year I just would like to point out that The commission which is a major funder and a county commission which is a major funder Wants us to have information in by july so if we would wait until september we'd do these things then we would be too late That's that's important. I appreciate it. They plan way ahead And that's what we would like to do based on a lot of times We're basing budgets on previous years and then making the adjustments whether there's categories, but I think we would be able to do that It would just be if there's if there's times two of me and make changes that we don't We may be more frequently, but I think that's a very point. I don't I don't want to Create a delay when there's not a need for So we've had a motion and a second and we've had some discussion any further discussion on that New business item. All right, all the papers say aye Any opposed Thank you The second on the new business item here fund stuff state mileage fees So I will tell you You're more than welcome to discuss it, but Yeah, you can see the rates there, but that's what they all are On the motorcycle that's 65 50 cents per mile And an automobile that's 67 cents per mile Further statement towards it So I hear a motion to approve the state mileage fees. This is what we need to do Director second All right, I'm gonna do that for it Any further discussion All in favor say aye Any opposed That carries. Thank you Approval of the hatred behavior behavior policy Which does include language on on escalation, right? And the the ban based on certain behaviors after a certain number of warnings part of the things that we were just talking about So so I'll maybe share my thoughts just a little bit on that and then we can maybe see if we can discuss further I don't want to table this item because I think it's important To try to have some updates. I'm not sure everyone has seen the matrix That is a guideline currents currently that is not attached to this policy My only concern with that being attached to the policy. I think it's good from a reference standpoint However, I know maybe in my younger years if I knew well, I had three times to do something before there was actually any Uh repercussions other than a verbal warning that I may uh use that against the policy rather than just responding on a On a first warning as well. So I'm open to further discussion on that. No I was just gonna Maybe jumping off of that point. I mean, I understand where you're coming from because as a patron, I think There's a desire for transparency But I also like the freedom and the flexibility If it's not a policy and it is in fact a guideline you do have more flexibility, but the moment it's a policy If it's not enforced for one patron and it is for another Then you have opportunity for people to perceive discrimination Or come after you because you didn't apply it the exact same way Every single time And there are times you might want to extend a little bit more grace because of the situation You know about that if it's a guideline, I'm not married to that So I and of course coming from franklin county. I don't have the challenges That you know, and the evidence park county library branch has So I I don't know. I'm probably lean at the moment unless Everybody else has a different opinion to to I like it being a guideline And I don't know if there's some middle territory where there's something you want to expand that maybe gives that transparency, but I I would be in favor of not attaching it to the policy itself Any further discussion on that for the Approval of the updated patron behavior Result of the general I don't mind the policy bureaucratic. I don't mind the policy being vague and not having this attached to it But if it's not attached to it There are just some parts of the policy that just And that's okay That's just I I want the staff to be protected. I want the staff to have Absolutely, I want the staff to have the autonomy to use their discernment and their judgment and I trust them to do so So I hear what you're saying make it loose and let them escalate as they want. I don't have a problem with that I for my own And a total experience see some of the things in this policy Just read to me And and I'll use it and also some of the things that I've heard from staff not at my own bridge, but You know when we talk about smells or we including babies that is when we talk about you know traffic or you know Bags are we really just looking at a certain type of person with a lot of bags? It just that I can't quite reconcile But I'm one member of this board. So everyone like how they want to write and I that's fine I just wanted to be able to express my Any further discussion Maybe it's because I walked out of room and I'm sorry about that Are we talking about adding this where? The banning policy is we're updating it. It's just slightly updated. So I said if you want to raise So there are two policies There's the patient conduct policy Which is just updated Okay, and then the the banning policy is a new policy So the behavior policy was updated The behavior policy has been updated several times and and has existed I I couldn't quite an original date, but it's existed since at least 2019 So you might be talking about the behavior. I'm talking about the behavior policy We don't have a printed copy of that in front. That's right. But that's what we are talking about on imc right here, right? so The banning policy I actually did not issue It was cater now and I understand that it's existed. I don't think it's an inherently bad policy There's just some parts of it that may be out So did we send out a behavior policy change? We set out the behavior policy That's okay. We set out the the behavior the patient conduct and behavior policy and we set out the banning policy Okay, so the behavior policy is not I think it was mailed to To everyone I mailed it to the policy committee Okay, so we're missing no one so We need to say that Yeah, it would really be good I don't Make sure I'm on same page. So We don't have a printed copy here, especially with the red lines of the changes to the patron behavior policy That's the new business line on the agenda. I don't think we have enough information to vote on that today You do have a copy Of the banning policy, which is an amendment to the patron behavior policy Please understand banning is about patrons and not books But the one page banning policy Um It seems as though we would be able to Adopt this today, but we would need to come back next quarter on the revised patron behavior policy Based on what I'm understanding here. I was maybe complaining or adding them together when they're maybe a little back to me, but um Does that make sense? Okay, and I'd like to point out that Whatever in which other way the discussion about publishing the matrix goes one way or the other I don't think it's dependent on the banning policy because that would be part of the behavioral policies That's correct if that Yeah to clarify the banning policy is a standalone separate policy from the the patron conduct and behavior policy Okay And so if there was an issue that Decided that the matrix needed to be published It would be more appropriate to do it with the behavioral policy than the banning policy I think I think that that I think that that's That's a million suggestions to include it with the behavior of policy, right? I think that's one route. Yes. There were also I think and I can um, I had I had a chance to get back to you, but um There are also just Some little elements of the verbiage that I did not sit right I'm in the major. Well, no in the page. The matrix is very good. I like it Is that it was the actual policy I thought All right, so I'm gonna do my best to corral this here. I think Mike makes a great point as well. So um Here's here's what I would request. So on new business item 11c Approval for the updated patron behavior policy specifically. I would request that we get a motion to table that until our eight goal Meeting Thank you, Jane. Can I get a second? Thank you Mike. Any further discussion? Yeah, but why don't we have a dreaded zoom meeting within the next two weeks Get this out to everybody so we can breathe it And then vote Or do you want to win doing that would be a follow-up thing, but I still think we got a table at the deck Yes Okay I think it's a good point. I'm just not sure about the schedule So we will continue with the patron behavior policy that it has been approved. It's in place. It's in place. Yeah so So I've got any further discussion on tabling the patron behavior policy All in favor say aye Any opposed I didn't hear any opposed, but it's okay if something doesn't play but all right, so The next item I'd like somebody to we'll we'll amend the if someone will make a motion to amend the agenda to add The approval of the banning policy for persons who violate library policy um as 11 the new 11c I'll sell you Thank you Any discussion All right, so we're adding it to the agenda. So all in favor say aye Any opposed Right, so now banning policy is only agenda because that's the one page piece of paper we have in front of It seems as though that is what we've Maybe me uh, I haven't have added with some of the other ones But it seems as though this is even if it's vague this is relatively short I do have a question about that because I may have confused what a million had brought for Because I haven't seen what you seem so I may I may just not have been fully cognizant of what you were trying to articulate But the language and the banning policy that we're actually looking at So this matrix that I haven't seen don't know what it is The second paragraph in this policy says Based on a guideline on offenses and consequences established by the library So is that matrix actually attached not not to be publicized? I mean, is that the matrix we're referring to? The matrix that we're referring to is available to stay out on the internet right, um, and It's it is a guideline right which is yeah, that's what he says a guideline I just wanted to see if that's the guideline we're talking about. Yes, so I can separate it in my mind from the other policy Which is something else entirely So it is it policy we the current policy and so you may want to share with uh any differences there were And the two policies I don't think it's right here with what I was going on about maybe Well, I didn't hear the question If you if you want to share what the differences is in the old approved policy And the changes that you made in the new policy in the conducts of behavior policy I was simple my simple found my question. Okay. The banning policy is completely new It's it's fresh. Yes. Yeah, the The reference made in the new banning policy that refers to guidelines Those guidelines, are they the matrix that already exist or we're creating them in our local bridges at our own discretion? No, this is referring to the banning policy the banning matrix that Exists a stat on the internet. Okay. Yeah Okay, I just because in my hand that was attached to the other policy I'm just trying to and it may be attached to both. I'm just trying to Get clear of my head. It's referenced. I think reference to but not attached. Right, and that's fine. I'm fine And let me buddy the situation Is the matrix that is on the internet Different from the published Rules of a given library. Uh, we we had to deal with this with a patron at our At our meeting this month A person who had abridged the rules of the library been warned And ended up being banned Are those rules different from this matrix that are the guidelines? No, are they the same? Yes He that patron was banned according to His behavior, but they were that what my point is that they were they're published. Yeah, they're available to the public They're they're available to staff The the matrix the matrix is available to the staff The matrix is available to staff, but the um, uh, the actual policies For behavior policy is available online. It is available at the entrance of all of our Yes, that was my point those things are available to patrons as they come into the library So there's there's there's there are no secrets. There there there are no secrets. Thank you. There are no secrets So those those rules of conduct, I'm sorry, it just Forged me. So the rules are you said posted at the library. Yes And I'm on And then I assume and those are comprehensive, right? So just like no sleeping. Yes, or I'm asking Excuse me a minute. They were I also found out because this was new to me that there's a essentially a small card That is available for people to pick up. So it's not like it's stuck on a lawsome place. You have to go look for it And I have no issue with said guidelines, right? I just wanted to make sure that they are soft and just and how they are perceived income and executed um Okay, and then we And and maybe this is just at the discretion of this app number when they are Is that morning Is there been a like and the next time this happens Is that And and in between then and between all of those if you are in Athens Clark county, which is the county that's having the most of these issues You are referred to the social worker and all of that is in is part of the staff guidelines And I'm sorry. I have so many questions, but I think it's relevant. So um Now does the the social worker work for the region or the just Athens Clark county right now she She works for Athens Clark county, but she has done training for the region and will continue to do so And if I may add just one more who are experienced this month The person was not just warned verbally Of that happen, but then there was a written report the person was was handed as well as emailed In terms of the warnings and so forth. So the the gradations Should have that apparent. Yes. We keep incident reports all of the libraries to incident reports for behaviors that have That are against the the behaviors of the library the context behavior So any any further discussion and I think again, this is this kind of the the minutiae right about how we get through on home Adopting policies and updating policies and thinking about things not just in one specific instance, but but on all sides of it, right? Is but is there any further discussion on the Uh Manning policy for persons who violate library policy do I have a motion on that agenda? I'll load the motion to accept The banning policy Thank you group. Is there a second? a second Any further discussion All in favor say aye That was Almost the last thing on the agenda here. Here's the challenge. I'll have about the item of the table Because we've talked a lot about and I apologize because I was maybe confusing some of those things together as well My challenge will be to the policy committee to meet Regarding the red line patron behavior policy however that meeting has occurred and you know if I need to help facilitate that electronically Conference ball whatever the case might be To come with a cohesive recommendation From the policy committee back to this board that may allow us to have a whole meeting. I can't guarantee it will Prior to the April meeting and the very latest we were planning to Discuss that at the table meeting based on a Clear and concise recommendation from the policy committee I will set up a meeting Thank you And then we'll all have the same She the paper as it might be Any further announcements? I do actually, uh, I wanted to share with you all Tharcy Calia Our public information officer has created a year in review For the region and you can see some pretty wonderful statistics that are here that the region and our five Counties in 11 branches have accomplished. So please take a look at it. Uh, it includes all of us any further announcements Seeing none, do I hear a motion to adjourn? All in favor say aye. Thank you very much