Chicago Public Library Board of Directors
Chicago Public Library Board of Directors met Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Open Session Minutes
Physically Present:
Linda Johnson Rice, Christopher Valenti, Josephine Gomez, Lynn Lockwood
Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:
None
Absent:
Denise Gardner, Barbara Bowman, Patricia Gaytan Perez, Jodi Block
Approval of the minutes (action required)
Due to lack of a quorum, the Approval of minutes was tabled, pending approval at the January 17, 2017 Board meeting.
Kelly Fund Budget Update (action required)
Due to lack of a quorum, the Kelly Fund Budget Update was tabled, pending approval at the January 17, 2017 Board meeting.
Policy Amendment: Unattended Children and Disruptive Behavior Policy (action required)
Due to lack of a quorum, this Policy Amendment was tabled, pending approval at the January 17, 2017 Board meeting.
CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)
Rodney Freeman, Assistant Commissioner of Central Library Services provided an update on the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library that is under construction at HWLC and Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services presented the Capital Building Projects and Facilities report on neighborhood libraries which highlighted projects in planning, major maintenance and repair projects & other projects under construction.
Projects Under Construction
Thomas Hughes Children’s Library – Current activity: the contractor has been recommended and approved by the PBC Board; THCL closed to the public on 11/5; notice to proceed/construction begins on 12/1; final completion in Spring 2017; THLC will reopen to the public Summer 2017.
Projects In Planning
Early Learning Spaces – Current activity: Early Learning spaces have been completed at the West Englewood, Little Village and West Pullman branches; an Early Learning space at Lozano is in progress; Early Learning spaces at Budlong Woods, Legler, Suzler and Toman are forthcoming.
CPL-CHA Partnership – As part of the CPL/CHA partnership, new libraries will be built for Altgeld, Northtown, Roosevelt and Independence branches. CHA will select the architect for Altgeld, architects for the remaining branches will be selected through the CHA Housing/Library Design Competition. Request for qualifications for the CHA Housing/Library Design Competition was issued 12/9/16; due no later than 12/23/16.
Whitney Young – Current activity: schematic design phase is complete and two meetings to transition the project to the AOR have taken place; Public Art development process has begun with Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
Major Maintenance and Repair Projects
Sulzer – Complete: installation of new, ADA automatic push pad operators on two sets of entry doors; installation of new, code compliant fire alarm system; repairs to mechanical system, including two new chillers and refurbishment of existing cooling tower. Current activity: window replacement is approximately 65% complete including 3 large curtain wall windows over the front entry and the curtain wall window on the north façade; interior window finish trim and exterior window cladding installation is in progress; façade tuck pointing, damaged brick replacement and masonry infill is 99% complete; skylight installation is in progress with final completion anticipated by 12/23/16; metal gates on first floor removed, painting of exterior components in the spring.
Legler – Complete: entry stair rehabilitation project; repair and restoration of historic wood windows; masonry and parapet repairs; replacement of front doors. Current activity: project is in close-out phase; additional repairs and upgrades to the building are pending funding; planning is in progress for a JOC project with additional interior repairs and specific renovations to the Children’s Area to implement the Early Learning Program.
Mabel Manning – Current and upcoming activity: Fire alarm replacement work has begun, construction on the interior will begin in January; 2FM is currently preparing the “B” package for additional exterior JOC work.
South Chicago – Scope: Develop plan to control water seepage into the basement. Complete: contractor has replaced the exterior drainage piping and restored sidewalk and street paving; no reports of water infiltration since 11/23/16 when the work was completed.
Projects Under Construction
Woodson – Construction Update: Contractor – Ujamaa Construction
Scope: new terra cotta façade with metal panels in the rear of the building with matching color; new energy efficient and insulated windows, exterior doors and entrance with automatic push pads for accessibility; new curtain wall which will bring natural daylighting into lobby and 2nd floor; film with digital images applied on glass on south and southeast elevations; new energy efficient and insulated roof; new modern interior and exterior security cameras; renovation and modification to the lobby and monumental stairway; construction of two new 2nd floor study rooms.
Current activity: Envelope demolition began on 12/08/16; framing of windows/louvers on east façade to begin 12/19/16; temporary partition is now 95% complete; steel for use on the building has been fabricated; the new roof work is 50% complete; the east façade has been prepared to receive the new exterior wall metal panel finish and exterior window at the start of the new year.
Commissioner’s Report (info only)
Baronica Roberson, Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance gave a special report on the CPL’s budget for 2017. The City budget for 2017 passed in November 2016 and is up 1% from the prior year. The Chicago Public Library Foundation budget has also been approved. CPL’s total annual budget for 2017 totals $127, 180,791 and contains funding from a variety of sources that includes:
City Operating Budget - $74,635,696
Services of DOIT and 2FM - $14,153,802
Other City Support - $31,703,502 (interest payments, benefits, worker’s compensation, HWLC property mgmt. and funding for the purchase of books and other library materials)
Chicago Public Library Foundation - $6,632,791
Kelly Fund - $55,000 (pending approval at the January 17, 2017 CPL Board of Directors meeting)
Commissioner Bannon also highlighted the following:
CPL’s key accomplishments for 2016 included, but were not limited to:
The 2016 Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge exceeded 100,000 participants which more than doubled the number of participants from last year.
Through a partnership with Connect Chicago, CPL has been able to bridge the digital skills divide by offering patrons one-on-one support for computer skills and digital job resources; and developing online tutorials on how to use a computer and use online job resources.
New, renovated and co-located libraries are forthcoming for Altgeld, Whitney Young, Woodson, Sulzer, Northtown, Independence and Roosevelt branches.
CPL co-hosted Chicago’s first ever Teen Lit Fest with Columbia College which offered teens across the city panel discussions and workshops focused on poetry, fiction, zine, memoirs, blogs and spoken word performances.
The Library hosted the first Harold Washington Commemorative Lecture and Summit honoring the late Mayor Harold Washington.
CPL has begun building out Early Learning Spaces at neighborhood libraries across the City.
Elizabeth McChesney, Director of Children Services, will co-author a book with the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) on the Summer Learning Challenge. Proceeds of the book will go back to the City.
CPL & CTA launched a new partnership on Tuesday, November 29th that gives transit riders access to Chicago-focused content on the Chicago Public Library’s website through CTA's 4G subway wireless network. Riders will be directed to the library’s website to access free online content on demand, have the option to sign up for a Library ecard and also be able to access free books, movies and music.
CPL celebrated an Hour of Code December 5-11th during Computer Science Education Week which offered patrons an opportunity to learn the basics on computer science. Teen Services staff offered passive drop-in activities as well as special hands-on learning programs. Youth who attended CPL’s Hour of Code events received a CODE60+ badge for their digital portfolios.
The Winter Learning Challenge will be held December 19th - Jan 9th. This year’s challenge, Mix It Up, is a chemistry themed exploration for the winter break that will encourage kids to be chemists. Teen Services also kicked off its second annual Teen Winter Challenge Share Your Talent with the World on December 9th through Jan 20th which will offer teens an opportunity to submit three original creations for a chance to win a scholarship or gift card.
Other Business
None
Public Comment
The Board addressed comments from the audience surrounding the Talking Book Center being reinstated at the Library and a suggestion to add the Board’s favorite reads to the CPL website.
Next Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center.
Commissioner’s Report
Guest: Baronica Roberson, Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance
CPL 2016 Key Accomplishments
Highlights include:
Participation in the award-winning Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge exceeded 100,000 children for the first time, which represents an approximately 72% increase since the traditional summer reading program was revamped in 2013 to include all learning activities. In partnership with Bernie’s Book Bank and KPMG, we distributed over 1 million books to Summer Learning Challenge participants. Every child who participated received 12 books to build their home library. CPL remains the only public library system in the nation to receive an award from the National Summer Learning Association for excellence in summer learning, and this year received the honor of the John Cotton Dana Award from the American Library Association (ALA) for strategic marketing.
In April, CPL publicly launched a partnership with Connect Chicago to bridge the digital skills divide in Chicago. The CyberNavigator program expanded citywide, offering all Chicagoans one-on-one support for computer skills and digital job resources. In order to further support digital skills, CPL developed an online tool called Chicago Digital Learn. Patrons can complete online tutorials about how to use a computer, find information, and use online job resources. Each tutorial is only 15-20 minutes in length.
CPL announced a new branch library in Altgeld Gardens and a renovation and addition at our Whitney Young branch. In addition, Woodson Regional Library is undergoing a complete façade replacement and Sulzer Regional Library is getting a new roof and facility upgrades. Through an innovative partnership with CHA, we also announced plans for new co-located libraries at Northtown, Independence, and Roosevelt branches.
Chicago Public Library organized and co-hosted the city’s first ever Teen Lit Fest. Over 350 teens from across the city attended panels and workshops focused on poetry, fiction, zines, memoirs, blogs and spoken word performance at Columbia College and the Harold Washington Library Center.
The Library hosted the first Harold Washington Commemorative Lecture and Summit, honoring the late Mayor Harold Washington. The summit offered a full day of panels and discussions around the life and legacy of Mayor Washington. This event was hosted in partnership with Chicago Urban League, the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee, and HistoryMakers and saw approximately 500 attendees.
Thanks to a $2.5 million grant from Exelon, one of the largest individual gifts in the history of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, CPL has begun to build out Early Learning Spaces that incorporate interactive play and discovery in neighborhood branches across the city. The branch spaces offer the youngest learners an inviting and engaging environment in which to begin their path to literacy. Construction has begun on the flagship STEM-focused learning space in Thomas Hughes Children’s Library at HWLC.
PL & CTA Partnership
On Tuesday, November 29th, 1st Deputy Commissioner Saenz joined Mayor Emanuel and CTA President Carter to announce a new partnership with the Chicago Public Library (CPL) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) that gives transit riders access to Chicago-focused content through CTA's 4G subway wireless network.
Through a targeted CTA marketing campaign launching early 2017, riders will be directed to the library’s website to access free online content on demand. CTA riders will be able to instantly access the Library’s digital content, including blogs written about Chicago or by Chicago authors, quizzes and Chicago-focused curated content. Riders will also have the option to sign up for a Library ecard, which provides free access to ebooks, audiobooks, streaming music and movies, e-magazines, homework help and more. The campaign will be designed through a pro-bono partnership by FCB Chicago and featured on CTA rail lines.
Through a unique partnership with Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), riders will also be able to access free books, movies and music without a Library card.
Hour of Code
Chicago Public Library celebrated an Hour of Code during Computer Science Education Week (December 5-11). Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science designed to show that anyone can learn the basics while broadening participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts.
That week, Teen Services staff created displays and offered passive drop-in activities as well as special hands-on learning programs. Youth who attended CPL’s Hour of Code events were encouraged to visit chicagocodes.org (a Digital Youth Network and CPS partnership project) to claim a CODE60+ badge for their digital portfolios.
The James Dyson Foundation also hosted hands-on workshops at the Albany Park and Edgewater branches that featured the coding and design engineering behind Dyson’s new autonomous, connected robot vacuum—the Dyson 360 EyeTM. Participants were then challenged to develop an invention and build a cardboard prototype that uses engineering and coding to solve a problem in their community
Winter Learning Challenge
Beginning December 19 - January 9, 2017, CPL is challenging kids to mix it up by exploring the world of chemistry during this season’s Winter Learning Challenge. Mix It Up is a chemistry themed exploration for the winter break that will encourage kids to be chemists by cooking with an adult, building a volcano or trying some of the other experiments on CPL’s website. The goal of this program is to motivate children to get in the habit of 20 minutes of daily reading and conduct a family science activity together during this out of school time. Programming will also be offered in the branches through late December.
CPL Teen Services also kicked off its second annual Teen Winter Challenge Share Your Talent with the World on December 9th. This challenge gives teens ages 14-18 the opportunity to submit a portfolio with three original creations along with an artist’s statement for the chance to win a $250 or $500 scholarship or gift card — and see their work featured on CPL’s website. The deadline for submissions is January 20th. The jury will include Chicago Public Library staff and museum partners from The Art Institute of Chicago; Intuit; The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art; The National Veteran’s Art Museum and The Hyde Park Art Center.
https://pipeline.locallabs.com/stories/511110444
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