Chicago City Wire

Chicago Public Library Board of Directors met April 17. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

Open Session Minutes

Physically Present: Linda Johnson Rice, Lynn Lockwood, Barbara Bowman, Jodi Block

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference: None

Absent: Christopher Valenti, Dominique Jordan Turner, Patricia Gaytan Perez, Denise Gardner

Welcome to the Austin Branch (info only)

JoAnne Willis, branch manager, provided an overview of the Austin branch which was recently renovated with new wiring for computers, new carpet, a new teen space on the second floor, a new circulation desk and restored skylight. The Austin branch serves the Austin, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale and near West Side communities and hosts several programs for all ages including yoga, chess club, adult book discussion and an instrument petting zoo that offers kids the opportunity to test different instruments.

Approval of minutes (action required)

Due to lack of a quorum, the approval of minutes was tabled until the May 15, 2018 Board meeting.

Schedule of Requisitions, Contracts and Licenses (info only)

Baronica Roberson, Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance, presented the quarterly report on contacts and purchases made for magazines, books, databases, periodicals and articles of educational and instructional nature. For this quarter (January 1, 2018 – March 31, 2018) a total of 3920 invoices were paid totaling $2,256,904.07 to various vendors.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)

Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services presented the following CPL capital projects:

Major Maintenance, Repairs and Renovations

Chicago Bee Branch - Project Scope: full renovation and reconfiguration of first floor to include an Early Learning Play Space and YOUmedia; relocation and expansion of adult reading room and community room; repairs to envelope and parking lot; upgrades to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; new flooring, paint, ceiling tile, lighting, and furniture, installation of additional power and data. Milestones and Current Activity:

interior work in progressing; furniture selection in progress; full façade restoration to begin later in 2Q18; project completion is scheduled for 3Q18.

Douglass Branch - Project Scope to Include: exterior masonry repairs and new energy efficient roof; build-outs of an Early Learning Play Space and teen area; new flooring and paint throughout; new Circulation Desk and installation of additional power and data; upgrades to community room and staff work areas; design walk-through scheduled on 4/4; exterior construction to begin in 2Q18, with interior improvements to start in 3Q18, after the end of Rahm’s Readers.

Kelly Branch - Project Scope: envelope repairs and landscaping; new entry door, stairs and window repairs; paint throughout, new LED lighting, and new flooring - including new terrazzo entry; improvements to building systems and new fire alarm system; reconfiguration of program areas including new Circulation Desk, upgrades to furniture, and build out of an Early Learning Play Space and YOUmedia; renovation of rest rooms and staff areas. Milestones and Current Activity: masonry, tuck pointing and entry stair work is complete; installation of BAS system is complete; new fire alarm system is nearly complete; power and data work in ongoing; YOUmedia buildout is nearly complete; carpet and flooring installation is ongoing, including terrazzo on the first floor;

furniture selection in progress; library will reopen in late May with replacement of elevator cab to take place in September after the end of Rahm’s Readers; project completion is scheduled for 3Q18.

North Austin - Project Scope: exterior masonry tuck pointing and mechanical upgrades

New flooring and paint throughout; circulation Desk and restroom upgrades. Milestones and Current Activity: mechanical upgrades are complete and interior repairs are near completion - awaiting new shelving; branch is expected to reopen in June.

Sulzer Regional Library - Scope for Current Phase: carpet replacement on first and second floor including installation and restoration of terrazzo, replacement of flooring in basement; paint throughout; construction of a new meeting room on the second floor and restoration of existing built-ins, including upgrades to power and data; installation of additional power and data, AV upgrades in the auditorium; build out of an Early Learning Play Space and upgrades to children’s area; renovation of restrooms on first and second floors; upgrades to the Circulation Desk area; AV upgrades in the auditorium. Milestones and Current Activity: installation of additional power and data throughout is in progress; bathroom renovations, lighting retrofit, and painting is nearing completion; new AV installation in the Auditorium is scheduled for late April; additional work in children’s area will be resumed at the end of Rahm’s Readers in September.

CPL-CHA Partnerships

Altgeld - CHA project management: Site to combine a CPL library branch with an early childhood center, Design Architect: Koo & Associates. Milestones and Current Activity:

CHA is continuing to work with the State Historic Preservation Agency (SHPA) on design revisions, including landscape changes; Construction start, 3Q18; projected completion, 2Q19.

Independence Branch - Developer: Evergreen Real Estate Group, new construction 16,000 square foot public library building in a planned development with 44 senior housing units, Design Architect: John Ronan. Milestones and Current Activity: construction and value engineering exercises are in progress; projected completion, 4Q 2018.

Northtown Branch - Developer: Evergreen Real Estate Group, new construction 16,000 square foot public library building in a planned development with 44 senior housing units, Design Architect: Perkins + Will. Milestones and Current Activity: construction is in progress; CHA is working with AT&T on relocation of the video-ready access device (VRAD), which provides digital subscriber line access to its customers; projected completion, 4Q 2018.

Roosevelt - Developer: Related Midwest, new construction 16,000 square foot branch library in a planned development with 73 multi-family housing units, Design Architect: Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Milestones and Current Activity: construction and value engineering exercises are in progress; projected completion, 4Q 2018.

Full Renovation and Expansion

Whitney Young Branch - Milestones and current activity: demolition of the roof of the existing building and excavation for footings and foundation of the addition are in progress; interior mechanical, electrical and plumbing renovations are in progress; projected completion, 4Q 2018.

Developer Project

Branch in the 27th Ward - Developer: Sterling Bay, proposed 17,000 sq. foot library in an existing office building, Design architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Milestones and Current Activity: community meeting held 4/4, branch name to be confirmed; previous tenant has vacated building; construction contract is being finalized with construction to begin later this month; project completion, 4Q18.

Commissioner’s Report (info only)

Jennifer Steele, YOUmedia Sponsorship Coordinator, talked about the third annual ChiTeen Lit Fest that took place on April 13th and 14th, 2018. The festival is created by teens for teens to celebrate all things literature and seeks to bring together young people across Chicago and celebrate their talents as they express themselves through art. This year’s event was produced by 40 Chicago teens that hosted over 550 teens in attendance. The Friday Night Kick-Off Party was held at the Harold Washington Library Center, and the program continued Saturday at Columbia College for the Teens-Only festival. Headliners for the festival included: graphic novelist Alverne Ball, novelist Jessie Ann, Foley, journalist and editor Alex V. Hernandez to mention a few.

ChiTeen Lit Fest was made possible by 15 program partners and supported by the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Hive Chicago Fund for Connected Learning at the Chicago Community Trust.

Commissioner Bannon also reported on the following:

CPL celebrated Women's History Month and hosted over 35 programs and exhibits during the month of March; our theme, "Celebrating Women in Music," was a great success in partnership with One Book, One Chicago.

CPL was one of the privileged organizations selected to test the game Robot Lab, a card game that can be used to teach STEM skills to young audiences.

On yesterday, May 14th, CPL hosted a panel discussion on a new documentary film entitled Punch 9—Harold Washington for Chicago: A Documentary Film In Progress, presented in commemoration of the legacy of Mayor Harold Washington and will tell the story of Washington’s rise in politics.

Children’s Services and Family Engagement is announced a partnership with the National Coin-Op Laundry Association to provide STEM based Story Hours in laundromats across Chicago; currently sixteen laundromats receive weekly story hours by CPL Children’s Librarians.

On April 28th, Chicago Public Library will partner with The Poetry Foundation and others to present the 19th Annual Poetry Fest, an exciting daylong festival of poetry readings, workshops and exhibitors.

All Chicago Public Library locations will be closed on Tuesday, May 1st for All Staff Institute Day (ASID).

Other Business

None

Public Comment

Comments from the audience were received regarding organizations that may partner with the new CPL-CHA branches, working with the Friends of Woodson group to promote programs/services offered at the Woodson Regional Library in an effort to encourage children to visit the Harsh collection and learn more about their school and neighborhood’s history, and the success of the Night in Stacks event.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center located at 400 S. State Street.

Commissioner’s Report

Special Report: Jennifer Steele, YOUmedia Sponsorship Coordinator

Women’s History Month

Last month, CPL celebrated Women's History Month and hosted over 35 programs and exhibits during the month of March. In partnership with One Book One Chicago, our theme, "Celebrating Women in Music," was a great success. The opening program was hosted at newly renovated Woodson Regional Library with local singer and Emmy award winner Joan Collaso. Other programs included: "Snippets of Women in Musical History", "Sally Hill Quilting", "Local Women & Gospel: Stories and Artifacts from the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection" and "Nina Simone: I Got Life Workshop" at the Albany Park branch.

Featured here are three exhibits that were hosted at the Harold Washington Library Center:

• Symphony's Beauties by teen artist Assata Mason

• Terri Mae Owens: Been Yah Gullah Dolls & Sweetgrass Baskets

• The Path of Memory: Mixed Media Works by Monica J.Brown,

This was one of CPL’s most successful years of programming thanks to the collaboration of Women's History Committee members and Co-chairs, Elizabeth Loch and Deborah Paige Jackson.

Robot Lab

CPL’s Games Committee strives to collaborate with local developers and highlight their work at CPL events as part of CPL’s strategic plan to support the economic advancement of Chicagoans.

CPL was one of the fortunate organizations to have an opportunity to test the game Robot Lab, a card game that can be used to teach STEM skills to young audiences. The Games team was first introduced to the game during a local board game convention two years ago. Last month, Robot Lab coordinated with the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library to drop a box of the Kickstarter-donated card games. The game gives players the task of fixing robots in a factory, while teaching pattern, color recognition and other skills.

The designers at Robot Lab have grown their singular game into a game publishing company, now renamed XYZ Labs, which designs and publishes games for primary-school age children.

Mayor Harold Washington Commemorative Program

Last night, CPL hosted Punch 9—Harold Washington for Chicago: A Documentary Film In Progress, a panel discussion on this new documentary film which will tell the story of Washington’s rise in politics, brawls with his opponents, and reckon with his national impact. We were joined by three members of the film’s production team to discuss the process and progress of this exciting project including: Sonya Jackson, Raymond Lambert and Joe Winston. Moderating the discussion was Sylvia Ewing, award-winning journalist, teacher and non-profit leader.

The event was presented in commemoration of the legacy of Mayor Harold Washington and in partnership with the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee, The HistoryMakers, Chicago Urban League and local scholars.

CPL Partnership with National Coin-Op Laundry Association

Children’s Services and Family Engagement is proud to announce a burgeoning partnership with the National Coin-Op Laundry Association to provide STEM based Story Hours in laundromats across Chicago. Currently sixteen laundromats receive weekly story hours by CPL Children’s Librarians. Based on a recent conference held in Chicago and funded by the LaundryCares Foundation along with Libraries Without Borders, Chicago Public Library is in the process of developing a partnership agreement to provide more story hour/STEM programming to children and families using Chicago laundromats. A meeting will be held this week to develop a plan forward for 2018.

Poetry Fest

On Saturday, April 28th, Chicago Public Library will partner with The Poetry Foundation and others to present the Poetry Fest, an exciting day of poetry-related events. This is the 19th Annual free daylong festival of poetry readings, workshops and exhibitors featuring Haiku, poetry skills, Open Mic and much more! Poetry Fest will feature appearances by Regina Harris Baiocchi, Safia Elhillo, Sam Sax and Robbie Q. Telfer to name a few. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium and Lower Level Spaces at HWLC.

Reminder

All Chicago Public Library location will be closed on Tuesday, May 1st for All Staff Institute Day (ASID). The theme of this year’s ASID is Healthy Libraries, Healthy Communities.

https://www.chipublib.org/news/board-of-directors-meeting-minutes-april-17-2018/