Meeting Information

Date: March 18, 2024

Meeting Called to order by: President Kathy Capabianco at 6:00 PM

In Attendance: (Quorum Satisfied)

Kathy Capabianco, Carol Easter, Elizabeth Lombardo, Natalie Close, Cathy Wos, Diana Silveira, Sharon Sandoval, Anne Bartles, guest Allison Banmally

Not in Attendance Mathew David, Carol Mercier, Donna Witkin

February Minutes

Motion to approve January minutes by Sharon Sandoval, seconded by Anne Bartles, approved unanimously

Treasurer’s Report

2,000 dollars paid for printers

800 dollars paid for mag subscriptions

Achieva CD has increased by 500 dollars

Director’s Report given by Cathy Wos

ACEcon was a success, thanks to FPHL for financial help, 550 people over 2 days, 21 vendors

Childrens Dept. totally staffed

Still need to fill Vol. Co.

Marketing coordinator position transitioned from contract to full position

Library Open House, The Pearl of Palm Harbor is scheduled for April 26, there will be a pirate, mermaid theme, 300 grab bags

Old Business

Cataloging your treasures was a success, 400 dollars clear, and we are looking for a date for next year, both appraisers will be coming back

New Business

Allison Banmally gave a report on the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) Friends of the Library Special Interest Group (SIG), discussion on what benefits it would give to FPHL, and if there is interest in this for us, suggestion given that perhaps some of the groups would like to come and sit in with us, no decision made

We need wine bottles for Wine toss on open house

Author Consortium beginning date will be April1

Committee Reports:

1. Bookstore Carol states figures look very good for Feb, new chair in bookstore
2. Communication Diana would like to put announcements on website on what FPHL supports and contributes to
3. Membership 1 annual to Lifetime, 3 new lifetime, 3 new annual, 3 annual renewals
4. Literacy April 6^th is Literacy Celebration
5. Fundraising vacant

Concerns and Announcements

Cathy Wos will review with volunteers in the bookstore the procedure for ringing up gift baskets and where to put the slips and money for same.

Meeting Adjourned   6:32PM

next meeting March 15, 2024

Date: February 12, 2024

Meeting called to order by: President Kathy Capabianco at 6:00 PM

In Attendance: (Quorum Satisfied)

Kathy Capabianco, Carol Easter, Elizabeth Lombardo, Natalie Close, Mathew David, Cathy Wos, Donna Witkin, Carol Mercier, Diana Silveira, Peter Cannon

Not in Attendance: Sharon Sandoval, Anne Bartels

November Minutes

Motion to approve January minutes by Kathy Capabianco, seconded by Carol Mercier, approved unanimously

Treasurer’s Report

Achieva CD opened for 100,00 dollars, 12 months @5%

Director’s Report

On 1/6/24 Opera for Earth performed Amahl& the Night Visitors: A One-Act Opera that was attended by 78 people

On 1/26/24, the artPHL Evening was attended by 171 and raised over 4,200 dollars. Thanks to Deborah G., Erica L., Lois E., Mark S., and Nancy M. for volunteering at the event.

The ABC Reading Club, which is held bimonthly at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, was hosted this month by PHL youth services staff Allison B. To celebrate the book selection, Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony by Arnold Steinhardt.  This was attended by 52 people and was followed by a performance from the Meriggiare String Quartet

Interviews are in progress for Community Engagement Librarian position and Youth Services Library Assistant II

On 1/25/24 PHL director, assistant director, and 4 managers attended Pinellas County’s ADA training, team from all 4 entities

March 9^th and 10^th  PHLFriends of the Library and Dove Digital Marketing will sponsor 

ACEcon, a convention celebrating comic books, anime, and related interests  

PHL ‘s annual open house will be on April 26, local businesses are invited to attend, the first 300 people will receive a goody bag.

PHL director submitted an application for the NEA Big Read Grant, if awarded the project will take place in April 2025

PHL assistant director attended Library Legislative Day in Tallahassee, visited state legislators to make a case for continued state funding for library operations

Some of the community events the PHL director attended; East Lake Community Library community service day

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue’s groundbreaking ceremony for station #68

FEAST groundbreaking ceremony

Palm Harbor Museum Annual Meeting

Visited the Safety Harbor Library to tour the facility

Old Business

Peter Cannon delivered a presentation on the Library Speakers Consortium as discussed last meeting, a motion made by Kathy Capabianco and seconded by Elizabeth Lombardo for 3,500 dollars to fund this for a year, carried unanimously

Cataloging Your Treasures to be held this Saturday 2/17/24, lunch will be provided to the appraisers, we will be able to take credit cards

New Business

None at this time

Concerns and Announcement,

None noted

Committee Reports:

1. Bookstore Carol reports 3,579 for the month of January
2. Communications website continues to be updated
3. Membership no report
4. Literacy no new tutors and some have dropped out, many students waiting, the Literary Celebration has been moved to April 6
5. Fundraising no report

Meeting Adjourned 6: 59PM

next meeting March 18, 2024

Date: January 8, 2024

Meeting Called to order by: President Kathy Capabianco at 602PM

In Attendance: (Quorum Satisfied)
Kathy Capabianco, Carol Easter, Sharon Sandoval, Elizabeth Lombardo, Anne Bartels, Natalie Close, Mathew David, Cathy Wos, Donna Witkin, Carol Mercier

Not in Attendance: Diana Silveira

November Minutes
Motion to approve November minutes by Carol Easter, seconded by Sharon Sandoval, approved unanimously

Treasurer’s Report

• Largest expense for month was $7,846 for Robotic program
• Achieva CD matured in Nov. motion made by Sharon Sandoval to open CD for $100,00, 12 months @5%, seconded by Carol Easter, carried unanimously
• Motion for $300 by Sharon Sandoval to cover Florida Library Assoc. renewal for Mathew David and Cathy Wos seconded by Carol Easter and carried unanimously

Director’s Report

• Volunteer Co./outreach position open and accepting applications
• New cleaning service has been employed
• Meet the Director will be held on Monday Jan.22nd at 5:30 to enable community to meet Mathew
• artPHL evening to be Jan.26 7-9pm is being advertised on our website, discussion on getting the word out

Old Business

• Circ. Desk computer ordered
• Receipt printers not ordered yet
• Robotics equipment ordered

New Business

• Speakers Consortium Library; The Library Speakers Consortium is a partnership of 200+ public libraries working together to bring regular author talk programming to communities of all sizes, we will discuss this further next month, approximate cost $3,500 for this year
• NEA Big Read grant. The grant application requires the library to match the award amount (between $5,000-$20,000) with in-kind contributions, staff hours to implement the project. Activities will include author talk, book clubs, community projects, events for all ages, and book giveaways this grant will fund a community wide read of “The Bear” by Andrew Krivak for the next fiscal year (2024-2025). Mathew is requesting $4,000 from the Friends to fund a book giveaway for this project. After discussion motion to fund this with $2,000 made by Kathy Capabianco and seconded by Elizabeth Lombardo, carried unanimously
• Volunteers for Cataloging your Treasures, Feb. 17, 2024, 11-2 this will be a cash only event, 3 items per person @ $5 an item, Donna W., Carol E., Kathy C., Sharon S., Elizabeth L. volunteered to assist with this event

Concerns and Announcement
None noted

Committee Reports:

1. Bookstore $3,289.99 for Dec. Ready for Valentine’s Day
2. Communications no report
3. Membership 1 new annual and 3 renewed annual members
4. Literacy 20 students waiting, can’t accept new tutor applications till Vol.Co. position fille. On Feb 24th Literacy Celebration will be held
5. Fundraising no report

Meeting Adjourned 7:21PM
Meeting in February will be on the 12th with Feb. 26th if the 12 is unavailable

Date: November 13, 2023

Meeting Called to order by: President Kathy Capabianco at 600 PM.

In Attendance: (Quorum Satisfied)
Kathy Capabianco, Carol Easter, Sharon Sandoval, Elizabeth Lombardo, Anne Bartels, Natalie Close, Diana Silveira, Mathew David, Cathy Wos

Not in Attendance: Donna Witkin, Carol Mercier

Bianca Gittinger-Linzer gave information on a Robotics program she would like to host to teach youth coding using LEGO Spike and iPads. She requested $8,596 to purchase an initial set of seven iPAD Pros

October Minutes
Motion to approve October minutes by Natalie Close, seconded by Anne Bartels, approved unanimously

Treasurer’s Report
Summer Reading program expense 2,390.04. 

Director’s Report

• 500-dollar micro grant from Cares foundation put towards Robotics program
• Good attendance numbers for October, over 3800 people
• Gratitude poster at front desk
• Circulation position filled, Youth services library position open
• Meeting with commissioners on the 9th of November went well
• Dec. 1st Yoffredo concert series
• Artful evening end of Jan.
• Feb. 17th 5 dollars per item, appraisers will be here for Antique Roadshow here

Old Business

• Robotics program, motion made by Diana Silveira for seven iPAD pros @ 8,596 dollars seconded by Sharon Sandoval, carried unanimously
• Receipt printers motion made for 2.290 dollars by Anne Bartels for 10 new receipt printers, seconded by Sharon Sandoval carried unanimously
• Discussion to continue on the feasibility of email receipts
• Membership Brochure looks very good 100 will be ordered

New Business
No new business at this time

Concerns and Announcement

Committee Reports:

1. Bookstore Christmas pricing to be done
2. Communications updating website continuing
3. Membership 1 new lifetime and 1 new annual member, discussion on having something on badges to identify Friends members, no decisions made
4. Literacy no report
5. Fundraising no report

Meeting Adjourned 6:53 PM
Next meeting January 08, 2024
The meeting in February will be on the 12th

Happy Holidays!

October 16th, 2023 Meeting called to order by President Kathy Capabianco at 6PM, who then welcomed the new Library Director, Matthew David.

In Attendance: (Quorum Satisfied)
Kathy Capabianco, Anne Bartels, Carol Easter, Sharon Sandoval, Elizabeth Lombardo, Carol Mercier, Cathy Wos, Diana Silveria, Donna Witkin, Mathew David, Natalie Close

Not in Attendance:

Minutes:

Motion to approve minutes from August meeting made by Carol Easter, seconded by Anne Bartles, carries unanimously

Treasurer’s Report:
216,062.38 Balance Motion made to reimburse Sharon S. for $50 for new QuickBooks license for Natalie, and
$61.25 for corporate filing with the state, allowing Natalie’s name as new Treasurer on our account made by Diana Silveira seconded by Natalie Close, carried unanimously.

Director’s report

• New Library Director, introduced himself and reviewed his background, half in academic libraries and half in public libraries, excited to work with all.
• Last month was national Library card sign up, we had 253 new cards issued, a 25% increase of last year
• Team attended PPLC staff development day
• Roof replacement completed, Ceiling tile replacement has begun
• Security badges in progress PT position open in circulation
• Budget passed
• Thursday the 19th of October at 11 am there will be a tree dedication in honor of Bernie Yoffredo
• Local author showcases Nov.4
• On Dec. 16th Pop culture Flea Market is planned, currently looking for vendors, and individuals with items to sell to fundraise for AceCom
• Buck for a Duck for Oct. All were sold, proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society
• Air conditioning to be fixed, awaiting part
• Welcome week baskets, 145 baskets distributed to Lutheran Services, Gulfcoast Jewish services, and local none profit that supports Ukraine.

Old Business

Reviewed annual meeting which was held in Sept., Kathy thanked all who attended and supported her, it was enjoyed by all who attended, and we received one new member at that time.

New Business

Requests for funding

1. Robotics class request made by Bianca, a USF student, who volunteers here to start a robotics program for middle school students, after discussion decision made to request Bianca to come to a Friend’s meeting to review this request and supply more information on same before decision will be made on funding.
2. Circulation desk computer discussion on age of computer and that it is on a desk that will facilitate w/c access ability, motion made by Diana Silveria for 1010 dollars for new Dell desktop and monitor, seconded by Sharon Sandoval, motion carried unanimously.
3. Inventory receipt printers, request for 15@229 dollars ea., discussion on possibility of not needing all 15, and also the possibility of having email receipts instead of printed. After discussion decision made to investigate further before decision on funding. 

Concerns and Announcements

A check was donated to the Friends for 1000 dollars, a thank you note will be sent, and a receipt for same sent.

Matthew thanked everyone for welcoming him and has joined the Friends as a Lifetime member. 

Committee Reports:

1. Bookstore Carol reports good month, she plans on having a cleaning day on Nov. 17th in the Bookstore.
2. Communications Diana reports a dedicated line needed for Friends for website support, Mathew will handle this.
3. Fund Raising vacant
4. Literacy very busy, over 30 active tutors, 7-8 in training. 
5. Membership Friends membership pamphlet reviewed by Sharon on changes to be made to same after discussion. 4 new annual renewed members, 6 new annuals, 5 new lifetime 210 members all together. Sharon would like to send a letter out each October and January to members to remind them to renew, pointing out all the good support the Friends give to the library. The volunteer meeting is next month and the Friends will make an appeal at that meeting for membership in the Friends.

Meeting Adjoined 7:03PM, Next meeting Nov. 13, 2023.