Brownsville Public Library System Advisory Board

Monday, March 8, 2021 1. Call meeting to order. 5:33 p.m. 2. Discussion and Action of Approval Minutes – Correction to 2.8.21 meeting minutes under section 7 c. should state Ms. Ayala – Ms. Sosa makes motion to amend 2.8.21 meeting minutes to reflect correction, Ortiz knop seconds the motion. Motions passes. Alma Ortiz Knopp I second, and motion passes. 3. Citizen Comment: No citizen comments. 4. Presentation of Easter Extravaganza (Friends of the Library Contribution) a. Presentation was given by Chase Sundt. Librarian at the Brownsville library system. Used to be known as extravaganza this year will be known as Easter under the Canopy. We are adapting to the time we are in trying to make it safe for public and workers. It’s a 2 day event, one day at southmost and another day at central. 26th and 29, respectively. Will be promoting through social media and flyers that we will be passing out to the public. The event is a little different will be a driver thru event. Will have that interaction where they will able to pick up a gift bag and have a moment to take a photo with bunny. We then post pictures to social media and the public can download it if they want. Thanks to Friends at the Library for making event successful! Ms. Ayala – commented that friends of the library has supported the library in the past, thank you for doing it. Sundt said thank you to friends of the library. We are going to work to try and inform the community. Calvin Walker president of friends of the library: We are going to fund both easter projects at both of the libraries this year. 5. Director’s Report: Brenda Trevino gave report. a. Library Utilization & Services i. Take and make crafts are continuing to be picked up. b. Winter Storm i. Most staff stayed home but leadership stayed in, library services were suspended until Friday but were re-opened Saturday.  c. Library Reopening Plan – March 15 we are reopening, open for 2 hours at a time and close for staff to sanitize the buildings in between times. We will be requiring masks be worn by guests and staff and have plex glass at all stations. Curbside will continue d. Southmost Library Entrance Update i. We have two signs on southmost blvd. four of the signs have been ordered. Two will be placed and other two will replace existing signs. Also pending is blinking yellow light. And repainting of stripes. Ayala: The reason why they are putting on blinking lights because it is a state road. Thank you for that. ii. Calvin Walker: was there any discussion when friends would be opening? Because I’m not in favor of opening too soon, I’m concerned about most of the volunteers at the friends, most of them are above 50 years of age. 6. Discussion and Acknowledgment of MOU between Brownsville Public Library System and IDEA public schools; Relating to Federal Funding through the Full service communities School Grant a. Chase Sundt: A federal grant that if awarded idea schools will be in lead. Funds will be made available to lower income communities. IDEA will allow library public system access to virtual and in person program and as well as literally initiatives. I have Jill Dominguez to answer any questions the board members they may have. i. Ayala what is the money that will be determined, Will it be determined now or later? 1. A: In-kind services, its mostly just a partnership to make sure that the students have access to the library. ii. Ayala: Spoke to Nurith galonsky and she told me that the commissioners have approved it. iii. Pensa: says its good to encourage these types of partnership, good for the community 7. Discussion and Action and Library Task Force (applications) a. Ayala: berta pena got approved and I do not see her name on the list. Pensa went through the six names of applicants. b. Ayala: Ms. Pena called me to tell me she had applied, so can we check on it. c. Leo Rodriguez: this list was reviewed before this meeting and will double check on it. d. Pensa: We wanted to have seven, is anyone opposed to moving forward with these six. Are you okay with ayala with moving forward with the six applications as listed and we will appoint a seventh. e. Ayala: I’m fine with it. f. Alma: I would rather we not wait g. Ms. Sosa made motion to approve applicants and carry forward the seventh application of Ms. Pena to include her in the group at a later time. Alma Knopp Seconded. Motion passed. h. Pensa: wanted to follow up with BLS staff on how they will be notified. Leo Rodriguez stated he is going to be following up with them, and if the board is up for it they can come into our next board meeting so they can be introduced. Board members approved. 8. Discussion of implementation of BISD newsletter for Students and Parents a. Leo Rodriguez gave a presentation along with Kayla Trevino new librarian: Intro BPO monthly, digital newsletter to connect school systems with BPL. Went through 4 goals,  raise awareness to those students and parents of the different school systems to demonstrate we have various resources, infor students of homework resources, inform parents of helpful resources like universal class, we want to be able to promote upcoming events and programs. We want to target principals and other personal so they can enroll to receive BPL monthly. Kayla Trevino gave her presentation of the sections of the monthly. Event/Big Update headline. New this month – could include policies. The next section is virtual and in person programing ie weekly story times; Digital resources, this section to highlight a resources. The last section is monthly highlight. b. Sosa: would you consider highlighting a reader or patron in the featured section. c. Pensa: Featuring a reader or making a patron submission. This will be very helpful with students and their parents. d. Alma: would the friends like to have a little blurb to give information or maybe highlight some of the volunteers. e. Ayala: For friends of the library students were volunteering that is a good idea to have, not know because the volunteers are older 9. Adjournment a. Ms. Sosa makes motion, M. Alma Knopp makes second motion. Meeting adjourned.