ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022
22-025 I. CALL TO ORDER
Jim Leija, President
President Leija called the meeting to order at 6:14 p.m.
22-026 II. ATTENDANCE
Board Present: Dharma Akmon, Molly Kleinman, Jim Leija, S. Kerene Moore, Onna Solomon, Scott Trudeau, Jamie Vander Broek
Board Absent: None
Staff: Josie Parker, Eli Neiburger, Karen Wilson (recorder)
22-027 III. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF LABOR NEGOTIATIONS AND DIRECTOR’S EVALUATION
22-028 IV. RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00PM
The meeting reconvened at 7:03 p.m.
22-029 V. ATTENDANCE
Board Present: Dharma Akmon, Molly Kleinman, Jim Leija, S. Kerene Moore, Onna Solomon, Scott Trudeau, Jamie Vander Broek
Board Absent: None
Staff: Josie Parker, Eli Neiburger, Len Lemorie, Sherlonya Turner, Karen Wilson (recorder)
Others Present: Karen Miller and Brian Hare, Bradbury Miller Associates
22-030 VI. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Secretary Moore, supported by Vice President Akmon, moved to approve the agenda.
Trustee Solomon, supported by Secretary Moore, moved to amend the agenda removing agenda item A. Resolution Authorizing
O’Neal Construction Inc. for Construction Management Services for Parkland Plaza Facility from New Business.
A vote was taken on the amended agenda.
AYES: Akmon, Kleinman, Leija, Moore, Solomon, Trudeau, Vander Broek
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
22-031 VII. CONSENT AGENDA
(Item of action)
CA-1 Approval of Minutes of January 24, 2022
CA-2 Approval of January 2022 Disbursements
Trustee Solomon, supported by Secretary Moore, moved to approve the consent agenda.
AYES: Akmon, Kleinman, Leija, Moore, Solomon, Trudeau, Vander Broek
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
22-032 VIII. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
Prue Rosenthal
Hello everybody. I am here to say about four words because there are other people coming behind me. I was on the Board the shortest time of the three of us and for that time I was on the Board I loved every minute. I was on the Board for a little bit with Jim and a little bit with Jamie and I was on the Board always when Josie was in charge of the library. I first met Josie when I was chair of an organization called the Ladies Library Association. Which you’ll hear more about. It’s an organization that has for a long time bought art books, videos, all things art for the library for a long period of time. I came in, I was new as a chair of the committee and was probably, pretty soon after you came, you became director because it was a while ago. I sat down and we chit chatted a little bit and I asked Josie where she was from and she said she was from Laurel, Mississippi. I happened to have two friends of my parents when I was growing up, also lived in Washington and also came from Laurel, Mississippi. So right away I knew where she was from and we had a connection that we made over that. That started a wonderful friendship which I had for the years until I became on the Board. Josie taught me, I think she taught all of us, but I’m speaking for myself, about how not only about how a library should be run but what a library is and who a library is for and challenged us to help her, Eli and the staff. I think about what libraries can do for people. And we did all the things that you’re doing now but we also were invited to look at the bigger picture as to how libraries function and who they function for and I really hadn’t thought about it until she introduced me and I think many of us. I thank you profusely for that. You did, you were wonderful guide for us and I loved being on the board when you were on the board and I appreciate it so much. Thank you and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do, did.
Josie Parker
I’m going to be out of order and I’m just going to say that Prue and I talked about Laurel, her friend’s last name was Wisner and there are buildings in Laurel named Wisner. The only place in town that anybody does any kind of fine arts. As an elementary school child the first time I saw a play on a stage was at the Wisner Building.
Jan Barney Newman
Prue’s four words grew a bit. She was attracted to the microphone and I’m attracted to familiar faces that I remember before you were members of a board and when you were members and president of the board and when you were running for the board. I still have a campaign poster in my garage for you if you run again. And other familiar faces here especially Jim. I’ve known Jim for a long time. But I’m not supposed to talk about me. So it will be harder for me to think of something to say, but not in this situation. I’m also a member of Ladies Library Association which Prue mentioned and we knew each other in that sense because as you’ve heard earlier if not today, but yesterday about the Ladies Library Association which is 150 years old and now considering changing its name to something else because our new treasurer is embarrassed when she goes into the office of her advisor of the stock market and say I’m here to take up, talk about Ladies Library and they all say, Ladies Library? So we’re going to hold on to that and see what really happens. We’ve decided we’re not ashamed of being ladies and you’re not ashamed of being a librarian. I’m also here because I didn’t know much about libraries. I had various businesses in town and taught at Tappan in public schools. But the library told me what my community was about. When Josie decided indeed she wanted to bring more to the library than perhaps been expected of the library director she took a course in business at Harvard. That’s a kind of surprising thing to do. But she made this institution one that familiarizes the community at large with its mission and governs, creates that mission by what works with the community and it strengthens our community. It makes it unusual in non-library community libraries. Look at all of our branches and how well they function. So I’m very proud to have been illuminated to that fact through Josie and Eli and very proud of my association and your continued efforts. I also want to introduce to you the next speaker who really has something to say because he was the first elected member of the board when after the library became a district library and for 22 years he served on that board before he got to sit next to me in the library board meetings and we just realized that when we were looking at how you all are seated, we couldn’t whispered to each other. I would like to introduce Ed.
Edward Surovell
I need to start by saying that I forgot something. I remember lots of things Karen’s telephone numbers…but I have for years kept in a dresser drawer that which I forgot this evening which are little twigs made into pencils and erasers which I meant to bring. I will bring them to you Josie later on because I suspect that you don’t have any anymore. These wee souvenirs of two of our branches. It is worth saying that one of the things that is most important of all was the addition of better facilities. Sadly lacking the replacement of this one which looks beautiful today thank you. Although I agree with Jan it would have been no fun sitting in these and couldn’t visit with each other. At any rate I want to say that when Mary Anne left us, and I have subsequently visited Mary Anne a number of times in Orlando, she was a dear friend and we were to pick a new director we did not go through a national search. Although there were those on the board that wanted us to do so and it created some conflict but the decision amongst the very small committee that was appointed to choose a temporary director, took us, I don’t know minute’s maybe, and Mary Anne’s greatest gift to the library was Josie. What we knew then was that she was the person we wanted and that she had the confidence of everyone who knew her. She had my confidence the day I met her when she ran me down or chased me down rather on Main Street in Chelsea to give me hell about, you did. I had an office in Chelsea at the time and I had walked into the library there and offered to give them a big fat very expensive book. Who’s Who in America which Josie later pointed out to me on the street that they had no business wasting their money on but I happened to have a copy that I didn’t want and she was very sweet about it but very direct. And she’s been both sweet and direct ever since. What we knew when we asked her to be acting director what that she had a confidence, what we did not know was that she was a giant. That for the 20 years she has served this library she has been like no other before her. Because I think everyone else said everything that needs to be said I can simply say that I will miss her. I’m certain that AADL will miss her and that because she’s going on to an equestrian world that I wake up with every morning of my life I know that she will be happy and that we will be the better for it. Thank you for the honor of serving under you for all those years.
FAADL
Congratulations, Josie, from the Friends of the Ann Arbor Library Board and all our volunteers. Thank you, Josie, for making our library system a Five Star one that is a model for libraries all over Michigan and the United States. Thank you for hiring an amazing staff who proved their mettle during the pandemic offering support of all kinds to our community. Thank you for managing the AADL budgets so ably that you created new branches and provided new services to meet the evolving needs of the Ann Arbor area. Thank you for supporting the FAADL with your perspective, counsel and understanding. Thank you for your outstanding leadership and best of luck learning to sail.
Alan Haber
Hello Board. I am Alan Haber of the Alan and Odile story that LaRon Williams told yesterday to those of you who were there. First and I am here to apologize for the distress caused by my question about bringing Juneteenth to the center of the city. You might ask me in great distress, how could I and so to explain LaRon is an old friend. He had those of you who were there row with me across seas and lakes and climb with me up mountains and hills for the meaning of life and what it is all about. And then he told a story about going through the woods and you just have to keep asking. And when the question time came, any questions even political, several children asked and then there was silence and he asked again anymore. And I had to ask about what he and I had just talked about before his story started for Black History Month. How to get Juneteenth in the Ann Arbor black community celebrating and recognized in the center of our city on June 19th. Usually the parade and the party are off on the edge of Fuller Park to Wheeler Park. Now true I am an activist for the community commons across the Library Lane and Liberty Plaza. It is not my project. It was voted into the city charter ideally as a partnership with the library, also a commons. I did not mean to intrude this once contentious question into the celebration for Josie. I love Josie. I love the work you have done, she has done. I came to join in celebrating her good work. I appreciate that she once called me her avatar. I didn’t anticipate LaRon was going to tell me a story, you just have to keep asking. But then I do just have to keep asking. We should all see the block as the center of the city as a partnership between the library and the community commons initiating committee and the whole process through to the creation of a beautiful and deep development in the center of Ann Arbor for the bicentennial and forever as an Ann Arbor destination where everyone of every community can find themselves welcome, safe and well represented and reflected. And second, that was first as a request not out of place I wish and hope the library board would schedule a meeting or a big time on your agenda to hear the plans of the initiating committee and the green team gardeners and the process underway. We should be partners. It would be good. Thank you.
Beth Fitzsimmons
Good evening. This is a tribute to Josie Parker. To paraphrase the children’s book Millions of Cats, as the old woman said to her husband we have the most beautiful cat in the world for we have seen hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats. As the former chairman of National Commission of Libraries and Information Services includes from 2004 to 2008, I may not have seen thousands of libraries but I know that Ann Arbor has the best library systems in the country. And how do I know this? Unbeknownst to you I was regularly receiving calls from professional recruitment agencies asking about our library and specifically Josie Parker. For while Josie was adding branch libraries to our system, many large library systems around the country were dying either from poor management or poor funding. Although many of the job positions were interesting and more lucrative, Josie chose to stay in Ann Arbor. Clearly she was well supported by the trustees, both the former board and the current one. And for that I say thank you. So what then makes this woman so special? With that wonderful southern accent Josie is a library leader not only in Ann Arbor but in Michigan and around the country. She is often ahead of the curve in many library developments and technologies. She has unique business acumen and a solid understanding of financial matters. She has developed good partnerships with the city and with the university. But most importantly as was mentioned earlier Josie knows her community. And this is the key to her success. She knows what people want to read and their needs that the library can meet. She knows why and how libraries need to change and how to keep them relevant. Bridget Lamont, a former Illinois state librarian, said Josie Parker is amazing. She is the reason that the Ann Arbor Public Library has thrived. So to a good friend and a professional colleague, I wish you Josie a well-deserved retirement for a job well done for all of us. You have made us proud.
Larry Neal
Hi, Josie this is Larry Neal, your little brother colleague over here at Clinton-Macomb Public Library. I say little brother because it feels as though I’ve been looking up to you and trying to follow in your footsteps for the last 20 years. You earned your library degree from Michigan and became the director of a library system you love, then I did. You became the President of the Michigan Library Association and after the dust settled from a badly needed overhaul, then I did. You built awesome library branches which provided inspiration for my new branches. Finally in a moment of questionable sanity in 2017 I at last caught up to you when we both became adjunct associate clinical professors at the University of Michigan School of Information. Well I have to admit that I tried taking your course on personnel management but did not pass. However as it happens so often over the years I was inspired by your practical common sense and brilliant approach to running a world-class library system. Just a small snippet of your wisdom caused me to re-think and completely restructure my library system in 2020. And even now I still find myself asking what would Josie do when much of the library world is going in one direction such as closing for the recent snowmageddon and I’m pondering the opposite. Yes I did check the AADL website just to confirm that my thoughts about remaining open. Congratulations on starting a new chapter in your life tomorrow. Thank you is hardly enough to express my gratitude for your 20 years of inspiration, leadership, vision and the sharing of your talents with the betterment of your community, the library community and the library profession. I’m a better director because of you and wish you all the best in the future.
President Leija acknowledged and thanked former AADL Board members Prue Rosenthal, Jan Barney Newman and Ed Surovell for attending this evening.
22-033 IX. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Eli Neiburger, Deputy Director
Deputy Director Neiburger reported tax revenue is at 99.8% of the budgeted amount. The fund balance sits at $5.2 million as of January 31st. Total cash receipts through January equaled $18,181,574 with total cash expended of $10,156,248.
Year-to-date revenues exceeded expenses by $954,760. Current revenues are 58.10% of the approved budget and current expenses are at 52.88% of the budget after seven months of the fiscal year. Actual cash receipts are at 99.38% of the budget and actual cash expended is at 55.52% of the budget.
Grants and memorials show little change. Several expenditure line items on the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures remain below the seven month projected expense due to Covid. The projected loss of interest income is not an actual loss, but one anticipated if the bonds were sold.
22-034 X. LIBRARY REPORT
Sherlonya Turner, Associate Director
Associate Director Turner updated the Board on Covid guidelines within the Library based on current CDC guidance. With reported low Covid community levels masks are welcomed; medium Covid community levels masks are recommended; high Covid community levels masks are required. Ventilation in libraries is being monitored. Masking is still required of staff along with screening, testing and reporting.
Associate Director Turner continued with the following:
- In-house public events are returning in March and this spring. One weekly preschool storytime will begin in March. Letterpress and sewing labs will also return in the spring. Record Store Day may be possible and planning for Summerfest has begun.
- Self-booking use of rooms will be returning in March with the hope of being back to pre-pandemic usage levels in April.
- A Naloxone vending machine has been installed in the Downtown Library lobby and should be stocked soon. This equipment was provided at no cost by the Home of New Vision. Supplies will be provided and stocked by ROOT (Recovery Opioid Overdose Team).
- Fool Moon and Festifools are proceeding this year with workshops and activities being held at the Parkland Plaza location. AADL is now a co-producer of Festifools.
- Ann Arbor District Library clothing merchandise is available to purchase via the Friends Shop through March 7th.
- Second grade visit kits are being delivered to schools within the Ann Arbor Public Schools system.
- Social media and desk comments were viewed.
22-035 XI. OLD BUSINESS
21-162 A. DISCUSSION OF LIBRARY DIRECTOR SEARCH
Jim Leija, Chair
(Item of discussion)
Karen Miller and Brian Hare joined the meeting via Zoom at 7:50 p.m.
President Leija noted that the Library Director Search Committee reviewed candidate information provided by Bradbury Miller Associates. The Committee has completed preliminary interviews with eight highly qualified candidates and has provided to the Board their recommendations this evening for consideration.
Ms. Miller inquired of the Board what they were looking for in the next library director.
Responses from individual Board members included:
- Continuation of the current vision of AADL
- Being relationship centered
- Ability to trust staff “great leaders build great teams”
- Continue culture of innovation and meet community needs
- Continue to say yes and to work well with existing team
- Inclination towards yes; meeting community needs
- Continual balance of creativity – conservatism of financials
- Continuation of the flow of creation
- Address needs of the non-vocal local community
President Leija noted that the candidate listing has been presented to the Board in A-H format for discussion purposes. He noted that of the four being recommended for consideration, two were at the director level and two were at high administrative level. The Committee was recommending candidates A, B, C and D. He noted the listing was not in any order of preference.
President Leija gave a breakdown of the strengths of the four candidates being presented to the Board as finalists. The remaining four candidates were also briefly reviewed and discussed by the Board.
Trustee Kleinman, supported by Secretary Moore, moved that candidates A through D be brought forward for final interviews.
AYES: Akmon, Kleinman, Leija, Moore, Solomon, Trudeau, Vander Broek
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
Bradbury Miller will contact the eight candidates and notify them of the Board’s decision. Draft interview questions will be provided to the Board by March 2nd. The final four candidates will be notified by Bradbury Miller of the scheduled March 14th candidate presentation; of meeting with various AADL staff on March 15th; of their interview status with the Board on March 16th.
The Board discussed two topics to be considered for the candidates to present on. The first topic was to have each candidate chose an aspect of the Strategic Plan and present how they would proceed with implementing it. The second topic would be to show what year one would look like under their management.
After discussion Trustee Kleinman suggested candidates give an annual report of the system five years hence to show where the library would be at that time.
It was the consensus of the Board to have each candidate present on the suggested topic of an annual report five years in the future.
22-036 XII. NEW BUSINESS
22-037 A. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO DIRECTOR JOSIE PARKER ON HER RETIREMENT
(Item of action)
Trustee Kleinman, supported by Secretary Moore, moved WHEREAS, Josie Parker has announced her plans to retire from her tenure as director of the Ann Arbor District Library (“AADL”);
WHEREAS, her generous and innovative leadership has contributed to decades of extraordinary programs, collections, customer service, and community engagement, and that AADL has thrived under her leadership;
WHEREAS, under Josie’s leadership, AADL has been consecutively named a Library Journal five-star Library for the past 13 years—a designation based on library usage stats like circulation, door count, and event attendance;
WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2020, AADL’s libraries welcomed more than 1.2 million people through the doors, with library events drawing nearly 120,000 attendees;
WHEREAS, Josie was responsible for overseeing the evolution of AADL into what it is today;
WHEREAS, this evolution includes the addition of AADL’s Unusual Tools collection, which offers telescopes, musical instruments, science tools, giant games, and other items for use by the public;
WHEREAS, Josie oversaw the establishment of AADL’s own publicly-owned publishing imprint Fifth Avenue Press;
WHEREAS, Josie oversaw the expansion of the AADL’s summer reading program to create the wildly popular Summer Game;
WHEREAS, Josie oversaw the transition of the Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Print Disabled from the county to the Ann Arbor District Library in 2008;
WHEREAS, in collaboration with the Ann Arbor News, Josie oversaw the storage and digitization of its vast collection of photos and articles in the AADL Archives;
WHEREAS, in 2013, AADL also partnered with the African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM) to launch the Living Oral History Project—an ongoing collection of interviews, photos, and articles that serve as a road map illustrating what African Americans in the Ann Arbor area witnessed, experienced, and built in the community;
WHEREAS, Josie also oversaw the construction of three new branch libraries, and the remodeling and reimagination of a fourth branch at the Westgate Shopping Center;
WHEREAS, both Malletts Creek and Traverwood Branch each earned awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for design;
WHEREAS, Josie was named an honorary affiliate member of AIA Michigan in 2010, a rare honor for a non-architect or designer, for her stewardship of AADL and its new libraries; NOW, THEREFORE;
THE BOARD RESOLVES:
- To officially thank Josie Parker for 20 years of outstanding service as Library Director of the Ann Arbor District Library.
- That it has been with great honor and privilege for members of the Board of Directors to serve during her tenure; and that her warmth, compassion, and steadfast leadership will be missed.
- That all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
AYES: Akmon, Kleinman, Leija, Moore, Solomon, Trudeau, Vander Broek
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
Director Parker was presented with flowers and a framed copy of the Resolution of Appreciation.
Director Parker expressed her appreciation of all the library board members willing to take on the role of an elected official.
Board members expressed their appreciation of Director Parker.
22-038 B. VOTE FOR CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF TONIGHT’S BOARD MEETING FOR DISCUSSION OF REAL ESTATE
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Secretary Moore, supported by Treasurer Trudeau, moved to hold a closed session at the end of tonight’s Board meeting for discussion of real estate.
A roll call vote was taken.
AYES: Akmon, Kleinman, Leija, Moore, Solomon, Trudeau, Vander Broek
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
22-039 C. VOTE FOR CLOSED SESSION AT THE MARCH 22, 2022 REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR DISCUSSION OF REAL ESTATE AND LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Secretary Moore, supported by Treasurer Trudeau, moved to hold a closed session at the March 22, 2022 Board meeting for discussion of real estate and labor negotiations.
A roll call vote was taken.
AYES: Akmon, Kleinman, Leija, Moore, Solomon, Trudeau, Vander Broek
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
22-040 XIII. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
There were no additional citizens’ comments.
22-041 XIV. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF REAL ESTATE
The Board recessed to closed session at 8:59 p.m.
22-042 XV. ADJOURNMENT
President Leija adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.