February 2024 LAB Approved Meeting MinutesCITY OF LAKE OSWEGO February 14, 2024
Library Advisory Board Library
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503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us
Present: Patricia Walls, Mark Pontarelli, Patrick Walsh, Ed Steinberg, Allison Korkola, Antoinette
Awuakye, Councilor Trudy Corrigan, Lilisa Hall, Jake Jordan (youth alternate)
Staff Present: Melissa Kelly, Andrea Milano, Donna Harlan
Others Present: Phil Wikelund, Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library (Friends)
Absent: Kent Watson, Joy Fabos (alternate)
1. Call to Order / Introductions
The Library Advisory Board (LAB) meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Patricia Walls at
the Lake Oswego Public Library (LOPL) on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 7:00 pm.
Introductions were made welcoming special guest, Andrea Milano, Youth Services Manager to
the meeting.
2. Minutes
Motion to approve by Pontarelli, seconded by Walsh. The January 2024 minutes were
approved by the LAB (7-0).
3. Council Update – Trudy Corrigan
Councilor Corrigan reported on the recent City Council meetings including Council proposed
goals for 2024 to be adopted at the February 20, 2024 Council meeting. Proposed goals for
2024:
Ensure a safe, secure, and prepared community
Support business investment and job creation in Lake Oswego
Foster a welcoming and inclusive community where all people have the opportunity to
thrive and have equitable access to City services
Combat climate change and strengthen the community’s resilience to climate impacts
Strengthen public trust in the City through continuous improvement, outstanding
customer service, infrastructure investments, and fiscal stewardship
o Council Corrigan shared the following initiative, which is part of the above goal,
with LAB: Develop a strategy for an all-ages and all-activities community center
on the west side of town that would include event and meeting spaces, public
services, and may include library services. Collaborate with LOSD and other
stakeholders as part of this project
4. Public Comment – none
5. Youth Services Presentation – Andrea Milano
Statistics and graphs were included in the packet sent to LAB members prior to the meeting.
Milano’s presentation focused on the youth materials collection; how and when it is being used
and how it is representative of the world around us.
Milano noted we have seen a huge increase of families with young children in libraries.
LOPL circulated 37,000 picture books last year.
Students are increasingly using online resources.
Annual requests for specific items (Oregon Trail, Native Americans) that used to happen
have diminished.
Use of the Non-fiction collection are now interest driven by students.
CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO February 14, 2024
Library Advisory Board Library
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503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us
Graphic novels take up 22 shelves of the library and are their own category.
Families spend more time in the library and use the collections while in the library rather
than checking items out to use at home.
Though the library is used year-round, circulation spikes occur in March, June, July,
August and November - typically when the school libraries are closed.
The data charts also confirm that during summer months the young adults (13-17) use
the library a lot, both physical and digital materials.
The children’s collection occupies 14% of the library’s square footage. It accounts for
23% of the library’s overall physical collection and 40% of the library’s total physical
circulation.
Studies have show that the highest circulating items come out of staff picks and displays. As
staff focuses on curating and creating displays, we are training our patrons to look to us for
their next great reads rather than an algorithm on their phone. This allows the library to
become a place of discovery and exploration with a wide variety of circulation of materials.
Milano shared one trend that has stayed the same over the years is that families tend to return
all of their books in September and December. The shelves become super tight, and that is
the time that we go through the collections looking at usage, condition, relevance and
accuracy. Milano stated the goal of this process is to maintain as much display space as
possible and keep the shelves 2/3 full is better for circulation. She expressed that this is true
for all of the library and not only the children’s collection. Over the last several years the library
overall is averaging a 1:1 ratio as far as bringing in new and discarding items in the library. It is
what needs to happen to keep the collection fresh and exciting.
Milano reviewed with LAB another set of graphs while discussing diversity audits which are a
library trend that has grown out of the focus on diversity equity and inclusion over the last 5
years. Milano expressed the best way to obtain accurate results is the “hands on” way and
fortunately during the pandemic, 2 of our librarians spend a good part of the initial 6 months of
the pandemic auditing the young adult collection. Each book was examined to determine
whether or not they had a variety of diversity markers. As a result, the library has data that is
more accurate and particular to the LOPL collection when compared to census data. Milano
explained the diversity markers, the results of the library collection audit, the census and
circulation data.
6. Director’s Report – Melissa Kelly
Continuity of Operations Plan feedback
Kelly shared with LAB that the Library has a Continuity of Operations plan (COOP) that we
follow. The COOP worked well during the ice storm, providing a checklist to follow, but we still
have improvements to make.
We are working on an easier way to notify the volunteers.
We are developing a new approach to posting physical signage.
We need to be more proactive at sharing messages about extending due dates and
hold pick up dates.
We are working on adding criteria for safely opening the library, using a checklist.
CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO February 14, 2024
Library Advisory Board Library
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503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us
During the last ice storm, the library opened as a warming center on one day and we
had upwards of 50 people in the library, whereas the other warming center for 2 days
had -0- people. This was interesting in that possibly people wanted to get out and come
to the library more than they were wanting the warming center.
Lake Oswego Reads updates
Kelly shared the Lake Oswego Reads brochure for 2024. The brochure has been sent
to print. Kelly discussed the upcoming events related to LO Reads.
The Library’s Book Giveaway is Saturday, March 2 nd at 11 am. We will have a drive-
through and a walk-in option. Brochures and passports will be given out at the same
time. In addition, it will be viewable and printable from our website.
The Library’s Author Ticket Giveaway is Saturday, March 9 th at 11am in the library.
Each patron will receive up to two tickets to the event on Thursday, April 25 th at 7pm.
Ms. Umrigar will visit Lake Oswego on Thursday, April 25th at Lakeridge High School
and will be joined onstage by Oregon author Sindya Bhanoo.
Tuesday, April 16th, Ms. Bhanoo will also read and discuss selections from her award-
winning book, Seeking Fortune Elsewhere.
Thanks to the generosity of the Friends, not only are we providing the community 1,000
copies of our main title, Honor, we will also be giving away 500 copies of Thrity
Umrigar’s children’s book, Sugar in Milk. Ms. Umrigar will visit Oak Creek elementary
and each child will receive a signed copy of her hardcover book. Additional copies will
be shared during an LO Reads story time on April 13 th.
The library is so grateful to the Friends for the funding to bring LO Reads and many
other programs to fruition! Some of these other programs include:
o MLK Community Celebration, rescheduled to February 28 at 5:30 pm in the
library
o Lunar New Year – in cooperation with Palisades World Language School and
LO for Love, the library welcomed 600 visitors for the event featuring activities
for the entire family ranging from dance and drum performances to children’s
stories and dumpling folding. Thank you again to the Friends for sponsoring
both of these community events!
Strategic Plan progress updates
Kelly shared the library created a new full-time Lead Library Assistant position for
Outreach services which is currently open for and receiving applications from many
qualified candidates.
The City in in process of hiring a firm to conduct a seismic evaluation and facilities
condition assessment for the current library building, to understand the true scope of
seismic and other facility upgrades that would be needed for the building to continue
serving.
o The top scoring firm from proposals and interviews has been selected and is now
in contract negotiations.
o Work will begin in the library soon, throughout March, doing evaluations.
o One of the reasons this firm scored well is due to their care and commitment to
continuing operations.
CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO February 14, 2024
Library Advisory Board Library
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503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us
o Final reports are due in April, tentatively scheduled to present results to Council
May 21.
Kelly mentioned the City Council has proposed a 2024 goal to “develop a strategy for an
all-ages, and all-activities community center on the west side of town that would include
event and meeting spaces, public services and may include library services” supports
the library’s strategic plan.
The City Manager’s office has hired a Project Manager to work on the project.
o Nina Vetter has significant experience as a city manager and project manager.
o Kelly is pleased that she is in the City Manager’s Office and reporting to Martha
as this provides credibility to the project as well as provides Nina stronger
adjacency to other City Manager’s Office/City Executive Staff who are needed to
support this project.
o Kelly will continue to be fully involved and will work closely with Nina, Martha and
the team. With the hiring of the project manager position, this allows Kelly to
focus on her area of expertise (the Library) and not get spread too thin
overseeing project management.
Kelly explained that she is already getting questions and comments about the possibility
of a new library. LAB members requested that Kelly share her responses to people with
them so that we are all speaking from the same page. Kelly shared a few talking points
at the meeting, and let LAB members know we are working on our FAQ’s and will share
with the LAB when it is complete and approved for distribution.
Kelly provided a quick update on the library concrete repair. It will be happening this
week and neighbors have been notified that there may be jackhammer noise.
7. New Business
Proposed City Council goals for 2024 were shared with Council Corrigan’s report. LAB
members will be emailed the proposed goals with initiatives for each goal after the meeting.
8. Vice-Chair Remarks- Patricia Walls
Vice-Chair Walls attended a meeting for Board Chairs and Vice-Chairs with 12 others from
different boards. She shared that an issue the other boards are having is the public attending
board meetings and wanting to debate issues. The city attorney stressed to all that we are not
to debate and that the public is only allowed to make a statement without engagement. Walls
stated the Mayor had mentioned the 2024 Council goals and shared information from that
meeting supporting the current 2024 Council goals and the Mayor’s support of the library. At
the meeting, the group was encouraged to be supportive of the processes when there are
openings on the board in recruiting the public to participate
9. Youth Liaison Remarks – Allison Korkola and Jake Jordan
Korkola discussed what she has been working on with Quin Brunner regarding boards and
youth positions on the boards. The Youth Leadership Council will be meeting at the Library,
Wednesday Feb 21st. Korkola attended the Lunar New Year celebration and said it was fun.
Jordan asked if when we have any public forums if there will be restrictions. Kelly expressed
that when we have those events we make sure that we have strong facilitators who if needed
CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO February 14, 2024
Library Advisory Board Library
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503.697.6583 706 Fourth Street PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.ci.oswego.or.us
can pull someone aside to hear their concerns while the rest of the group can continue to be
productive.
10. Friends of the Library Report – Phil Wikelund
Wikelund announced the new Friends treasurer Mary Medak.
The friends have also engaged with a pro bono local attorney for the friends and the
board will be voting on it.
The friends have created a committee to create a job description for a part time
Associate Development position. This will be discussed at the next Friends meeting.
Wikelund shared that there is an individual interested in donating that he put in touch
with Kelly in an effort to be considered for a donation to the Library.
11. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made by Steinberg; seconded by Jordan. Next LAB meeting will be held on
March 13, 2024 at 7pm at the Library. Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Harlan