Board Meeting November 2019

DELEGATION

a)  Pay Equity for Library Workers - CUPE 391

ADMINISTRATION

a)  Removal of Items from Consent Agenda
b)  Approval of the Agenda – Additions/Alterations
c)  Minutes – Receive/approve draft minutes of Board meeting held October 23, 2019: Download
d)  Minutes - Receive/approve draft minutes of Special Board meeting held from October 31, 2019 to November 4, 2019: Download

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

a)  CUPE Local 391
b)  Friends of VPL
c)  VPL Foundation

POLICY DECISIONS FROM OCTOBER 23 BOARD MEETING

a)  Vancouver Public Library Cards: Download
b)  Board Procedure Policy: Download

ITEMS FOR DECISION

a)  Study of Fine Free Service Model: Download

ITEMS FOR CONSENT

DIRECT TO BOARD            

a)  Monthly Outcomes Report – October 2019
b)  BCLTA Liaison Report: Download

CRPD COMMITTEE

c)  Draft Minutes - November CRPD Committee Regular Meeting: Download
d)  Vancouver City Wide Plan: Download
e)  VPL 2020 Q3 Progress Report: Download
f)  Strategic Plan Update (Please see draft November CRPD Committee Meeting Minutes)

SFHR COMMITTEE

g)  Draft Minutes - November SFHR Committee Regular Meeting: Download

DISCUSSION OF ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT

NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURN

IN CAMERA MEETING RATIONALE

THAT the Library Board will go into meeting later tonight which is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 7(m) of the Board Procedure Policy, to discuss matters related to paragraphs:

Section 7(m)(10) Negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of an activity, work or facility that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the Board, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the Library if they were held in public.1

 

VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES

Vision Statement - An informed, engaged, and connected city.

Mission Statement - A free place for everyone to discover, create and share ideas and information.

Values

We value:

• diversity
• access for all
• intellectual freedom
• learning and curiosity
• patron-centred services
• community-led planning
• community partnerships
• innovation and creativity
• respectful spaces and communication
• staff development and collaboration
• effective use of resources
• sustainability

Present:  Jennifer Chan, Vice Chair; Zahra Hussein; Kevin Lowe; Stuart Mackinnon, Park Board Commissioner; Raji Mangat, Vice Chair; Barbara Parrott, Vancouver School Board Trustee; Harlan Pruden; John Schaub, Chair; Rhonda Sherwood; Abeer Yusuf, Via conference call

Absent:  Clr. Christine Boyle, Vancouver City Councillor; Kurt Heinrich; Rebecca Jules

Management Present:  Christina de Castell, Chief Librarian; Kay Cahill, Director, Collections & Technology; Julie Iannacone, Director, Neighbourhood & Youth Services; Dawn Ibey, Director, Library Experience; Julia Morrison, Director, Corporate Services & Facilities; Carol Nelson, Director, Planning & Communications

Absent:  Balwinder Rai, Director, Human Resources

Staff:  Leigh Anne Palmer, Manager, Digital Services

Guests:  Ann True, President, Friends of VPL Board; Kari Scott-Whyte, President, CUPE Local 391; Julian Key, Member-at-Large, CUPE Local 391; Gary Jarvis, Member-at-Large, CUPE Local 391; Jenny Marsh, Executive Director, VPL Foundation

Recording Secretary:  Chrysalyn Tolentino, Executive Assistant

DELEGATION

1.  Pay Equity for Library Workers

Kari Scott-Whyte, President of CUPE 391, spoke on the City’s Women’s Equity Strategy and observed that CUPE 391 supports the strategy. She noted that the Strategy does not address precarity and gaps in pay between male and female dominated jobs, and does not include the Library. Kari noted that VPL is a female dominated workplace and CUPE 391 believes that library sector wages are suppressed overall. CUPE 391 supports reducing precarious work through the creation of more regular full time and posted part time positions, and working with the employer towards solutions that will provide more certainty for part time and auxiliary workers. CUPE 391 is working to address the wage gap between men and women through a range of efforts municipally and provincially.

ADMINISTRATION

2.  Removal of Items from Consent Agenda

No agenda items were removed from the Consent Agenda.

3. Minutes

The draft minutes of the Regular Meeting held October 23, 2019 were presented to the Board for approval.  

Moved by Raji Mangat and seconded by Rhonda Sherwood

THAT the draft minutes of the Regular Meeting held October 23, 2019 be approved as received.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The draft minutes of the Special Board Meeting held from October 31 to November 4, 2019 by email were presented to the Board for approval.  

Moved by Rhonda Sherwood and seconded by Zahra Hussein

THAT the draft minutes of the Special Board Meeting held from October 31 to November 4, 2019 be approved as amended.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. Approval of the items for Consent

Moved by Rhonda Sherwood and seconded by Kevin Lowe

THAT the following Board reports be approved on consent:

• Monthly Outcomes Report – October 2019

THAT the Library Board receive the report for information.

• BCLTA Liaison Report

THAT the Library Board receive the report for information.

• Draft Minutes – November CRPD Committee Regular Meeting

THAT the Library Board receive the draft minutes for information.

• Vancouver City-Wide Plan

THAT the Library Board receive the report for information.

• VPL 2020 Q3 Progress Report

THAT the Library Board receive the report for information.

• Draft Minutes – November SFHR Committee Regular Meeting

THAT the Library Board receive the draft minutes for information.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

CUPE Local 391

Kari Scott-Whyte, President of CUPE 391, introduced Gary Jarvis, CUPE 391 Member-at-Large, to the Board. The Union held a bargaining proposal ratification meeting on November 24th and the proposals were ratified unanimously by members. The Union also sponsored the venue for the VPL trivia night and attended the 2020 budget briefing. Kari is looking forward to speaking at the special City Council meeting on the 2020 budget on December 3rd.

Friends

Ann True, President of Friends of VPL reported that their Board held their strategic planning in October. She noted that the Bookmark’ store will hold its annual holiday sale on November 28 and will be offering discounts to Friends’ members and VPL staff. Their next book sale will be held on January 23, 2020 and they will hold their volunteer brunch in February.

VPL Foundation

Jenny Marsh, Executive Director of the VPL Foundation, reported that they held their annual stewardship & acquisition event on November 26th and this will be followed-up with an appeal to support the Inspiration Lab. The VPL Foundation also held a workshop on fundraising on November 25 and their Annual General Meeting will be held on December 2nd where the Board will appoint two new vice chairs and will be welcoming two new Board members.

Trustee Reports

Vice Chair Jennifer Chan introduced and welcomed Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss event organized by Teen Services and Raincoast Books. She attended the Public Art celebration of Adrift by Rebecca Belmore and Osvaldo Yero and wrote to her council liaison Clr. Adriane Carr regarding the eBook and eAudio motion and proposed City budget.

Trustee Rhonda Sherwood attended the BC Book awards on October 19th, the Public Art celebration of Adrift on November 14th, VPL Foundation fundraising workshop on November 25th and the November 26 workshop on Indigenous and Urban Indigenous Peoples – Impact of Residential Schools and Colonization.

Trustee Abeer Yusuf attended the Vancouver City Planning Commission’s City We Want Planning Conversation with Board Chair Schaub. She introduced Chris Ware on November 19th, and introduced Bindu Suresh, Anosh Irani and Cherie Dimaline as part of CBC’s Booked @VPL.

Vice Chair Raji Mangat attended the Adrift Public Art Celebration on Level 8, administered the Chief Librarian performance review process with Trustee Lowe, reviewed applications for the VPL Board and attended the Fundraising Workshop with the VPL Foundation.

Trustee Zahra Hussein attended the VPL Foundation musical on November 26 which was organized for their annual donors and to which Trustees were invited. She also emailed her Council liaison, Clr. Lisa Dominato, about the budget proposed City budget.

Board Chair John Schaub gave the introduction to the Telus Storyhive event, attended the VPL Foundation Governance meeting and attended the Adrift Public Art celebration.

ITEMS FOR DECISION

5. Vancouver Public Library Cards

The Board discussed the report at the October 23rd Library Board meeting and were not able to approve the recommendations due to lack of quorum. The report was brought forward again for decision.

Moved by Rhonda Sherwood and seconded by Raji Mangat

THAT the Board adopt the Vancouver Public Library Cards Policy; and

THAT the Board grant the authority for setting fines, fees, and charges related to library cards and lending services to the Chief Librarian.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.  Board Procedure Policy

The Board discussed the report at the October 23rd Library Board meeting and were not able to approve the recommendations due to lack of quorum. The report was brought forward again for decision.

Moved by Raji Mangat and seconded by Kevin Lowe

THAT the Board approve the revised Board Procedure Policy.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7. Study of Fine Free Service Model

Rhonda Sherwood, Chair of the SFHR Committee, presented the report for Board approval and noted that the Services, Finance & Human Resources Committee expressed support for reducing barriers to library use, including considering the potential for expanding fine-free access beyond children. Board Chair Schaub asked if staff has considered cost implications associated with fine-free models and Director Ibey responded that this will be included in the research. VSB Trustee Parrott sought some background information on barriers to using library service and Dawn noted that the Library has known for some time that the potential for fines is a barrier. The Chief Librarian identified that staff will include information about the Working Together Project and other efforts VPL has undertaken to reduce barriers in the research report. Trustee Yusuf asked about implementation timelines and Dawn responded that staff are planning to bring a report to the May 2020 Board meeting. Vice Chair Chan suggested that staff include consideration of the benefits of increasing opening hours in comparison to fine-free models, and asked that staff investigate the hours of operation of libraries that have gone fine-free. Trustee Pruden suggested other criteria for waiving fees since some patrons with financial means see fines as a way of supporting the library, and the Chief Librarian identified that staff will consider ways to encourage donations within the report. At the conclusion of the discussion, the following motion was raised:

Moved by Rhonda Sherwood and seconded by Raji Mangat

THAT the Board direct staff to develop a proposal with budget implications for expanding fine-free services and present the report to the Board in 2020, in advance of the 2021 budget planning process.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADJOURN

Moved by Rhonda Sherwood and seconded by Raji Mangat

There being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. and moved to in-camera as per Board Procedure Policy 7(o)(x) Discussions respecting the development of a policy or the proposed provision of an activity, work or facility that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the Board, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the Library of the City of Vancouver if they were held in public.

Signed by: John Schaub, Chair and Christina de Castell, Secretary