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Library Catalog

Minutes – Board of Directors October 2025

Board

Present:

  • Mike Jefferis, Chairperson
  • Karen LaCorte-Nies, Vice Chairperson
  • Alfred G. Battle, Jr.
  • Veronica Ettel
  • BJ Gavin
  • Heidi Hugh
  • Carol Weideman
  • Cheryl Morales, Executive Director
  • Martha Frenchek, Recording Secretary
  • Glenn Ferdman, LDAC Liaison 

Absent: 

  • J.P. Gellermann, Secretary & Treasurer
  • Maggie Paluch

Minutes

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
3:30 pm @ PPLC

  1.  Call to Order:
    Mike Jefferis, Chairperson, called the Board Meeting to order at 3:34 pm.
  2. Roll Call:
    Cheryl Morales conducted Roll Call.
    Present: Mike Jefferis, Karen LaCorte-Nies, Alfred G. Battle, Jr., Veronica Ettel, BJ Gavin, Heidi Hugh, Carol Weideman, Cheryl Morales, Martha Frenchek. A quorum was represented.
    Absent: JP Gellermann, Maggie Paluch
    Guest: David McMurrin, Director, Pinellas Park-Barbara S. Ponce Library
  3. Minutes from August 27, 2025 and September 24, 2025 were accepted as presented (Gavin/Hugh).
  4. Monthly Financial Committee Report:
    1. Level Four Management Report: August/September 2025
    2. PDR Account Financial Statement: August/September 2025
      LaCorte-Nies stated that the Committee had a productive meeting with Financial Advisor Ryan from Level 4. The committee will present recommendations at the January meeting, including further rebalancing of our portfolio. All expenses and expenditures are in line.
  5. Correspondence: None
  6. Executive Director’s New Report – Cheryl Morales
  7. Services
    1. Countywide, DLC and TBL reports are included in the agenda packet.
    2. Partnerships
      1. 3 new partnerships to launch 12.1.25: Seminole Historical Society Museum, Sunken Gardens, and Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. Partnerships between FloridaRama and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts are pending.
    3. Centralized Services and Resource Sharing
      1. The planned use of a software called BTCAT to enhance the online cataloging was discontinued due to bankruptcy of Baker & Taylor Inc..
      2. The Pinellas Memory Project platform migration was initiated, and group training for contributors is being planned.
    4. Marketing
      1. Exploring new social media connections and billboard advertising.
    5. Advocacy
      1. Advocacy SIG formation in process
      2. FL Library Day plans underway for 1.21-22.26
    6. Other: 10.13.25 Countywide Staff Development Day “Better Together”. 250 Member Library staff & 4 Board Members participated in a very successful event. Achieved a 75% positive rating from the surveys.
  8.  Old Business:
    1. Annual Performance Evaluation Committee – Review draft form
      The Board reviewed and discussed the draft evaluation procedures. The committee will edit documents and present again at the next meeting.
    2. FY’26 Board Meeting Schedule
      The Board unanimously approved the FY’26 Meeting Schedule (LaCorte-Nies/Weideman).
    3. Parking lot use by Wildwood Academy (14 slots)
      Morales reviewed the school’s status and the request to use of PPLC parking spaces. The PPLC attorney drafted a license agreement for the current school year, which ends on June 30, 2026. The Board approved the agreement with additional Insurance requirements recommended by council (Battle/Gavin).
    4. Strategic Plan- Review Draft
      Jefferis commented that the document was well done and produced. Discussion on the Advocacy section is still pending. The Board decided to add Advocacy as a standing item on the agenda. The Board approved the Strategic Plan (LaCorte-Nies/Weidman).
  9. New Business:
    1. FY’ 26 Budget Review. The Board unanimously approved the FY ’26 Budget as presented (Weideman/Ettel).
  10. LDAC Report- Glenn Ferdman Review ofLDAC Meeting, September 8, 2025
    1. Countywide Database
    2. Florida Data Electronic
    3. Safety Harbor Library Director Lisa Kothe’s retirement
    4. September Library Sign-up month Contest- Runner-up Seminole Library
    5. The Clearwater Beach Library will launch a Pop-up Library starting next month
    6. Kudos to Cheryl and her team on an Outstanding Staff Development Day
  11. Announcements/Miscellaneous:
    1. Jefferis thanked the Board for attending the “sneak peek” (9.23.25) and “grand opening” (9.27.25) of the renovated President Barack Obama (PBO) Main Library and expressed that he appreciated their support. Morales added that leading up to, and since reopening the PBO Main library, 7,000 new library cards were issued from that location alone.
  12. Public Comments: None
  13. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned @4:58 pm (Weideman/Hugh)

The next regular board meeting: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (No Meeting in November and December)
Submitted by Martha Frenchek, Office Assistant