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Minutes – LDAC – March 9, 2026

Location: Zoom

Roll Call

Present:

  • Jennifer Obermaier, Clearwater
  • Phyllis Gorshe, Dunedin
  • Lois Eannel, East Lake
  • Dave Mather, Gulfport
  • Casey McPhee, Largo
  • Susan Hurley, Oldsmar (excused)
  • Matthew David, Palm Harbor
  • Britney Norsworthy, Safety Harbor
  • Cathleen Bowley, St. Pete Beach
  • Glenn Ferdman, Seminole
  • Cari Rupkalvis, Tarpon Springs
  • Cheryl Morales, PPLC

Absent:

  • Stanley Silverstein, Gulf Beaches
  • Dave McMurrin, Pinellas Park
  • Beth Lindsay, St. Petersburg
  1. Roll Call – Followed by Agenda Additions
  2. Acceptance of Minutes from January 12, 2026
    1. Motion: Lois
    2. Second: Casey
    3. Discussion: One correction – Cari was present at the January meeting
    4. Motion carries
  3. SIG Meeting Reports
    1. Adult Services
      1. Last met: 3-3-26 at PPLC
      2. Discussed: Dementia programming, summer reading ideas, America250, and Olivia Ocampa elected to continue as SIG Secretary
      3. Next meeting: 8-18-26, 2pm at PPLC
    2. Advocacy (n/a)
    3. Cataloging
      1. Last met: February meeting canceled
      2. Next meeting: May 2026
    4. Circulation/Borrower Services
      1. Last met: 2-3-26 at St. Pete Main
      2. Next meeting: 5-5-26
    5. DEIA
      1. Last met: 2-11-26 at PPLC
      2. Discussed: SPIFFS (St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society) planning
      3. Note: SPIFFS was held March 5-7 and went very well. Thousands of people attended. SIG members and other volunteers gave out info on Pronunciator.
      4. Next meeting: 4-8-26 at St. Pete Main
    6. E-Content
      1. Last met: 1-22-26
      2. Discussed: eBooks versus eAudiobooks funding allocations
    7. FOL
      1. Last met: 3-6-26 at Seminole
      2. Discussed: workplace safety, estate planning as fundraisers, and liability insurance
      3. Next meeting: 9-25-26 at Seminole
    8. ILS
      1. Matt O. is asking for each location to send a contact name to handle Sirsi issues/projects
    9. Youth Services (n/a)
  4. Old Business
    1. Overdrive spending ratio: proposal to change to 50:50 for eBooks and eAudiobooks
      1. Motion: Lois
      2. Second: Casey
      3. Discussion: Cheryl shared a spreadsheet and the group discussed.
      4. Motion carries unanimously
  5. New Business
    1. LDAC Chair position -G. Ferdman
      1. Glenn is retiring – Phyllis will fill remaining term
      2. Britney will be new adult SIG liaison
      3. Friends group liaison needed – Britney will take role on if someone else takes on Adult
    2. Farewell to Lois -all
      1. Thank you to Lois for 28 years with PHL and ELCL
    3. AI and Collection Development -D. McMurrin
      1. n/a
    4. Patron banned from all Pinellas libraries by Court Order -J. Obermaier
      1. Brief discussion about the banned member
  6. PPLC Topics
    1. Update on Library Day in Tallahassee
      1. Four attended and met with several Pinellas representatives, and with one Pasco representative
      2. Front cover of PPLC program guide (and “spotlight” on the website) – Speak Up For Your Library
    2. Annual Review of ED by Board
      1. Board is asking LDAC to submit feedback re: Cheryl
  7. PPLC Board Meeting Update
    1. Met in January and February
    2. Annual plan of service approved
    3. Annual Report was shared
    4. Legislative pushes to alter property tax was discussed
    5. Annual review process discussed
  8. Public Comment [n/a]
  9. Announcements from PPLC Libraries
    1. Clearwater
      1. Beach library working with an interior designer and working on quotes; hoping it will open by summer
      2. Limited services location by the public pool – will likely move to recreation center soon
    2. Dunedin
      1. New carpeting and lighting in the works
      2. State library announced the sunset of Right Service at the Right Time
    3. East Lake
      1. Anne Maire N. will be new director, and Dino G. will be the Assistant Director
      2. Design phase for their expansion, and they are visiting libraries
    4. Largo
      1. Lynn Pippenger recently passed away; she was a donor extraordinaire and staunch supporter of libraries (funding genealogy, bookmobile, etc.)
    5. Oldsmar
      1. Historical collection is now open/available at the library
    6. Palm Harbor
      1. Launched a website for upcoming semi-quincentennial events: PalmHarborLibrary.org/America250
    7. Safety Harbor
      1. New flooring and a new information desk is planned
    8. St. Pete Beach
      1. New library card design for 75th anniversary – patrons voted
    9. Seminole
      1. Supervisor opening in Adult and Information Services
      2. New art gallery opening successful; about 75 attended, and positive feedback
    10. Tarpon Springs
      1. Caregivers & Companions Memory Café – monthly program is growing
      2. Applied for native FL plans grant and for a Dementia grant
      3. Renovations – hopefully done by summer
  10. Additional notes from Cheryl
    1. Cheryl – annual report and updated circulation policy are forthcoming
    2. Britney – Safety Harbor enjoyed hosting ELCL recently and welcomes additional libraries to visit (and to extend invitations to her team as well!)
  11. Next meeting
    1. Monday, April 13, 2026 at PPLC
  12. Adjourned at 3:02 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Matthew David