Friends of Parklands-Turner Library Minutes of Meeting Held on Thursday, January 10, 2019

Friends of Parklands-Turner Library
Minutes of Meeting Held on Thursday, January 10, 2019
(Submitted 01-16-2019)

Attendees

• Brenda Lee Richardson, President
• Stuart Anderson, Vice-President
• Susan Haight, President of the Federation of the Friends
• Archie Williams, D.C. Public Library
• Lawrence Clinkscale, Branch Manager
• Cheryl Moore, ANC Commissioner
• Quenton Horton, Ward 8 MOCR, Office of the Mayor
• Nneka Anosike
• Evelyn Brown
• Dr. Charles Burt, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
• Priscilla S. Collins
• Anthony (Jamal) Daily
• Isha Lee
• DeJuan Mason
• Antonio Martin
• Joel Miles
• Michael Moore
• Taurus Phillips
• Lanette B. Preston
• David Rydzeski, DC College Savings Plan
• Art Slater
• Chris Stukes
• Paulette Thompson
• Andre & Shondelyn Towner

 
Discussion
 
The meeting commenced at 7:00 pm at the Parklands-Turner Library.  The following ensued:
 
Welcome and Introductions 
 
Brenda Lee Richardson welcomed everyone and introductions were made.
 
Opening Remarks
 
Archie Williams, Susan Haight and Lawrence Clinkscale had opening remarks.

• Parklands-Turner Library has the 11th highest circulation use in the library system.
• There are 26 Friends Groups that serve as advocates for the public library.
• An RFP has recently gone out to identify 4 new potential sites for a new Parklands-Turner Library.  The locations will be half a mile from the current location.
• The lease for Parklands ends in 2023.
• The Friends of Parklands-Turner will serve as an affiliate of the Federation of the Friends.  They will also handle the funds for the Friends of Parklands-Turner.

 
Membership Dues
 
Membership fee for the Friends is annual.  The membership fees can be $5 or $10 a year.  There can also be a special fee for students, seniors and corporations.
 
Meeting Dates
 
It was recommended that the Friends meet every other month and do something for the library in between.  There was some interest in meeting monthly or meet two months and off one month.  The meeting dates are scheduled for:  March, May, July, September and November 2019 at 7:00 pm.  The meetings will last one hour.  During the month of February there are 3 recommended events:

• Quiet Time for Seniors at the Library
• Support Special Event at the library on February 12th
• Roundtable Discussion with DC College Savings Plan

 
Concern
 
The Parklands-Turner Library at its current location was supposed to be a temporary library.  It has been 12 years.  When will the community get a full-service library?
 
Comments
 
What would you like to see at the Parklands-Turner Library?

• Keep the community engaged and kids need their own space.
• This library is very special
• There are a lot of authors in the Ward who should be reading to the children.
• We need a bigger library to accommodate children and seniors.
• There should be a movie projector with movies to teach children how to write books.
• There is a need for more tutors.
• The library needs different rooms for Mommies and Me meetings and for kindergarteners.
• Entrepreneur space is needed.
• Consider a serenity room for a place for people to relax.
• Programs to engage the children more in things like gardening and crochet for the seniors as well as arts and crafts.
• Conference rooms would be a big plus for meetings.
• There needs to be more space for adults in the current library.
• One of the attendees volunteered to make space at Parklands available for seniors and make connection to Courtney Davis to get more information on authors.

 
The meeting ended at 8:00 pm.