The Langston Hughes-Andrew Carnegie Center, Inc.

Minutes

September 12, 2005

4:00 p.m.

Plymouth Congregational Church

Attendance:

Barbara Watkins, Joyce Steiner, Elizabeth Schultz, Nancy Hiebert, Reta Cosby, Mike Caron, Linda Luckey – guest: Mayor Boog Highberger

One-Book Program:

Joyce reported that the library director supports the One-Book Program and agrees that it should be a joint project and will join us at the City Commission meeting.

Nancy is still waiting to hear back from Borders and Bill Dann. Reta needs to know the number of kids at day-care centers. Mike Caron raised the question about the feasibility to getting a book into the hand of every young child. (Altrusa gives books to all babies when they are born and at initial (?) well-baby visit. Also, we should be sure if we make books available that they be available in a diversity of languages.

Kansas Reads to Kids Project (jointly with the Library)

Reading dates: November 14-20

Read to kids training November 5^th (Note: KU vs. Nebraska football game that day, time TBA) We should probably do the training session in the morning.

Re: Distribution Issues.

Can we partner with Altrusa?
There is a concern that we need to place books are in the hands of people who really need to be reading to their kids.
Is there a workable strategy to bring books to low-income families, a group that may feel alienated from the libraries?
Possible strategies to get books to kids or get kids where the books are

Program with treats
Target a school or area, i.e. East Heights
Tape parents reading books to kids
Make sure the books show a diverse population both listening to and reading to kids
Give books away at the library when we have a special author day

Re: Recruiting Seniors to Read to Kids

Offer training (i..e. Linda Clay) and videotape workshop
Kansasreads.org has “how to read to kids” information on its website
Approach the Endicott Society
Involve faith communities
Lawrence School Foundation may be a resource

Re: Publicity

Journal World has already been contacted
Perhaps Greg Hurd on River City Weekly could interview author, Debi Gliori
Possibly include local illustrators Stephen Johnson and Gary Mohrman

New Directions (Diversity of Literacies)

Other areas HCC might consider for the future:

Reta is working with the NAACP Youth Council to apply for funding to have kids develop a disaster prevention plan - - with possible film/video aspects
Wetlands project : possible model: Lincoln Wetlands Project in Illinois
Financial literacy
Scientific literacy

Note: More discussion on the appropriate inclusion of subtopics under the literacy heading. Caution not to throw everything in there - - only basic knowledge that is critically important.

Meeting with Mayor Highberger

At 5:30 p.m. we were joined by Mayor Highberger for an update on the status of the Carnegie Library. Not excellent news for us.

In response to inquiry from Barb about whether our minutes are being passed on to the City Commissioners, the mayor said they were included on the online materials now being given with agenda items and background for the City Commission.
The Mayor’s e-mail address is: boog@ixks.com
The issue of reopening the RFP process for the Carnegie Library will probably be put on the City Commission table in the next few weeks. Our group could be reconsidered again but will have a strong challenge from the Americana Music School. They may come to the table with resources to assist in rehabilitation of the building.
Some issues for our group to consider if we decide to continue to pursue the Carnegie Library space:

The City is not open at this time to start new projects that require new city funds.
There is currently no allocation of funds for the restoration of the building (Again, a group who comes with funds in hand will be in a strong position).
In our proposal, first-year funding did not have a private donation component.
The library does not support working with our group outside the library building.
The City would like to minimize its commitment to rehab and upkeep of the building as well as funding an on-going program.

In lieu of HCC’s request for occupation of the Carnegie Library, we could still ask for assistance from the City in other ways.
The City Commissioners could recommend to the Library Board that literacy play a significant role in the future strategic plans for expansion.

It was the perception of those HCC members present that our chances of occupying the Carnegie Library space are slight. Mike and others emphasized that the issues of literacy and the need for this community to respond to literacy needs do not depend on a building to fulfill its mission.

September 20^th at 4:00 p.m. the Chamber of Commerce “Talk of the Town” will have literacy as its topic. Meeting will be held at the library.

Our next meeting: Monday September 26^th, 4:00 p.m. – Plymouth Church, Room 201 North

Question: Should we attend the next City Commission Meeting on the 27^th? Not decided.