January 2024 Board Meeting - Minutes

January 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. 
City Centre Branch 

Present:  Councillor Kooner, Trustee Herrmann (Chair), Trustee Gillies, Trustee Gurm, Trustee Kaluarachchi, Trustee Kular, Trustee Pascal, Trustee Pham, Trustee Smith, and Trustee Werring 

Regrets: Trustee Cuenca and Trustee Sohal 

Staff: 

  • Surinder Bhogal, Chief Librarian 
  • Michael Ho, Director, Administrative Services 
  • Seline Kutan, Director, Communications and Advancement 
  • Nav Gill, Administrative Coordinator  

1. Call To Order & Land Acknowledgement

The Chief Librarian called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and expressed appreciation working on the traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, Musqueam and Tsawwassen First Nations. 

2. Adoption Of The Agenda

Trustee Werring moved and Trustee Gurm seconded –  CARRIED

3.Inaugural Meeting Business

  1. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
    • Chair: No candidates came forward and Trustee Herrmann agreed to act as interim Chair. 
    • Vice Chair: Trustee Gurm declared elected by acclamation 
  2. Trustees to email Trustee Herrmann to express their interest for InterLINK Board representative. 
  3. Trustees to email Trustee Herrmann to express their interest in committee participation.  

4. Adoption Of The Consent Agenda

  1. Minutes of December 7, 2023, Regular Meeting of the Surrey Public Library Board
  2. Financial Statement for the period ending November 30, 2023

Trustee Smith moved and Trustee Gurm seconded – CARRIED

5. Staff Presentation

Chief Librarian presented an overview of the strategic plan and facility master plan.   

6. New Business/Discussion

  1. 2024 DRAFT board objectives for discussion 
    No edit suggestions were put forward. 
  2. 2024 DRAFT Surrey Libraries Workplan 
    MOTION: “To approve the 2024 library workplan.” 

Trustee Werring moved and Trustee Kular seconded – CARRIED

7.Information Items

  1. Reports
    1. 2024 Board Meetings Calendar
    2. 2023 Strategic Plan and Operational Achievements 
    3. Voice of Customer Report: July-December 2023 
  2. Verbal Updates
    Chief Librarian encouraged both new and returning trustees to register for the virtual BCLTA Board Essentials Workshop on February 27. She also informed the Board about the teambuilding session which will follow the February regular meeting.

8. Next Library Board Meeting

February 22, 2024, 6pm, Guildford Branch 

9. Motion For Moving In-Camera Pursuant To Policy 1.2 Library Board Meetings

Trustee Kooner moved and Trustee Smith seconded – CARRIED

10. Motion to Adjourn

Trustee Kooner moved and Trustee Guam seconded – CARRIED

Meeting adjourned at 7:27 pm.