Historical Records Commission Minutes March 14, 2024

hrc-banner 750

Members present:
Michael Mueller (Chair)
Robert Chase (Vice-Chair)
Seana Gause
Steven Lovejoy
Margaret Purser

Members excused:
None

Associate Members present:
Amanda King, Secretary
Deva Marie Proto, County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor & Registrar of Voters
Jamie Anderson, Collections Services Division Manager, Sonoma County Library
Eve Goldberg, County of Sonoma Library Commissioner and Liaison to the Historical Records Commission

Guests present:
Zayda Delgado, Supervising Librarian, History & Genealogy Library
Dan Aviles, History of the Hop Culture in the United States
Carol Eber, Member of the Public and longtime Library Volunteer

Call to order 4:03 pm
Introduction of Guests
The February 8, 2024 minutes were approved
1. Motion by Seana Gause
2. Second by Robert Chase
3. Approved
4. Abstain by Margaret Purser and Michael Mueller
Budget Discussion
1. Balance is $3,719.59
Continuing Business
1. HRC Commissioners Report
  1. Michael's report:
    - Attended the Sonoma County Historical Society’s luncheon on March 10 to present the Collections and Archives Recognition Awards on behalf of the Sonoma County Archives
  2. Robert's report:
    - No report
  3. Seana's report:
    - Watched Eve Goldberg’s Archives video and it was really well done.
    - The Society for California Archaeology has grants for preservation that are underutilized. Given the HRC mission statement to identify and encourage preservation of historical records, we may want to consider cross pollinating between communities.
  4. Steven's report:
    - A researcher came into the H&G Library from the State Parks Department who is a consultant for the California Truth & Healing Council. He was seeking indentures of Native American peoples also known as Indian Indentures. The Librarians were not aware of any of these in the Archives. After some research, Steven was able to locate some recorded documents in Sonoma County in the Promiscuous Records and Book of Bonds and Agreements.
  5. Margaret's report:
    - No report
2. Library Commissioner Liaison Report
  1. Update from Eve Goldberg:
    - The LC has new updates from the staff about Measure Y and we’re getting educated so we are able to educate the public.
    - LC has done some budget adjusting to make sure how things are dispersed are in line with how it is needed
3. Library Report
  1. Library Director Report
    - Library Update by Jaime Anderson:
      - At the last LC meeting, Director Thibault gave an annual report presentation highlighting interesting facts, figures, and accomplishments from this last year. It also shows that circulation numbers have returned and now exceeded to pre-pandemic levels.
      - Budget Workshop is on March 27, 2024
      - Have several building renovation and modernization projects slated for this year:
        
        Petaluma Regional Library will be tentatively closing May 1 and they will be operating at a temporary/smaller site during the renovation at Kenilworth Teen Center, 150 Fairgrounds Drive. The majority of the collection will go into storage while the library is closed. Estimated to be 9-12 months for major ADA improvements, new shelving, new carpeting, and new paint.
        
        Healdsburg Library will be tentatively closing for about 6-9 months for renovations
      - Windsor Library will be tentatively closing for approximately 2 weeks for re-carpeting
    - Archives Operating Agreement Update
      - No update
      - Advocates for the Sonoma County Archives sent the Archives video to all the Board of Supervisors
  2. History and Genealogy Library Report
    - Update by Zayda Delgado:
      - H&G has been involved with several preservation consultants to do walk throughs of our buildings, procedures, security, cybersecurity, operations, collections, etc. We received the reports and we are already taking action on some of the recommendations. Other recommendations are going to be folding into plans for the future.
      - Disaster Kits, evacuation priorities, salvage list, general evacuation and salvage training for staff, adding additional sensors for humidity. Adding additional security measure that were already on our to-do list.
      - There is a plan to improve ADA issues such as the ramp and bathroom at H&G and fix the HVAC system. There had been an issue with funding so at this time there is not an accurate timeline.
      - Playback Memory Lab continues to be popular and April booked within 72 hours of being released. Adding an audio visual station so VHS and video cassette around July. Planning to roll out the Playback Memory Lab Station.
      - August event
4. Archives Activity Report
  1. Update by Zayda Delgado:
    - Five (5) archives material requests from 3 unique users. No county requests for February.
    - Still working on ArchivesSpace and today we uploaded the Board of Supervisors collection box and folder information.
5. Collections & Archives Recognition Awards
  1. Nominees were recognitzed at the Sonoma County Historical Society Annual Luncheon on Sunday, March 10, 2024, 11:00AM to 2:00PM, Windsor Holiday Inn, 8755 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor, CA 95492
    - Irene Hilsendager nominated by Barbara Mackenzie in the category of Individual Excellence
    - Tim Danesi nominated by Barbara Mackenzie in category of Individual Excellence
    - Glen Ellen Historical Society nominated by Bean Anderson in the category of Modernization
    - Playback Memory Lab and Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library nominated by Erika Thibault in the category of Special Projects
    - Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County nominated by Eve Goldberg in the category of Preservation
    - Paula Freund and Amy Hogan nominated by Katherine J. Rinehart in the category of Special Projects
    - Steve Lehmann nominated by Karen Alves in the category of Special Projects
  2. Michael Mueller was requested to present the nomination for Glen Ellen Historical Society nominated by Bean Anderson in the category of Modernization at their meeting on March 30, 2024, 1:00PM, Mayflower Hall, Glen Ellen.
  3. Secretary to prepare a press release on award winners.
  4. Michael to reach out to Ray Johnson to check on the tickets for the awardees for the Sonoma County Historical Society Luncheon.
6. Outreach
  1. “Researching the History of a Sonoma County Property” pamphlet update:
    - Commission to review pamphlet in March 2024 for updates to be published in June 2024.
    - Secretary to send original file to H&G Library for review
7. Strategic Planning
  1. Discussion on future ideas
  2. Secretary to put the link to the Archives video on the HRC website
8. County Recorder update on the status of the Restrictive Covenant Modification Program
  1. Testing on the vendor application is nearing an end and it is expected to begin the project in April.
9. Legislative Updates pertaining to public records
  1. Assembly Bill 1785
  2. Continuing to monitor legislation
New Business
1. None
Public Comment
1. Library Commission meeting, April 10, 2024, 6PM, Rohnert Park Library
2. Sonoma County Heritage Network Meeting, April 2024, 10AM-12PM, TBD
3. Museum of Sonoma County Exhibits:
  - Sonoma County Stories, September 9, 2023-Ongoing
  - Light, Clay, and Copper: Mid-Century Arts and Crafts in Sonoma County, September 9, 2023-Ongoing
  - Tilden Daken: The Art of Adventure, December 9, 2023-March 3, 2024
  - A Question of Balance, January 27-May 26, 2024
  - On Tap: Sonoma County Hops & The Beer Revolution, April 20, 2024-September 1, 2024
4. April 8, 2024, 12:00PM, Sonoma State University School of Social Sciences, Stevenson 3900, Robert Chase will be giving a brown-bag lecture on research regarding animal arrest records of Santa Rosa, which are held in the County Archives.
Meeting adjourned at 5:04PM

Next Meeting - April 11, 2024 - 4:00PM

In Person: County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor, Sonoma Room, 585 Fiscal Dr Rm 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Virtual: Guests may also join virtually. Please see the meeting month’s agenda for login information.