Historical Records Commission Minutes November 9, 2023

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

Members excused:
None

Associate Members present:
Amanda King, Secretary
Erika Thibault, Director, Sonoma County Library
Eve Goldberg, County of Sonoma Library Commissioner and Liaison to the Historical Records Commission

Guests present:
None

Call to order 4:04 pm
Introduction of Guests
The October 5, 2023 minutes were approved
1. Motion by Seana Gause
2. Second by Robert Chase
3. Approved
Budget Discussion
1. Balance is $3,719.59
Continuing Business
1. HRC Commissioners Report
  1. Margaret's report:
    - Attended Finding History Day
    - Went to Heritage Network Meeting and brought the Researching the History of a Sonoma County Property handout with QR code asking for review for comments and corrections
    - Attended the Roseland Library information event and launch of the campaign for additional fundraising for that. Received a lot of questions about the Archives
  2. Michael's report:
    - No report
  3. Robert's report:
    - No report
  4. Seana's report:
    - Finding History Day was great. Really enjoyed the event and the participation. Many organizations were represented.
  5. Steven's report:
    - No report
2. Library Commissioner Liaison Report
  1. Update from Eve Goldberg:
    - Commission approved changes in the security camera policy
    - Approved a memorandum with SEIU with air quality policy changes
    - New agreement with the company that provides the library with a book-sorting machine for book returns and book transfers.
3. Library Report
  1. Library Director Report
    - Library Update:
      - Architects preview for the Roseland Library, breaking ground in Nov/Dec 2024. Have the interior space mapped out. Will have an outdoor amphitheater-like space for outdoor programs. Trying to raise money for a rooftop deck to have programs on the rooftop overlooking Taylor Mountain.
      - In February, in collaboration with the Wine Library Association and Sonoma county public library association. Having a Black winemakers event and are still looking for a space. Have received a donation to create a visual oral history of Mac McDonald
    - Archives Operating Agreement Update
      - Met with Christel Quintero. She will meet with Christina Rivera, CAO, to see if we may get some movement on some elements of the MOU
  2. History and Genealogy Library Report
    - Update emailed by Zayda Delgado:
      - Upcoming Programs
        
        The Rainbows by the River event at the Guerneville Library has been cancelled but will be postponed to January/February 2024.
        
        There will be updates to the Playback Memory Lab program coming out at the end of November. Keep an eye out for an email or visit the Playback website (www.sonomalibrary.org/playback) for details about these changes, including expanded lab hours and new appointments openings. In the meantime, if you are eager to digitize photos/documents/negatives/slides, there is now a "walk-in" photo scanner (Epson V850) available for use during the library's open hours, Tues-Sat, 11am-5pm
4. Archives Activity Report
  1. Update emailed by Zayda Delgado:
    - Twenty-four (24) archives material requests from 8 unique users. No county requests for October.
    - The library provided a tour of the archives to members of the Advocates for the Sonoma County Archives. They expressed positive feedback for the new location of the archives.
    - Work on the Archival Collections website continues! HRC commissioners, if you have feedback, continue to send it in through the instructions provided at the last HRC meeting.
  2. A meeting has been set for the Archives video
5. Collections & Archives Recognition Awards
  1. Collections and Archives Recognition Awards description and nomination forms now available on the website and were emailed out to the Heritage Network. Nominations are due by January 10, 2024.
  2. Secretary to reach out to Ray Johnson for email list of attendees from Finding History Day to send the nomination form.
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.
  2. Other California County Historical Records Commission
    - Solano County Historical Records Commission has been disbanded as of November 7, 2023. Instead, created an ad-hoc committee of two Board members. Have taken all historical records and put them in storage and were being managed by volunteers.
    - Secretary to remove from future agendas.
  3. Finding History Day, October 21, 2023, 10:00AM-2:00PM, Finley Community Center, Santa Rosa
    - Next event is November 2, 2024 at the Veterans Building
    - Secretary to send Chair the survey to complete for the HRC
7. County Recorder update on the status of the Restrictive Covenant Modification Program
  1. County Recorder has contracted with Extract Systems, LLC and is in preliminary meeting steps to begin testing and training in early January 2024.
8. Legislative Updates pertaining to public records
  1. Continuing to monitor legislation.
New Business
1. None
Public Comment
1. Library Commission meeting, December 6, 2023, 6PM, Rohnert Park Branch Library
2. Sonoma County Heritage Network Meeting, January 13, 2024, 10AM-12PM, TBD
3. Museum of Sonoma County Exhibits:
  - Sonoma County Stories, September 9, 2023-Ongoing
  - 2023 Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), September 9, 2023-November 26, 2023
  - Light, Clay, and Copper: Mid-Century Arts and Crafts in Sonoma County, September 9, 2023-Ongoing
  - 34th Artistry in Wood, November 18, 2023-January 7, 2024
Meeting adjourned at 4:51PM

Next Meeting - December 7, 2023 - 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.