1999-11-22 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

Home Browse Search

"ASS. Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - November 22, 1999 1q4 rrt MPiaLJSi& ggi, chair; Stephen Conner; Donna InDelicato, Cherrie Dubois; Richard Ogden, Christine Redford. Also present: Matt Cummings, selectman liaison. Mr. Conner called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Minutes: The minutes of October 18 were accepted. Financial report: We are starting to spend the security system capital. Close to $10,009-is expected in additional state aid. Mr. Ogden asked if push came to shove, could this°fiew $10,000 be used to support the new program requests, e.g., extra hours in Technical Services? State aid can be used for anything. Next fiscal year, the Library should get another $9,000- 10,000 for surpassing minimum requirements. The Director expects to have to spend a chunk of this FY's additional aid on materials, because of the 15% requirement. Statistical report: Circulation is down, the lowest October we've had in years. Ms. Brennan suggested that the opening of the YMCA impacted library use, providing another outlet for family activity. She is encouraging the development of programs shared between the Library and the Y, perhaps a library outlet at the Y. Concerning theories that information gotten from the Internet causes a decline in borrowing, Ms. Young reported that circulation is down in every category, not just nonfiction. The Library currently samples Internet use, by time, on several workstations throughout the building. We are reluctant to invest in software that collects information on Internet use until the Board of Library Commissioners determines what statistics should be collected. Report from the Chairman: Members of the board attended diversity training, the financial forum, and a budget meeting with the Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager. Director's report: There is no additional staff time budgeted to process materials for the new security system. We are relying on staff, primarily pages, and a few volunteers to give time to the project. Ms. Young was thanked for housing the Husariks for one week while they processed books as volunteers. The system will be installed next week. NMRLS received only two proposals for after-hours reference service, one from Reading and one from Andover, who proposed outsourcing the service outside the library. A team will evaluate the proposals and reissue an RFP. The Board agreed to Ms. Brennan's suggestion that young adult and adult services librarians -give occasional reports to the Board, also. The Director asked the Board's support to send three staff members to the Public Library Association conference in North Caroline in March. The Town Manager indicated he may be able to supply some of the funds. Motion: to make up from trust funds whatever the Town Manager cannot pay for the attendance of three people at PLA. The motion passed.