1999-02-08 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - February S, 1999 Present: Ms. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Ms. Donna InDelicato; Mr. Richard Ogden; Dr. Christine Redford. Ms. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Minutes: The minutes of January 11 were accepted. Financial report: There are negative balances in the NOBLE line and there will be an overage in supplies ultimately. The Director had a conversation with the Town Manager about this year's budget. She is optimistic that the NOBLE and supplies budgets will be covered by transfers. The NOBLE bill will be less next year, since we have adjusted our number of connections. The periodicals line is overdrawn. The Library needs to spend $117,000 to meet the fifteen percent state aid requirement. There is $94,000 in the budget. To use $23,000 of the $26,000 in state aid is close to appropriating state aid for a certain purpose, which is contrary to the intent of the program. The Library has asked for $20,000 more for materials for FY00. Fifteen percent of the operating budget is closer to $24,000. The Director is on record with the Board of Selectmen that the amount requested is not enough. Mrs. Silvaggi would like to see the materials line pulled out and emphasized for Town Meeting. Statistical report: Not available at the time of the meeting. Report from the Chairman: At last week's meeting, three of the Selectmen voted on priorities for new programs for FY00. The Library's materials request received two As and one B. The Town Manager gave it a B. The other Selectmen were asked to finish their prioritizing by the end of the week. It is expected that the next Budget Council meeting will include a lot of debate on approaches to the budget. Continuing education: The Assistant Director presented historical statistics on circulation and budget for major categories of the collection. Increased children's circulation over the past ten years reflects more hours, more programs, more children, more staff. Dr. Redford commented that the statistics show the Library's willingness to take risks and to respond to the changes in people's reading habits. The Board requested historical information on book prices, and information on prices and usage of electronic sources (not reflected in circulation). Director's report: Ms. Hanley will be meeting with the Town Manager and the Personnel Administrator next week to review the results of the reclassification study. The need for a good pay structure is being recognized town-wide, as employees leave for better paying jobs and recruitment becomes difficult.