1995-02-27 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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Board of Library Trustees _ Minutes of Meeting - February 27, 1995 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m. Present: Mr. William Diamond, Ms. Cherrie Dubois, Dr. Christine Redford, Mrs. Maria Silvaggi. Also present: Mrs. Rachel Baumgartner, Mr. Stephen Baumgartner, Ms. Kimberly Lynn. Absent: Mrs. Elia Marnik, Mr. Robert Fields. Ms. Dubois called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Minutes: Dr. Redford moved to accept the minutes. The motion passed., Financial report: Finances are on target. The meeting with the Finance Committee to review the FY96 budget is scheduled for March 6. Statistical report: January was a very good month, reported the Director, for both reference and circulation. Circulation is up 5000. Director's report: The sprinklers above the Picture Book Room were re-piped today, -to repair the damage of February 9. The pipe burst in exactly the same spot as last time. Because it is the low point in the system, water collects there. The pipe has been brought down into the closet, below the ceiling, so that it will be heated. DPW is considering a new sprinkler contractor. There are three ceilings in the Picture Book Room; they will be taken down and replaced with one. The rug is fine. Mrs. Silvaggi suggested that the Board write a letter to.the staff r -nplimenting them on their fast action in the emergency. She agreed to pose it. .'~Carello, the Library Aide who processes new books, has retired. That position is five hours per week. The Director is thinking of incorporating it into a page job and abolishing that classification, of ;which the Aide is the only position. Liaison reports: Mr. Diamond is given to believe. that Gray's will donate, something to the kitchen, depending on their inventory. Report of the Reference Division: Kimberly Lynn presented her ideas about promoting the Library's collection and services to the-business community.. She proposes 1) a brochure, 2) her attendance at Chamber of Commerce meetings, 3) leader tours with a trustee or two on hand,' and 4) research consultations by appointment. A'discussion ensued about who to market the consultations to. Trustees were concerned, because of the already-large workload for reference librarians,` that it would be-exploited forhomework purposes. Ms. Lynn assured them that there would be a screening process at the Information desk. Mr. Diamond suggested that she talk to the staff of Kirstein. She has obtained a lot of good ideas from an `Internet discussion on service to businesses. Reference has experienced some minor thefts in the past few weeks: a computer mouse, headphones, a trackball, and a CD-ROM disk. Mrs. Silvaggi has written an article on the subject for the Chronicle. Staff is investigating cable traps that lock up to five peripherals. finished business: 1) The Baumgartners listed the Friends' upcoming nts: Monday, March 20, Frederick Schauer on censorship; Sunday, April 30, a trip to the Gardner Museum; Sunday, May 7, the house tour; Sunday, May 20 (to coincide with Garden Club's plant sale), a book sale; June 8 or 1