1994-10-17 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - October 17, 1994 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 5:30 p.m. Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mr. William Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Mrs. Maria Silvaggi. Also present: Mr. Steven Baumgartner; Mr. George Hines. Absent: Dr. Christine Redford. Mrs. Marnik called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m. Minutes: Mr. Fields moved that the minutes of September 12 be accepted. The motion passed. Statistical report: September statistics were received just this week and have not been tabulated yet. The gross total is 23,542, an increase from last year. Records for inactive patrons were automatically deleted over the summer, so the reduced number is accurate. Mr. Diamond asked about the status of the music collection. He is working on a bequest to the Library for music acquisitions. Ms. Hanley offered to gather some information on what is needed. Also suggested were the endowment of a concert series, piano maintenance, and acquisition of recordings. Director's report: A reception in honor of Mrs. Marnik being named to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners will be held on November 3 at 8 p.m. According to the Board of Library Commissioners' data office, the Library's rculation for last year exceeded 300,000. That office counts erlibrary loan figures differently than the Library does. The number is c final yet. Liaison reports: Concerning parking, the new Town Engineer starts in November. The Director introduced Kimberly Lynn, new Head of Information Services, to the Board. Unfinished business: 1) The tuition reimbursement policy was tabled until the next meeting. 2) The draft of a letter soliciting funds for the remodeling of the kitchen was discussed and amended. The letter will be sent out. New business: 1) Mrs. Hanley presented a proposed budget for FY96. It is due on October 28. The Town Manager is proposing three percent salary increases. A municipal inflation factor of 2.2 percent may be added to the base budget. He is also accepting structural increases (due to increased business, for example) and new program requests. Ms. Hanley would like to submit the budget that the Library needs, i.e., in excess of the 2.2 percent increase allowed. The bottom line of her proposed budget is $558,961, a 3.8 percent increase. She went through her proposed budget line by line. The personnel budget will not go up by three percent, because turnover in personnel has reduced the overall budget. The amount for NOBLE is uncertain, but will increase due to facility costs. Book prices have ~ 1ized. I 1