1994-06-20 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

Home Browse Search

Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - June 20, 1994 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m. t-,--sent: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford; Mrs. Maria Silvaggi. Also present: Mr. Everett Blodgett. Absent: Mr. William Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Minutes: Mr. Fields moved that the minutes of May 16 be accepted. The motion passed. Financial report: $380 will remain in the non-personal budget after the bills in tonight's billsheet are paid. The last billsheet for the fiscal year will be prepared around July 10. Both personal and non-personal accounts will be spent down to a few pennies. This year, the methodology for expending the book-budget has worked for the first time in many years, and the book budget has been expended steadily and not overspent. The donations account has about $16,000 in it, including $3500 for videos from the Friends. The Friends will also deposit money to the donations account for six children's summer reading club programs. The state aid for FY95 was level-funded by the Governor; the Library will receive another $26,000 in January. Statistical report: Due to the changeover in the computer system, statistics for May are not available yet. The new system is running, working well and fast. vector's report: Ms. Hanley drew the Board's attention to the traffic count statistics: 34,000 during the month of May. The Library will be receiving a gift from Again, Inc. of study carrels originally built for Hale and Dorr. The staff has established a "party club" to organize quarterly social events for the staff. Liaison reports: Mrs. Silvaggi expressed concern about the condition and size of the kitchen. Perhaps the Library can raise funds for remodeling from the groups that use it. Interested Board and staff members will meet to develop a plan and a target figure. No action has been taken on the the parking issue. Members of the Board asked for more scenarios from the Engineering Department, and will discuss those in September. Unfinished business: Mrs. Marnik read a letter from Karen Brown, announcing her resignation and thanking the Board for its support of her education. The Director distributed a memo about the Library's professional education policy, which allows tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing an MLS degree. A moratorium on new recipients was approved by the Board in September and is still in effect. Because of the difference in the job market from when the policy was established in 1989, and because of the small number of positions that this policy affects, Ms. Hanley proposed that the Library discontinue this policy, and follow the Town's Professional Development policy, with some added guidelines. 1