1990-11-19 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - November 19, 1990 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.. Present: Dr. Christine Redford, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Mrs. Elia Marnik. Dr. Redford called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Minutes: Ms. Dubois moved that the minutes of October 15 and November 8 be approved. The motion passed. Director's report: Corinne Fisher attended a workshop on work simplification. She may do a small workshop for the staff on prioritizing tasks. Communications: Diane Young expressed the professional staff's gratitude to the Trustees for their efforts on the reclassification project. Unfinished business: Ms. Flannery presented NOBLE's proposed budget for FY92. The library's assessment has decreased from the previous fiscal year. Mrs. Marnik moved that the NOBLE budget be approved. The motion passed. A list of service priorities developed by the staff was distributed. The Board discussed suggestions for changes to reduce strain on resources. The concensus of the Board was to approve of the following proposals, which will be effective July 1, 1991: 1) Change the borrowing period to three weeks with one renewal allowed (as opposed to the current two weeks with two renewals allowed). Many other NOBLE libraries have a three-week borrowing period. This would reduce phone renewals, but circulation statistics would decrease. The seven-day borrowing period for new fiction and bestsellers would remain. 2) Change to a one-month borrowing period for school deposits (currently two months). '3) Phase out notary service. All current reference librarians have become notaries; this will not be required of future hires. 4) Have indexing of the Chronicle done by a volunteer. 5) Eliminate staff field trips to other libraries and agencies for continuing education. 6) Don't sort and forward incoming, unsolicited mail not addressed to a person. Throw it out. 7) Transfer the job of preparing the newspaper for microfilming to the Chronicle office as of January 1. 8) Eliminate senior housing deposit collections, which receive minimal use. Nursing home deposit collections and homebound delivery would continue. 9) Eliminate files of Town Board minutes, which are rarely used and are available at Town Hall. 10) Ask the Friends to oversee repair and maintenance of the Apple computer, which is owned by them. 11) Reduce reporting of benefits (vacation, sick time, etc.) to staff from twelve times a year to three times a year. 12) Reduce correspondence for acknowledging gifts. Send only one letter, at the time the gift is ordered. Do not hold gift books for the donor to view. 1