1996-03-18 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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/S ~ v; n Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - March 18, 1996 EA 01 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m. present: Ms. Cherrie Dubois, chair; Mr. William Diamond; Mrs. Elia arnll; Dr. Christine Redford. Guests: Stephen and Rachel Baumgartner. Absent: Mr. Robert Fields; Mrs. Maria Silvaggi. Ms. Dubois called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Diamond was excused early in the meeting because of illness. Minutes: Dr. Redford moved to accept the minutes of February 15 as amended. The motion passed. Financial report: The Director reported that the book budget is back on target. Book selectors had had to cut back for a while. Statistics: Videos circulated 1400 times in February, and 21,000 times so far this fiscal year. Many individual tapes have been borrowed over 100 times and are holding up very well to this hard use. Director's report: Corinne Fisher sent thanks for condolences on the loss of her mother. Liaison reports: None. Friends report: Donations in memory of Arnold Berger total about $500 so f-V-. Fran McSheehy will be formally remembered on Saturday, May 11, Ieding the last Friends' concert. A plaque will be put on the wall, .ng the recordings collection in her honor. Rusty Palumbo will assist in purchasing recordings reflective of Fran's taste with the memorial money. The Friends will sponsor a lunch with poet Paul Janeczko on April 24. The newsletter will go out the week after Easter. The book sale is scheduled for May 18, and the Friends will be accepting donations for the month prior to the sale. Mrs. Baumgartner pointed out that the Chronicle photographer showed up at the Chocolate Moose party, but left without taking a picture. Unfinished business: 1) The fundraising committee met again. Ms. Hanley is working on an RFP. 2) The budget has been approved by the Finance Committee. It includes an increase of $14,000 in materials, $4000 in page hours, and a 2.5% increase in salaries. The capital budget includes two line items for the Library: $16,400 for computers and ports, and $5000 for furnishings. The $6000 increase for professional development town-wide will be a big help, allowing some out-of-state travel. The Library may get some money next fiscal year for attendance at ALA in New York. The Library did not get the requested increase in equipment maintenance, or $3000 of the materials request. The technology coordinator has been funded in the Data Processing division. Ms. Hanley and Ms. Dubois reported that budget meetings were very positive and the process was very smooth. 3 Ze Director reported on space planning developments. A representative f Checkpoint visited theLibrary --to-present alternatives for theentry gates. The solutions were very expensive, and so were ruled out. 1