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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-19 Board of Library Trustees MinutesRECEIVED Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees Meeting TOWN CLERK Monday, March 19, 2012 RE � 0 1 NO, MASS. Present: 1012 MAY — I . P 1: 0­2 Trustees: Richard Curtis, Vice - Chair; Alice Collins; Cherrie Dubois; Andrew Grimes; Vicki Yablonsky. Ruth Urell, Director; Dorota Socha, Asst. Director. Absent: David Hutchinson, Chair Guests: Suzy Axelson, Friends President and Bill Hecht, Foundation President. Meeting called to order 7:04 pm Minutes of the February 13, 2012 meeting approved unanimously (C. Dubois. Yablonsky) R. Curtis welcomed the new trustees and guests. The library division heads gave a review of their departments and the services they provide: Jamie Penney Technical Services Michelle Filleul Circulation Corinne Fisher Childrens Lorraine Barry Reference/Adult and Teen Services Dorota Socha Foreign Languages and Public Computing Financial Report/ Budget (R. Urell) Finance Committee Budget Review — The library budget will comply with the MBLC M.A.R. requirement; book budget will be fully funded at 15% and the staff will be getting a 2% COLA increase. There was concern expressed at FinCom review about the NOBLE increase from $48K to $55K, due to a one time transition to the new circulation system. V. Yablonsky commented that the budget does not provide funding for library programs and as programming is an increasingly important part of library services, we should make efforts to get programming funding in the operating budget. R. Urell mentioned that last year's budget requested $8,000 for programs but it wasn't funded. C. Dubois agreed saying there should be more money in the budget for staff professional development, and training in technology education. The technology is constantly changing and we are in the education business. The Trustees further discussed that Friends is paying for Staff Day. Friends should be paying for extra services not basic services such as professional development. Liaison Reports were given by Foundation and Friends Presidents Foundation (B. Hecht) The Foundation was started 15 years ago with the intention to raise $1 million to provide interest income as a source of funding for the library. The Foundation conducts activities and outreach to raise money in the hope of reaching this goal. The Foundation supports the Summer Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees — March 19, 2012 Writing Program and gives a yearly gift to the library to support other needs. The gift can change year to year based on the financial environment and also the needs of the library, such as the renovation of the computer lab a few years ago. Friends (S. Axelson) President Axelson gave an overview of the Friends of Reading Public Library. The Friends is run by the efforts of volunteers, comparing Friends providing support to the library as a PTO organization does for a school. Library programs are not built into the Town budget and are funded by the Friends. Some of the programs funded either fully or partially funded are: LiveWires, Museum Passes, Summer Reading Program Staff Day, Concert Series, Animal Fossils Dinosaur Lovers, and the immensely popular Sing -a -Long. Friends spend approximately $20,000 a year to pay for these programs. Some of the fundraisers consist of an 18 Hole -in -One mini golf held in the library, House Tours and membership dues. The Friends House Tour is Sunday in May 6, 2012. Director's Report The migration to the new Evergreen system will go live on May 29d' and replace our current Integrated Library System (ILS). Ongoing training in patron services, circulation, catalog and acquisitions. Reference Librarian Nancy Aberman has announced plans for her retirement in July 2012, after twenty -eight years with the Reading Public Library. The position is being posted next week. Legislative Day at the State House is Wednesday, April 11. State Aid continues to be down one- third, it is at the same value of the 1990's. Building Program R. Urell spoke with Rob Maier, Director of MBLC. R. Urell is working on a date for a meeting with R. Maier and Town Manager P. Hechenbleikner, Chair D. Hutchinson and Board of Selection liaison, Ben Tafoya to discuss steps to expedite Reading's receipt of grant funding. The eight libraries on the grant list were given an extension to June, 2012 to get their town approval vote. Reading has moved from 2nd to I' place on the waiting list. Trustee Items C. Dubois stated the House Tour has raised an impressive $10,000 from sponsors. The House Tour needs 78 hosts and they are looking for volunteers from on Sunday, May 6`h. R. Curtis will attend Legislative Day at the State House Adjourn The motion to adjourn was made 9:00 pm (V. Yablonsky /C. Dubois) Next meeting: Tuesday, April 24, Conference Room, Reading Public Library R�espectfully submitted, Kathryn elesctuc Recording Secretary Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees — March 19, 2012