HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-17 Board of Library Trustees Minutes...RECEIVED
Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees Meeting TOWN CLERK
Monday, September 17, 2012 READING, MASS.
Present: 312 OCT 23 P t: 2S �
David Hutchinson, Chair; Richard Curtis, Vice Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary; Cherrie Dubois;
Andrew Grimes; Vicki Yablonsky; Ruth Urell, Library Director.
Meeting called to order: 7:08 p.m.
Report: Corinne Fisher — Science is Everywhere LSTA Grant
July 16, 2011 Minutes approved unanimously C. Dubois /A. Grimes
Financial Report (R. Urell)
Request for November Town Meeting Warrant to amend budget asking for sick leave
buyback $9,943.73 to be transferred back to the library department.
Trustee Liaison's Reports
Foundation (R. Urell attended last meeting)
The endowment fund has recovered from downturn of economy. Ruth also met with the
events subcommittee to discuss planning a signature annual event and donor reception.
Friends (C. Dubois)
A Wine tasting event is being planned hosted at The Wine Shop of Reading. R. Urell
attended the last meeting and noted the friends have a new president and new members.
The Friends have a busy year ahead with planning many events.
Building Program Update — Town Meeting Warrant:
Reading is first in line to received funding from the MBLC for the building project, but
the money has not yet been released by the state. The Board of Selectmen and our local
legislators are asking the state to release $20m to allow Reading and some other libraries
on the waitlist to get their funding so they can move ahead with their projects. The state
could be releasing the funding amount in a few weeks.
Timeline: The MBLC will notify Reading when state funding is released. The town has
six months to get local funding vote. A presentation may be made to Finance Committee
on October 10th to support placing an article on the November 13 Town Meeting warrant
noting the $5.1 million funding from the state and to unanimously recommend a $7.2
million debt exclusion to town meeting members to go to town vote. Once town
funding vote has been passed, the state needs 6 -8 weeks to turnaround a contract for
approval of granting FY 13 state money. An April town election may be too late for the
state's FYI approval so a special election in January or February may be necessary.
The Foundation and Friends and Trustees may mail out information to all town meeting
members. A. Grimes stated something has to happen to fix the building, public should be
made aware of the selling point of 40 percent for your money get the state money.
Director's Report
Planning for Programs:
Foundation & Friends are sponsoring the Massachusetts Author Series: The series kicks
off on Wednesday September 26 at 7 pm with a discussion of Margot Livesey's The
Flight of Gemma Hardy. The round -table discussion will be introduced and led by our
favorite group leader, Ann Murphy, Ph.D. Then on Friday, September 28, at 7 pm, Ms.
Livesey will be at the library to read from and discuss her work and sign books. The
series will continue through the year with book discussions led by Ann Murphy and visits
from authors Roland Merullo, Gish Jen, Jennifer Haigh, and Marge Piercy.
Library Website Redesign — We have upgraded Wordpress software and librarian Amy
Lannon will attend Librarian Internet Conference.
Highland School Memory Program — Staff librarians, Ruth and our local history librarian,
Rachel Baumgartner, along with Reading Historical Commission and Reading
Antiquarian Society will be working together to plan this program. An open house
weekend is planned for March along with creating a celebration DVD.
Budget Information and Calendar
A Gift of $10,000 was donated by a trust fund and deposited to the Donations account.
Trustee Items:
Action Item:
Adjourn
The motion to adjourn was made at 8:42 p.m. (V. Yablonsky /R. Curtis)
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Melesciuc,
Administrative Assistant,
Reading Public Library