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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Library Trustees
Date: 2014 -04 -16
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
Time: 7:00 PM
1 (C L�,E�I R K
LUA MAY 21 A 10: 54
Location: Conference Room
Session: General Session
David Hutchinson, Acting Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary; John Brzezenski,
Cherrie Dubois, Vicki Yablonsky
Members - Not Present:
Andrew Grimes
Others Present:
Ruth Urell, Director, Amy Lannon, Assisant Director
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amy Lannon
Topics of Discussion:
I. Call to order 7:08 P.M.
David Hutchinson called to order the regular meeting of Board of Library Trustees in the
Reading Public Library Conference Room.
II. Approval of minutes from last meeting
Motion: To approve minutes from March 3, 2014, March 10, 2014, and March 18, 2014 as
presented ( Cherrie Dubois / Vicki Yablonsky) Vote: Unanimous
III. Director's Report
a) Financial update: FY 2014 budget looks on target. Ms. Urell gave a brief
spending report on Big Read Grant, LSTA Customer Service Grant, as well as
update on revolving funds, gifts and state aid monies.
b) Big Read Update: Ms. Urell reported that the kick -off event on March 28 was a
great success with well over 200 people in attendance. She thanked the Trustees
for their continued support with this grant and invited them to the finale author
panel on Friday May 9, 2014 featuring Mitali Perkins and two other authors who
will discuss their new book, "Riffs on Life Between Cultures in 10 Voices."
c) Ms. Urell reported that Librarian Ashley Waring attended a day long workshop for
the Digital Commonwealth project. The workshop is part of the Reading Public
Library's commitment to collecting and preserving Reading history.
d) Conference Reports: Amy Lannon submitted Public Libraries Association (PLA)
report for trustee review. Also, eight staff members will be attending
Massachusetts Libraries Association (MLA) conference in early May, 2014.
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Also, former RPL librarian Nancy Aberman has been elected to the Massachusetts
Librarian Hall of Fame. The induction will be May 6 in Worcester at the MLA
Conference. Ms. Urell will be attending the American Libraries Association (ALA)
Annual Conference in June, 2014.
e) Ms. Urell reported that Staff Day is still planned for May 16. Plans include a visit
to a recently renovated library.
f) Ms. Urell reported on her continued participation on the search committee for the
MBLC executive director.
g) Ms. Urell and Ms. Lannon attended the annual Library Legislative Breakfast in
Saugus in early March, 2014. Ms. Dubois and Ms. Urell also attended Library
Legislative Day at the State House on March 31, where they met with
Representative Jones and Representative Dwyer. The legislative agenda for
Massachusetts Libraries continues to focus both on standards for school libraries
and increasing state aid to libraries which is still below 2001 levels.
h) FY 2015 Budget Update: The budget will go to April 2014 Town Meeting.
i) Ms. Urell reminded the Trustees of the Instructional Motion from April 2013 Town
Meeting that requests restoring Thursday hours to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. upon
reopening of the renovated library.
j) Building Update: Ms. Urell reported that CBT Architects, STV and Nancy Twomey
from the Building Committee met with the town Design Review Team, who will in
turn make a recommendation to the Community Planning Development
Commission (CPDC). The Primary outcome was regarding parking concerns.
Trustees discussed possibility of policies related to staff parking. Ms. Urell
requested that Trustees attend the May 19th CPDC meeting to address any
related questions. Also, the library and the Building Committee have planned
community meetings for April 30 and May 12. At these meetings, CBT Architects
will present the latest details of the design with a particular emphasis on the site,
neighborhood impacts, as well as some of the walkable and green aspects of the
plan. Ms. Urell also has met with the representative from the MBLC to review the
design to date with very positive response.
k) Temporary Space: Mr. Hutchinson has conferred with the Town Manager to
finalize the lease details. Trustees discussed ways to increase and improve
communications with the Town in order to mitigate delays in all aspects of the
building project. Ms. Urell reported that the staff and library supporters met to
discuss options for programming locations while the library is in temp space. Ms.
Urell requested that members from the Trustees and /or the Library Building
Committee assist with approaching and negotiating use of recommended spaces.
1) Design Development Update: Ms. Urell reviewed plans for materials security and
the RFP for the Automated Materials Handling Systems (AMHS), as well as basic
changes and improvements to the specific work and public spaces. Continuing to
work and plan for technology improvements.
IV. Trustee Business - Old
a) Charter Review Committee: Ms. Yablonsky reminded the Trustees that the
Committee is still considering changes to the Reading Charter that would affect
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the Trustees. Ms. Yablonsky will follow up with Alan Foulds, Town Moderator, to
ensure the Trustees attend a Charter Committee Meeting.
b) Ms. Collins inquired about the status of the Town Pay and Classification Study
that was to take place this spring. Ms. Urell reported that the Town Study is
currently on hold.
V. Trustee Business - New
a) Ms. Yablonsky attended and reported on the most recent Financial Forum.
b) The Trustees discussed outline of written report for submission to the April
2014 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Hutchinson will work with Ms. Urell on this
document.
c) Ms. Urell reviewed upcoming dates for meetings and requirements for posting
of the meetings.
VI. Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn at 9:12 p.m.: (Alice Collins / Vicki Yablonsky) Vote: Unanimous
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