HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-27 ad Hoc - Search Committee Minutes - Library DirectorOFR r
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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Date: 2016-07-27
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 80 General Way
Purpose: Library Director Search
Attendees: Members - Present:
RECEIVED
[OWN CLERK
JLADING. MASS.
Ad Hoc Library Director Search �LILAUummw P 1
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Meeting Room
Session:
Vanessa Alvarado, Alice Collins, Andrea Fiorillo, Heather Stepler, Ashley
Waring
Members - Not Present:
Cherrie Dubois
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alice Collins
Topics of Discussion:
Call to Order 12:04 pm
1. Finalize Posting for Director's position
Andrea suggests creating a less formal description of the position to accompany the job
posting from Human Resources. Goal is to present a more upbeat, enthusiastic account of
the Director's role and the Library. She shared an example from the Forbes Library, in
Northampton MA, which includes information about the community and the Library, followed
by lists of responsibilities, qualifications, and salary. A subcommittee of Andrea, Ashley and
Alice was created to prep this document by Monday, August 1St. Andrea will craft this
document, relying on Ashley for the stats and specifics about the RPL, and Alice for the
qualifications.
This cover document will go out with the HR posting to a distribution list prepared by Ashley
and Andrea, on Monday August 1St
The group reviewed the posting for the Director's position and the longer job description
from Human Resources. Recommendations were made for the following:
• Change the date at the top of the description from May, to July, 2016
• # 6 under Essential Functions, change the second word -
"Develop members' understanding" to "Develop community's understanding."
#11 under Essential Functions - remove. Director is responsible for oversight of all
areas of Library operations. Unnecessary to single out the website, which is not a
direct responsibility.
#14 under Essential Functions - change
"...with the Friends of the Library" to "with the Friends of the Reading Public
Library"
#3 under Minimum Qualifications, remove. According to the Massachusetts Board
of Library Commissioners, the Library Director is required to hold a Masters of
Library Science degree in order to remain a member and qualify for state aid.
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After Minimum Qualifications, in the paragraph beginning, "Applicants should be able
to meet the requirements of the position..." Sentence number two "Applicant should
state education, training..." should be replaced with:
"Applicant should submit a resume along with a letter explaining interest in
and qualifications for this position."
Final sentence in the final paragraph of posting: Applications will be accepted until
September gth, 2016.
Consider the expanded Equal Opportunity Employer language from the example at
Lesley University. Is it possible to adopt this more inclusive language in the posting?
2. Human Resources Information
Heather made handwritten notation of these suggested changes on the PDF of the job
posting, which Ashley will submit electronically to Judi Perkins in HR, who has requested this
line of communication.
The group agreed that time was of the essence. After HR weighs in on edits, Ashley and
Andrea will share the task of circulating the posting and cover letter to the list of online
resources. Vanessa will circulate to three of the sites. Judi Perkins in HR informed Ashley
that she will circulate the job posting only to the town website and to the Mass Municipal
Association.
Ashley reports that Judi Perkins acknowledges each application with an email response.
After polling the group, Ashley will let Judi know that all prefer to receive paper copies of
the application. Members of the committee will pick them up at HR.
3. Discuss System for Evaluating Candidates
Alice distributed written Director Checklist of Qualifications from Cherrie, who is away this
week. She also shared her own list of qualities, and an example of an applicant rating sheet
roughly based on an MBLC Interview Rating Sheet. (page 21, Director Search Process
booklet). Alice will also circulate a list of interview questions created by the prior RPL
Director Search Committee, years ago.
Meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
1-/,e I �,
Alice W. Collins
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