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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Library Trustees
Date: 2016-12-12
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: General Session
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John Brzezenski, Chair; Cherrie Dubois, Vice Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary;
Andrew Grimes; Vicki Yablonsky
Members - Not Present:
David Hutchinson
Others Present:
Amy Lannon, Director; Vanessa Alvarado, Finance Committee
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alice Collins
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting called to order 7:03 p.m.
1. RPL Foundation Gift Presentation:
Gift presentation of $180,000 by Reading Public Library Foundation. Representing
the Foundation and providing brief comments were: Elise Ciregna, President; Maria
Silvaggi, Director; Amy Coumounduros, Treasurer; Bruce Austin, Secretary; Russ
Graham, Director. Library Director, Amy Lannon, gratefully accepted the gift on
behalf of the library which will provide for professional development and community
programs. Question by Ms. Alvarado about how gift is to be used, Ms. Lannon
responded it is classified as an "undirected" gift. J. Brzezenski further clarified that
the money cannot be used for any Town directed expenses.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Motion to approve October 13, 17, November 1, 2, 3 and 5 minutes.
(Grimes/Dubois) Vote: Unanimous. There was no quorum at the November 15
meeting; hence no minutes to approve.
3. Financial Report:
Overall, payroll is lagging due in part to open Assistant Director position which will be
posted soon and hopefully filled by February 2017. Librarians A. Waring and R.
Smith have been working to fill void of Asst. Director position by working on average
32 hrs/week with no increase in benefits (sick/vacation accruals). It is hoped they
can be compensated before April Town Meeting. There has been an effort to
minimize usage of substitute staff. However; all departments are experiencing a high
burnout rate due to increased library usage and Division Heads will use substitutes
as needed. Amy also reminded the Trustees that fees for room rental are deposited
into the town's general fund.
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4. Director's Report:
Amy reported that Saturday staffing of Children's room is insufficient to address the
high level library use. She is recommended an increase of 3.5 hours of coverage (2
full day increased from 1.5 day) at this time. She also noted that current librarian
staffing levels are 30% Children's Room and 70% Reference/Teen; the ideal would
be closer to a 40/60 split. She is working to correct this staffing balance for both the
current and FY18 years. The Library is also hiring an 8 hr/week Circulation page
position. This is not a new position, but rather restores hours that had dropped
before the move to the temporary location in 2014. In building news, the History
room is now open with limited capability, cabinetry is not yet complete.
Library Outreach - proposal request for the library to be a Toys for Tots location. C.
Dubois made the motion to accept this opportunity; 2nd by Vicky Yablonsky. Festival
of Trees submission was titled "Nature of Reading". Amy reported that it was very
successful. "Ladles for Literacy" was again hosted by Rachel Baumgartner and was
attended by 50-60 people who donated approximately 115 new books for Food
Pantry recipients. Per C. Dubois suggestion, the Library also donated Library
"Welcome Packets" be distributed to all Food Pantry families as well.
Patron Issues - Two "No Trespass" orders have been issued to two Reading youths
as a result of multiple disruptive incidents including racist/obscene graffiti. To access
the library they must be accompanied by a parent for the purpose of school work
only. The orders expire in 6 months. The Teen area has seen some destruction of
property as a result of rough housing l" he librarians are considering a new
procedure of having teens sign -in before entering the teen space. Another separate
issue is with a non -Reading resident who is verbally abusive to staff. A verbal
warning has been issued by A. Lannon and J. Brzezenski.
5. Other Business:
Policy reviews of piano and laptop usage was tabled until January 2017 meeting.
etrsitywas happy to report that the "Second Chapter" book sale room will be
opening Friday, December 16 and will be maintained by the Friends of RPL.
Payments will be honor system to a secured lock box in the book sale room.
V. Yablonsky also asked about lighting issues both inside and outside the library.
Exterior lights are to be turned off 30 minutes after the building closes. Several
exterior lights have been retro fitted with shades to refocus ambient light downward
and minimize neighborhood impact. Interior stairway lights must remain kat all
times for emergency protocol. The remaining interior lights will turn off 21hours after
cleaning complete.
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Meeting adjourned at 8:37pm (Dubois/Yablonsky) +
Res ectfully subMitte�i
Alice Collins
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