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Board of Library Trustees
Date: 2018-06-11 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Public Library Location: History Room
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Cherrie Dubois, Vice Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary; Nina Pennacchio;
Monette Verrier
Members - Not Present:
John Brzezenski, Chair; Andrew Grimes
Others Present:
Amy Lannon, Library Director; Ashley Waring, Assistant Library Director
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alice Collins, Secretary
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting Called to Order 7:06 p.m.
I. Approval of Minutes from May 14, 2018
Motion: To approve Minutes (Pennacchio/Verrier)
Vote: Approved 4-0-0
II. Financial Report:
FY2018: The budget is on track. We may return some expense funds due to the
new $20,000 amount approved at November 2017 subsequent Town Meeting for
equipment maintenance. Town Treasurer Endri Kume contacted Ms. Lannon
regarding Library trusts. Library may spend available interest but not principal.
III. Election of Officers
Motion: To reelect the current officers: Brzezenski, Chair; Dubois, Vice Chair; Collins,
Secretary (Verrier/Pennacchio)
Vote: Approved 4-0-0
IV. Trustee Roles and Liaisons
Select Board: Our new liaison from the Select Board is Andrew Friedman.
FINCOM: Our liaison from FINCOM is David Neshat.
Celebration Trust Committee: This is a Town committee, with 5 board members,
appointed by various bodies. The Library is responsible for appointing a member. We
discussed the mission and history of the committee. Ms. Lannon will reach out to the
Committee and inquire if they have recommendations of interested candidates to be
interviewed by the Trustees.
Friends/Foundation: Mr. Brzezenski is our liaison to the Reading Public Library
Foundation. Ms. Pennacchio will be the liaison to the Friends of the Reading Public
Library.
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Other: Personnel, Legal, Policy, Capital Projects, Continuing Education: In
recent months, Ms. Dubois has been helping Ms. Lannon with a policy project, and
Ms. Collins has assisted with artwork acquisition and organization. Ms. Lannon
reminded the Board that topics and issues that are of interest to Trustees can be an
opportunity to liaise with her or other staff.
V. Holidays 2019:
There was a discussion around the idea of closing the Friday after Thanksgiving,
which is historically a busy service day. Trustees decided to stay open, and
instructed Ms. Lannon to communicate with staff as soon as possible so they can
plan accordingly.
Corrected the document: Change December 24 to Tuesday and December 25 to
Wednesday. Change last open Sunday to May 19.
Motion: To approve the 2019 Holiday schedule as corrected (Dubois/Collins)
Approved: (4-0-0)
VI. Sundays
The Board discussed various Sunday hours scenarios. Ms. Verrier proposed October
through May, 1-5 pm, with special Sunday hours during Reading Memorial High
School finals week for students. The Board was receptive to this idea.
VII. Director's Report
Facilities: The bid for the glass patio safety wall is from a vendor approved through
chapter 149 bid process. The Board discussed funding source options including gifts
and State Aid.
Motion: To purchase a glass safety wall for the patio (Dubois/Verrier)
Approved: (4-0-0)
Some of the damaged interior doors needed to be reordered, and will be installed by
Facilities department.
Ms. Lannon communicated with the Historical Commission about the Eagle Scout
flagpole project; the Commission is supportive and has no concerns about its
location.
Personnel: Louise Hetherington is our new Senior Library Associate. We are looking
for a 9 hr/week library associate. Our new Library Technician position is scheduled to
be approved at the June 19 Select Board meeting, and will be effective June 20.
There will be a public farewell celebration for retiring employee Patty O'Donnell on
Thursday July 5 in the Studio. At our June 7 all staff meeting, we reviewed the
summer reading programs and received working group updates.
Professional development: Three librarians are attending ALA Annual at the end
of June. Several staff attended the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) annual
conference in May. Andrea Fiorillo was on conference committee, and did a lot of
program organization, including introducing keynote speaker Debbie Irving. Ms.
Lannon presented at an MLA panel on Finding Common Ground.
Programs and Services: Summer Reading for Children starts June 18, Adult and
Teen programs start June 25.
VIII. Other Business
Ms. Pennacchio gave an update on Children's Room pet Chumley.
Ms. Lannon offered to provide a written Director's report; the Board would appreciate
this the day of the Trustee meeting.
Ms. Pennacchio asked for a flagpole project update. Ms. Dubois suggested the Scout
apply for Celebration Trust funds. The Board wants to publicly support the project on
the Library Facebook page on Flag Day, June 14.
Adjournment 8:36 pm
Motion to Adjourn (Collins/Verrier)
Vote: Approved 4-0-0
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Respectfully submitted,
Alice Collins, Secretary
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