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Home My WebLink About2019-04-08 Board of Library Trustees Minutes �lovn Town of Reading a n Meeting Minutes RECEIVED �a TOWN CLERK Mow.�a READING, MA. Board - Committee - commission - council: 2819 MAY 29 PM 12: 55 Board of Library Trustees Date: 2019-04-08 Time: 7:03 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: History Room Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Session: Purpose: General Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: John Brzezenski, Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary; Monette Vernier; Nina Pennacchio; Andrew Grimes; Cherrie Dubois Members - Not Present: Others Present: Amy Lannon, Library Director; Lorraine Barry, Acting Assistant Director; Allison Sloan, Sr. Library Associate Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alice Collins, Secretary Topics of Discussion: I. Approval of Minutes from March 11, 2019 Moved: To approve minutes(Dubois, Collins) Vote: Approved 6-0-0 II. Public Comment-none III. Financial Report a. FY2019 Summary i. Ms. Lannon reports we received the second part of State Aide total allocation of over$33,000.Town Accountant will receive wired funds ii. Ms. Lannon reports salaries continue to be under budget iii. Ms. Lannon reports there are no major changes to expense lines and new purchases include the Washington Post online and access to Lynda.com iv. Ms. Lannon reports there were no major gifts in March, and the total received was$217 IV. Friends Report a. Ms. Barry reports the Baking for Friends event was a success and brought in$3200. There were 34 cakes including 4 professional donations to raffle. The Friends thanked the custodians and staff, who were pleased with how things went, and noted more staff and set-up time is needed for next time. Several new patrons were introduced to the library b. Ms. Barry said the Friends are planning a fundraiser night at the Lord Hobo brewery c. Ms. Barry reports the Friends have a new treasurer d. Ms. Barry noted that excess items in the Friends' book sale room are donated to MORE THAN WORDS V. Foundation Report a. Mr. Brzezenski reports the Foundation hosted an event to gain visibility and donations on Thursday, April 0.The format was a Fire Side Chat, held at the Parker Middle Page I r School. Alan Foulds moderated the discussion of two academic scholars: Bill Fowler, a history professor at Northeastern University, and Professor Bob Allison from Suffolk University. The topic: Origins of the Constitution b. Mr. Brzezenski reports the Foundation is looking for board members, and asks the Trustees if they know of anyone who is a good ft, to please let him know VI. Consumer Relations Ad Hoc Committee a. Mr. Grimes reports the first meeting went well. He explained this is a short term committee to set goals for the Select Board on Human Rights issues b. Mr. Grimes explained the committee has representatives from all areas of the town and municipal offices VII. Director's report a. Ms. Lannon offered congratulations to Cherrie Dubois and John Brzezenski for reelection to the Board of Library Trustees b. Facilities—Ms. Lannon reports no updates c. Personnel i. Ms. Lannon announced Mary Jeanne Brown (Harwood) gave notice for April 30. This creates an opening for a part time librarian in the Children's Room that will be posted shortly ii. Ms. Lannon explained the internal hiring committee interviewed seven candidates for two FT Children's positions; two offers were made. One offer was accepted with a proposed start date of April 22": the other is pending acceptance; Ms. Lannon thanked the hiring committee of Corinne Fisher, Lorraine Barry, and Cate Zannino iii. Ms. Lannon reports she is working with the Town Manager and Human Resources to recruit and hire a Librarian 11 for the Borrower's Services Division. Ms. Lannon explained this position will maintain a professional librarian as part of the team that will report into the Head of Collection Services(formerly proposed under the name"Access Services")once the reorganization is approved by Town Meeting (budget)and the Select Board(Classification Schedule); the anticipated hire date is mid-June in order to ease the transition of Michelle Filleul from Head of Borrower's Services to Assistant Director. The hiring committee for the Librarian II position is Michelle Filleul, Jamie Penny, and Susan Haggerty iv. Ms. Lannon said the Town Manager is considering a proposal to bring all Pages, including new hires,to$12.02/hour which his Step 11 of Grade 2 on the Seasonal Compensation Schedule.This is part of a town-wide analysis of job and competitive pay rates v. Ms. Lannon scheduled an all staff meeting for Thursday, April 251". She reports progress on planning of the annual Staff Development Day on May 171"as a continuing education day to acclimate people to a variety of new systems. Planned by Jamie Penney, Michelle Filleul, and Lorraine Barry d. Programs&Outreach i. Ms. Lannon reports the Library participated in the March 30' "Parents University" hosted by the Reading Public Schools(see attached notes from Barry/Zannino) ii. Mr. Grimes asked if another New Resident Open House has been scheduled. Ms. Barry reported yes, on April 30, 2019 at 5:30 PM, and 90 people are already registered; The Chamber of Commerce is partnering for this event iii. Mr. Grimes asked if non-traditional library users who found the library in the temporary space continue to patronize the library in the new building. Ms. Barry reported yes,that a wide variety of people continue to use the library as a safe space. Ms. Lannon explained that evenings and weekends the library continues to see a surge of people and families of color who use the library, particularly in the Children's Room as reported by Corinne Fisher. Ms. Lannon confirmed that the goal of the"Justice League"committee is to grow services and develop programs on broad issues and interests in order to support underserved populations iv. Ms. Collins asked if there is an effort to identify diverse program presenters. Ms. Lannon confirmed and discussed ways to accomplish this goal, such as working with Simmons University, offering internships to METCO students, and the schools Page 1 2 v. Ms. Lannon attended part of the Reading Public School Teacher In-Service day on March 22ntl.The theme of the day was"Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion;"the keynote speaker was Dena Simmons, Ed.D., the assistant director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence vi. Ms. Lannon reports we are in the final stages of the first round of the Pulse of Reading Conversation Series,titled:What's at the Heart of Our Community?This consists of two customized programs for the High School population that were developed and facilitated by Deborah Gilburg, Consultant. Ms. Lannon explained the next series of four conversations scheduled for 2019 are being developed in direct response to the 2018 conversations and include: Change and Transition (5/3/2019); A Matter of Civility(9/2019); Building Our Community(10/2019); Belonging: Diversity in Reading (112019). Ms. Lannon and Ms. Barry discussed training to develop skills to facilitate meetings e. Services i. Ms. Lannon discussed the Preservation Assessment Grant($20,000) meeting March 25". Librarian Eileen Barrett attended also. Becky Geller, North Document Conservation Center(NEDCC) provided a three hour workshop to Reading Library, Historical Commission, Antiquarian Society and Town Hall attendees, then held site visits to all four locations. Ms. Lannon explained Ms. Geller will present results and recommendations at a meeting in late July ii. Ms. Lannon reports she has been asked to participate in an advisory capacity to other town departments re: records management and archive projects, to contribute ideas to Jean Delios re: the reorganization efforts of the Public Services Department. Ms. Lannon says she shared the Library's Employee Engagement Surveys and Leadership Team Workshop information. Ms. Lannon expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share her experience with her colleagues. Meetings were held on 4/3 and 4/8 Executive Session a. Security Motion to move into Executive Session at 7:59 PM(Brzezenski, Grimes) Vote: Approved 6-0-0 Motion to close Executive Session at 8:35 PM (Brzezenski, Vernier) Vote:Approved 6-0-0 VIII. New Business a. Ms. Lannon said confirmed that all board members were aware of the upcoming MBLC Trustee Institute on 427 Adjournment Motion: To Adjourn at 8:42 PM(Dubois/Collins) Vote: Approved 6-0-0 ffully Submi d, - Alice Collins, Secretary Page 1 3