The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2022-01-10 Board of Library Trustees MinutesOXY Ofq�o' b Town of Reading TO C EU OWWNN CLERK Meeting Minutes READING, MA. fk Sn' 2022 FEB 15 PM 1:38 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Library Trustees Date: 202,1-01-10 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Session: Open Session Purpose: General Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair; Nina Pennacchio, Chair; Monette Verrier, Vice -Chair; Andrew Grimes, Secretary; Monique Gnanaratnam; Cherrie Dubois; John Brzezenski Members - Not Present: Others Present: Amy Lannon, Director; Michelle Filleul, Assistant Director, Lauren Gardner, Head of Borrower Services, Kathryn Geoffrion Scannell, Collections Services Librarian, Jamie Penney, Head of Collection Services, Carla Nazzaro, School Committee Representative Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Andrew Grimes, Secretary Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely on Zoom. RCTV will also stream the meeting. I. Call to Order (7:01) and Welcome It. Public Comment: No public comment III. Approval of Minutes from December 13, 2021 Motion: To approve the minutes for December 13, 2021. (Dubois /Pennacchio) Vote: Approved. 6-0 IV. Collection Services Report: Circulation, Digital Collections Usage presented by Ms. Jamie Penney, Head of Collection Services; Lauren Gardner, Head of Borrower Services; and Kathryn Geoffrion-Scannell, Collection Services Librarian. The Collection Services Report included general circulation trends. Ms. Penney explained how the library handled collections during the COVID pandemic. The library: • closed in March 2020 • reopened for curbside pickup in June 2020 • opened for appointments in October 2020 • closed briefly from late December 2020 through mid-February 2021 Since June 2021, the library has been open for all our regular hours and services. Ms. Penney reported that RPL is the second-highest circulating library in NOBLE and that 34% of checkouts are from auto -renewal services. Ms. Dubois asked if Page 1 1 the auto -renewal has affected circulation across all libraries in NOBLE. Ms. Gardner compared the current auto -renewal and prior manual -renewal processes. She noted that the library's physical collection circulation is 68% of what it was in 2019: Ms. Gardner also stated that patron self -check is back to pre -pandemic usage. Ms. Penney noted that while some physical circulation may not recover, digital circulation continues to increase. Ms. Penney reported that before the pandemic, she was monitoring media circulation (CDs/DVDs/audiobooks). At that time, DVDs were already circulating less. In response, the library added the streaming services hoopla and Kanopy in June 2018. Usage of these digital and streaming options quickly doubled in March of 2020- One reason for the decline of DVD circulation is that shows and movies on streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ are not released on DVD. The Music CD collection is in decline as well. Ms. Penney also noted that the current supply chain issues also affect when items arrive in the library. Overdrive Advantage is a service that NOBLE offers member libraries to enhance the general Overdrive catalog of eBooks and audiobooks. Overdrive Advantage gives Reading patrons access to the collection first and allows the library to customize the experience for users. Ms. Penney provided some fun circulation fads. • The library has five formats for the top 25 Fiction Adult titles. • The topl3 of the top 25 children circulating items were the grab -and -go backpacks. • The top 25 teen books are required summer reading books, and all are available in every format offered. • Curated items are valuable to our patrons. Ms. Penney also reported that the library would be doing a diversity audit of the collection, particularly the fiction collection. Ms. Lannon noted that the circulation of the large print collection is increasing. The Library hopes to resume deposit collections of large print materials at the Pleasant St. Center and various assisted living locations in town. Ms. Pennacchio asked about the current State-wide discussion regarding access to digital materials and eBooks. Ms. Penney stated that ebook platforms and publishers negotiate mainly at the national level, which is why states, including Massachusetts, are working to be part of the ebook negotiation process. She noted that there are different models of ebook licensing among publishers. Ms. Gardner stated that the two major issues are the ebook licensing. First, the prices for libraries are different from consumer prices. Second, publishers do not make all books available to libraries. In response, Massachusetts legislators are working on laws that would require publishers to offer all items to libraries, regardless of the price. V. Tuition Assistance Policy review and discussion Ms. Lannon stated that tuition assistance would likely come from gifts and state aid. Additionally, requests for tuition assistance should be part of an employee's Page 1 2 development plan. Ms. Lannon stated that the idea behind this policy is to give people the option to learn at a professional level. Ms. Verner asked Ms. Lannon to let staff know that there are limited dollars and that not all requests will be approved. Ms. Lannon said that she would be adding the policy to the Employee Handbook. Ms. Dubois asked if employees must work a specific period after completing courses funded with tuition assistance. Ms. Verrier stated that her experience has been that this requirement is unenforceable. It might be unreasonable to expect someone to stay after receiving their degree. Mr. Grimes noted that he had seen that as a requirement elsewhere. Ms. Pennacchio asked if the fees would only go to tuition or materials. Ms. Lannon stated that this was for tuition. If approved, the policy would be ready to go for February 1, 2022, and Ms. Lannon will report back in a year. Motion: To approve the tuition assistance policy. (GrimesNerrier) Vote: Approved 6-0 VI. Patron Rights and Responsibilities Policy review and discussion Ms. Lannon stated that there weren't any significant changes to the policy. Minor changes include changing "equal" to "equitable" and more detailed procedures for handling disruptive behavior. The policy is intended to support employee independent discretion and judgment, with decisions based on the severity of the issue. Ms. Verner asked if Ms. Lannon could explain why and when schools are notified about issues. Ms. Lannon said this information is shared if the student is not permitted in the library, possibly impacting school work. Ms. Gnanaratnam asked how often staff have to confront individuals in the library, adults or children. Ms. Lannon replied that actionable items are pretty equal among adults and teens. That staff has seen an increase in confrontable language and behavior over the past few years. Motion: To approve the patron's rights and responsibilities policy. (Dubois/Pennacchio) Vote: Approved., 6-0 VII. Space Update: Ms. Lannon reported that the library is getting a phone booth for the lobby. Total Office Incorporated offered a discounted floor model for purchase. The model has ventilation, lighting, and power and will fit in the lobby area. The new Director of Equity and Social Justice office is almost complete. The audiobooks and shelving are now in their new space, and the shelving in the turret will be available for the summer. VIII. Financial Update: Ms. Lannon reported a $5000 bequest from the estate of Richard Pattison. There were no outstanding issues with the FY22. IX. Director's Report: Ms. Lannon reported 32 volunteer hours for the month of December. The Coolidge Middle School students came for Sixth Grade Tours in December. Cate Zannino is working on the "Reading in Reading," a Reading Public Schools working group created to look at literacy issues in Reading. Andrea Hogan received her Level II for her para -certification. There were 11 applicants for the DESJ position. Four applicants from the first round of interviews are moving forward to the 2nd round of interviews. Page 1 3 Ms. Lannon stated that staff is feeling the stress of the pandemic surge. Rapid tests and masks will be available for all staff. Ms. Pennacchio asked if it has been a challenge for staffing. Ms. Lannon reported that COVID had impacted one-third of staff in the past two weeks. Due to the surge and related staffing issues, all programs have been scaled back to virtual or rescheduled. X. Other Business: Ms. Lannon reported that June 3 would be the annual staff day. Adjournment: 8:16 p.m. Motion: To Adjourn (Grfines/Dubois) Vote: Approved 6-0 Respectfully Submitted, A,'-, ✓ity Andrew Grimes, Secretary Page 1 4