The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2021-12-13 Board of Library Trustee Minutes„or o' Town of Reading (1 ' �a Meeting Minutes u.• x �rc' Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Library Trustees Date: 2021-12-13 Building: Reading Public Library Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Purpose: General Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: TOWN CLERK READlYC, MA. 2022 MAR -8 AM 8:29 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Session: Open Session Version: Final Chair; Nina Pennacchio; Secretary; Cherrie Dubois; Monique Plllow- Gnanaratnam, John Brzezenski Members - Not Present: Andrew Grimes, Monette Vernier Others Present: Amy Lannon, Director; Michelle Filleul, Assistant Director, Carla Nazzaro Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Nina Pennacchio, Chair Topics of Discussion: Call to Order 7:05 p.m. I. Call to Order and Welcome It. Public Comment: none III. Approval of Minutes from November 9, 2021 Motion: To approve minutes as presented (Dubois�Pennacchio) Vote: Approved 4-0 IV. Tuition Assistance Policy review and discussion: Update not ready. Motion.: To move the review and discussion of Tuition Assistance Policy to the January meeting. (Pennacchio/Brzezenski) Vote: Approved 4-0 V. Space Update Ms. Lannon reported out that the prices of the shelving from Tucker Interiors have continued to increase due to supply issues (metal surcharge). She sent this information to Mr. Grimes and Ms. Dubois, who approved the purchase of the shelving quote for the entryway turret as there is a 3 -4 -month lead time on the orders. Ms. Lannon noted that the library would pay for shelving and other space improvements with gifts and donations. Ms. Lannon also presented a proposal from Public Services Division Head Ally Dowds to convert the main floor turret into a "health nook" that would include a computer/kiosk and consumer health information. Susan Beauregard, Community Health Librarian, will curate the collection, a webpage, and plan related programming. The Space Planning committee also discussed options for phone pods (booths), setting specifications that the spaces be powered and ventilated, and transparent (safely/security). Most of these pods are not wheelchair compliant, and therefore we will look for aftermarket bars and ramps to get wheelchairs and strollers into the spaces. Ms. Pennacchio asked about the location of the pods. Ms. Lannon reported that they would likely be in the lobby or on the library's ground floor. Facilities have started construction of the new DEI office. The committee is also working on finding smaller bookable spaces (seating for 2-4 people) and signage options to make collections such as The Library of Things more accessible to patrons. VI. FY22 Action Plan Update Ms. Lannon reviewed the FY22 Action Plan filed with the MBLC in December 2020. Many of the action items are underway or complete. The Action Plans are helpful because they keep staff on track with goals/objectives from the Strategic Plan. Ms. Pennacchio commented on an Action Plan item: the new subscription book club that will begin in January called "Debut Book of the Month Club." VII. Financial Update: a. FY22: No outstanding issues to report. The library received $15,000 from the RPL Foundation in November. b. FY23: Level 1 Budget will be presented to the Select Board on December 14. Ms. Lannon reported that there have already been questions about the Director of Equity position salary going up 8%. The change is roughly a 5% hiring range adjustment plus the 3.75% Step/COLA increase. She remarked this change reflects a competitive hiring market. VIII. Director's Report a. November Snapshot: i) 77% of regular circulation of physical items, Overdrive use is 115% of what it was in 2019. ii) There was a CATO tour with representatives from the state, the Reading Schools, and the Town. iii) The school library media specialists met with the children's and young adult librarians for a brown -bag lunch. iv) The Dining in with Grace Lin program was very successful, with 75 people participating virtually. Funds from the Helen A. Nigro Foundation were used to buy all the participants a copy of Grace Lin's book. v) Local History Librarian Eileen Barrett is working with Ginny Blodgett to self - publish her book, and the library will help her print the book. The book will be added to the Local History collection. Page 12 vi) Ms. Barrett has been getting more requests for the Local History collection, including Native Americans in the Reading area. b. Personnel: I) Ms. Lannon reported that the DESJ position had been reposted, and the screening committee is currently reviewing twelve applicants. The committee is in the process of choosing who to interview. ii) Ms. Lannon is pleased to announce that effective January 3, 2022, Library pages will increase to Grade 4, Steps 8-14 to the seasonal chart. This change will raise the starting pay rate from $10.73 to $13.86. By 2023, the state minimum wage will be $15 an hour. It is getting harder to hire pages, and we need to pay close to the minimum wage. She gives big thanks to Town Manager Bob LeLacheur and the Trustees for making this happen. c. Horizons - future planning i) Ms. Lannon reported that Ally Dowds is developing Civic Hub grant -funded programs. ii) Ms. Lannon reported that Ashley Waring is developing a Nature Connection program series for young people (22+) on the autism spectrum. These young people age out of our current programs. IX. Other Business: Covid rates: Ms. Lannon stated that if the rates continue to go up, we would likely cut the in-person programming and go virtual. She also noted that the Lexan shields, particularly the one in the Children's Room, are problematic because it is hard to hear patrons and staff have to come out from behind the desk to help. Adjournment: 7:57 p.m. Motion: To Adjourn (Gnanaratnam/Brzezenski) Vote: Approved 4-0 Respectfully Submitted, Nina Pennacchio, Chair I 'u o -k �&W 'Iza zozz Page 1 3