HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-11 Board of Library Trustees MinutesTown of Reading
3 =; Meeting Minutes
Board - committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Library Trustees
Date: 2022-04-11
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: General Meeting
Time: 7:02 PM
#tECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
READING, MA.
R,4...
2022 MAY 30 AM 9: 27
Location: Community Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair; Nina Pennacchio, Chair; Monette Verner, Vice -Chair; Andrew Grimes,
Secretary; Monique Pillow-Gnanaratnam, Cherrie Dubois; Patrick Egan
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Amy Lannon, Director; Michelle Flleul, Assistant Director, Coleen O'Brien,
General Manager, RMLD, Joe McDononagh, Finance Committee, Ms. Carla
Navarro, School Committee Representative
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Andrew Grimes, Secretary
Topics of Discussion:
L Call to Order
II. Public Comment -none
III. Trustee Welcome and Introductions
Ms. Pennacchio opened the meeting with a welcome and introduction to Pat Egan and
welcome back Cherrie Dubois. Trustees introduced themselves.
IV. RMLD Update on EV Charges
Ms. O'Brien, General Manager of the RMLD provided an update on the EV charging
stations There were 5 grants and 2 towns, all had to be submitted together and one town
hadn't finalized their grant. Now all towns are ready to go. In the Town of Reading there
are 5 spots. Ryan Percival is the Town of Reading representative. Coviello
Construction will put in the physical construction work. There will be a Level II and a
Level III dual station at the library. The grant requires an 8ft ADA accessibility, the width
of one parking space. Two spaces will be required and two safety bollards will be
installed. Construction will be completed within 6 months of the awarding of the grant
and is expected to take place May 23 -June 5, 2022. Majority of parking lot will be
available during construction. The signage will be standardized throughout the town.
There will also be wayfinding signage, a requirement of the grant. And there will be a OR
code on the signage with procedures and policies. Anyone could park in those spots,
they can't be policed. The EV charging spots will provide benefits for those who are here
for either a few minutes or several hours. Ms. O'Brien will touch base with Ms. Lannon
about the construction schedule. Ms. Lannon had asked RMLD about having solar
panels installed on the library, RMLD is evaluating all town buildings for solar installation.
RMLD needs to make sure it is economical for all the towns within the district. Ms.
Lannon reported that EBSCO has grants for solar panels on libraries.
Page 1 1
V. Discussion and Vote: Internet Access Policy
Ms. Lannon stated that we included a comment stating that we do not actively monitor
internet use and including information about the WIFI access.
Motion: To approve the internet access as presented (DuboislGNmes)
Vote: Approved (8-0)
Vl. Review and Discussion: Collection Development Policy
Ms. Lannon reported that the Trustees approved the policy a year ago, and Ms. Penney
updated the form to state that all challenges must be made from Town of Reading
residents. This language will acknowledge that anyone can use the library, however only
Reading residents can make a request for removal of material. Ms. Verner asked if the
requests should go to any librarian and Ms. Lannon stated that all librarians have been
trained on the language to use and how to handle requests for removal of material. Ms.
Dubois asked about the staff selection wording be combined. The request for
reconsideration form was updated to include Reading residents. Ms. Dubois made
some suggestions for language on the reconsideration form, including a question about
whether a person had read or reviewed the resource, including the language: If not,
why. The language will include that this request will be sent to the American Library
Association, Office of Intellectual Freedom and the Massachusetts Library Association.
Ms. Dubois asked If Trustees should read the title being challenged. Normally Ms.
Penney will provide a research of a book, including evaluations of the title from review
journals, so it is not necessary for the Trustees to read the material. The policy will be
updated with the suggested changes and will be brought back to the May meeting for
review, discussion and vote.
VII. Technology Plan Update:
Ms. Filleul reported that she created a Technology plan and here are some highlights:
Make sure technology is current technology (public software and PC's), increase WIFI
access, including lending WIFI Hotspots and having additional hours of WIFI use around
the perimeter of the building. The library is working with Capira to create a library app.
The app is currently in beta testing. The library is working with the town on Smart
Community Goals. Future projects including expanding hybrid meeting technology,
updating and upgrading digital payment for printing, copying and faxing, updating
hardware and software for printing, copying and taxing. Adding Virtual Reality
components to our programming and Library of Things collection, restarting the
NetGuide Program and developing youth creator spaces to encourage STEM.
VIII. Financial Update FY22
a. FY 22: Ms. Lannon reported that there were no outstanding issues. As of the end of
March, the material budget spending is normally low. Ms. Lannon is spending down the
Trusts. Ms. Lannon reported that the Trusts are being used for Children's and Teen
Services Programming, Staff day, the Exterior Lockers and the Book Bike will be paid for
through the Trusts. The hybrid audio systems were paid for through a town grant. The
upgrade to the printfscenlfax system will be paid through the revolving fund. This
upgrade will mean that we will use just one vendor instead of two vendors. There will be
an initial larger payment through gifts. $150,000 gift money was spent. The microfilm
digitization project will be through an additional set of funds, library staff looked at
various ways to digitized this collection, the Reading Public Library is the only holder of
some of the material, including older Reading newspapers. Ms. Lannon is proposing that
Advantage Archives will digitize the material all at once and the library will own the
material. The search indexing for this company is speck and allows you to limit
searches. The cost is $98,000, Ms. Lannon will be asking the Foundation to pay for this
digitization project in lieu of a gift for the next year and it will be paid directly through the
Foundation. There is an annual cost going forward, and the library would commit to
paying out of the material budget.
b. FY 23: Budget expected to go to Town Meeting on Thursday, April 28.
Page 1 2
IX. Director's Report
a. March Snapshot:
i.) Circulation was higher in 2022 than 2019.
ii.) 51 Programs
b. Personnel:
L) Librarian I Reference and Local History position has been filled, Jocelyn Gould will
begin on April 19. Eileen Barrett will be retiring on April 28�. A public reception will be
held on April 28'" at 1 pm.
Ms. Vender and Ms. Pennacchio wanted to offer Trustees the opportunity to attend at
Last part of the June 3, Staff Day at Matters Cabin from 9 am to 3 pm. The theme will
be overcoming departmental divisions and working on team building and core values.
X. Approval of Minutes from March 14, 2022
Motion., To accept the minutes from March 14, 2022. (VerriedPennacchio)
Vote: Approved (5-0) (Egan abstained as didn't attend March meeting)
XI. Executive Session:
Motion., To move into Executive Session at 8:51 pm. (Verrier/Grimes)
Vote: Approved (6-0)
XII. Personnel Discussion
Motion regarding next steps (Verrler/Egan)
Vote: Approved (6-0)
XIII. Other Business
None
Motion To move out of executive session (Egar✓Gnmes) 9:37 pm
Vote: Approved (&0)
Adjournment _9:37_ p.m.
Motion: To Adjourn (Dubois/Gnmes)
Vote: Approved (6-0)
Respectfully Submitt`teed,
cv L /
Andrew Grimes, Secretary
Page 13