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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-05 Board of Library Trustees MinutesMinutes of the Board of Library Trustees Meeting Monday, January 5, 2009 RECEIVED Attending: Suzy Axelson, Chair; Richard Curtis; Cherrie Dubois, David Hutchinson; WW%blbf y, Karyn Storti; Ruth Urell, Library Director. Guest: Dorota Socha, Assistant Director. ' E, /`i H N G , M S S. Meeting was called to order at 7:06pm - special meeting re: budget 200q ,SAN' 0 ~ P 3-- 31 Distributed: article and Op Ed. 1/3%2009 Boston Globe re: library usage trends during difficult economic times. Trustees will email copies of Globe articles to Selectmen. Selectman's special meeting 1/10/09 at Town Hall to discuss budget. Library on agenda for 11 am. Discussion based format, general information, approximately 30-60 minutes presentation. Trustees will meet at Selectman's Room at 10:45am. Meeting will be posted. Budget: Ruth will prepare information for the Trustees to present at Selectman's meeting: • State Aide - what is it, what money is used for • Resources & joint efforts with other. communities • Present Cooperative programs with area libraries. • Grants and donations • % of residents that use library • % of resources used Presentation to include: • Current budget (Suzy Axelson) • Value of library services to a Reading family (Karyn Storti) • % of library users in Reading (Cherrie Dubois) • Questions re: income, donations, trusts and budget specifics (Ruth Urell) • Publicity statistics: Value of services Value of patron usage Percentage of residents with library card Offer of services to people who do not have children at school Discussion and overview of budget planning: • State Aide • Meeting certification standards • Revenue sources (trusts, donations and other forms of income) • Review year to date budget reports • Level services budget means reduction impact on hours, positions eliminated, book spending • Salary increases, with zero % budget: expense side must reduce comparably • Pay & Classification study results will be honored: step increases, 2% COLA = 4% increase across the board effective FY2010 (July 2009) Results in 8% salary expense side 1 Minutes of the Special Board of Library Trustees Meeting 1/5/2009 • No growth budget means 4% reduction • Review of Trust funds : non-expendable; expendable; use restrictions; uses for money in past years; earnings Summary State Aide Expenditures: • FY2009 State Grant monies $52,000 • Annually spending approx $33,000 • Received $16,000 so far this year., balance due, but may not be forthcoming • Unsure of available amount, so spending is conservative beginning of year. • No restrictions on use, but should not be spent on basic library expenses (materials, salary) • Preferable uses for Prof Dev, special programs, survey, building assessment Summary FY08 • Professional Development : approx. $8000/year spent, budgeted $2200 • Friends of RPL pay for Staff Day Fund raising: Donations are funds received - not Federal. or State monies, designated by budget, but are earmarked for specific use, e.g.: • Love & Forgiveness grant • Health Access Initiative (Library for the Future initiative) • Periodicals • Foundation (The Library Foundation is not able to make a gift in 2009) • Programs • Lions Club • Garden Club • Celebration Trust (digitizing) Salary Budget: • Technology Librarian Position : frozen for FY2009 Hold back purchase order generated $16,700. = 50% of Technology Librarian Position. Money encumbered for town use if needed elsewhere, but still appears in Library budget. Work to get position opened, staff person is needed considering technology growth and use • Assistant Director position vacancy was filled. Budget Overview: • Level services budget represents an increase in costs • Level funding budget represents cut in costs 2 Minutes of the Special Board of Library Trustees Meeting 1/5/2009 • 15%o book budget must be submitted • All town departments under same requirement • 4% salary increase commitment per Pay & Classification study • Library hours cannot be cut due to high use • Cannot cut staff (reduced staff means reduced services) • Library use is increasing Options to cut expenses: Spend only 85% of 15% ($176,000) on materials, and seek a waiver from MBLC? Use State Aide to cover balance of materials? Ask for small % of town reserves ($6million) to maintain materials budget? Reduce hours? NOBLE technical support license? New Business: • "Clean energy for mobilization stimulus": Federal "bailout" plan to create jobs Federal Transition team is preparing a major federal project on 1/21/09. States ready to plug money into infrastructure. Monies will filter through existing channels (Library will receive through Facilities/School Dept) Library submitted: Windows; Lighting; Mortar/repointing; Painting • BPL add campaign (K. Storti) Next meeting is scheduled for January 12th Adjourn The motion to adjourn was made 8:45pm (Yablonski/Storti) Respectfully submitted, Allison Sloan DaSilva Recording Secretary Senior Library Associate 3 Minutes of the Special Board of Library Trustees Meeting A 1/5/2009