Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-05 Board of Library Trustees MinutesREcEiVED Minutes of the Reading Public Library Board of Trustees' L E R K MSS A- November 5, 2007 Ms. Storti called the meeting to order at 7 pm 2001 DEC 21 A 10* ! b Attendance: Trustees: Cherrie Dubois, David Hutchinson, Karyn Storti, Vicki Yablonsky. Also in attendance: Ruth Urell, Library Director, Elizabeth Dickinson, Assistant Director Minutes Motion was made to accept September 17 minutes as revised. Passed unanimously. Motion to accept October 15 minutes. Mr. Hutchinson suggested changing punctuation in facilitated discussion of survey results section from question marks to declarative sentences. Minutes passed unanimously as amended. Foundation Report: Mr. Curtis absent. Friends report: Ms: Axelson absent. Financial Report Acquisitions budget has been broken out into six categories to facilitate state aid annual reports. Currently all acquisitions accounts are about 25% expended, which is on track ' for the annual cycle. Approximately $2000 has been raised towards periodicals through Adopt a Magazine program. Statistics: Not available due to early date of current meeting. Director's Report: Facility: Elevator is fixed. Several windows in basement were broken last month and are being repaired. Trustees discussed outside lighting and security of building, specifying need for better security with the recognition that the library is located within a residential neighborhood where high levels of lighting would cause problems for neighbors. Discussed benefit of security camera or motion detector-style lighting. Ms. Urell will take up the question with Facilities Dept. and other appropriate department heads. Replacement chairs for the meeting room and children's room have been ordered. There are new shades on order for the computer room and children's room. The computer lab is being painted during closed hours in preparation for the new furnishings that the Foundation is making possible. New carpet in basement that was soiled during elevator repair work is being cleaned. An all staff meeting was held to report survey results and brainstorm ideas for branding the library. f Ruth participated in Town Department Heads' retreat that focused on external communications; attended a presentation on the Digital Commonwealth which will include Reading Public Library's "Spud" Murphy postcards; and a workshop on building endowments presented by Essex County Community Development. State Aid regulations are currently under review for the first time in over twenty years. An outline of proposed revisions was distributed to Trustees. There are proposals to change both the qualifications and the funding formulae, with a goal to provide more assistance to communities in need and to build in more recognition for reciprocal borrowing and lending. Ruth thinks an important piece of the state aid program is to provide minimum standards statewide. There also needs to be discussion about certification requirements and decertification since the effects on neighboring communities need to be considered broadly rather than by the individual libraries. There's a section in the new regulations that proposes setting a per capita minimum standard and an equalization grant to help communities in need. The goal is to take state aid funding and divide it so that there are three steps to the process to include an equalization aspect and a formula for non-resident circulation and interlibrary loan activity. Ms. Dubois suggested that there may be some other ways for MBLC to assist low income communities rather than changing the current per capita formula. Ruth will submit remarks to the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners supporting minimum standards and certification. Budget Ruth has received budget instructions for FY09 budget from Finance Director. The first budget draft should be in before Thanksgiving. The amount allocated for an overall increase is .0375%, i.e., less than I%. The instructions are to build a baseline budget that represents the cost of re-hiring existing staff with a 2% inflation figure. The expenses should not mechanically roll forward at 2% but should be adjusted to keep overall increase down. A proposed pay and classification study is to be voted on at Town Meeting on Monday that may include some school department personnel as well as town staff. If it is funded, the results may have an impact on the FY09 budget. Ms. Yablonsky pointed out that the recent community survey showed broad community support for the library and credit to the library staff for excellent service. Mr. Hutchinson asked how the Trustees could have more effect on the budget process. Ms. Yablonsky initiated a discussion about restoring Sunday afternoon openings as a priority based on the community survey. The Trustees would like more time to work on the budget and to hold further discussion at their next meeting. Trustee Items Mr. Curtis and Ms. Dubois should be given copies of the Trustees' Handbook. Ms. Storti circulated a draft of an article she is writing for the newspaper about the community survey. Mr. Hutchinson would like to see copies vial email so that Trustees can send comments to Ms. Storti. Adjournment Mr. Hutchinson made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Dubois. Ms. Storti adjourned the meeting. Next meeting is December 17, 2007. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Dickinson, Assistant Director Transcribed by Ruth Urell, Director