HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-15 Board of Library Trustees MinutesV
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting -May 15, 2006
Present: Karyn Storti., Chair; Bill Anthony; Suzy Axelson; Karen Brown- Vicki Yablonsky.
Ruth Urell, Director; Elizabeth Dickinson, Assistant Director.
Ms. Storti called the meeting to order. Minutes of the April 10th meeting were approved.
Financial report:
• Salary, acquisitions, and other accounts are on track for the time of year.
• $10,000 was removed from the Library' technology capital account by a vote of Town Meeting
(November 05) to pay for new carpeting on the stairways and landings. Haven Floor Covering is
expected to begin installation of the new carpet soon.
• Our LSTA Community Languages grant is complete, and all funds have been expended. Project
manager Amy Lannon has filed the final report with the Massachusetts Board of Library
Commissioners.
Statistical Report
Circulation for the month of April is down slightly from last year, however, the average daily circulation is
up. Since circulation is highly correlated with the number of hours we are open, we expect to see a boost
from the upcoming addition of four hours on Wednesday evenings.
Liaison Reports:
Ms. Axelson was unable to attend the most recent Friends of the Library because it conflicted with Town
Meeting.
• Annual Friends of the Library House Tour will take place on Sunday May 18. Ms. Storti will be
hostess at the Parker Tavern.
• The Friends have approved funding for the Children's and Teen Summer Reading Programs.
Mr. Anthony reported on the most recent meeting of the Reading Public Library Foundation:
• The Foundation discussed their long range plans and reviewed the past patterns of giving
• Mr. Anthony has proposed Bill Hecht as a new member of the Foundation Board. Mr. Hecht has had
a long career in fundraising and development, and will be a great addition to the current Board of
Directors.
• Mr. Nordstrand and Mr. Cohen presented information on charitable annuities.
Director's Report
• A new position has been approved for a professional librarian in the Children's Services department.
The position will be for nine hours per week and will include Wednesday evenings and alternate
Saturdays.
Interviews are in progress, and a decision is expected by Monday, May 22.
• There have been continuing problems with roof leaks and water damage. John Davis and the
Facilities Department are managing the situation to the best of their ability.
• Changes that have been recently instituted in building maintenance:
cleaning is now done in the evening
Changes in the scheduling of the custodians means that a custodian will not be available at
closing time on Wednesdays (until July 1) and on Fridays.
• The Library has established a no-smoking area on the steps and portico. Smokers must be at least 25
feet away from the building.
• The pay phone has been removed because it was not getting sufficient use to justify its presence.
• Young Adult Librarian Susan Beauregard attended a recent meeting of the Substance Abuse Task
Force.
• The Trustees approved a listing of proposed meeting dates for the upcoming fiscal year.
Meeting Room Policy
The Trustees discussed revisions and updates to their Meeting Room policy and procedure. The new
procedure allows for people who are booking meeting room space to pay the required fee at the Library. (In
the past, they were required to pay at Town Hall). A motion was made by Ms. Brown to approve the policy
as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Yablonsky, and approved unanimously.
Evaluation
Ms. Dickinson was then excused, and the Trustees spent the remainder of the meeting completing Ms. Urell's
performance evaluation.
The next meeting will be on Monday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Dickinson
Assistant Director