HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-24 Board of Library Trustees MinutesM ASS.
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Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting -February 24, 2004
Present: Vicki Yablonsky, Acting Chair; Suzy Axelson; Steve Conner; Roberta McRae; Karyn Storti; Kimberly
Lynn, Director; Elizabeth Dickinson, Assistant Director.
Also attending the meeting were the following Trustee Candidates: Bill Anthony, Richard Curtis, David
Hutchinson, and George Lonergan.
Ms.Yablonsky called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and welcomed the candidates. She then asked Steve
Conner to speak to the candidates about the responsibilities of board members. Mr. Conner spoke briefly
about each of the following areas: budget oversight, support and participation in public relations efforts, policy,
and selection and evaluation of the library director. He then invited each of the candidates to speak about their
qualifications and their individual reasons for wanting to serve on the library's board.
Minutes of the January 12th meeting were approved.
Financial Report:
Ms. Lynn pointed out that the state aid account will be reduced when bills are received for computer equipment
and shelving which was recently ordered. All accounts are on track for this time of year.
Statistical Report
Circulation is up again for the month of January.
Presentation by Young Adult Librarians Amy Lannon and Susan Beauregard
Ms. Beauregard and Ms. Lannon share the position of young adult librarian. They distributed a handout
outlining the division of their responsibilities, as well as a list of joint responsibilities. Ms. Beauregard and Ms.
Lannon also provided a timeline of the major events and accomplishments of the Teen Services Department in
the past year. This was accompanied by a display showing some of the teens' artwork and other projects.
Director's Report
• All staff members attended privacy and reserve policy training organized in response to the need
identified at the last meeting of the board. Head of Circulation, Michelle Filleul, conducted the sessions.
• Staff Day was held on February 13. The theme for the day was "Everyone Can Be a Leader." The
day's activities were facilitated by Maureen Sullivan, a nationally-known library consultant.
• The Library's 20th Anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, March 13. We need over 1,000
people to break the Guinness World's Record for "longest human conveyor belt."
• Ms. Lynn attended a special two-day training on productivity and organization. This training was taught
by Mission Control, a company that conducts seminars nationwide. Ms. Lynn is employing new
techniques she learned at the training, and has presented this information to division heads.
• Reading Attorney, Tim Kelley, presented training on the changes in regulating the work of notaries
public. This training was attended by staff members who are notaries, as well as by the administrative
staff. The Library's notary policy will be revised to reflect the changes in the law.
• The Board was informed of an issue involving a patron who has been inappropriate in regard to
interactions with some staff members. This person has taken up excessive amounts of staff time, and
has even called one staff member at home. Ms. Lynn, Ms. Dickinson and Ms. Green are working
together on dealing with this issue.
• Ms. Green and Ms. Lynn each attended an LSTA Grant Writing workshop, following the submission of
two letters of intent. Because of restricted funds, the MBLC is urging libraries to submit only one
proposal. Reading will be submitting a "community languages grant."
• Ms. Lynn has joined the Massachusetts Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee.
• The next Legislative Breakfast will be on March 12 in Beverly at 8:00 a.m
Town Election and Presidential Primary will be on March 2
Town Meeting dates are April 26, April 29, May 3, May 6
FY05 Budget
The Library will present at FinComm on March 3.
Trustee Items
Steve Conner, who is attending Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science, has volunteered
to update our collection development policy as part of his coursework.
Karyn Storti raised a question about a legal services questionnaire that she had received from the town
manager's office. Since the Board had no reason to need legal services, it was decided that surveys would be
returned with a note to that effect.
Ms. Lynn then thanked retiring board member Roberta McRae for her service to the Library and the community.
As a small token of our great appreciation and admiration, Ms. McRae was presented with a Reading Public
Library book bag. It was noted with regret that. the Chairman of the Board, Richard Ogden, who was not able to
attend the meeting, is also retiring. Mr. Ogden has given many years of outstanding service to the Town, and
will be greatly missed on the Board of Trustees.
Following the presentation to Mrs. McRae, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be Monday,
March 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Dickinson
Assistant Director