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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-19 Board of Library Trustees MinutesV Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting a August 19, 2002 RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING. MASS. ~~yy~~ ~ 23 P ~ 32 Present: Stephen Conner, Eugene Nigro, Roberta McRae, Ri~Y r g en (Chair), Vicki Yablonsky, Kimberly Lynn (Director). Mr. Ogden called the meeting to order at 7:10pm. Minutes of the July 22, 2002 meeting were approved. Mr. Ogden noted that the Board never approved the minutes of the June 17th meeting. Ms. Lynn will distribute them for the September meeting. The Financial Report was reviewed. It was noted that some personnel money went back to the Town in FY02. Ms. Lynn indicated that there will be extra personnel money again this year because of the vacant assistant director's position. Town manager Pete Hechenbleikner said that this money could be transferred into the materials line item at the Spring Town Meeting. Ms. Lynn also said that State Aid was expected to come in at $26,000 this year. Mr. Ogden pointed out that it was $32,000 last year. The decrease is due to the severe cuts to library funding statewide. The Statistical Report was reviewed. Ms. Lynn reported that circulation was up approximately 3% in FY02, especially notable because the Library was closed almost 300 hours more than in FY01. July was a banner month - more than 33,000 items circulated. Mr. Ogden mentioned that the new delivery system seems to increase the amount of time for books to be delivered. Ms. Yablonsky stated that delivery has increased dramatically in the region. It was agreed that we need to look into the matter further to determine if the new system has slowed delivery. Ms. Lynn stated that a group of librarians will be heading to Salem to learn the secrets of their overwhelmingly successful circulation. Ms. Lynn reviewed the items included in the Director's Report. Reference On Call service will be eliminated in FY04 due to NMRLS budget cuts (and statewide budget cuts to library funding). Mr. Ogden stated that we should not have accepted the ROC extension through FY04; it was very hypocritical because we were and are against automatic extensions of the regional reference center contract. The Board directed Ms. Lynn to tell Greg Pronevitz, NMRLS director, that they appreciate the way he has handled the budgetary difficulties. Ms. Lynn informed the trustees about NCIPA and explained that NOBLE was considering accepting it in order to receive $10,000 in federal telecommunications money. The Trustees and Ms. Lynn agreed that acceptance wou,u puliir~g Nu ,lic libruiies in a vulnerably ;~c;ition ~~jitutur~ filtering and censorship measures. The Trustees discussed the May decision of the Board not to lend items to residents of municipalities with decertified libraries. Mr. Nigro was unable to attend the May meeting but wanted to be on record that he does not support 0 the decision. Discussion ensued regarding reconsideration of the issue but it was determined that reconsideration would not change the outcome. The draft Policy on Lending to Residents of Municipalities with Decertified Libraries was discussed. Ms. Lynn will make suggested changes and present the revised policy to the Trustees at their September meeting. Further discussion ensued about the flyer developed to inform the public of the policy. Ms. McRae suggested that information about the larger budget issues for public libraries in Massachusetts be included. Editorial and/or political comments will be edited out. Under Trustee Items Steve Conner announced that he has been accepted to Simmons MLIS program and will begin in September. Mr. Conner was congratulated. Mr. Conner said that he has a class on Monday nights. Mr. Ogden asked the Board if their schedules are flexible. All indicated a willingness to change the dates of the meetings. Revising the scheduled dates will occur at the September 24th meeting (changed from the 23rd). The meeting was adjourned at 9:10pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Kimberly Lynn.