HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-16 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees .
Minutes of Meeting - October 16, 2000
Present: Stephen Conner, Donna InDelicato, Richard Ogden, Christine Redford, Maria
Silvaggi. Also: Matt Cummings, Peter Hechenbleikner.
Mr. Conner called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Minutes: The minutes of September 25 were accepted.
Financial report: Expenditures are on track. The first chunk of regional contract money has
been received.
t.1 Chair's report: Upcoming events include MBLC meetings on the trustee handbook; and the
MLTA conference.
Director's report: AARP will be running a program at the Library to file taxes electronically
for low- and middle-income people. The Library will provide space and the use of two
computers. AARP will donate a printer.
The Town Manager has asked Ms. Lynn to serve on the Town's economic development task
force.
Esme Green started as Head of Information Services on October 5, and Jamie Penney began
work as Head of Circulation on October 11.
Carpet installation will necessitate closing at least one day, probably in December. Shelving
installation on the main floor is being postponed to coordinate.
Ms. Lynn proposed the creation of a document that outlines the ideal for the building and
what is currently lacking, as a first step in the construction process. She has requested
$100,000 in FY03's capital budget for a feasibility study, and $1,000,000 in FY04 for
construction. About thirty-five percent can be funded by the state. Expansion into the attic is a
possibility, but would require a second elevator shaft because of its three tiered levels. The
BLC's building consultant thought that building a children's wing would be more feasible.
Trustees asked questions about the construction grant process and suggested a meeting
between the Board and the consultant.
Board members whose terms expire in March are Dr. Redford and Mr. Ogden.
November's packet will include a draft of the action plan, the Board's goals, and the
Selectmen's goals.
Meeting room policy: Mr. Hechenbleikner clarified the Selectmen's meeting room policy:
there is no charge to organizations of which the Library is a member (NOBLE, NMRLS, etc.).
While the Board argued that charging the Friends, whose sole purpose is to support the
Library, is against the Town's interests, the Town Manager argued for consistency in the
policy town-wide. For instance, the PTOs have to pay rental charges. Each school principal is
given a few passes each year to give out to waive rental charges. Mr. Ogden made a motion to
ask the Town Manager to make the Friends an exception to the policy. The motion passed. In
the meantime, creative solutions will be considered. Mr. Conner would like to know more
about how the PTO meetings are handled. The policy is scheduled to be reviewed by the
Selectmen in six months.
Regional reference contract: Ms. Lynn recapped the October 13 meeting between Mr.
Conner, Mrs. Silvaggi, Greg Pronevitz, Regional Administrator, and herself. At the
September NMRLS meeting, Mr. Pronevitz had announced that he was looking into
renegotiating the contract with Andover and not issuing an RFP. He told the trustees that the
issue is becoming increasingly politicized. There is a fear on the state level that if legislators
are pitted against each other, libraries will lose funding overall. The Board members were
clear in expressing their dissatisfaction to Mr. Pronevitz.
Mr. Hechenbleikner pointed out that the Uniform Procurement Act does not apply to contracts
between government agencies.
The MBLC is now working on establishing standards for regional libraries, which are due to
be discussed on November 27.
Mr. Conner thinks that there is not sufficient leadership form NMIZLS and the BLC in a
process that might cause some excitement, but would be healthy for the library community.
He will pursue the issue at the BLC level. Mr. Hechenbleikner suggested bringing Reading's
legislators up to speed on the issue on an informational level. Ms. Lynn is trying to elicit the
opinions of directors of other NOBLE libraries. Mr. Cummings will outline the issue at the
next Selectmen's meeting.
Background on NOBLE: A written history will be included in the next packet.
Director's goals: The Board asked to be informed of major incidents within forty-eight
hours. The following were added to the goals presented: inform the Board about trends and
developments in the fields; encourage professional development; oversee the budget process;
conduct an ongoing assessment of community needs.
Liaisons: Liaison assignments were made: Foundation: Mrs. Silvaggi; Budget: Mr. Ogden;
Staff: Mr. Conner and Ms. Indelicato; Friends: Dr. Redford. Ms. Indelicato will continue to
assist with publicity work.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.
Diane I Young
Assistant Director