HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-25 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - April 25, 2000
Present: Stephen Conner; Donna InDelicato; Eugene Nigro, Richard Ogden;, Christine
Redford Maria Silvaggi.
Also present: Matthew Cummings.,
Ms. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Minutes: The minutes of April 10 were amended to show that the "unrestricted" trust fund
amount is primarily for books, equipment, and furniture.
Report from the Chair: Ms. Silvaggi reported that the Foundation's author visit (Rob Kean)
was a delight, but with a very disappointing turnout, perhaps due to the date. She strongly
suggested that the trustees make every effort to attend Foundation events.
Director's report: Paula Cammarata has accepted the position of Head of the Circulation
Division. She has been Head of Circulation at one of the Tufts libraries. A plaque on the new
circulation desk, to be unveiled at the reception on May 3, will honor Dorothy Alworth..Mr.
Nigro requested, as a new member of the Board, some backup information for the evaluation
of the Acting Director.
Director search: The deadline for resumes has closed. Twenty-four resumes have been
received to date. Each of the nine search committee members will score the candidates by
May 2. Candidates will be selected for the first round of interviews on May 6. Trustees will
meet with three to five final candidates for interviews of an hour to an hour and a half.
Questions will be pre-determined to ensure fair interviews and basis for comparison. Concern
was expressed about expenses related to bringing out-of-state candidates to Reading. Mrs.
Silvaggi suggested that some inquiry might be made'with the Personnel Administrator and the
Finance Committee.
Regarding staff participation in the search process, Mr. Nigro suggested that the staff have an
opportunity to meet the candidates prior to the interview. Mr. Cummings pointed out that
those candidates who take the initiative to research the library, including meeting the staff,
may be the ones who have the initiative desirable in a candidate.
Mr. Ogden made the following motion: that the selection committee of nine decide on the
final candidates to forward to the Board of Trustees. The trustees will then conduct the final
interviews and hire a director. Mr. Nigro amended as follows: should the candidate request to
meet the staff, an effort will be made to accommodate that during the preliminary interview
stage. The motion passed as amended.
The Board will meet on Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m. to brainstorm interview questions.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
~.q, Donna InDelicato