HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-16 Board of Library Trustees MinutesV
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - October 16, 1995
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
P:- ?nt: Ms. Cherrie Dubois, chair; Mr. William Diamond; Mr. Robert
Fi__ds; Mrs. Elia Marnik; Mrs. Maria Silvaggi. Also present: Rachel and
Steve Baumgartner.
Absent: Dr. Christine Redford.
Ms. Dubois called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Minutes: Mr. Fields moved to accept the minutes of September 18. The motion
passed.
Financial report: The book budget is being analyzed to figure out the pace
of spending. All accounts are fine.
Statistics: Circulation continues to go up. Ms. Hanley will look at the
ratio of children's increase vs. adult; it may be the effect of added
hours.
Chairman's Report: No report.
Director's Report: The Library has submitted a grant to develop a Web
page, a graphical site on the Internet. The total cost will be $20,000.
The effect would be that of an electronic library. Chris Prah, who As
working on the project with the staff, will be invited to do a demo of the
Web page next month. ;
A number of Board members will be attending the BLC program next month i.-
Burlington.
Customers have asked for a mailbox at the library, via the suggestion bdx.--'--
The Post Office is willing to install one. The Board approved putting a
ma*',box on the landing. - `h ,on reports: No reports.
Friends report: The newsletter is at the printers, and will go out in a
town-wide mailing by the end of next week. The Friends' Board has
established a policy that as memorials for Friends members, a book will be
donated to the Library, in lieu of the charity designated by the family.
Wendy Ault has accepted the position of Secretary, left vacant by Fran
McSheehy's death, and Tom Stohlman will be a Member-at-large.
The Friends have applied for one hundred tickets for the Christmas Pops.
Refreshments for the House Tour will be provided at the Library.
Unfinished business: Ms. Dubois reported that she and Gene Nigro attended a
seminar on public library fundraising. A feasibility study done by an
outsider can determine how much money can be raised. With a solid core of
enthusiastic people, Ms. Dubois said, we can do the fundraising ourselves.
Other tips: never tie the amount of money raised to the percentage of take
by fundraiser; make the goals very clear in the preliminary stages. The
committee will meet again tomorrow*--" They will take to local groups that
have used professional fundraisers.
Trustees were invited to the volunteer reception on Wednesday evening.
New business: 1) Theresa Bond is retiring. Ms. Hanley sent a memo to the
Town Manager about an anticipated budget shortfall, since Mrs. Bond will be
replaced by an MLS librarian at a higher rate. Ms. Hanley will get back to
t-----,Town Manager if the Library needs additional funds later in the year.
~3oard will send letters of thanks to Mrs. Bond and Mrs. Sunbury.
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2) The Director presented the NOBLE budget. Until now, costs have been
split equally between all members. However, there is a growing diversity
in the technological levels of the libraries. Now libraries that use the
sy-yam more will pay a little bit more. The payment is based on the number
o its in use.
Th___ is not much of an increase in the budget itself, except for the
capital fund, which is going from $35,000 to $60,000. NOBLE is still
inexpensive compared to other networks. Reading's cost will be $25,000
plus the cost of the EBSCO database, which is taken from the materials
budget. The amount will increase from $21,485 to $25,836.
Mrs. Marnik asked why the Executive Director's salary increased from
$33,000 to $48,000. Until a year ago, his salary was partially paid by
North Shore Community College. Now NOBLE pays all of it. The Executive
Director became a full-time NOBLE employee when NOBLE moved out of NSCC
quarters. Board members commented about salary increases in general. Ms.
Hanley explained that NOBLE had not been paying for benefits, insurance,
etc., but is now a genuine employer.
NOBLE's budget is developed by the Executive Council (elected from the pool
of directors of NOBLE libraries), brought to Users' Council (all directors)
and voted on by library boards, then by Users' Council. Maintenance for
ports purchased this year is pro-rated.
Mr. Diamond moved to approve the NOBLE budget. The motion passed
unanimously.
3) Ms. Hanley presented an action plan for FY97, based on the Library's
long=range plan, for discussion next month if desired.
4) Staff had a a good meeting with school librarians earlier this month.
Young Adult librarians and middle school librarians are meeting again
tom-crow. The school administration is very positive about cooperative
v;' res.
5).e three Boards have met jointly again to develop a budget procedure
and philosophy. The Director plans to ask for an increase in the materials
budget.
6) Ms. Hanley requested letters to legislators in support of the strategic
plan.
The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~4i'Q'Mou'-r,
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director
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