HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-06-19 Board of Library Trustees Minutes_T
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - June 19, 1995
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00-p.rf.
Present: Ms. Cherrie Dubois, chair; Mr. William Diamond; Mr. Robert
Fields; Dr. Christine Redford; Mrs. Maria Silvaggi. Also present: Rachel
and Steve Baumgartner.
Absent: Mrs. Elia Marnik.
Ms. Dubois, Secretary, in the absence of the Chairman, called the meeting
to order at 6:05 p.m.
Public Hearing: No one from the general public was present for the public
hearing on policy manual updates. Mr. Diamond moved that the hearing be
closed. Ms. Dubois moved that the policies be approved as presented. The
motion passed.
Upon his arrival, Mr. Fields took over the chairmanship of the meeting.
Election of officers: Mr. Diamond nominated Ms. Dubois for chair. Mr.
Diamond moved.to closed the nominations and asked the Secretary to cast one
ballot to elect the Chair.
Ms. Dubois, as newly-elected chair, presided over the rest of the meeting.
Mrs. Silvaggi nominated Mrs. Marnik for vice-chair. Mrs. Marnik was
elected unanimously. Mrs. Silvaggi nominated Dr. Redford for secretary.
She was elected unanimously.
Ates: Mr. Diamond moved to accept the minutes of May 15. The motion
Y... .red.
Financial report: Nancy Smethurst, Administrative Assistant, was commended
by the Director for managing to spend the non-personnel account down to
zero without splitting bills. However, money will be returned to the Town
from the personnel account, due to new hires at lower rates, and the 52.2
weeks in the fiscal year's budget, although there were only fifty-two weeks
in the fiscal year. Mrs. Silvaggi suggested that this 52.2 week policy be
brought up to Town_Meeting. July 10 will be the last bill roll for FY95.
Statistics: The April statistics were amended to include interlibrary loan
statistics. Comparisons between May 1995 and May 1994 are a little off
because of the NOBLE upgrade last May. Ms. Hanley clarified that the
Children's Division monthly report uses January to December as a
statistical year. Dr. Redford remarked that the number of reference
questions in the Children's Room from January to May is phenomenal.
There was no,..report from the Chairman.
Director's Report: Proposed dates for meetings for FY96 were proposed. It
was agreed to continue with third Mondays, except for the holiday months
(January, February, and April). Consensus was to move the December meeting
to December 11, and to move the November meeting to November 13. This
m t be better for the budget schedule.
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Andrew Samalis reported in a letter that his book collection project was
very successful. Copies of summer reading club material were distributed.
'Nigro called to donate $1000 for the children's summer reading club.
r 'and Mrs. Pratt donated $1000 last week. Ms. Dubois suggested an adult
reading club. It could be done through the Friends or other volunteers,
perhaps in winter.
Dr. Redford related that the fifth graders came to the Library for a
performance. When the performer was delayed for half an hour, librarians
Lorraine Barry and Corinne Fisher were terrific at occupying the kids by
telling them about the reading clubs, despite the busy environment.
Liaison reports: Mr. Fields asked the Town Engineer about the parking lot
and was told there is no money for it now.
Friends report: The Baumgartners distributed the annual report and the
approved budget. The Friends must now have liability insurance. The book
sale netted over five hundred dollars.
Unfinished business: Mr. Diamond asked when donors to the kitchen would be
formally recognized via publicity, and announced that the microwave can be
picked up from Gray's. Dick Ianetti has rounded up other contractors.
Labor will be donated except for about $2500 worth. Mrs. Silvaggi warned
that plumbing and electrical costs had not been priced out yet. It looks
like the project will be done without touching trust funds. The Friends
are donating $5225; donations made directly to the Library total $3147.58.
New business: A committee is being formed to oversee the expenditure of
money left over from the 350th celebration. Mr. Fields moved to appoint
R41J McLaughlin to the committee. The motion passed.
'meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
t
Diane J. oung
Assistant Director
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