HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-09-20 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - September 20, 1993
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William
Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Also attending: Tom Stohlman.
The meeting was called to order at 6:13 p.m.
Minutes: Mr. Fields made a motion to approve the minutes of June 21. The
motion passed.
Financial report: The report is now generated from the Town Hall computer
and looks substantially 'different. There had been considerable duplication
of work in bill processing by the library and the finance department. The
Town manager purchased a modem and phone line so that the library can hook
into Town Hall's computer and enter bills directly. The library is a pilot
project in this. Ms. Hanley alerted the Board that the financial statement
does not include the bill roll being signed this evening it will always`
be one bill roll behind. The Board expressed satisfaction with the new
arrangement.
The Director noted that the library has spent almost exactly the same
amount of money as at this time last year, even though the budget is higher
this year.
Statistical report: Circulation is ahead of last year. Salem beat Reading
in circulation last month; that library is open Saturdays in the summer and
has been buying paperbacks at an extraordinary rate.
Bison reports: Mr. Fields reported that the carpeting on:"the main floor
,l need to be replaced and costs estimated. Dr. Redford, as liaison to
.ie staff, sent out thank-you notes to staff members over.the summer.
Unfinished business: 1) The first bid for the reference desk was for $8000,
not including painting; the second bidder declined; the third bid, from
Greg Zanni, was for $5100, not including painting. The bid includes all
other specifications and the removal of the old desk. DPW will pay for
electrical and painting. The library has $5000 for this project: $3000 in
Trudy Paradis' memorial fund and $2000 anticipated from the Friends.
Installing the new desk will require a couple of days of dislocation. The
Board gave the project a go-ahead. Installation may be scheduled for
October/November.
2) The Friends held their first meeting of the year last week. The 350th
Committee asked that the house tour be held as a capping event. There will
be a full membership drive this.year. Current membership: almost 1000.
Mr. Stohlman presented to the trustees the Friends' budget for FY94, which
was discussed last week but not voted on. The major difference from last
year's budget is the reference desk donation. The Friends will try to
double the video collection by donating the same amount of money as last
year.
Nancy Aberman and Mary Hichborn conceived a coordinated school project.
William Sleator will spend a day at Coolidge next Tuesday. All are invited
to come to the library to meet him over a bag lunch. The Friends will
offer $500 matching funds to Parker also, for a cooperative event with the
l-ibrary.
,3. Marnik expressed appreciation of the Friends' support and their
avision of volunteer hours and resources which the library would
otherwise not have, such as Electronic Bookshelf, software, and videos.
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=a business: 1) Staff members were represented by Sally McDonald at the
ctmen's meeting to voice their unhappiness about the custodial union
clement. The Town Manager visited the library twice that week to meet
with the entire staff. He was firm about not going above the 2.5%
cost-of-living increase, but spoke about reclassification as a vehicle to
give people more money. Reclassification is slated to be ready for Fall
Town Meeting. Decisions about its effective date, retroactivity, and
effect on the employee's base rate have yet to be made.
The estimated $7800 supplemental state aid would cover a 1.5% increase if
the trustees so chose. Ms. Dubois asked if using state aid for salaries
would change the employees' base rate for the net year. Ms. Hanley said
that it would. The Board will wait until next month to move on this issue.
2) Mrs. Marnik and Ms. Hanley met with Alan Foulds, chair of the 350th
Committee. Festivities will open on May 29 and run through June 10, with
the house tour on Sunday, June 5. On June 4, the day of the parade, the
library will offer storytelling, etc.
3) The library's 10th anniversary committee met prior to the trustees
meting. Plans are for a week-long celebration to begin on Saturday,
February 27 with a sleepover. Further ideas: a program featuring Bill
Littlefield and Len Merullo, a formal ceremony on March 3, music and a
reception on Friday evening, a children's day on Saturday with a jazz group
in the evening, and a forum with a good speaker on Sunday.
4) The Friends will host a small reception on October 3 to celebrate the
library's first Sunday opening.
5) Because Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Saturdays this year, the
Director proposed that the library be closed Sunday, December 26 and be
on Sunday, January 2. The Board approved. Ms. Hanley will make a
commendation about Easter.
oj The Capital Improvement Advisory Sub-Committee will visit the Library
tonight at 8 p.m. to review the library's requested items.
7) Mrs. Marnik read a letter from Renee Olson requesting a leave of absence
for a short term internship this spring at American Libraries magazine.
Her library salary would be used to pay other people to fill in her hours
and responsibilities. Mrs. Beckwith made a motion to allow the leave. The
motion passed.
The Director would like to declare a moratorium on any new staff members
enrolling in the tuition reimbursement program until January 1. The
program is costing a lot of money. She would like to look into adding some
limits to the policy, such as number of hours worked per week. The Board
approved the moratorium.
8) The staff would like to turn the quiet study room into a public computer
room, and use the Local History Room as a quiet study area. The Board
approved the idea.
9) The staff will participate in the 350th walk-a-thon.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director
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