HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-04-26 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - April 26, 1993
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
k::sent: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mr. William Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois;
Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent: Mrs. Carol Beckwith.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
Minutes: Mr. Fields made a motion to approve the minutes of March 15. The
motion passed,
Financial report: Expenditures are well into the Incentive funds. Another
$1000 in Incentive is expected very soon. The donations page shows two new
line items, reflecting the Friends' donation of $6500 for videos and $3500
for other audio-visual materials.
Statistical report: Considering the weather, the Library had a great month
in March, and was only 171 below last March in circulation. The Children's
Room answered more questions than ever last month. Ms. Dubois remarked
that the number of registered patrons may need to be brought back in line
by deleting inactive patrons.
Director's Report: The Library garnered four public relations awards in the
biannual Massachusetts Library Association contest. The awards were for
the summer reading clubs, the Friends' membership campaign, the brass
bookmark, and the online catalog poster. Staff member Nicola Carello has
"-n a medical leave of absence. The mother of Children's Room page Karen
'ird passed away.
i.,ew memorial fund has been established in memory of Diane Avery; her
family is interested in using the fund for benches for the outside landing.
This will be brought back to the Board. As part of the Wee Care grant, the
new kits purchased by the Library are being shown to preschool caregivers
tonight. Homeowners participating in the Friends' house tour are meeting
tonight.
Communications: Trustees received a copy of Fred van Magness, Jr. letter
supporting the Long Range Plan. The planning committee will meet again on
May 10.
Liaison reports: Mr. Fields reported on building issues. The parking lot
will be re-striped this summer, with efforts made to increase the number of
spaces. It will be re-paved in FY95. A lower parking lot is being
considered in the FY96 capital improvements budget ($60,000 according to
preliminary figures). More windows in the meeting room need to be
openable. The picture book room will be painted soon, and the interior of
the whole building needs painting. New carpeting is on DPW's list for a
couple of years hence.
Mr. Diamond spoke with the Town Treasurer concerning trust funds; the
Board now has ready access to funds.
Ideas for the tenth anniversary of the library building, which
c,nincides with the town's 350th, include a float in the 350th parade, a
a concert in coordination with the Reading Symphony, and a
,aemorative pamphlet.
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Unfinished business: 1) The Director presented a new collection development
policy, which has been updated to apply to all formats. The old policy was
a--roved in 1973. Ms. Dubois moved that the policy be accepted as drafted.
motion passed. In connection with the policy, Diane Young compared
e._..,Aples from the Library's "pooch parade" those books which circulate
poorly in their first year with the most popular books.
2) The override enables the Library to open from one to five o'clock on
Sundays, between October and May. The amount of business in September and
June do not warrant being open Sundays, according to the experience of
other libraries. The Library budget will be voted on at the May 3 Town
Meeting.
New business: 1) Ms. Young reported on a censorship workshop sponsored by
the Massachusetts Foundation for the Arts.
2) A thank-you party for members of the Friends Executive Board and other
active Friends will be held on June 9 or 10 at Wes Parker's.
3) Tom Stohlman's plan for the new reference desk was distributed.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane G. Young
Assistant Director
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