HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-02-22 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - February 22, 1993
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William
Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent: Mr. Robert Fields.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Renee Olson demonstrated the New York Times On Disk.
Minutes: Ms. Dubois made a motion to approve the minutes of January 11.
The motion passed.
Financial report: The Incentive check has been received. There is $5000
left in the book budget for adult fiction and nonfiction, including funds
from the Incentive grant. This would allow the purchase of seventeen books
a week. Ms. Hanley remarked that the library has been known to buy
sixty-five books a week. $6000 was spent in the last two months. The
materials budget is $5000 less than last year, even taking into account the
transfer of $5000 from trust funds for reference books.
Consensus of discussion was to use more of Incentive funds for books
for this fiscal year, and reserve trust funds for other needs.
Statistical report: Circulation for January was up over last year. The
yearly cumulation, however, is lower than last year.
actor's Report: A new staff member.has been hired for a very few hours:
Anette Engeland, a librarian from Germany, has been volunteering and will
now work at the circulation desk.
Communications:
Division report: Renee Olson has priced a printer for the reference desk
at about $400. She is still looking into reference books on education and
psychology. Mr. Diamond moved to purchase the printer from trust funds.
The motion passed. `
Liaison reports: Mr. Diamond has written to the Town Manager concerning
the liability waiver, and has not received a response yet. Ms. Hanley
suggested that the Board may benefit from a visit by Jeffrey Hurwit, a
lawyer who specializes in trusts.
Unfinished business: 1) The FY94 budget request will be addressed at the
Finance Committee meeting this week.
2) The Director distributed a memo concerning the posting policy, with the
Swampscott Library's policy, to be discussed at the next meeting.
New business: 1) It was agreed that donations in memory of Russell Miller
will be made on an individual basis.
2) The Friends have donated $6500 to establish a video collection. The
ff is collecting information on selection and circulation policies.
)ers of the Board suggested PBS and National Geographic titles.
s;- The reception for the Friends of the Library was postponed until late
April, early May.
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4) The Director spoke about building issues. The Town Manager has declared
T---n buildings, including the Library, smoke-free as of May 1. New
:wing has been installed where the records bins had been. The records
now in the stacks. The CDs have been made more accessible. The donor
of the shelving is very pleased with it. Installation of railings along
the two lower sets of stairs to the basement has been approved.
The Library's very old book depositories are on their last legs.
Replacements have been on Mrs. Alworth's wish list for a couple of years,
but they would cost $3000. DPW is willing to construct a chute into a
fireproof closet where the 790s are. This was okayed by the building
inspector and by the building consultant at the Board of Library
commissioners. separate chutes could be constructed for books and for
videos.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director
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