HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-16 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - November 16, 1992
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Ms. Cherrie Dubois;
Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent: Mr. William Diamond.
The report of the Circulation Division head was heard prior to any.
other business. Dorothy Alworth recited the responsibilities and hours of
each circulation staff member. She expressed appreciation for the Board's
approval of her experimental four-day week. Her fifth day had been purely
on-desk service; circulation technicians have taken on those desk hours.
She presented promotional material for the 3M Model 966 circulation control
unit, which checks in books automatically by.moving them on a conveyor belt
under a scanner. The Board asked for information on the cost of the total
system.
The Board requested that circulation and reference staff use their name
plates. Mrs. Marnik asked that the Board members also be provided with
name plates for their meetings.
Reading's FTEs are quite low compared to other libraries. While a desk
shift at Reading is a minimum of three hours, many other NOBLE libraries
schedule staff for only one hour at a time on desk.
Minutes: Ms. Dubois made a motion to approve the minutes of October 26.
The motion passed.
Financial _report: Most of the book budget (municipal funds) is spent, but
the budget is on track since most of the Incentive money will supplement
Almost all of the supply ordering has been done and the Xerox rentals
ere paid off. Ms. Hanley observed that most libraries of comparable size
ave a lot more money to spend on books than Reading does. Danvers, Salem
and Winchester, for example, spend $100,000 on books. Reading spends just
enough to meet state requirements for state aid. Book prices continue to
increase: fiction titles have broken the $20 level. Mrs. Marnik noted that
the Library should put in for a healthy increase in the book budget next
year. Mr. Fields asked if some money could be transferred from the
children's book budget to the adult book budget, since only 27% of the
former has been spent to date. Ms. Hanley responded that the Children's
Room staff orders in a different time frame, doing the bulk in the spring.
They always spend all of their budget and their percentage is inadequate,
as the other mateials budgets are. Mr. Fields said he was disturbed by the
lack of money for books.
Mrs. Marnik has been asked if the Library has purchased the
controversial book Sex by Madonna. The Library has not. Staff have
received inquiries as to whether it was purchased, but no customer has
demonstrated interest in ordering it. The price ($50) and the fact that it
falls apart very quickly have resulted 'in a "no vote" at book meeting. The
Board concurred with staff that the book should be purchased if requested
by a customer.
Statistical report: Circulation is less than last year, but more than the
year before that. Reading still tops the NOBLE statistics.
Director's Report: Someone backed a truck into the railing at the bottom
f the handicapped ramp. He reported the damage to the police, and the
iil was fixed by DPW. Two fires occurred: one in the boiler room and one
in the elevator closet. Both were mostly smoke caused by burned-out
motors. Town Meeting accepted the gift on the warrant without any
1
questions. The Friends collected $300 from Pride Stride. Mrs. Marnik
asked for an accounting of whether the funds were received yet. Some
7ganizations considered the overhead charged by the commercial organizers
ugh .
Unfinished business: 1) Ms. Hanley presented the summaries for three
capital requests, with approximate figures. The first is for NOBLE access
expansion; the second is for data processing equipment. The third, a self
check--out system, is slated for the last program year. The Director
anticipates that by then it will either be a viable system or a wash.
2) The parking lot light is installed and no complaints have been received.
The Board approved the Director's suggestion to install the same thing on
the other side of the parking lot. She will ask DPW. In response to Mr.
Fields question about disturbances caused by teenagers, Ms. Hanley replied
that the situation had calmed down and there had been no complaints. Mrs.
Marnik observed that outside the building there continues to be a lot of
obnoxious behavior and "horsing around." Ms. Hanley will look into the
problem, but stated that the Library cannot handle this town-wide problem
on its own.
3) Members of the Board complimented the Friends' display of merchandise on
the main floor. Window decals for members have been received. The Friends
got a postal permit, bought mailing labels from Town Hall, and are sending
a membership flyer to every household. There are various tiers of
membership with different premiums. The Friends are planning their
December programs: December 5, book fair; December 12, Nutcraker; December
13, John Kenneth Galbraith at the high school auditorium; December 18, high
school chorus at the Library for staff appreciation. A newsletter will be
published and mailed out after the membership drive.
w business: 1)Mrs. Marnik reported on the Mas,achusettes Library
Trustees Association annual meeting. A program on managing endowments was
excellent, encouraging trustees to use their authority by controlling their
own trust funds. She also attended a program on school-public library
cooperation.
2) NOBLE's budget for FY94 has increased by 4.8 percent. Ms. Hanley stated
thsat every increase directly yields better service. One cause for the
increase is the telecommunications upgrade: maintenance increased, but
transmission speed of data improved. Mr. Fields moved to accept the NOBLE
asessment of $16,857.42. The motion passed.
3)-Reading hosted a NOBLE-sponsored meeting this mnorning to show support
for the NOBLE schools project to the legislative delegation. It was
attended by state legislators (or their aides) representing NOBLE towns,
municipal representatives, school librarians and supervisors. Senator
Tisei and Representative Krekorian left promising to file legislation to
get funds for the project.
The regular meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane oung
Assistant Director
2