HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-04-27 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - April 27, 1992
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mr. William
Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent': Mrs. Carol Beckwith.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
Minutes: Dr. Redford made a motion to approve
The motion passed.
Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois;
the minutes of March 16.
Financial report: State certification requires that book expenditures
equal at least 150 of all income, including trust funds. For Reading, the
minimum amount is between $77,000 and 80,000. $72,000 has been spent so
far. Total estimated expenditures for acquisitions for FY92 are $53,000
from the municipal allotment, $19,000 from the Incentive grant and the
Donations account, and $5,000 from trust funds. $6,000 of the Incentive
was allotted for children's books. Tracking expenditures for acquisitions
is a perennial problem, due to orders being placed far`in advance of
receipt and the uncertain discount. The Director is looking forward to the
accounting software that is being developed by the Library's book
distributor.
Statistical report: Circulation continues to rise, and Reading leads NOBLE
-libraries in circulation again for March, even though other libraries are
-)eriencing similar increases. March was the biggest month ever in
Terence questions: 3600. Ms. Dubois praised the availability of
materials via interlibrary loan. Mrs. Marnik reported that Town Meeting
complimented the Library very highly when annual reports were made.
Director's Report: Ms. Hanley drew the Board's attention to the
compliments on the building from Patience Jackson of the Board of Library
Commissioners.
Unfinished business: It was discovered that a clogged dry well had been
the cause of the leakage into the Archives Room. It was unclogged, flushed
and redirected away from the building. Ms. Hanley spoke to Sharon
Ofenstein of the Historical Commission; they are ready to move the archives
into the Town Hall space. Therefore, the Library has additional space for
its own purposes. Half of the rug will have to be ripped up and replaced,
due to water damage. Ideas for use include a homework center run with peer
leaders, typing and computer space. The area could be partitioned. Since
the Recreation Committee has a proposal to sponsor a teen center, the
Library might want to hop on the bandwagon. Ms. Hanley asked the Board for
suggestions.
New business: 1) The Friends have been very active this year. Ms. Hanley
and Mrs. Marnik have worked very hard with the Executive Board. The essay
contest was well received, Red Sox day sold out, there will be a Domino's,`
pizza fund-raiser on,,May 4, a night at Quannapowitt Players with Rotary, `a
,zse "tour on May 31j an annual meeting in June. Clean-up day was
tponed due to inclement weather. Ms. Dubois asked that a copy of the
-riends' financial statement be distributed to the trustees at the end of
the fiscal year. She suggested a calendar for a fund-raiser. Dr. Redford
suggested that the Friends may want to earmark some funds for picture
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oks. The Director responded that the Friends have given $200 for
_ldren's books, and the Domino's proceeds will go toward the summer
reading program. Mrs. Marnik commented that since the Library is the most
well-used, efficient department in town, the Friends should be the biggest
organization in town.
2) The Director has received two special requests from staff members.
Dorothy Alworth would like to reduce her work hours to four days,
continuing as Circulation division head. The money from the fifth day
would add about fifteen hours for the regular circulation staff. There is
a precedent for part-time division heads, and Ms. Hanley would like to
accommodate her.
Karen Brown, Secretary, is enrolled in the MLS program; and has expressed
interest in working on the Information Desk after her reference course is
completed. A couple of shifts on the desk will help out that division.
Due to the adjustment in her rate of pay for those shifts, her total hours
would need to be adjusted. The Secretary's position would be reduced by
one and a half hours, which would not be a problem. Ms. Hanley explained
that these are two full-time positions being reduced, but both situations
alleviate a desperate need. No permanent change needs to be shown in the
budget, according to the Town Manager.
Mr. Fields moved to approve these changes in duties. The motion passed.
3) The Town Manager received a letter from a neighboring family concerning
the appearance of Library grounds. Mrs. Marnik, Ms. Hanley, and Mr.
Hechenbleikner will meet with the Soucys. The trash problem will be taken
care of on clean-up day.
4) The Garden Club has approached the Director with ideas for plantings in
,nt of the building. The original landscaping plans will be looked at
An, to see if they can be realized.
5) Ms. Hanley discussed the Americans with Disabilities Act, an
all-encompassing act for businesses, etc. concerning what they must provide
for disabled people. Examples: a signer must be provided for meetings, the
Library must provide Braille materials. The act is being phased in. Every
agency must have a plan with goals. The agency overseeing this act for
libraries and schools is the Department of Education's Office of Civil
Rights.
6) In October 1989, the Board decided that its elections would be held at
the April meeting. Mrs. Marnik and Ms. Hanley recommend moving that date
forward because budgets will now be presented to Town Meeting in May. Ms.
Dubois suggested that officers be voted in in April and take office on July
1 It was agreed to hold elections at the next meeting, with new officers,
effective July 1.
7) Mrs. Marnik proposed that each Board member act as a liaison to some
function in the library, e.g., Friends, building, trust funds, staff,
planning, in order to keep each trustee involved, but not overburdened.
THe proposal was approved by all. Mrs. Marnik will bring the subject up'
again at a future meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane J. ilu g
Assistant Director
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