HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-01-14 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - January 14, 1990
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Dr. Christine Redford, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William
Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Mrs. Elia Marnik.
Dr. Redford called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
Minutes: Mr. Diamond moved that the minutes of November 19 be approved.
The motion passed.
Financial report: The finances are in good shape, and the upcoming postage
increase should not present a problem.
Statistical report: Circulation is 5000 ahead of last year's. Circulation
for this past December was 2400 over December 1989, even though the library
was open for one less day.
Director's report: An evening custodian has been hired. Madeleine Gillis
requested a leave of absence, due to illness, which the Director forwarded
to the Town Manager. Her leave was granted through February 11. New
shelving for the magazine room has been installed, paid for by donations.
The DPW will install a gas tank to replace the oil tank which is in poor
condition. Ms. Flannery understands that the DPW consults the Trustees on
building matters when the actual appearance of the building is involved.
:`ommunications: The Library was awarded a Library Incentive Grant of
$11,295 and a Municipal Equalization Grant of $7,746. All of these grant
monies are unrestricted. In the past, about $11,000 of this money has been
applied to the book budget. The Board endorsed this again for the current
year.
Unfinished business: Ms. Flannery suggested that the decision on cuts in
hours be deferred until a new director is in place. Also, implementation
of a trash fee may effect the budget. No date has been set for the
Library's budget hearing before the Selectmen.
New business: 1) Mr. Fields moved that Diane Young, Assistant Director, be
appointed Acting Director. The motion passed. Mr. Diamond moved that the
Board seek authorization from the Town Manager to pay the quarter-point
salary of the Director's salary for this temporary position. The motion
passed. Ms. Young will be Acting Director as of her return from vacation
on February 7.
2) Job description packets have been sent out to a number of possible
candidates. Ms. Flannery has also received four or five calls regarding
the job. No applications have been received yet. Advertisements in
American Libraries and the Board of Library Commissioners job postings will
appear after February 1. The position is also being advertised in the
Boston Globe and at library schools.
Ms. Flannery suggested that a subcommittee be formed to screen applicants,
and that no more than ten be interviewed. Ms. Dubois suggested that no
more..than five or six candidates be interviewed. Mr. Diamond asked if
candidates could be asked to supply a photograph, so that they can be
easily called to mind during later discussion. It was agreed that, to
eliminate any question of discrimination, candidates could be invited to
bring a photograph to the interview. Copies of resumes of all candidates
.,eeting the minimum qualifications will be sent to all trustees.
applicants must be discussed at posted, public meetings.
Ms. Flannery has asked the Winchester and Danvers libraries for copies of
the :interview questions which they used in their recent searches for
directors. She suggested that a subcommittee develop the interview
questions. The Board approved the inclusion of a staff member as a
non-voting participant in the selection of a director. The staff member
will be an observer at the interviews and will give her evaluations of the
candidates to the Board. The Board unanimously chose Nancy Aberman to
represent the staff, due to her previous experience in the hiring of.a
director.
3) Meeting dates were set for January 28 (if any applications have been
received by that time), February 12, and February 25. Interviews may be
scheduled immediately following the open meetings.
4) Mrs. Beckwith moved that the Garden Club be allowed to hold their
geranium sale at the Library on May 18. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
g
Diane J. eDirector
Assistant