HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-05-21 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - May 21, 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 6:00 p.m.
Minutes: The minutes of the April 23 meeting were amended to read "Absent:
Mr. William Diamond, due to illness." Ms. Dubois moved that the minutes of
be approved as amended. The motion passed.
Statistical report: Circulation for this fiscal year so far is 6000 over
last year, despite last month's drop. The staff hopes to break the 300,000
mark for annual circulation this year.
Director's report: Painters will paint the meeting room tomorrow. Other
touch-up painting has been done.
Unfinished business: 1) The Garden Club submitted a landscaping plan for
the east and west sides of the building. Mr. Diamond moved that the plan
be accepted gratefully. The motion passed.
2) The Board of Trustees will send a letter to the Board of Selectmen
stating its distress at the lack of progress on the reclassification of
professional staff. Raises were promised in August of 1988. The money is
available in free cash. This reclassification affects about fourteen staff
members. Mrs. Beckwith was directed to write this letter.
3) The gift brochure, with text by Ms. Dubois and art work by Arthur Knapp,
paid for by the Friends, was presented by the Director. A cover letter foi
the brochure will be written by Dr. Redford. Brochures with cover letters
will be mailed out in the fall.
New business: 1) Bev Thompson gave an update on the Technical Services
division. It has two full-time and two part-time employees. Rita Shaw and
Gayle Birck are faithful volunteers. Many changes have been made because
of the switch to new computer systems. During March and April, the
division made a major overhaul resulting in processing improvements and
streamlined procedures. Interlibrary loans have been an issue,
particularly with the Boston Public Library, but service from them has
improved. Ms. Thompson commended the hard work and flexibility of the
Technical Services staff.
2) Ms. Flannery proposed a wish list for the Friends: summer reading club
storytellers and mime, travel reimbursement for staff to go to meetings and
conferences, coffee hour organization and publicity, and shelving for the
periodical room. Ms. Dubois moved that the wish list be approved. The
motion passed.
3) Plans for the children's summer reading club are in the works. The
program will be funded by donations.
4) After discussion, Ms. Dubois moved that the Musical Friends should be
more aggressive in soliciting donations at their concerts due to these hard
financial times. The motion passed. The Friends plan to sell Tupperware
in the fall as a fundraiser. Light blue beach towels with a design
incorporating the library's logo will be sold at the book sale and
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afterwards, along with new canvas book bags. Elmer Rising prints will be
sold at the Friends book sale preview. Members of the Friends' Executive
Board were invited to a tea on May 3 to thank them for their work.
5) There has been some noisy loitering under the portico outside the Local
History Room. The police suggested that a "No Trespassing" sign be posted
so that they can legally disperse loiterers. The Director was given
permission to post such a sign. She will investigate auxiliary lighting
for the area. The Board felt that it is unfortunate that this step needs
to be taken, but it is the only course of action if the police need
something posted to back them up.
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
'Respectfully submitted,
Diane J. 4utn
Assistant rector
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