HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-26 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - March 26, 1990
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Dr. Christine Redford, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William
Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mrs. Elia Marnik.
.__jsent: Mr. Robert Fields.
Dr. Redford called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
Minutes: Ms. Dubois moved that the minutes of February 26 be approved. The
motion passed.
Financial report: Because of ov rlarr_, n processing, office, and photocopy
supplies, the deficit in the first two accounts is offset by the $1165
surplus in the third. There remains a combined total of $500 in these
accounts.
Communications: 1) Dr. Redford read a thank-you letter from Miriam Barclay
for the naming of the Local History Room in her own and Mrs. Bishop's
honor. 2) The Friends of the Library requested permission to sell copies
of Waterfalls of the White Mountains by Bruce and Doreen Bolnick in
conjunction with a Friends program on May 2. Ms. Dubois moved to approve
the sale of the book by the Friends. The motion passed.
Unfinished business: 1) In light of the override failure, the Director
plans to devote considerable time to fundraising in the next year,
concentrating on money for books. The Director informed the Board of an
"80-10-10" committee being formed by Reading residents for fundraising: 10
per cent of all money raised would be donated to the library. Money for
-classification of professional staff is still being held by the Town.
e Finance Committee is aware that the funds have been earmarked for that
purpose.
2) Mrs. Marnik moved that a laser printer be purchased with $1500 from
state aid. The motion passed.
New business: 1) The Director recommended that a new reference desk be
constructed to accommodate increased staffing at busy times and new
technologies. The floor around the reference desk will be re-carpeted soon
due to flood damage and normal wear, making this an opportune time to
change the desk. Dick Surette will propose a design for a U-shaped desk
that would extend further out into the aisle, allowing better visibility
into the reference room. Cost is estimated at $2500. The Board directed
Ms. Flannery to seek private donations for the purchase of a new desk.
2) Discussion of where to place the plastic literature rack, currently
in the vestibule, was tabled.
3) The Town Manager proposed that the Arts Council and the Historical
Commission be subordinated to the library on the town's organizational
chart. This would put all cultural organizations under one head, which
would be convenient for reports to the state. The Trustees expressed their
opposition to this idea.
4) Mrs. Beckwith moved that an amnesty day be held in conjunction with
Earth Day. The motion passed.
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5) The Board gave Ms. Flannery an excellent rating for her performance
appraisal, and commended her for her visibility in the community. The
chairperson will complete the evaluation form.
5) Ms. Flannery announced that the Massachusetts steering committee for
the White House Conference on Library and Information Services is looking
for nominations for delegates. The conference will develop plans for the
federal government's role for libraries and related federal funding.
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director
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