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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-27 Board of Library Trustees MinutesL11 Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - January 27, 1991 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m. sent: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William Diamond; Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford. Absent: Ms. Cherrie Dubois. The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. Minutes: Mrs. Beckwith made a motion to approve the minutes of December 16 and January 14. The motion passed. Statistical report: Circulation for December is lower than that of December 1991, but Reading still tops the statistics for all NOBLE libraries. Director's Report: Ms. Harley drew the Board's attention to the "Building" section of her written report. A gas odor revealed that the heating system has been installed improperly, and new parts were added to the burner. Tony Fletcher wrote that the solution to the archives room dampness problem would be to strip the carpeting and waterproof the wall from the inside. Mrs. Marnik asked the Director to request that this work be done. A memorial fund has been established in memory of Barbara Hewitt. Mrs. Beckwith asked that the donor of the Children's Room dollhouse be corrected to read: Beth Anderson. finished business: 1) Because Joan Morse, coordinator of media cialists, was present, the Board chose to change the order of the agenda Lo discuss the Library's relationship with the school libraries. Mrs. Morse, Mrs. Marnik, Ms. Hanley, and Dr. Munnelly met last Friday to discuss possible cooperative efforts. The unique role of the school libraries and the public library has been emphasized to the Town Manager. Progress in this area is very timely because of NOBLE's grant proposal to place terminals in two high school libraries, one being Reading. Mrs. Marnik and Ms. Hanley promoted the consolidation of technical services to achieve efficiencies and the use of technologies between the two systems, such as a shared online circulation system and catalog, and reference information sent by fax. Mr. Fields asked about the cost of the school libraries joining NOBLE. This issue is still under discussion by NOBLE's Executive Board. Mrs. Morse commented that putting the high school library's holdings into NOBLE would be the most practical way for that library to go online. The library. has about 26,000 volumes. She mentioned periodicals on microfiche and extensive backfiles of the New York Times as resources that the high school library could share with the public library. Mrs. Marnik noted that the Board of Library Commissioners looks very favorably on progress in this area, and that Seekonk is an example of where a coordinated school-public library system is working successfully. Mr. Diamond questioned whether centralized purchasing actually resulted in significant cost savings, considering the amount of coordination work it requires. Mrs. Morse replied that both libraries already receive the same- ''.,scount for most book purchases, and recommended joint purchasing of big cket items, such as encyclopedias, to take advantage of group discounts. 1 2) The Board discussed a draft of a letter to the Selectmen concerning the reorganization of town gov(!r_nment. Although the Town manager added back the $7000 needed to meet certification requirements the proposed library get is still $14,000 under this year's. The Library and Cultural Affairs artment includes $28,000 for Recreation personnel: a half-time division head and 26 hours of clerical staff. In the most recent version of the organizational chart, the Board of Trustees oversees the department. Ms. Hanley pointed out the importance of the structure: the Library Director cannot answer to different boards and agencies for different aspects of her job. The current Recreation personnel would continue to do the work of that division, but would report to the Lib::ary Director. Details on how much work this change entails for the Library still need to be determined. Mr. Diamond said that if the Library were given another employee to take the load off the Director, he would not oppose the organizational change, although he did not see why the Library would want to take on Recreation. Ms. Hanley sees possible long-term benefits for the Literary: cultural programming organized by the li},rarians and Friends h cooperation with the Recreation division; an increase in clerical hours for the.cIrculation division. Mrs. Beckwith commended the Director fo_r'Yeing willing to consider this change, although the burden of the work would fall on her. The Board decided that the letter should emphasize more strongly the need for additional staf:i under the proposed reorganizatioi, plan. Mrs. Marnik and Pis. Hanley will attend the Selectmen's meeting Tuesday night to address the letter, if necessary. 3) The planning process committee will met at the end of February. Three hundred surveys were sent out to a random sample of residents on Friday. Thirty-seen have already been returned, with very positive responses. 'munications: 1) The Burlington Public Library is hosting a trustee _lentation refresher program on February 26. 2)'A copy of a letter from the Swamps(:ott. Eoard of Trustees wezs distributed. That board is urging NOBLE to re-structure. its fees based on use. The 130BLE executive Board has responded to the letter, relating that attempts to do this have failed three times in the recent past. 3) A letter was received from Peter Hechenbleikner asking for the Board's involvement in a Community Clean-up Day in April. The Board asked for more specifics. New business: 1) The Friends are contemplating an essay contest, to follow up ar aiticle in the Chronicle about John Lippett ar(' "community." It is seen as something of an antidote tc the polari?ation of the community. 2) The June date of the Beard meeting wa:: changed to June 15. 3) A painting offered as a gift by Ann Morris was not accepted by the Board. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Respectfully siltmi.tted, Diane J. Ybung Assistant. Directo 2