HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-12-11 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - December 11, 1989
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 6:05 p.m.
Minutes: Mrs. Marnik moved that the minutes of November 6 be approved. The
motion passed.
Financial report: The postage account is a little over budget, because
$500.00 was removed in the last budget cut. It is not expected to be
over significantly by the end of the fiscal year.
Statistical report: November statistics look low, because the first days
of the month were included in October's statistics. Also, it has just
been discovered that circulations on the backup system have not been
translated into counts when the information is dumped into the central
computer. These numbers will be added for future statistical reports.
Director's report: The second section of the new Children's Room carpet is
not available at this time. Re-carpeting of the area not done
following the flood will have to wait, but will be done when it least
inconveniences the public. Arthur Knapp, a free-lance graphic
designer, has volunteered to design the gift brochure. The volunteer
reception is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, January 25. 36
volunteers will be honored.
Communications: The Board of Library Commissioners awarded the library
$20,081.55 for this fiscal year. Ms. Flannery noted that cuts on the
state level affecting libraries have not included this state aid.
Unfinished business: Ms. DuBois moved that, for the remainder of the
fiscal year, the Director be given the authority to grant permission
for use of the piano. The motion passed.
New business: 1) Nancy Aberman gave an update on reference division
activities. Scheduling changes effected in September allow for two
librarians on the desk almost every afternoon and evening. Mrs.
Aberman commended the reference staff for their productivity,
especially now that off-desk time has decreased. The reference
collection is being weeded and updated. Replacements for out-of-date
titles for one-fourth of the collection will cost $1500. The Board
suggested that trust funds could be used for this.
2) Ms. Flannery presented a number of books taken from the Local
History room that are duplicate copies or outside the focus of that
collection. Mrs. Beckwith moved that the Director obtain bids on these
books, that they be donated to the Friends, and the books sold to the
highest bidder. The motion passed. A consultant from the Board of
Library Commissioners examined the Local History collection for
preservation needs. Renee Olson is following up on his
recommendations.
3) The library's "Wish Book," which offers ideas for donations, was
presented. It was developed by Karen Brown and Doreen Bolnick.
4) The board approved the donation of three postcards of scenes of old
North Reading and Wakefield to those respective libraries. Mr. Carl
Soule volunteered to organize and label the postcard collection in a
binder he donated. He also donated a china cup with a picture of the
Highland School.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane J.~'Young
Assistant Director