HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-03-24 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - March 24, 1987
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 8.00 p.m.
Present: Mr. William Diamond, Chairman; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Ms Cherrie Dubois;
Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent: Mrs. Elia Dangelmaier; Mr. Robert Fields.
Mr. Diamond called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m.
Minutes: Mrs. Beckwith moved to accept the minutes as presented; Ms Dubois
seconded. The motion passed.
Financial Report: A bill from NOBLE Inc. has been received for $1645, which will
substantically reduce the Office Equipment/Maintenance account. Outstand-
ing Noble bills for $2200 are expected. All other accounts are as
expected. The Chairman commended the Director and Assistant for their
work on the budget.
Statistics: Daily circulation for February was up 100 over the previous year.
Children's circulation shows a substantial increase.
Director's Report: Several additions were made to the written report (attached).
Under Personnel, the library has won several Public Relations awards
from the Massachusetts Library Association. Corinne Fisher was awarded
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1st prize for the summer reading club, Make Tracks for Readin ; Nancy
Aberman's lunch bag flyers won the "PR for Pennies" award; a merit
award has also been received.
Concerning Building Maintenance, Mr. Diamond reported on the position
of the Finance Committee on the parking lot. After discussion,Mr.Diamond
was asked to write a letter to the FinCom regarding the importance of
this project. The matter of the portable building was also discussed.
Mr. Diamond will write a letter to the Town Manager regarding disposal
of the building. Ms. Flannery reported that the fire lane painting has
been :included in DPW's;budget for next year. In addition, the FIVAC
manual has been located and is being looked into..
Communications: A gift has been received from Mrs. M.N. Wilson in memory of her
sister who used the library's large print collection.
Unfinished Business: After discussion of bids on the railing to the handicapped
access ramp, the Trustees voted to award the contract to North Shore
Steel of Lynn, as recommended by the Department of Public Works, in the
amount of $9,665, funds to be expended from the Library Incentive Grant
award. Ms Dubois made the motion, Mrs. Beckwith seconded. Mr. Diamond
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will write to the Town Manager, notifying him of the Board's action.
A discussion of wish'1ist "items and expenditures took place Ms. Dubois
moved to expend incentive grant and NEH funds. for items noted on the wish
list in the amounts of $25,232.40 as rioted. Dr. Redford seconded. Motion
passed. The Friends of the Library will be asked to provide funding for 20
additional stacking chairs for the meeting room.
Regarding the FY88 budget, the Finance Committee recommended the budget
as presented with a $1,600 decrease in the Book and Materials accounts.
Both special programs (Boston Globe on microfilm, and additional hours
for a Children's Room Assistant) were approved.
New Business: Staff and administrative goals and objectives for 1987 were presented
and discussed. The goals met with Trustee approval.
Mrs. McDonald, Young Adult librarian, presented a proposal for expanding
the young adult area, which would include moving the adult paperbacks.
The Trustees approved.
The issue of increasing salaries for the professional librarians was
specifically discussed as a goal for the future.
The next Board meeting will take place Yil 13.
Ms Dubois moved to adjourn, Dr. Redford seconded. The meeting was adjourned at
9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy S. Aberman
Assistant Director and
Clerk -to the Board