HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-06-15 Board of Library Trustees MinutesL_
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - June 15, 1998
Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Donna InDelicato; Mr. Richard
Ogden.
Absent:. Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Dr. Christine Redford.
Mrs. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:23 p.m.
Minutes: The minutes of May 18 were accepted.
Statistical report: Circulation was down, presumably the effect of Wakefield reopening.
Report from the Chairman: Mrs. Silvaggi read her letter to the Town Manager requesting a
direct digital control device be included in phase two of the Library's HVAC work. It would
automatically switch the system between heating and cooling dependent on the outside air r
temperature. The Board will meet with the Budget Council this Wednesday.
Election of officers: Mr. Ogden moved to continue with the slate of Mrs. Silvaggi, chair, and
Mr. Conner, vice-chair. The motion was seconded and passed. Mr. Conner nominated Dr.
Redford for secretary, pending her acceptance. Dr. Redford was elected. Mrs. Silvaggi thanked
the trustees for their support, and remarked that the Board will have two major concerns next
year: the materials budget and building maintenance, since the Library is the Town's oldest and
most-used building.
Director's report: Information on the summer reading clubs was distributed. DPW will hang a
banner, designed by Pam Bourbely, over the portico again.
Mr. Ogden suggested that Director's election to the presidency of the Massachusetts Library
Association be publicized in the local papers.
Renee Olson, former head of Information Services, has been appointed editor-in-chief of School
Library Journal. Concidentally, the editor-in-chief of Librar Journal also worked at the
Reading Public Library, many years ago.
Delivery of the nonprint area shelving has been delayed until August.
The staff held a brainstorming session about the cafe and are thinking of moving it to the
basement.
The Friends have no president yet for this year.
Supervisors completed twenty-nine staff evaluations for the step raise procedure.
The recent heavy rains have caused one leak in the Children's Room.
Ms. Hanley mentioned the idea of closing the Library for a professional day to the Town
Manager and he was supportive. She is proposing a Friday in early/middle September. Mr.
Ogden suggested that it be held on a day when the Library can reopen in the evening. Ms.
Hanley will look into the feasibility of staffing the Library that evening. The closing will be
well-publicized, along with options to use other area libraries.
Ms. Hanley was evaluated by the Town Manager last week. She appreciated having another
opinion. The Board reiterated their responsibility for "hiring and firing" and all that goes in
between. Any raise that the Director is eligible for is based on the Board's evaluation.
An Assistant Town Manager will be hired and will serve as Head of Human Services and Acting
Town Manager, work on special projects, and attend alternate Selectmen's meetings.
The next meeting of the Board will be held either July 23 or August 6, depending on how many
can attend each.
Unfinished business: 1) Because of the absence of two Board members, liaison assignments
were postponed.
2) Library policies were reviewed. Minor changes were suggested and approved for the
following: Who is in charge, E-mail, Gifts, Meeting room, Piano, Holidays, Professional
activities. The Public Typewriter and Computer [word processing for adults] policy was
eliminated, since the Library has neither at this time. The Weeded Materials policy was
incorporated into the Collection Development Policy. Mr. Ogden asked that the eight-week loan
to teachers be reconsidered by the staff.
New business: Board members toured the building, noting the settling problem in the last aisles
of the stacks, the custom-made book drop room, painting being done in the new nonprint area,
plans for the cafe, the need for updating the circulation desk, and the need for more cozy chairs.
The silent study area is under consideration for a computer lab. The idea to punch through the
wall in the Young Adult area, extending the central browsing area and making the reference
room smaller, is still alive.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director