HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-09 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - December 9, 1997
Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Mr. William Diamond; Ms. Cherrie
Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Mrs. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:05,
Minutes: The minutes of November 17 were accepted with two corrections.
Statistical report: The November circulation report is not compiled yet, however, the total
shows an increase over last year.
Financial report: The personnel budget is on target. The Assistant Director remarked on the
increased difficulty of filling hours, probably due to the economy: part-time people with few
hours have a higher turnover, and kids don't want to work as many hours as we'd like.
Circulation division report: Dorothy Alworth distributed statistics of circulation by library
within NOBLE. Reading is consistently second highest, after Salem. The Wakefield library will
open in March. Twenty-five percent of Salem's adult circulation is paperbacks. Mrs. Alworth
also passed around a brochure of the 3-M security system and self-check station (similar to an
ATM). When we change from Checkpoint to 3-M, every item in the collection will have to be
handled. 3-M rents equipment that makes the process go more quickly. To be able to use self-
check, a patron needs to have their card with them and to have their record up-to-date. This will
be an incentive to bring library cards and to return books on time. The cards we use now will
work with the 3-M system. The cost of the new system is about $50,000.
The entrance gate will be extended to make the turnstile workable.
A new card policy within NOBLE allows new library users to get a permanent card at whichever
library they choose: there is no longer any need for them to apply at their hometown library.
The books in the stacks were shifted over the summer to make room for the construction work.
Now pages are shifting them back a little to make room for the biographies at the beginning of
the nonfiction stacks, just as in the arrangement of new books. The job of shifting demands
continuity and constant work. One bright side to the temporary moving of the Children's Room
is that their pages have been able to help in the stacks. In terms of the staffing difficulties
mentioned earlier, two or three of the circulation pages can only work on weekends; their parents
want school activities to be the priority.
Mrs. Alworth would like to see a kind of spring-operated bookend manufactured.
Statistics: The detailed November circulation report will be available at next month's meeting.
The total is 25,692-higher than last year.
Report from the Chairman: The Foundation is looking for support from each trustee in writing
before going public. There is a good feeling from the community for the Foundation. It has had a
quiet start because there is no professional backup. They are looking for a corporate sponsor for
author Doris Kearns-Goodwin's talk. Mr. Diamond said it was important that it be clear whether
donations are intended for the Foundation or the Library.
Mrs. Silvaggi will send a letter to the Budget Council, for consideration at their January 28
meeting.
Director's report: The cafe has been transformed into the Country Store. Books from Chapter
One are being sold, with a percentage going to the Friends. The Hot Spot has provided bags of
BiblioBlend coffee with the Library's logo on them. A locked money box has been installed.
MLA is paying for Ms. Hanley's attendance at the ALA annual conference this summer, and the
Town's professional development fund is paying for her attendance at the Public Library
Association conference in March. She requested the use of trust funds to pay for her trip to the
ALA midwinter conference (about $1000), and for two additional staff members to go to PLA.
She is a member of NOBLE'S vendor selection committee, which will meet with system vendors
at ALA midwinter. A motion was made to pay for Ms. Hanley's ALA midwinter conference
from state aid funds. The motion passed. Consideration of the PLA conference was deferred until
an estimate of cost is available.
The next meeting of the Board will be on January 5.
The library's system vendor, Geac, is not attempting to meet the needs of their customers in any
way. There are no plans for a Web catalog, a basic requirement for systems now. Ms. Hanley is
part ofNOBLE's vendor selection team.
The long-range plan is required by the state and has to be updated every five years.
Liaison reports: The original completion date for the HVAC project was December 1, and is
now December 15. The Board congratulated staff members who reacted so quickly and
effectively in dealing with the ceiling emergency and got the Children's Room functioning again.
Mrs. Silvaggi said that the Board of Trustees should meet with the Foundation.
Unfinished business: The Director presented a proposed FY99 budget. Comments were that the
budget was very well written and argued and nicely documented. Mr. Diamond moved to submit
the budget at $737,455. This is an 11.8% increase. New programs, including salary increases,
total $56,000. Without the new programs, the increase would be 3.3%.
New business: 1) Director's evaluation: The Board completed the director's annual performance
evaluation. Her goals will be determined next month. Her evaluation of the Board will also be
presented next month.
2) Trustee elections: Mr. Diamond will not be running for reelection. Dr. Redford will run for
reelection.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director