HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-10-14 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - October 14, 1997
Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert
Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent: Mr. William Diamond.
Mrs. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:05.
Minutes: The minutes of September 15 were accepted.
Statistical report: A few hundred of our registered patrons are non-resident. Eighty to ninety
percent of residents have library cards.
Report from the Chairman: Mrs. Silvaggi and Ms. Hanley met with the Town Manager about
salaries, and let him know of the possibility of a vote by the staff to unionize. He assured Mrs.
Silvaggi that progress is being made on the issue of step raises. The question remains as to
whether it will be tied to performance. The committee's latest proposal is to have a one-step
increase for fulfilling the expectations of the job, and an extra amount for excellent performance.
The Director said that the Library staff was much more interested than the step raise committee
in being aggressive about the step raise system, for two reasons: the Library has been doing
performance evaluations for years and the staff is comfortable with them; the Library has a very
specific problem with division head and librarian salaries. It seems that we just about do some
catching up, when other towns jump ahead. Ms. Hanley offered to come up with some rough
numbers and put them in the FY99 budget proposals.
The Town Manager will in no way relinquish building maintenance entirely. All money spent on
building maintenance requires his signature. Although a study is underway on how building
maintenance should be handled by the Town, a new Director is being hired now. Meanwhile, the
Library still has no turnstile.
Mrs. Silvaggi will represent the Board as an observer at the Budget Council meeting tomorrow
night.
The Chronicle has published three letters to the editor about the material available to children in
the Library, on the Internet, on video, and in print. One letter criticized the Library's policy; the
other two acknowledged the responsibility of the parent and the difficult issue of Internet
filtering. A program on children and the Internet sponsored by the Library recently was poorly
attended. The Board discussed the need to provide customers with some privacy in their use of
library materials including the Internet, for example, information relating to health, investments,
and employment. Staff will consider putting an Internet PC in the quiet study room.
The Director's evaluation will be done at next month's meeting.
Director's report: Information was distributed about the Children's Room "Kids' Sites of the
Month," a new book review group for adults, and the Foundation's new brochures. Ms. Hanley
attended Library Technology Day at the State House to lobby for S3.5 million.
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Liaison reports: The Friends are organizing a trip to "The Diary of Anne Frank" in November,
and to "The Nutcracker" in December. There is the possibility of having a high school student
man the Country Store.
The Foundation has $62,000. Nelson Burbank has agreed to assist its efforts. A public reception
on November 14 will feature an exhibit of Nathalie Nordstrand's paintings.
Unfinished business:
1) The HVAC project is moving along. If the heat is not ready by October 15, the contractor has
to provide temporary heat.
2) The Town Manager has not yet given guidelines for the FY99 budget. Capital requests are
done. For FY99, $27,000 is requested to dismantle the existing canopy and create a new
entrance to the building. Tom Stohlman has designed an entryway more in keeping with the
spirit of the building. It would build out from the current vestibule and take over some of the
space on the landing. Two trees near the front door, which are too large for the space, would
have to be removed. The wall of magazine shelving that separates the browsing area from the
entryway could be removed. The vestibule will become new interior space.
The other requests are: for FY99, $19,300 for PCs, a printer, and four laser scanners; for
FY00, $50,000 for a new integrated checkout/security system, $10,500 for the renovation of
the circulation desk area, $10,500 for furnishings, and $21,500 for an automated self check
system. Ms. Dubois moved to approve the capital requests. The motion passed.
3) Possible members for the long range plan committee were discussed. It will have a total of
six or seven members.
New business: The Board evaluated its progress on its 1996-97 goals. Mrs. Silvaggi will attend
the MLTA conference on November 1. There is still a need to go over the state laws pertaining
to public libraries. The Director did not pursue a contract for her employment. The proposed
bylaws are still in the hands of Town Counsel.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director