HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-09-15 Board of Library Trustees Minutesn ~ it~fl"u~
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - September 15, 19,97
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Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Mr. William Diamond; Mr. Robert
Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Absent: Ms. Cherrie Dubois.
Mrs. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:05.
Minutes: The minutes of August 4 were accepted.
Mr. Fields moved that the Town Manager be notified that the Board of Trustees think that the
new building maintenance arrangement is not in the best interests of the Library. He
recommended that money for building maintenance be included in next year's Library budget.
Ms. Hanley read a note to her from the Town Manager clarifying that the charter takes
precedence over state law; therefore, the Trustees cannot reclaim responsibility for the
maintenance of the Library building without a change in charter. Ms. Hanley was directed by the
Board to get further information on this from Town Counsel. Consensus was to continue to wait
and determine the quality of service provided from the new Facilities Department. The Director
gave an example of reporting a broken HVAC unit in the morning; there had been no response
by evening.
Statistical report: Comparative average daily circulation shows negative numbers due to
Saturday openings this summer. Saturday circulation has been fair.
Report from the Chairman: To enable Ms. Dubois's attendance, the October and December
Board meetings were changed to the second Tuesday. Mrs. Silvaggi and Ms. Hanley will consult
with the Friends and nominate someone as a member of the Town's Millennium Steering
Committee. The Chair encouraged trustees to take a look at the Used Book Room, which is an
ongoing book sale coordinated by Rachel and Steve Baumgartner. She congratulated the Director
on her communication with the staff about the HVAC project. The Chair also commended
Michael Colford and Allison DaSilva, over whose heads much of the HVAC work is being done.
She attended a reception for the Library's Netguides, a group of high school students who passed
an intense course to become Internet trainers. Mr. Conner will attend a fundraising workshop in
October, on the Board's behalf. November 14 is the date for a Foundation kickoff party for all
members of the community. A thank-you dinner for major donors will be held in January. In
May, author Doris Kearns Goodwin will speak at a major fundraiser-perhaps $100 a head with
dinner-for half of her usual fee.
Director's report: Staff member Rachel Baumgartner received a scholarship from the BLC for
one of her library school courses. She is not eligible for the Library's tuition reimbursement
program.
Liaison reports: Five thousand dollars is going to the Foundation from the estate of Eleanor
Bishop. Staff discussed step raise proposals at their recent staff meeting. The Friends have a new
4 . and excellent board.
Unfinished business:
1) Ms. Hanley reported that the HVAC installers are easy to work with. The concrete pads have
been poured in the boiler room. The date for the heating system to go online has been pushed
back to the second week of October.
2) Mr. Fields made a motion to accept the proposed Internet policy and to post it for the public.
The motion passed.
New business:
1) The Eastern Region has been recast into four regions. The transitional phase is taking place
right now. The Northeast Region (Reading's region) will hold its first annual meeting in a
couple of weeks. No schools in Reading have joined this multitype region yet.
2) Since June 8, the cafe has taken in $1500. A bill was received for about six weeks for $500.
The biggest problem is that the rug below the cafe is looking very bad.
3) Board members were asked to think about candidates for the long-range planning committee.
4) The Assistant Director presented a rundown of the new format for financial reports.
5) The priority for the FY99 budget will be improved salaries for librarians and division heads.
Ms. Hanley distributed comparative figures from other libraries and MLA's recommended
starting salary for librarians.
The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director