HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-08-04 Board of Library Trustees MinutesR CE1ViE ,
. 0#tf9, An.
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - August 4, 1997cP 1, 1 4 F
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.
Dr. Redford was excused after the meeting was called to order.
Mr. Conner thanked Ms. Dubois for her work as chair, on the Board's behalf.
Minutes: The minutes of June 16 were accepted.
Financial report: Fiscal year-end reports show that more money for adult nonfiction books
came from non-budget funds than from the municipal budget. The municipal budget was spent
entirely. Sixteen thousand dollars remain in donations. A new way of tracking the personnel
budget expenditures is being used this fiscal year.
Mr. Fields asked about progress on changing the security system. It is a big job, that will require
about $50,000 and is in the capital plan for FY99. Tom Stohlman is working on a redesign of
the circulation desk to incorporate the proposed security system. Redoing the entrance and the
canopy is part of the same project.
Statistical report: Nonresident circulation is about sixteen percent of total circulation. This
number reflects books borrowed at the Reading Library, not sent out on interlibrary loan--largely
residents of Wakefield, North Reading, Wilmington. Circulation was up 8000 for the fiscal year.
Mr. Conner suggested that the Board use this report as a source for its report to Town Meeting.
Mr. Diamond joined the meeting at 7:30.
Report from the Chairman: Mrs. Silvaggi and Ms. Hanley attended a meeting with the
Facilities Director and other Town department heads. Building maintenance is no longer a
function of the Department of Public Works. Custodians now work for the School Department
and building maintenance funds are in the School Department's budget. The Chair and the
Director are concerned about the paperwork required to get a job done, and the lack of
manpower. The Board expressed unhappiness with the change. Mr. Diamond suggested a letter
to the Town Manager citing specific concerns. The consensus was to give the new process a fair
trial. The Director will provide an update in September, with a short statistical report on work
orders placed, work done, etc.
If the consolidation proves unsuccessful, the trustees can tell the Board of Selectmen that the
Library is not participating and reclaim responsibility for the building, citing state law over
charter.
Mrs. Silvaggi conceded that the experiment with NOBLE and Coolidge was not as successful as
had been hoped, but the door is left open to future collaboration. John Doherty and Mary
Hichborn of Coolidge have met with NOBLE's Director and are moving forward.
Liaison reports: Ms. Dubois will be the liaison to the Foundation, and will back up Mrs.
Silvaggi for Finance as needed. The Foundation has $20,000 so far. There will be a reception in
the fall for community leaders. A Netguides reception is scheduled for August 12.
The new Friends officers have taken office: Maria Blewitt, President; Susan Hopkins-Axelson,
Vice President: Marjorie Pratt, Treasurer; Joanne Fitzpatrick , recording Secretary; Fred Pratt,
Corresponding Secretary; Mary Vincent, At-Large Member.
Mr. Diamond announced an upcoming gift of $5000.
Unfinished business:
1) The Town Manager has signed a contract for installation of a partial new HVAC system with
the low bidder, HVAC Engineering.
2) The Town's Facilities Director has resigned. Mr. Conner suggested that the Library insist on
involvement in the hiring of the new Facilities Director, with an eye to someone who is open to
service level agreements.
New business: 1) The twelve-month agenda was approved.
2) The Director asked Board members to read and think about the "Access to Electronic
Information" document from ALA
3) News of the new regional system was deferred until the September meeting. .
4) A financial report for the cafe is not available yet. It is breaking even. The Friends take in the
money and pay the bills. The only negative comment has been that the food is displayed too low
and children are drawn to it, sometimes against their parents' wishes. This can be corrected.
People are generally very happy with the service.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Ct `-w
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director