HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-11 Board of Library Trustees MinutesRECEIVED
Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees Meeting T 0 W N C L E R K
Monday, April 11, 2011 READING, MASS.
Present:
David Hutchinson, Chair; Richard Curtis, Vice Chair; Jeffrey Doucette; K. SM; fflt4i-yaWonsk~~
Ruth Urell Library, Director; Dorota Socha, Assistant Director.
Absent: Cherrie Dubois
Meeting called to order: 7:00 p.m.
March 21, 2011 Minutes approved unanimously V. Yablonsky/R. Curtis
Financial Report (R. Urell)
■ Financial Report reflects FY2011 budget 75% expended.
■ Salaries running very close to the upper limit. Options: further reduce Sunday staffing, or cut
back employee hours. No reserve budget for covering public service desks for sick or vacation
time or to pay for staff time for outreach, meetings or programs.
Trustee Liaison's Reports
Foundation (R. Curtis)
Reading resident and award winning puppeteer Judith O'Hare speaking on 'The Power of
Puppets to Entertain and to Educate on Monday, April 11 ffi.
Friends (C. Dubois)
A "Hole" Lot of Fun fundraiser featuring 18 Holes of Miniature Golf will be held inside the
Reading Public Library on Sunday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A silent auction will be held and
Hole sponsors are stepping up and donations for raffle items are going very well.
Budget FY12
R. Urell wants to thank the members of the Finance Committee, especially Marsie West,
Chairperson, and Frank Fardy, Library Liaison. During March 30, 2011 meeting the Finance
Committee added $18,000 back into the Library budget to ensure Saturday openings during the
summer months.
Discussion
■ During the March 30 meeting, there were questions about staffing levels by the Chair of the
Finance Committee and she urged the Trustees to look at the amount of staffing at the Library.
■ J. Doucette asked for specifics about where and when does the Finance Committee think the
library is overstaffed.
■ D. Hutchinson noted that during the course of the next year, we will look at our staffing and
compare statistics to nearby communities;
■ V. Yablonsky wondered where the $9,640 shortfall in Municipal Appropriation Requirement
will come from. R. Urell will most likely cut $1,000 each from supplies and technology and
$7,000 from books.
■ Trustees will have to apply for a M.A.R. certification waiver which Reading's library has not
had to do before.
Building Program
■ Trustees presenting the design to the public on Saturdays through April 23`d from 10:00 am -
2:00 p.m. K. Storti and V. Yablonsky stated response has been positive - patrons have shown
Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees - April 11, 2011
interest in the design, specifically the green roof, larger children's room and additional parking.
J. Doucette asked about an evening opportunity to present design - R. Urell will check on a
date;
D. Hutchinson spoke with Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Architect Peter Byerly
regarding presenting the design at Town Meeting on Monday, April 25. The plan is Dick
Curtis will present the Warrant Article, D. Hutchinson will describe the process, Architect P.
Byerly will focus on the design, and Finance Director R. LeLacheur will address costs.
R. Urell will ask the Historical Commission to send a letter indicating their approval of the
design;
D. Hutchinson will check on deadline for digital slides for the architect's PowerPoint
presentation.
Director's Report
■ American Voices featuring author Roland Merullo was well attending with 117 patrons.
Thanks to the Reading Public Library Foundation and the Nigro Family for sponsoring the
program;
■ Ruth attended "Books & Beyond" conference at MIT, Cambridge -journalists and libraries
working together;
■ Library Staff Day at MLA conference in Danvers on Thursday, April 28. The library will be
closed;
■ April is National Poetry month - "Common Threads" will feature poetry by 7 poets;
■ This week is National Library Week - Wednesday, April 13 is Massachusetts Library Snapshot
Day - Reading Public Library will join libraries across Massachusetts to provide a "snapshot"
of what happens in a day in the life of libraries. At 4:00 pm, there will be a public flash mob
dancing to "Shout!"
■ There has been a bad odor (sewer gas?) in the Local History Room and in and near the
Technical Services area. Joe Huggins of Facilities investigated previously and believes that
sewer pipes in the front of the library need to be dug up - this is an area where there used to be
old rest rooms in the basement.
Trustee Items:
■ D. Hutchinson and V. Yablonsky were reelected to a 3-year term on Tuesday, April 5, 2011;
■ Library Legislative Day on Monday, March 28 at the State House was a success. Dick Curtis
and Ruth met with Representatives Brad Jones, James Dwyer and Senator Katherine Clarke;
■ Selectmen Chair James Bonazoli will be presenting "State of the Town" at the Town Meeting.
Some items to point out about the library were discussed: Hall of Fame members Corinne
Fisher and Allison Sloan and the award winning Children's Room;
■ K. Storti stated she read from Reading Patch that Woburn's library renovation was taken off the
table by the City Council and Belmont is applying for a new library building at $19 million.
■ K. Storti asked if more of the library programs could be shown on RCTV.
Adjourn
The motion to adjourn was made 8:07 p.m. (J. Doucette/K. Storti)
Re pectfully submitted,
athr Melesciuc,
Administrative Assistant, Reading Public Library
Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees - April 11, 2011
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