HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - PPMLT - 04/08/2015 Paul Pratt Memorial Library Board of Trustees
April 8, 2015
Library Historical Room, 7 pm.
Present:Teresa Polhemus(Chair), Stephen Brown,James Sandell, Carolyn Coffey, Sarah Pease, Lynne
DeGiacomo,Agnes McCann, Marylou Lawrence, Patience Towle,Jackie Rafferty(Director)
Meeting called to order, 7:03 pm
1. The March 11, 2015 meeting minutes were approved, voted and passed.
2. Director's Report(Rafferty)
a. Bronwyn discussed the possible payroll budget shortfall for this fiscal year due to an incorrect
budget being submitted by Town Hall. Jackie hopes to speak with Chris Senior about it this
week. The report of bills paid last month matches with our records for that time period.
b. Jackie updated the Trustees on the continuing parking issues in both the upper and lower lots.
Recently there have been many trucks parked in the upper lot in the morning before we open
and left there for much of the day. Jackie has spoken to the police a few times to ask them to
help resolve the problem. They have said that they can't do much unless we have signage that
states that the lots are for library use only. Jackie has forwarded the information to Chris
Senior but has not heard back from him yet.
c. Technology—The new public printer has been installed but continues to have problems
including spewing sheets of paper and overheating. We are hoping it will be fixed with the
next service call.
d. Jackie discussed a recent phone call she had with the Assistant Director of the Billerica Public
Library regarding intellectual freedom. He was being threatened with suspension for posting a
book review that the library director found offensive. Eventually, all parties were able to come
to a compromise and the suspension order was cancelled. Jackie also talked about an
upcoming author talk presented by both the Mass. Library Assoc. Intellectual Freedom
Committee and the New England Library Assoc. IFC. The author, Bruce Schneier, will discuss
security, privacy and government surveillance programs.
e. Other items in her report included an update on our State Aid funding, information about her
meeting with the Business Development Director of the New York Public Library, an SSMC
grant application overview and Library Legislative Day and Federal library funding information.
3. Financial Report/Bills Payable (Rafferty)
a. The outstanding invoices were moved, seconded and approved.
4. Chair's Report (Polhemus)
a. Teresa joined the entire board in thanking Patience for her service to the Trustees and the Paul
Pratt Library and wished her well. The next meeting will include a reorganization of the
Trustee's responsibilities.
b. Jackie's annual review is coming up and Teresa is looking for a volunteer to take on the task.
5. CLT Report (Brown)
a. Some members of the CLT will be meeting on Friday to discuss the discrepancy in the records
that may have resulted in a missed transfer to the library's endowment.
6. Program Report (Lawrence)
a. Marylou talked about the Poem in Your Pocket week that will be held from April 12 through
April 18. She recommended that the Trustees have a poem at the ready in case they are asked
for one.
b. The Sunday Author Talk with Lily King that was scheduled for March 22 had to be rescheduled
for May 31 due to illness. The change may or may not result in the Library being open an
additional Sunday that was not originally scheduled.
c. The next Sunday Author Talk is April 19 with Richard Primark slated to speak.
7. Space Planning Committee Report (Sandell)
a. Jim and Steve presented some ideas that they had brainstormed for uses of the library space
including possible roles for the lower area of the museum as well as new configurations of the
upper floor of the library and museum. The next step is to meet with Jackie and discuss the
feasibility of the ideas as well as prioritize them based on the needs of the library. After that,
they will present more details to the Trustees. Some of the ideas could be funded by members
of the community instead of asking the town to pay for the changes.
8. Friends Report (Flynn)
a. Gail was not in attendance. Agnes read the report.
b. The volunteer/staff luncheon will be held on June 8. The Friends wanted it noted that no
Friends money was being spent on the luncheon. All costs are donated by the members. The
Friends will invite Chris Senior to the lunch as well as the staff and volunteers.
c. The book drop off of donated books at Harborview and Sunrise is working well. This relieves
the pressure of having to return library books on time.
d. The JoAnne Chittick ornament will be previewed for donors. A suggested donation will be $40.
Meeting adjourned at 7:48 pm.
Documents:
Minutes of the March 11, 2015 Trustees Meeting
Director's Report April 8, 2015
April FY15 Financial Report
FY15 April 8, 2015 Warrant
Library Trustees Authorization for Payment,4/08/15
FY15 Deposits to Treasurer—Fines& Fees,April 8, 2015
FY15 Deposits to Gift Account, April 8, 2015
April 8, 2015 Financial Report- Bronwyn
Circulation Department Report: March 2015
April, 2015 Report from the Reference Desk
Young Adult Services Report, March 2015
April 6, 2015 Report from the Children's Room