1960-03-17 City of Beverly, Massachusetts Public Meeting Minutes Board: Library Trustees Subcommittee: Date: 03/17/1960 Place: Beverly Public Library Board members present: Louisa V. Conrad, Russell P. Brown, Saul J. Cagan, Dorothy C. Cook, Frank P. Hyde, Frederick H. Pierce, Carolyn F. StandIcy, and Thomas J. Tooracy Board members absent: Bruce Lancaster Others present: Recorder: Marion A. Brown Thursday, March 17, 1960 4 P.M. The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the Library on the above date. Those present were Mrs. Conrad, presiding, Miss StandIcy, Mrs. Cook, Mr. Pierce, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Cagan. After the records of the previous meeting were read and approved it was moved to proceed to the organization of the Board. By ballot, Mrs. Conrad was unanimously re-elected Chairman and Mrs. Cook re-elected Secretary. The Committees will he appointed later. The Finance sheets were studied. The 1960 Budget was returned from the City. After discussion, as no allowance was made for bookmobile maintenance or for repairs it was decided to approach the Mayor to see if some mistake had been made in leaving out these items. Mrs. Conrad and Mr. Toomey will attend to this matter. Mr. Toomey for Administration questioned the idea again of using the Winter St. lot for temporary parking purposes. After much discussion it was decided that when the Trust Funds were cleared (Ebenezer Ray Fund) have plans drawn up for a Children's Building and than decide as to what part of the lot could he used for parking, keeping in mind that space must he left for the building. Then call a Special Meeting. All agreed. The reports of Circulation Committee, Department Heads and librarian were approved as read. Mrs. Cook reported on the House Bill 2275 -- State Aid for Libraries and stated that there would he a March 22 Hearing. There was much discussion, however most of the Board did not approve as the bill exists. An application for Junior Clerk Assistant was read from Mrs. Lillian Taylor. She has no library training but felt she could do the work. It was VOTED to take her for a 6 months trial basis at $51 A letter was read from Mrs. Palmet asking for pension money or some security. After discussion it was decided to send her a letter stating that the Board regrets that no action can be taken. Mr. Brown explained that he has talked to Mr. Clarence Wilkinson as to a proposed bill for fines and fees to be used for purchasing books. He will report later. Mr. Cagan reported that he stills feels that the Trustees have rights as to control and management of the Library. Adjourned 5:15 Marion A. Brown Clerk March 16, 1960 Board of Trustees, Beverly Public Library, Beverly, Massachusetts. Gentlemen: For the benefit of the h~rary I am establishing a permanent memorial fund in memory of my son to be known as the "Theodore Fletcher Cobb Memorial Fund." I enclose herewith a copy of my letter to the Commissioners of Trust Funds of the City of Beverly by way of further explanation. While I am placing no limitation upon your use of the income from the fund I would prefer that it generally be used for the purchase of worthwhile books. If this suggestion meets with your approval I understand that it is sometimes customary for Libraries to secure and insert a special bookplate in books so purchased. If this is your custom, realizing that the income from the fund may be quite small until I have been able to make timber additions of principal to it, and understanding that the cost of such a bookplate would be about $50 1 would be glad to make an additional, direct contribution to cover this cost. I might add that when the principal of the memorial fund becomes established in its full amount I would prefer that the income be used regularly each year. However I do authorize you, for the purpose of accomplishing some special worthwhile project, to allow the income to accumulate for a period not to exceed three years. Would you please let me know about my suggestion of the bookplate and if you wish any further information. Very truly yours, Maria S. Cobb DBP/JMB March 16, 1960 Commissioners of Trust Funds, City of Beverly, Massachusetts. Gentlemen: I an enclosing herewith check to your order in the mount of $1000 to establish a fund for the benefit of the Beverly Public Library to be known as the "Theodore Fletcher Cobb Memorial Fund," in memory of my son who died in the service his country, as an aerial navigator, on February 1944. It is my wish that only the income of the fund be used and that such income to be used for the benefit of the library in such manner as the Trustees of the Library, in their sole discretion may determine. I authorize you to invest the principal of the fund in such manner as you, in your discretion, may deem safe and prudent, including authority to invest in good quality common stocks or common trust funds. It is my present intention and I hope to be able to add to this Memorial Fund from time to time until it reaches the mount of $5000. I have made other provision to increase the principal to $5000 if I should be unable to do so in my lifetime. By way of explanation of my interest in the Beverly Public Library although my son was horn in Newbury, Vermont on March 8, 1922 we moved to Beverly in 1925 and my son lived in Beverly the rest of his life. He graduated from the Beverly High School with honors in the class of 1939. Thereafter he graduated from the Bentley School of Finance and Accounting in 1942. Until he entered the service he was employed as an accountant by the General Electric Company in Lyrm. He entered the Service in 1942. Upon completion of training at the Advanced Navigation School Monroe, Georgia be received his commission as lieutenant and his wings as an aerial navigator. He was lost off the coast of Venice, Florida as a result of an army airplane crash on February 4, 1944. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Board of Trustees of the Library for their information. If there is any further information which you would like please do not hesitate to write to me. Very truly yours, DBP/JMB BEVERLY PUBLIC LIBRARY 31 ESSEX STREET MARION A. BROWN BEVERLY Hbrar~an MASSACHUSETTS April 1, 1960. Mrs. Norman D. Cobb The homestead Newbury, Vermont Dear Mrs. Cobb: On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Beverly Public Library, I am writing to express our sincere thanks for your generous gilt in memory of your late son Theodore Fletcher Cobb. It is gratifying to know that our library is remembered by former residents. In recognition of your son's occupation as an accountant, we have considered using the Income derived from the fund for the purchase of technical books in that and related fields. There is a pressing need for reference material of that kind to supply the ever growing requirements of today's youth - both of school and of college level - for which there has been all too little money available. Enclosed is one of our bookplates now being used in books purchased from another gift similar to yours. If it is agreeable to you, we shall have such bookplates printed with the inscription.' "In Memory of Theodore Fletcher Cobb", or, if you prefer, "Purchased from the Theodore Fletcher Cobb Memorial Fund". If you wish to suggest something else, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are proud of our library's past and present record of service to the people of our community - young and old alike -and we hope that it will be able to provide as good or better service in the future. Unfortunately, however, we have been confronted for many years with a constantly worsening overcrowded condition for our people and we have long recognized the rapidly approaching necessity, now arrived, to provide more space and facilities to alleviate this problem.. In view of your interest in the welfare of our library, we feel that we ought to tell you about our current planning for the very near future, not as yet publicly announced or generally known, for construction of a new children's or youth library building on our land on Winter Street adjacent to the main library, acquired for that purpose several years ago. The financing of construction will, of course, have to come from public subscription and special gilts. In this connection, we hope that you won't mind our venturing to suggest that you might poss~ly like to consider giving the remaining portion of your contemplated gift to the "Board of Trustees of the Beverly Public Library" for use toward constructing or equipping the new Children's or Youth Library. Such a building, by the way, will make it possible to provide the additional space needed for reference rooms and reading rooms for various age groups, work rooms for the staff and perhaps a small auditorium. A lasting memorial to your son could be provided in this building, possibly as a reference room dedicated to his memory and suitably marked in a prominent place by an appropriate plaque or by such other means as might seem to you more fitting. All of us want to assure you of our desire to accomplish your wishes for the establishment of a permanent memorial in honor of your son and to cooperate with you to the tidiest extent in that purpose. We trust that you will have no hesitation to inform us of your thoughts, co~ranents and criticisms with reference to it, so that we may be governed accordingly. Sincerely yours, Louisa V. Conrad Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Beverly Public Library LVC:p COMMITTEES 1960 FINANCE Mr. Russell Brown, Chairman Mr. Saul Cogan Mr. Thomas J. Toomey ADMINISTRATION Mrs. Louisa V. Conrad, Chairman Mr. Thomas J. Toomey Mr. Frank P. Hyde CIRCULATION Miss Carolyn Standley, Chairman Mr. Frank P. Hyde Mr. Frederick Pierce FARMS BRANCH Mrs. Alan Cook, Chairman Mr. Frederick Pierce Mr. Bruce Lancaster BOOKMOBILE Mr. Bruce Lancaster, Chairman Miss Carolyn StandIcy Mr. Russell Brown STUDY OF LIBRARIES Mrs. Louisa V. Conrad, Chairman Mr. Bruce Lancaster Mr. Thomas Toomey Mr. Frank Hyde FINANCE Mr. Saul Cogan, Chairman Miss Carolyn Startalley Mr. Russell Brown Mr. Frederick Pierce Upon motion made seconded, it was VOTED: That the Chairman of the Library Trustees appoint a committee of three members to examine the present policy of the Board in regard to the vacation Schedule of Library Personnel, and report back to the Board at its next regular meeting, the recommendations of the committee for action, COMMITTEE Mr. Bruce Lancaster Mr. Russell Brown Mr. Frank Hyde