Library Trustees Minutes June 26 2020City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board:
Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date:
June 23, 2020, 4:00 P.M.
Place:
Remote Meeting on Google Meet
Board members present:
Margaret Altman, Mary Behrle, Marshall Handly, Colleen Michaels,
-Suter
Board members absen
t:
Others present:
Allison Babin
Recorder:
Allison Babin
meeting was being recorded.
regular meeting of May 26, 2020. Roll call vote approved, 8 to 0. Myron Schirer-Suter abstained.
Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None.
Committee Reports
Personnel: No report.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: No report.
Report of the Library Director
1) Fiscal Year 2020 Budget: Everything is on track. While a spending freeze is in effect,
subscriptions like Hoopla and service contracts are still being paid.
2) Fiscal Year 2021 Budget: The Library Director presented the budget to the City Council on
June 9 and also highlighted closure services like eBooks, virtual programs and Front Door
Service. The Finance and Property Committee met on June 22 and approved the budget. The
final vote will take place on June 24. It is a lean budget, but in better shape than many other
municipalities. Regularly scheduled part-time employees continue to be paid. Colleen Michaels
asked about the morale of the staff. Allison Babin reported that morale seems good despite this
challenging situation.
3) Phased Reopening: The library received approval on Sunday, May 31 from Chief of Staff
Stephanie Bilotti to roll out Front Door Service (curbside pickup). The following day, the
Director held a full time staff meeting on Zoom to discuss logistics. The book drop reopened on
Monday, June 8 and materials immediately began to be returned. Due to an unexpected closure
of the parking lot and Winter Street for sidewalk repairs, the library added a second book drop to
Essex Street. The new sidewalks look great. Front Door Service successfully launched on June
15 with just over 40 people on the first day. The service has since increased to over 70 people per
day. Patrons were appreciative, and cooperative with masks and social distancing. Allison Babin
recognized Head of Circulation, Janice Shaw, for her excellent work in running this service.
Allison Babin has created a training form for the staff on COVID-19 procedures, and installed
safety signage throughout the building. Custodian Joe Bonaiuto has been a helpful partner with
cleaning compliance. Allison Babin worked with phone provider Vertical and City Information
Technology to customize the phone system so employees can answer incoming calls from their
desk phones rather than shared phones at service desks. Some staff are also returning calls from
home. Allison Babin acquired a supply of Personal Protective Equipment like face masks, face
shields, and cloth face coverings and set up a station for staff. The holiday of July 4 will be
closed through the summer.
4) Building Issues: Modifications to the building are still needed before the public could reenter,
including glass shields at service desks, which is being overseen by Mike Collins. Front Door
Service is a significant supplement to virtual services as the library is now able to provide print
materials to the public again. On July 6, Front Door Service will launch at the Farms and the
Bookmobile librarian will deliver materials to patrons from her car. Mike Collins has stated that
on and there is no need to open doors and windows.
granite capstone was installed on June 23, and the bottom of the ramp where water frequently
puddles has been repayears
in regard to the capstone repairs.
5) Community Engagement: The Beverly Keeps Reading challenge in the Beanstack app
concluded with 535 users reading 3,561 books read toward the goal of 5,000. Librarians have
been curating Black Lives Matter resources and book lists for all ages. These resources and lists
are being posted on social media. An anti-racism reading group is being planned. Friends
President Thalia Lewandowski and library page/Teen Advisory Board member Malia Cole
presented on the Friends of the Beverly Public Library and teen renovation project at the Beverly
Rotary Club meeting on June 18. The library continues to print 3D ear savers and the latest batch
was delivered to employees at the Cityside Diner. Lisa Ryan recently gave a Zoom presentation
about traveling to Niagara Falls to approximately 20 socially distanced attendees at the Herrick
ed a wealth of
resources including book talk videos, printable reading lists, and clickable eBook lists. The
resources were emailed to the reading specialists and distributed to students. The library applied
for a CARES grant through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners to fund a
presenter on wills, estates, and trusts, as well as a hybrid scrapbooking program that would
involve a Zoom session and a physical kit of supplies for attendees to use at home.
6) Personnel: A required Respectful Workplace Training was held on June 22 for all staff. North
of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) has been hosting useful weekly meetings for library
directors. Allison Babin will continue to follow up with Human Resources to post the Assistant
Library Director and Junior Custodian positions. The positions have been budgeted for start dates
of August 1. In order to reopen, it is vital to have these positions filled.
7) Programs: Upcoming virtual programs include: for adults, Books and Brews, an antiracism
reading group, a quilting and crafting group, and Cookbook Club; for teens, a zine making
workshop, a meal in a mug series, and henna alchemy; for children, wildlife encounters, author
visit with Mark Parisi, and more.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
1.Library Trustees reviewed the Acceptable Use Policy. Joanne Panunzio made the motion,
seconded by Mary Behrle, to:
approve the Acceptable Use Policy. Motion passed, 9-0.
2.Library Trustees reviewed the Internet Use Policy. Allison Babin shared that the policy
d the process to
ban users for repeated violations. Myron Schirer-Suter made the motion, seconded by Cathryn
approve the Internet Use Policy. Motion passed, 9-0.
3.Library Trustees reviewed the Security Policy. Allison Babin feels that the policy as
written would cover any potential violations that could happen virtually. Allison Babin also
stated that the staff address issues internally whenever safely possible before consulting police.
Allison Babin spoke about the relationship with the Community Impact Unit, which is often the
issues. The Community Impact Unit takes a rehabilitative approach and has a social worker on
staff. Marshall Handly made the motion, seconded by Margaret Altman, to:
approve the Security Policy. Motion passed, 9-0.
The next meeting of the board will be held virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 4PM.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15PM.