1998-10-27City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: October 27, 1998 7:00 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Diane Costa, Lindsay Diehl, Katherine Fanning, Margaret Goodwin,
Neil Olson, Kevin O'Reilly, Helga Senko
Board members absent: Edward Brindle, John Young
Others present: Thomas Scully, Anna Langstaff
Recorder: Anna Langstaff
Diane Costa presided.
Kay Fanning made the motion, seconded by Neil Olson, to accept the minutes of September 22,
1998 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None
Committee Reports
Personnel: No report.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: Long Range Plan has been completed.
Report of Library Director
1 ) Copies of Library Director's report (on file with these minutes) were mailed to trustees. 2)
Flood Update: Despite last week's rain there has been no flooding in the library. Dane Street
driveway has been built up; back flow preyenter will be installed within the next few weeks; high
pressure pump will be installed this Fall or next Spring. Barnet Room needs to be repainted and
theft detection system needs to be fixed. 3) Farms Building: On October 21 there was another
public presentation on Farms building project. The next step is the formation of honorary and
working fundraising committees.
Communications
1) Retirement: Joan Nelson intends to retire on January 15, 1999. 2) Margaret Goodwin will not
seek re-appointment to the Board. 3) Book Sale: Saturday, November 21.4) Volunteer
Appreciation Tea: Tuesday, December 8 3-5P.M. 5) Beverly Libraries for Learning: Tom Scully
distributed packet prepared by Beverly public school librarians outlining the mission and goals of
Beverly Libraries for Learning, a cooperative project of Beverly school and public librarians.
Unfmished Business
1 ) New member handbook is done.
New Business
None
The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, November 24, 1998 at 7:00 P.M. at the Main
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 P.M.
Library Director's Report
October 27, 1998
Beverly Farms Library Public presentations have been made to the Farms Community. We are
now working on a Honorary Fund Raising Committee and a working committee. We hope to begin
the serious fund raising after the holidays. Plans have met with very favorable response so far.
Anna, I and the architects made a presentation to the Mayor. He is interested and supportive and
hopes the project moves forward. A site survey will be conducted shortly to verify boundary lines.
Public/School Library Cooperation Public and school librarians have had several joint planning
meetings. We hope to form a more formalized working group to do joint planning and to help the
school librarians have more visibility within the school administration and with parents. The high
School Librarian and I attended a "town meeting" at the Burlington Public Library sponsored by the
Board of Library Commissioners on public/school library cooperation. The State Agency hopes to
take a larger role in supporting school libraries.
Flooding Problem We continue to make repairs from last summers floods. The boilers have been
rebuilt. We are now trying to address a mold problem in the Barnet Gallery before having it
repainted. We did not flood during the last two heavy rainstorms but the drain system was full
during the last storm. The City is proceeding to work on the berm along the Dane Street side of the
building and installation of the pumps and back flow preventer.
Legislation The State Library Agency (BLC) is planning to file legislation this year to increase the
State Aid to Public Libraries program. We currently receive about $38,000 per year (approximately
$1.00 per resident). The Agency would like this amount to triple over 4 years. It has not changed
in over a decade.