1952-11-20 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 11/20/1952
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Louisa V. Conrad, John C. Birmingham, Saul J. Cagan, Philip Rowe,
and Carl Zeilon
Board members absent: W. Lincoln Boyden, Jr., Dorothy Cook, and Lawrence E. Foster
Others present:
Recorder: Marjorie H. Stanton
November 20, 1952
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the Library on Thursday evening,
November 20, at 7 P.M., with Mrs. Conrad acting as temporary Chairman in place of Mr. Delaney
whose sudden death occurred on November 11m.
The other Trustees present were Mr. Birmingham, Mr. Cagan, Mr. Rowe, and Mr. Zeilon.
The meeting was called for half an hour earlier than usual in order that the Trustees might
have an opportunity of going over the whole building to see what condition the building is in and
what repairs and changes are most vitally needed.
After this inspection, the meeting was called to order and the records of the October meeting
read and any action taken at that meeting ratified.
The Trustees then proceeded to the discussion of the budget for 1953, the salary figures for
which (with the exception of the janitors salaries) were voted upon at the Special Meeting of the
Board, held on Wednesday evening, October 22, and the Maintenance figures of which had been
worked out at the Finance Committee meeting held on Tuesday afternoon, November 18th at 3:30
P.M.
As finally voted upon, the budget to be sent to the City Government would be - Salaries:
$44,297.00, including one new Desk Assistant, and subject to slight change in the proposed salaries
for the two janitors at the Main Library [$44,644.32 alter changes in janitors salaries] - in order to
bring them in line with what is paid to school janitors - and Maintenance: $16,375, with separate
Maintenance items for repairs and changes as follows:
Power motor $150.00
Converting boiler, coal to oil $1350.00
Improved lighting for Main Floor
Pointing up marble (2,000) & painting $2,500.00
ironwork (500) (outside)
Painting Reading Room & Childrens Room $750.00
Mr. Rowe was asked to confer with Mr. Greenlaw, City Electrician, as to the adequacy of the
present lighting system - this to be in writing - and to get from him, if possible, a verbal statement of
the cost of changing to a modern system which would do away with table lights and yet give more
satisfactory results.
Voted: that Mr. Rowe be authorized to talk with John Murphy about the need for more
permanent repairs to the water pipe, at the Main Library, just temporarily repaired, and to have the
necessary work done at once.
At the suggestion of Miss Stanton, it was voted to request the Superintendent of Schools to
allow the Trustees to place a sign on the Centerville School building, calling attention to the location
and hours of the library Deposit in the rear of the Community Hall.
Voted: that the list of newspapers taken in 1953 be the same as those subscribed to in 1952,
and that the subscription be placed with the North Shore News Company as before.
Voted: that Mr. Birmingham prepared suitable Resolutions on the deaths of both Mr. Small
and Mr. Delaney, and that copies be sent to the families of both men and inserted in the Beverly
Times.
Voted also that Mrs. Conrad, with the assistance of Miss Stanton, prepare the annual report
of the Board of Trustees and send it at the proper time to the City Government.
Miss Stanton was authorized to buy a typewriter desk, at the approximate price of $70.00,
to replace the old one which had been in use for more than fifty years.
The Circulation Committee's report, recommending the purchase of 94 titles and the
acceptance of 15 books was presented and approved~ and the Librarian's report, giving details of the
activities of Children's Book Week, was read and placed on file.
Discussion followed, as to how best to provide better facilities for Reference Work - to
remedy the over crowded conditions of the present Reference Room - and it seemed wise, after
thorough inspection of the building to use for this purpose the Art Room on the second floor,
provided the City Government would appropriate sufficient money for a new assistant as well as for
adequate lighting and enough new tables and chairs to accommodate those wishing to do reference
work.
Since the next regular meeting would fall on Christmas Day, it was voted to hold the
December meeting on Wednesday, December 29, at 7:30 P.M.
Voted: to adjourn
Adjourned
Marjorie H. Stanton
Clerk