1999-05-25City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: May 25, 1999 7:00 p.m.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Edward Brindle, Diane Costa, Lindsay Diehl, Katherine Fanning,
Nell Olson, Kevin O'Reilly, Joanne Panunzio, Helga Senko, and John Young
Board members absent: None
Others present: Thomas Scully
Recorder: Diane Costa
John Young presided.
Lindsay Diehl made the motion, seconded by Edward Brindle, to accept the minutes of April 27,
1999 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None
Committee Reports
Personnel: Neil Olson reported that he has almost all of the individual evaluation forms for the
Library Director's review. He will coordinate the responses and then call a meeting of the
Personnel Subcommittee at the end of the month.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: No report.
Report of the Library Director
1) Copies of the Library Director's report (on file with these minutes) were mailed to trustees. 2)
Tom Scully reported that there was some water damage to the ceiling of the Farms branch over
the weekend. Some of the plaster decoration on the ceiling has come down and paint on the
walls is peeling. There has been a perennial roof leak, and we will probably not be able to wait
for the renovations to the building to complete the repairs. 3) During yesterday's torrential rain
storm, the library' s garage filled with water, coming within an inch of going into the main
building. The good news is that fixing the pipe at Dane Street Beach and putting the back flow
preventer valve on so that water doesn't surge in appears to gave been effective because
previously the water would have flooded the main building. The level of the driveway going out
onto Dane Street has also been raised and that seems to have helped. Drainage is still a problem,
and a plan has been put out to bid for a pumping system which will throw water out to Dane
Street faster than it comes in. The Mayor has signed a contract for a high speed pump to be
installed to alleviate this problem. The City Engineer is continuing to monitor the project. 4)
Tom discussed the failure of the Legislature to fund the increase in state aid to libraries and noted
that this will be re-filed again next year. The Governor and the Legislature have approved a
larger one-time increase in state library construction programs, however. If the Farms branch
were eligible, this could mean 6 or 7 years on the waiting list rather than the 10 to 11 years
previously expected. 5) Tom discussed two telephone calls he received from patrons asking
whether or not the Library is a member of the ALA, most likely in response to Dr. Laura
Schlessinger's radio talk show which discussed the issue of pornography on the Intemet. The
use of filters on computers which are on the Internet was discussed. 6) Tom noted that many
people do not understand what the ALA is. The ALA policies are statements of professional
ethics, and libraries are free to accept or not accept them, whether or not they are members. The
Beverly Library subscribes to ALA policy statements even though we have never been a member
as an institution.
Communications
1 ) John Young received a communication from the Board of Library Commissioners regarding a
series of meeting dates in June and July to discuss strengthening our public libraries and public
library funding. John would be willing to attend on one of the scheduled dates if anyone else on
the Board is interested in going along. Tom Scully expressed interest in attending with John.
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
1) Tom Scully reported that he is waiting for a date to meet with the Commissioners of the Trust
Funds and will continue to push for this meeting. 2) Ed Brindle asked if the Library is fully
staffed, and Tom informed the Board that it is. 3) Tom reported that the Mayor has not yet
looked at our budget but has a meeting with him tomorrow. A discussion of the budget process
followed. 4) Lindsay Diehl asked how working with the schools has gone this year, and Tom
reported that there is a good working relationship with the schools. He noted that with Kevin
McGrath working at Beverly High School, the relationship has become even closer since Kevin
still works part time at the Library as well. Discussion followed. 5) Neil Olson commended
Tom for writing a letter of support for the Public Works Commissioner. Tom noted that the
letter was co-signed by Joan Fairbank and was published in the Salem Evening News. 6) We
will review the Library's Intemet use policy in September when we review our goals. 7) There
are three new members of NOBLE: Merrimack, Bradford, and Northem Essex Community
College, bringing the membership up to 30 libraries. Discussion followed. 8) Tom discussed the
difference between the School Department' s budget and the City side of the budget.
Public Presentation
None
The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, June 22, 1999 at 7:00 P.M. at the Beverly Farms
branch.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:04 P.M.