1975-03-20 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 03/20/1975
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Lester C. Ayers, Richard J. Bronstein, Diane M. Isenberg, Michael
Larivee, Mieth Maeser, Sheila M. MeGarr, and Beatrice 1~. Vitale
Board members absent: Louisa V. Conrad, and Frances M. Moran
Others present:
Recorder: Mark A. Nesse
Beverly Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
March 20, 1975, 8:00 P.M.
Present: Mr. Maeser, presiding; Mr. Ayers, Mr. Bronstein, Mrs. Isenberg, Mr. Larivee,
Miss MeGmr and Mrs. Vitale.
"Notes" of the last meeting were read (no quorum last meeting).
Mrs. Conrad and Miss MeGart were unanimously elected chairman and secretary respectively.
Committee Reports:
Finance Committee:
-VOTED: To request permission of the mayor to transfer $2,000 from the fuel account
(which will have a surplus due to mild weather and our conservation efforts)
to telephone, lighting, and book accounts.
-VOTED: To request a meeting with the mayor to urge that funds be
restored to the book account.
Circulation Committee:
-circulation charts were noted as was an increase of about 10% for total circulation
figures over the same months in 1974. Farms Committee: no report. Bookmobile
Committee:
-VOTED: To withdraw our request for a new unit this year with the
declared intent to ask for a new unit next year. Only
absolutely necessary repairs will be done to keep "the
blue bomb" running until then.
Personnel Committee:
-VOTED: To adopt the revised "Leave of Absence" policy as follows:
Leave of Absence Policy
A Leave of absence is authorized time off from the job without pay and carries
the right of reinstatement.
On recommendation of the librarian, the Library Board of Trustees may, at its
discretion, grant leaves of absence to full time permanent employees in good standing
when valid circumstances require departure from work for a reasonable period of time
without desire on the employees' part to terminate employment.
Each leave of absence will be for a specific period of time. However, an extension
may be authorized provided a written request for an extension is received by the
librarian prior to the expiration of the current leave of absence.
As a general rule, leaves of absence may be granted for one of the following
reasons such as:
1. Long term convalescence from personal injury or illness;
2. Immediate family illness or death;
3. Jury duty;
4. Maternity (normally not to exceed eight weeks);
5. Job related continuing education;
6. Military duty.
TO APPLY
Notify the librarian through your department head by completing a "Requested for
Leave of Absence Form and return it to the Librarian.
When a leave of absence has been approved, the employee will:
1. Return to work at the expiration of the leave of absence or notify the
Librarian in writing requesting an extension.
2. Be required to pass a medical examination (if on a medical leave of
absence) prior to returning to work.
3. Not accrue sick leave or vacation time while on leave of absence.
4. Assume full personal responsibility for handling benefits such as health
insurance, retirement, etc.
If an employee falls to return to work on the expiration date of his/her leave of absence, they
will be terminated. The effective date of the termination will be the last day worked prior to
going on leave of absence.
Librarian's Report:
Departmental reports put on file.
Old Business:
-Thank you letters received from the hospital (for donated books) read
and put on file.
-Progress on new lavatories was reported.
-Current insurance on library and contents as covered under blanket city policy:
Building Contents
Main Library $550,005 $600,000
Farms Branch 66, 125 100,000
Feeling among members was that this coverage was too low, and that the librarian
should check into what steps would be necessary to increase it. It was also noted that we
should consider microfilming our shelf list (inventory record) to enable us to prove loss in case
of fire.
In addition, we have a policy on the bookmobile (liability and property damage on
contents), and policies on the boilers at the main library and Farms Branch which are paid but
of our budget.
New Business:
-Librarian noted that the library is slated to receive four CETA employees
(Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) until August (Three library
assistants and one audio-visual technician). They will receive salaries
comparable to current staff.
-VOTED: To accept libra~an's recommendation on summer hours as follows:
M-Th 9-9
F~ 9-5
Sat closed
Sun 1-5
-The following informational items were noted by the librarian:
*A young Beverlyite is to present a lecture/demonstration on electronic music in the Yellow Room
on Sunday, April 20th at 2:00 P.M.
*Friends of the Library activities:
1. Will reprint Stone's History of Beverly (1,000 copies) which will be sold to the public.
2. Toys which had been ordered to start the toy-lending library have arrived and will be
put out soon.
*Bicentennial Activities:
1. Planning is proceeding on the Italian festival to be put on in the Fall.
2. Librarian is co-chairing the clean-up/beautification sub-committee.
3. Plans for a Common "upgrade/~x-up"project which may qualify for Bicentennial money
were shown to Trustees. City Planner will be present at April meeting to answer
questions.
-The library will close on April 21 (Patriot's Day).
-William Green (Custodian) made some very attractive paperweights which will be presented to
Miss Standley and Mr. Tappan from portionsof the concrete core cut in the floor in installing the
lavatories.
-Mr. Bronstein requested that thefollowing two items be placed on the April agenda:
1. Librarian's salary study.
2.Recommendation to the Mayor's Charter Study Commission regarding the designation
of the library as a depository of city reports, documents and studies.
VOTED: To amend the By-laws in order to allow for a different meeting time(s) by dropping a
specific hour such that Chapter II, Section 1 would read as follows:
Regular meetings: Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be hem on the third
Thursday of each month, July and August excepted in the Trustees' Room at the Beverly Public
Library.
This motion, according to the By-laws, will be held over until the April meeting, when it
will be voted on.
-April meeting to be on April 17, 1975, at 7:30 P.M
Adjournment: 10:05 P.M.
Mark A. Nesse
Clerk