1975-05-08 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 05/08/1975
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Louisa V. Conrad, Lester C. Ayers, Richard J. Bronstein, Michael Larivee,
Mieth Maeser, Sheila M. McGarr, Frances M. Moran, and Beatrice R. Vitale
Board members absent: Diane M. Isenberg,
Others present:
Recorder: Mark A. Nesse
Beverly Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
May 8, 1975, 7:30 P.M.
Present: Mrs. Conrad, presiding; Mr. Ayers, Mr. Bronstein, Mr. Larivee, Mr. Maeser, Miss McGarr,
Miss Moran and Mrs. Vitale.
Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
Committee Reports:
Finance Committee - Librarian reported that all accounts will be expended.
Circulation Committee - no report
Farms Committee - Mrs. Vitale reported that she had visited the Farms Branch and had
discussed change in the hours and other matters with Ms. Nichelson.
Bookmobile - no report
Personnel Committee - no report
Librarian's report: (highlights of departmental reports noted)
Circulation - another day over 1,000
Reference - increased magazine usage
Farms - New 12 x 12 carpet has been ordered for a portion of the reading room
Children's department - New reading club for grades 1-4 is in progress. It will be centered
around a trip on the B & M RR. Audio/Visual - A deposit of Canadian travel films has been
received. They will be loaned to patrons.
Old Business:
* Status of the 1975/76 budget:
Mayor Vitale met with the board of trustees to discuss the budget. Of special concern
were the following needs: page salaries, books, and the microfilm reader/printer. The board
emphasized that last year's increased request for books was in part to fill in gaps in the book
collection, and to "play catch-up" generally, and was in no way part of a negotiation ploy.
Also, the fact that while CETA help will fill some of our needs this summer, we will still need
additional funds to operate on Sundays during the school year. Finally, the reader/printer is
daily growing more essential. Mayor Viiale was sympathetic to our problems, and agreed to
do everything possible to allocate an additional $16,500 for the library as follows:
Books... Page salaries. Microfilm R/P.
83000 4,000 4,500 16,500
Regarding the book and page amounts, it was understood that the library will proceed to
operate as though we have those amounts in our budget. The Mayor agreed to try to get the
microfilm reader/printer with revenue sharing funds as soon as possible after July 1, 1975.
VOTED: To direct the Personnel Committee to prepare a written request and justification for
changing the librarian's title to "Library Director". and for raising the position to a higher level
on the salary scale. This would be submitted to City Government after July 1, 1975.
*Mrs. Conrad appointed an ad-hoc committee to study the by-laws, recommend changes, and
to report to the full board at the September meeting. Mr. Maeser, chairman, Miss MeGarr and
Mr. Larivee
New Business:
*VOTED: To change the Farms Branch Hours as of June 1, 1975, as follows:
M-F 10-6
Sun 1-5
*VOTED: To request the Mayor's permission to use money from "Janitor's Supplies" for the
purchase of a vacuum cleaner for the Farms.
*VOTED: To terminate current contracts and agreements on copy machines in the library
buildings, and turn over the operation of copy machines to the Friends of the Beverly Library.
*VOTED: To take $20 from trust funds for a civic membership in the Chamber of Commerce
for the Librarian.
*Librarian noted that weeding of the book collection is in progress at the Farms Branch, and
that they will be having a book sale there sometime in the future.
*Librarian called attention to several projects of the Friends of the Library including the
reprinting of Stone's History of Beverly.
*Mrs. Conrad invited all present to take some of the lovely daffodils which she had brought
from her garden, and invited all to come and see her garden.
Adjournment, 9:05 P.M.
Mark A. Nesse
Clerk