1976-04-08 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 04/08/1976
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Sheila M. MeGarc, Lester C. Ayers, John R. Coogan, Michael Larivee,
Frances M. Moran, and Beatrice R. Viiale
Board members absent: Louisa V. Conrad, Katherine L. Fanning, and Diane M. Isenberg
Others present:
Recorder: Mark A. Nesse
Beverly Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
April 8, 1976
Present: Miss McGarr, presiding; Mr. Ayers, Mr. Coogan, Mr. Larivee, Miss Moran and Mrs. Vitale.
Minutes of the March 18, 1976, meeting were approved.
Committee Reports:
*Committee on Administration - no report
*Committee on Finance:
1. Gov. Dukakis granted an additional 30 days for mayors to study municipal budgets,
such that we will not know how much the mayor has cut until the budget is turned
over to the Aldermen on May 1, 1976.
2. Monthly financial report:
Several accounts are running low. It was agreed to wait another month so that we can
better gauge needs until the end of the year. Also, the $14,380.50 in state-aid which
the mayor carried forward into this year's budget will henceforth be shown separately
on the financial statement.
3. Cost of living increments for employees - two points were made by the Trustees:
a. The letter which the staff sent to members of the Board of Aldermen
(requested that library staff be granted the same 10.2% raise as is to be
granted City of Beve~y union-contracted employees) should have been
addressed to the Board of Trustees;
b. The Head Librarian should not have signed the letter.
*Committee on Personnel - no report
Librarian's Report (highlights):
*Children's Department: Cooperation of the school department (bus) and the Beverly
Historical Society (tour guide) made the children's department historical reading club a big
success. Those who completed the "club" took a tour of the Beverly Historic Trail.
The Saturday morning story hour for ages 5-7 has been well received.
*Young Adult Department: Arrangements are being made to give all Beverly 6th graders a
tour of the Y.A. dept. as they will be "graduating" to the Y.A. dept. next fall.
*Farms Branch: inventory of the children's materials has been completed. Plans -have been
made for summer reading programs, a beginning has been made with regard to the
establishment of a Beverly Farms Historical collection thorough the use of $500 donated by
the Friends of the Library.
*Reference Department: Use of back issues of magazines is being studies with a view to
discarding those which are seldom used. This to be done with cooperation of other area
libraries such that one library in the area ,saves a "run" and others discard it.
*Audio-visual Department: A new brochure on the library has been prepared; format of
Under the Rotunda has been changed to four pages; a five part series on the Library has been
published in the Beverly Times for national library week; a new Buster Keaton film has been
purchased; B.H.S. art students are currently displaying art work in the library; a four part
series on organic gardening is due to start this week.
*Circulation Department: In recognition of National Library Week, an "Amnesty Week: has
been announced... forgiveness for the sinful. Circulation Dept. use of "Command Central"
( as the converted bathroom has been dubbed) has seemed to improve the efficiency of
sending overdue notices.
Old Business:
*The question of granting 4 weeks vacation to Professional librarians (MLS degree) again
ended in a 3-3 vote, thus deferring a final vote until the May 20th meeting.
*Librarian reported that due to a technical problem with the specifications for the carpet at
the Farms Branch, all bids were thrown out, specifications redrawn, and re-advertised. Bids
to be opened on April 14, 1976.
New Business:
*Reported that the Friends of the Library have formed a select committee to study the groups
I purpose. Also, that the revenue from the copy machines is close to $209 per month... and
that this includes subsidizing the machine at the Farms Branch which does not generate
enough volume to pay its own way.
*voted to change the hours at the Farm Branch on a trial basis from:
Monday-Friday .......... 10-6
Saturday .............. closed
Sunday .................. 1 - 5
to the following hours beginning as soon as possible:
Monday, Wed., Friday ....... 10-6
Tuesday & Thurs ............ 1-9
Saturday ................ closed
Sunday .................... 1-5
Adjournment: 9:40 P.M.
Mark A. Nesse