1977-09-15 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 09/15/1977
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: John R. Coogan, Lester C. Ayers, Douglas L. Henderson, Caleb
Loring III, Frances M. Moran, and Beatrice R. Vitale
Board members absent: Katherine L. Fanning, Diane M. Isenberg, and Oleg M. Pohotsky
Others present:
Recorder: Eleanor M. Seully
MINUTES
Beverly Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
September 15, 1977 9:45 P.M.
Present: Mr. Coogan, presiding; Mr. Ayers, Miss Moran, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Loring, Mrs. Vitale.
Mrs. Calish read several Department Head reports to trustees. Circulation increases were
reported by Head of Circulation, Frances Penta, and Children's Librarian, Martha Hutchins. The daily
children's programs and the weekly Special Children's programs were well attended. The City
Recreation Department, by prearrangement, also used the library facilities on some rainy days during
the summer. The total adult circulation for June, July, and August was 48,661; an increase of 7,288
over summer, 1976. The children's circulation was 18,583; an increase of 3,000 over summer, 1976.
Children's activities included the Franklin Park Zoomobile a Dinosaur Day, many arts and crafts
programs, film programs, and puppet shows, at both the Main Library and Farms Library.
Media Services Librarian, Carl Zukroff reported that "Roots" was being shown in 12
installments on Monday nights, starting July 18, followed by a group discussion headed by Professor
David Wharton, of North Shore Community College. Attendance was as high as 48 people on some
nights, and averaged 28 people per showing. The series was shown on Tuesday nights at Beverly
Farms Branch.
Library display space for the library was arranged by Miss Moran, and a three-panel
photographic essay about Beverly Library is having a month's showing at the Essex Bank.
The trustees were invited to stop by the library at their leisure and read the departmental
reports in full.
Minutes of last meeting were read and accepted.
Committee Reports:
Administrative committee: Mr. Loring reported on boiler. Two engineers were interviewed,
and Mr. Clifton Chandler was hired to prepare "specs" and supervise installation. Advertisements for
bids were placed in newspapers and bid opening date is Sept. 24, at 3:00 P.M. $14,498 towards
purchase of a new boiler was appropriated by Board of Alderman at a special meeting.
Personnel Committee: Report on progress of union negotiations: Two meetings were held:
Friday morning, Aug. 12, and Friday, Sept. 2; with John Coogan, Caleb Loring, Frances Moran,
Elliot Small, union representative; and 2 staff members present. oral demands were presented. At
suggestion of Mr. Ayers, Trustees decided to refrain from any discussion or decisions on proposals
until they are presented in writing. Written demands are essential to correct interpretation.
Policy statement on attendance at professional meetings was requested by union. Mrs. Calish
submitted statement to Board - which was accepted with minor changes.
Mrs. Calish reported the following personnel have been hired to fill 3 vacancies in Staff.'
Judith Stockwell, Youth Services Coordinator (has M.L.S. grade 16) started 8/29/77. Cynthia
Knowlton - Library Assistant (Grade 5) has associate degree in Library Technology; started 7/18/77.
Charles Lumpkin, Technical Services and Acquisitions Librarian (Grade 16) has DES; started
9/16/77. Mr. Lumpkin's employment enabled us to meet requirements for minority employment under
Affirmative Action Program.
Director's Report: Reading Room Alterations:
O. P. Killam Company to start and complete installation of magazine shelving in Adult
Reading Room, in early October. Cost will run about $3,000, with the Friends of the Library making
a gift of most of the project. Two free-standing magazine shelving units have also been ordered, at
a total cost of $840, and will come from furniture fund.
The Department of public Works has stated they can remove shelving from present children' s
room and replace with shelving adequate for housing Reference Books. This will probably be done
this winter.
The upstairs room housing the microfilm readers and the room below, both severely damaged
from the drain stoppage, will be painted this fall.
Bookmobile: Trustees authorized Director to offer $13,000 to $15,000 to Attleboro, Mass. Public
Library for used Bookmobile, if vehicle passes an inspection by Mr. Anthony or Mr. Steedman of
Vocational H.S., or by other approved mechanic. (Majority Vote).
Correspondence:
Mrs. Vitale read letter from Mrs. John Komich, former observer from L. W. V. Miss Moran
suggested sending letter expressing our appreciation to Mrs. Komieh.
Adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
Esther Calish
Clerk
Attendance at Professional Meetings
Staff members may attend professional meetings and conferences at the discretion of the Director.
The Director's decision will be determined by the following considerations:
--- The absence will not interfere with service needs and pressing staff projects.
--- Requests for attendance at conferences of more than one day be submitted to the Director at least
one month in advance.
--- Requests to attend 1, or 1 day meetings be submitted to the Director at least 1 week in advance.
--- Written reports of meeting be submitted within one week after meeting.
-- Some reimbursements will be made at the discretion of the library director.