1977-10-20 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 10/20/1977
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: John R. Coogan, Lester C. Ayers, Katherine L. Fanning, Diane M.
Isenberg, Caleb Loring III, Oleg M. Pohotsky, and Beatrice R. Vitale
Board members absent: Douglas L. Henderson, and Frances M. Moran
Others present: Esther Calish, Library Director
Recorder: Esther Calish
Beverly Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
October 20, 1977
Present: Mr. Coogan, presiding: Mr. Ayers, Mrs. Fanning, Mrs. Isenberg, Mr. Loring, Mr. Pohotsky,
Mrs. Viiale, Mrs. Calish.
Minutes - with one correction - accepted.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Next meeting with Union Representative not set.
Administration Committee: Bids for boiler were advertised. Low bidder was A. J. Callahan.
Work is currently in progress.
Personnel Committee: Sid Altshuler, Bookmobile-Outreaeh Specialist will be retiring on Nov.
30, 1977.
Librarian's Report
Three letters complimenting library staff for excellent sendee were read. Copy of letter from
Atty. George A. Brown enclosed.
Youth Services Department Head reports a great deal of public library liaisson with schools
such as visits to classes; teachers meetings; many classes comint to the library. On-going children's
programs - three story hours a week, crafts programs, films and programs for Parents. Children's
Book Week - Nov. 14 - 20 will have several special programs, with author. Tan Aysleworth coming
up from New York to do three programs on Mon., Nov. 14. His specialty is vampires, ghosts and
movie monsters. Harold Sills will speak on Buster Keaton in conjunction with a Keaton movie Nov.
15; Nov. 17, Eileen Kneeland will lecture on the Wo~d of Children's Literature. There will also be
a party on Nov. 19 for children who participated in the Young Author's contest.
The Circulation Department expressed pleasure at the completion of the magazine shelving
and the consolidation of the circulating periodicals into one area in the adult Reading Room.
Renovations in preparation for the switching of the Reference Room and Children's Room are
underway. The target date was Christmas, but chances are it will be by Thanksgiving.
Bookmobile negotiations have been delayed due to the inability of Mr. Anthony and Mr. Steedman
of the Regional Vocational High School to get to Attleboro. At~er two weeks, problem was brought
to the Mayor who agreed to send suitable person down. up to this point, no mechanic had been to
Attleboro.
Mrs. Calish was authorized by Trustees to locate private mechanic to go down the following
week if there is no immediate action taken by aforementioned persons.
The report from the Beverly Farms Library expressed distress at destruction by vandals on
library premises. The trustees voted that charges shall immediately be pressed against any known
vandals.
Another issue brought up by the librarian was the lending of the 16 MM film and other AV
materials to schools. Most of the material being borrowed was returned in poor condition, and if this
material is shown in classrooms, it loses its effectiveness for library programs. The board stated that
since the school department has its own large Media Resources Center, such loans should not be
necessary. If any exception is to be made, the request should come from the Media Librarian of the
School Department who will accept responsibility for the condition of the films.
Mrs. Calish stated that a reappraisal of AN purchases was being made, and that it might be
more cost effective to rent films as needed and buy more audio cassettes, slides and super 8 MM films
for circulation to the general public.
Trustees went down to Reading Room to inspect new shelving. The cost of the magazine
shelving and the window counters is $3,240 with $3,000 being donated as a gift by the Friends.
Adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
Esther Calish
Clerk
dc/ec
enc. I