1977-11-18 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 11/18/1977
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: John R. Coogan, Katherine L. Fanning, Douglas L. Henderson, Caleb
Loring III, and Frances M. Moran
Board members absent: Lester C. Ayers, Diane M. Isenberg, Oleg M. Pohotsky, and Beatrice R.
Vitale
Others present:
Recorder: Esther Calish
Beverly Public Library
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
November 18, 1977 7:45 p.m.
Present: Mr. Coogan, presiding; Mr. Henderson, Mrs. Fanning, Miss Moran, and Mr. Loring
Minutes of the last meeting accepted.
Committee Reports: Finance - None
Administration - New boiler is working but not officially accepted. When it is given final
O.K, we will go on to Robertshaw controls.
Personnel - Union negotiations are still on-going.
Division Reports:
Circulation Department reports an increase of over 2,000 compared to October, 1976, despite
the fact that there was no bookmobile circulation, and work was being done to install new shelving
in Adult Reading Room and in Children's Room.
Technical Services was busy with routine tasks - pulling cards from card catalog, discarding
books, and updating the card catalog. Acquisitions for the month: 432 Adult, 26 Reference, 8 Young
Adult, 211 Children's Room, 150 Farms. 2,300 books weeded. Need for development of book
selection policy.
Audio-Visual department made major record purchase of 200 plus. This was to cover patrons'
requests, replacement of lost and damaged records. New record bins set up in the Adult Reading
Roam have increase the circulation. There is a need for listening stations, and cassette turntable
needed for listening stations. Because of the damage done to our own films when circulated, we are
planning to change our policy on acquisitions and lending of films. We will keep our own films for
in-house use only and, instead of purchasing, we will rent films for our own special programs when
necessary. Future plans: Add 8 mm film collection for film for public use. Audio-Visual equipment:
New projector ordered for Farms. Sound slide projector ordered for in-house use and out-house
loans. Hope to use it when we go to North Shore Shopping Mail for exhibit. Bookings of meeting
rooms increasing. We are getting newspaper and radio cooperation. Essex County Cooperating
Libraries (ECCL) may try cooperative library publicity.
Mr. Henderson questioned possibility ofvandaiism if we do not use the bottom shelves in the
stacks.
Suggestion made to take pictures (before-and-after shots) of our aiterations.
Youth Services department reports a very busy month. Young Authors contest over 60
children submitted stories. Young Adult newspaper now being edited. Full length movies are
scheduled for the winter. Junior High teachers are bringing students in for tours. Youth Services
Librarian is giving book taiks at Bfiscoe Junior High. Tour of library given to sixth graders. Programs
for mothers during story hours. Children's book selection committee: Mrs. Hutchins, Mrs. Stockwell
and Miss Nichelson.
Children's Room a busy place this month. The Children's Book Week programs very
successful. Tom Aylesworth gave a taik on the occult at the Faxms and the Main Library, and Harol
Sill's program was on Buster Keaton. Film "Oliver" was shown to large crowd. Mrs. Hutchins gave
book talk at Hardie School.
Farms Branch, too, had a very busy month. Miss Nichelson and Mr. Zukroff purchased
records at the Harvard Coop. Miss Nichelson visited the Farms school and talked to the teachers
about the library. Visited Centerville School. Tom Aylesworth gave taik on the occult. Discipline
problems are better. Classes from Landmark School have visited the library. PWD have not solved
the dry wells problem. In regard to vandaiism - Trustees advise that librarian get names and they'll
press charges.
Mr. Henderson made motion: Inform Department Heads that we've heard their reports and
we're very glad to hear what they are doing. Motion seconded. Also, staff to be told that they are
welcome to attend trustees' meetings.
Communications:
(Mr. Coogan) We will try to get appropriation of $14,018.25, 1978 direct state aid grant
(based on figures submitted for 1976/77 FY).
Planning Board citizen participation forum - first meeting Dec. 6th at GAR Hail at 7:30 p.m.
Cail from Mrs. Brown, former librarian, regarding changes being made in library.
Librarian' s Report
Response from older people re: bookmobile. Very happy that we are going to have
bookmobile service again.
Donated books to Hogan Regionai Center in Danvers.
NSCC is using our library for courses for retired people.
Bookmobile - appraiser's letter read. Kepairs will cost $165.00. If body is properly prepared,
it could stand being left outdoors rather than garaged. Hopefully, Northeast Regionai Voke School
will do repairs.
Mr. Whitaker, City Building Inspector, and Mr. Halloran, State Inspector, inspected the Main
Library building. Recommendations: additional handrails on staircase from main floor to top floor;
fire alarm warning system as required one that would sound throughout the building; carpcling for
the stairway leading from min floor to top floor. Discussion as to whether these items would be
requested on a supplementary budget now, or requested as Capital Improvement items on 1978/79
budget. Also, EXIT signs needed.
Need money for books for Bookmobile. Mrs. Calish requested permission to approach local
organizations for money to stock it with books. Permission granted.
Miss Moran raised the question as to whether or not we could do something legal now so that
funds in Katherine Loring Fund for building of Children's Library could be used to refurbish the
Children's Room when it is moved upstairs. Mr. Loring will discuss matter with his family. Probably
would have to petition the Probate Court through the City Solicitor. Most helpful is Loring family
would express their agreement.
Mr. Coogan reported on meeting with union. Requests presented in writing from union:
sub-committee working on these. Meeting held last night - great deal of progress made on the
contract as a whole. Next meeting to be held Dec. 7m.
Mrs. Calish brought up matter of holiday hours. We are to close at 6 p.m. on Wednesday
Nov. 23 (day before Thanksgiving); close all day Sat., Dec. 24 - this year only - and; close at noon
on Sat., Dec. 31 st. Approved unanimously.
Adjourned: 9:35 p.m.
Esther Calish
Clerk