1980-02-14 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 02/14/1980
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Neil B. Olson, Lester C. Ayers, Richard L. BuckIey, Mary K.
Connors, John R. Coogan, Katherine L. Fanning, Dr. Edna M. McGlynn, Emily P. Morency, and
Nancy A. Piontek
Board members absent:
Others present:
Recorder: Barbara Bruno
Regular Meeting
Board of Trustees - Beverly Public Library
February 14, 1980
Roll Call of Members:
Present were: Neil B. Olson, Mary K. Connors, Dr. Edna McGlynn, Lester Ayers, Emily P. Morency,
Kay Fanning, Nancy Piontek, Richard Buckley. Also present were: Esther Calish and Barbara Bruno
The following documents were distributed: Minutes of the Executive Session from January 24, 1980,
January statistics, January financial report, 1980 budget, Personnel Roster, List of Trustees Names,
Addresses and Terms.
Minutes were accepted as presented. Motion made by Dr. McGlynn and seconded by Mary Connors.
Mr. Olson introduced and welcomed the new trustees, Nancy Piontek and Richard Buckley. Copies
of the letters of appreciation to Mr. Pohotsky and Mrs. Vitale which Mr. Olson had written were
circulated.
Committee Reports:
Administration Committee: Mrs. Calish reported that the Checkpoint installation will take
place Wednesday, February 20th. Targeting is well underway with the Reference and
Genealogy collections completed and a crew coming in on the February 18th holiday to work
on the circulating collection. The system should be operative by Thursday or Friday at which
time the downstairs door will be locked.
The new appliances, gifts of the Friends, have been installed in the staff room. The directional
and informational signs, also courtesy of the Friends, are in place on the main floor.
Personnel Committee: The youth services position has been posted. As soon as the
appointment has reared the Personnel Committee and the Board of Aldermen, it will be
permanent. The staff person being considered is Robin Fenn.
Finance Committee: Mrs. Calish will be on vacation from February 23rd to March 17th. The
transfer of funds to cover custodial overtime has been approved by the mayor. The state aid
money is up for a second reading. It will be used to improve our microtithe collection.
In regard to the monthly financial statement, Mrs. Calish pointed out the excess funds in
salaries due to the buy-back for Mr. Rudden and an untilled position. Some of this will go to
pay the retroactive settlement. The repairs money has been exhausted and any future expense
will have to come from the dog tax. The periodicals bill is due in March, part of which is paid
from a Friends gift. Next year, it is hoped that the entire periodicals budget will be covered
by the city.
At this point, Mr. Olson surrendered the chair to Nancy Piontek for the purpose of electing a
chairman for 1980. Mary Connots entered a nomination, seconded by Lester Ayers, for Mr. Olson
to continue as chairman. It was moved by Dr. MeGlynn and seconded by Mr. Ayers that nominations
be closed. Mr. Olson was elected by acclamation.
Mr. Olson resumed chairing the meeting. Upon motion of Dr. McGlynn, seconded by Kay Fanning,
Emily Morency was nominated for the position of Secretary. The motion to close nominations was
made by Mary Connors and seconded by Dr. McGlynn. Mrs. Morency was elected by acclamation.
The following Committee appointments were made for 1980:
Finance - John Coogan, Chairperson; Lester Ayers, Dr. Edna McGlynn, Mary Connors.
Personnel - Mary Connors, Chairperson; Richard Buckley, Emily Morency.
Administration - Neil Olson, Chairperson; Nancy Piontek, Kay Fanning, Richard Buckley.
Report of the Librarian:
Mrs. Calish reported that several agencies have been meeting for the purpose of coordinating
activities on early release days and other programs. The library will continue to run movies;
the Recreation Department will restrict their activities to athletics and the YMCA will
discontinue their program for early release days. We will attempt to promote more
cooperation for future projects.
From Departmental reports, Mrs. Calish called attention to the article on the bookmobile in
the North Shore Sunday, the success of the Farms Friends' book and bake sale and their first
book review session. Circulation reported the completion of the magazine inventory by our
volunteer, Mr. Hughes, for the E.C.C.L. cooperative, the progress on targeting, and the
increased activity on Sundays. Children and Youth Services now has six story hours with
demand for more. They will also have special craft programs during school vacation week.
Mrs. Calish stated that she would review several points of the Goals and Objectives at each
meeting. The completion of the personnel manual by June 1980 will be dependent on the
contract now under negotiation. She hope that some change can be made in the educational
reimbursement policy. Work
is progressing on micro~che acquisition. Charging out children's materials at the main desk
will be a result of the proposed automated circulation system. There is a need for formal
evaluations of staff based on management by objective principles. This last matter was
referred to the Personnel Committee.
Communications:
Mr. Olson read a letter from Tom Scully inviting Trustees to the Peabody Institute Library
to see a demonstration of the computer and the various tasks it performs.
Dr. McGlyrm asked if a letter had been sent to Anna Pesce expressing the appreciation of the
Trustees for her years of service to the library. It was moved by Mary Connors that a
precedent be established in this regard for employees retiring from the library. The motion
was seconded by Nancy Piontek and carded.
Emily Morency read a letter from Alice Harrison Barr concerning security systems. Mr. Olson
read one from Checkpoint.
Unfinished Business:
The allocation of network grant and computer terminal investment were tabled but are
designated to be the first items on the agenda at the next meeting. The Administration
Committee will meet and bring in a recommendation to the full Board.
New Business:
The Director made several proposals for trustee consideration: 1 ) an annual reception for staff
and trustees; 2) an orientation program for the Aldermen and other city officials which would
also have social overtones, possibly during National Library Week. These proposals will be
referred to the Personnel Committee; 3) also proposed was the closing of the library two or
three momings a year for meetings which would include the entire staff of the two libraries.
Mrs. Calish was advised to clear this with the Board about a month before she was ready to
have such a meeting.
Another topic was the forthcoming 125th anniversary of the library charter. A great deal of
trustee interest was expressed and this will be addressed more concretely at the next meeting.
Upon motion of Lester Ayers, seconded by Mary Connors, the meeting adjourned at 9:30
p.m.
The next regular meeting will be Thursday, March 20, 1980 at 7:45 p.m.
Barbara Bruno
Recorder