1984-06-12 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 06/12/1984
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Nell B. Olson, Lester C. Ayers, Richard L. Buckley, Connie E.
Dooling, Katherine L. Fanning, Kathleen M. Hen~chon, Kevin J. Murphy, Susan M. Salt, and
Nancy A. White
Board members absent:
Others present: Vada Komich, Frances J. McCarthy, Helen Nadler, League of Women Voters
Recorder: Nancy Abetman
Regular Meeting
Board of Trustees - Beverly Public Library
June 12, 1984 7:30 p.m.
Present: Neil Olson, Kathy Hemichon, Kay Fanning, Connie Dooling, Susan Salt, Nancy White,
Kevin Murphy, Richard Buckley, Les Ayers (arrived 7:45 P.m.)
Also present: Esther Calish, Nancy Abeman; Miriam Zoll, Beverly Times; Vada Komich, Fran
McCarthy, Helen Nadler, League of Women Voters.
Disposition of the minutes of the previous meeting: On the minutes of the May 14,1984 regular
meeting, Mr. Buckley moved that the minutes be accepted; seconded by Mrs. Salt. Motion passed.
On the minutes of the May 21, 1984 Special Meeting, Mr. Buckley moved to accept the minutes with
the following change: In paragraph #1, omit the second and third sentences from "Roll call" through
"motion failed." There shotrid be no reference to the roll call vote. Mrs. Salt seconded. The minutes
were accepted as corrected.
Public presentation to, discussion with the Board: Ms. Nadler, President, League of Women Voters
presented the consensus update study of the library unit.
Committee Reports: Finance: Mrs. Calish noted that the library budget had been approved at City
Hall without change.
Personnel: Ms. White distributed a written report of the meeting of June 7 and recommendations. Ms.
White moved that the Board of Trustees forward a request to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for
permission to appoint Bernice Gilman as Temporary Circulation Department Head at Grade 11
beginning July 1, 1984 until the position is permanently filled. Mrs. Dooling seconded. Motion
passed. Ms. White moved that the Board of Trustees request permission from the Mayor and Board
of Aldermen to fill the Circulation Department Head position with a professional librarian at Grade
16. Mrs. Salt seconded. Under discussion, Mrs. Fanning explained her dissenting position. Motion
passed.
Administration: 1) Mr. Murphy noted that he had prepared a letter for the Chairman to sign and send
to the Mayor regarding the list of repairs to the library. 2) He reported that, regarding the chimney
repairs, the Mayor requested that the bid be reviewed with several chimney experts. 3) He also
reported that he reviewed the deed to the land for the Farms library with several attorneys, and he
does not see the legal need to approach Mrs. Conrad for permission for the ramp. 4) Bids on the roof
are due June 27, 1984.
Librarian's Report: 1) Mrs. Calish noted the amount of Mrs. Penta's sick-leave buyback to which she
was entitled upon retirement. Ms. White moved, and Mrs. Dooling seconded, that a request for the
buy-back be sent to City Hall. Motion passed. 2) She brought to the Trustee's attention that the
monthly statistics sheet now includes the number of reserves (holds) placed, which gives indication
of our fill rate. 3) She stated that she will mail department reports to the Trustees. 4) She discussed
the summer children's reading club, Go for the Gold and that T-shirts are on sale in the Children's
Room. 5) She discussed the need to hire more part-time people to expand to full hours in the fall and
suggested that during the summer the library will be open 9-12 on Saturdays due to public need. Ms.
White moved that the library be open Saturdays 9-12 during the summer. Mr. Buckley seconded.
Motion passed. Proper publicity will be given. Mrs. Calish will discuss the full schedule at the next
meeting, in addition to reporting on the NOBLE meeting and the need for a microcomputer.
Communications: 1) A letter was read from Mrs. Conrad regarding the ramp at the Farms. Mrs.
Fanning moved, and Mrs. Salt seconded, that a letter be sent to Mrs. Conrad thanking her for the
proposed landscaping. Motion passed. 2) A letter was received from the Friends of the Farms
regarding the ramp delay. The library director was requested to compose a letter to the Friends
updating them on the status of the ramp.
Unfinished Business: Mrs. Dooling asked about the parking lot situation. Mrs. Calish reported that
the signs have not yet been done.
New Business: The next Board meeting will be July 23, 1984.
Mr. Murphy moved to adjourn. Mrs. Salt seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
Nancy S. Aberman
Recorder
LIBRARY UNIT - CONSENSUS
March 22, 1984
UPDATE STUDY
1. How can the Board of Trustees and the Library Administration meet the needs of the
community?
a. Ensure that there is continued input from the public to the Board of Trustees.
b. Limit the terms of the Trustees to 2 consecutive terms.
c. Periodically conduct a survey to determine the needs of the community. Evaluate the
results and make them known to the public.
d. Perform their duties with the highest level of professionalism.
2. How can the library services be improved?
a. Provide full access to the library for the handicapped.
b. Encourage use of the bookmobile to its fullest potential.
c. Encourage outreach programs including the Beverly Farms branch.
d. Increase the availability of parking.
e. Support efforts toward building expansion.
f. increase library hours to 69 per week.
g. Maintain the high standards of the reference room.
3. In view of Proposition 2 ¼, what funding resources are available to augment the budget?
a. The Board of Trustees and the library administration should be encouraged to
aggressively pursue any and all grants.
b. Encourage all fund-raising efforts by library personnel, Friends of the Library, and the
Board of Trustees.
4. What are our priorities for the library at this time?
a. The League should continue to have an observer at all meetings and encourage citizen
participation as stated in the by-laws Article 4, Section 3H.
b. As a priority, the League again urges better handicapped access,
c. Expansion of library hours.
d. Expansion of library space so that the library can more effectively serve its function of
providing for the community. This refers specifically to books, periodicals, and other
services it is uniquely designed to perform.
Comments:
There was strong support for the maintenance of the city budget for the library, regardless of other
sources of funding. More financial information was needed to come to consensus on specific budget
priorities.