1998-02-12 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee: Long Range Planning Committee
Date: 02/12/1998
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Diane J. Costa, Lindsay A. DieM, Margaret C. Goodwin, Neil B.
Olson, Helga Senko, and John g. Young
Board members absent: Edward E. Brindle, Katherine L. Fanning, and Keyin S. O'Reilly
Others present:
Recorder: Anna Langstaff
Long Range Planning Committee Meeting
Board of Trustees- Beverly Public Library
February 12, 1998 6:00 P.M.
Present: Lindsay Diehi, Helga Senko, Neil Olson, John Young, Diane Costa, Margaret Goodwin
Also Present: Thomas Scully, Anna Langstaff
Margaret Goodwin presided.
The Long Range Planning Committee met to discuss the long range plan.
Margaret Goodwin wondered whether a description of major user groups should be included in the
mission statement.
There was a discussion on what should be goals and what should be objectives. The goals would be
in general those things such as services that you would like to see available over the long term that
meet the needs of the community. There is no specific objective or action plan to achieve a goal.
However, objectives and goals are closely related.
Long Range Plan Issues: Committee members reviewed long rang plan issues.
SERVICES
1. "Equalize access to library services by patrons not living near library buildings." "equalize" should
be changed to "enhance" Tom Scully suggested that if evidence shows that geography impacts use
of the library then this should be identified as a problem in the report, while at the same time
suggesting that this is perhaps something that the library cannot solve at this time. It was agreed that
this item be identified as a goal.
2. "Work with other community resources to promote literacy." It was agreed that the libraW could
identify those groups that are involved in literacy and offer the support of the libraW. The libraW
should continue to communicate with reading teachers/schools on a regular basis. It was suggested
that the Children's Department could expand its book talk programs in the schools. It was agreed that
this item be identified as an objective.
3. "Provide programs that enrich the cultural and educational life of the community."
The library already does a good job in this area, especially in providing programs for which the library
does not have to pay. It was agreed that the library could look for grant monies to fund additional
programs. It was agreed that this item be identified as an objective.
4. "Provide community awareness of library services." The library will continue to advertise its
services using newsletters, cable TV, newspapers, etc. The library already does a good job in this
area. The library website will be maintained and up-dated. It was agreed that this item be identified
as an objective.
5. "Provide community training in use of library resources and services." It was agreed that there
would be an action plan for short term objectives as well as a long term goal of funding a position to
provide the training.
6. "Make facilities available for use by community groups." The library will continue to make its
facilities available for use by community groups.
COLLECTION
1. "Provide funds for collection development adequate to the needs of the community." Tom Scully
explained that you can tell the condition of the collection by looking at:
1. how many items does the library have to borrow
2. can we satisfy/not satisfy reference questions
3. does the library have a balanced collection
4. the age of the collection
5. responses to surveys
It was agreed that "provide" should be changed to "enhance."
It was agreed that this item be identified as a goal.
Poss~le objectives would be:
1. evaluate trust fund investments
2. review investments with trust fund commission every year
3. fund raise
4. lobby city council
5. continue to receive state grams
2. "Provide system of collection evaluation for acquisitions and de-accessioning." NOBLE provides
collection evaluation through its collection management reports. It was agreed that this item be
identified as a goal.
3. "Plan for electronic remote accessing of library resources." The library has moved beyond this so
it was suggested to change it to read "Continue to support or expand electronic remote accessing of
library resources." It was agreed that this item be identified as an objective.
4. "Provide for materials for persons not able to use the traditional library collection." This topic
encompasses handicapped access issues, equipment for disabled patrons, talking books, and large
print books.
It was agreed that this item be identified as an objective.
There was a discussion about whether the library should provide foreign language books. The library
can obtain small foreign language book collections from the Boston Public Library.
Through community outreach the h~ary needs to let people in the community know the availability
of this program.
Another topic that could fall under the collection category is the maintenance of the book collection.
This would include repair and bindcry of books. After some discussion the trustees decided to wait
to decide whether to include this topic as a goal or objective, or whether to include it at all.
STAff
1. "Provide adequate staffing to meet service demands and to devdop new programs." "provide"
should be changed to "pursue." It was agreed that this item be identified as an objective.
2. "Provide salaries which are sufficient to attract and retain outstanding staff." "provide" should be
changed to "pursue." It was agreed that this item be identified as an objective.
3. "Provide funds for continuing education and staff development." delete "funds for" It was agreed
that this item be identified as a goal.
After some discussion it was agreed that all three topics could fall under objectives and goals.
FACILITIES
1. "Adequately fund routine maintenance."
2. "Provide capital plan." It was agreed that this item be identified as an objective.
3. "Provide additional parking." It was agreed that this item be identified as a goal.
4. "Provide annual funding for furniture and equipment." Creating a separate line item for computer
equipment should be an objective. Improvements to Farms Library should be an objective.
Tom Scully will send out a draf~ before the next long range planning meeting.
The next meeting ofthe Long Range Planning Committee will be Thursday, March 12, 1998 at 6:00
P.M.
Anna Langstaff, Recorder