2001-02-27City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board:
Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date:
February 27, 2001 7:45 P.M.
Place:
Beverly Public Library
Board members present:
Diane Costa, Lindsay Diehl, Neil Olson, Kevin O’Reilly, Joanne
Panunzio, Helga Senko, and John Young
Board members absent:
Edward Brindle, Kay Fanning
Others present:
Thomas Scully, Anna Langstaff
Recorder:
Anna Langstaff
John Young presided.
Neil Olson made the motion, seconded by Diane Costa, to accept the minutes of January 23,
2001 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None
Committee Reports
Personnel: Lindsay Diehl reported that the personnel committee met to discuss the library
director’s evaluation form. Lindsay Diehl distributed copies of standards for new evaluation
form. The full Board discussed the possibility of using a 360 degree evaluation. After a lot of
discussion it was decided to keep the staff evaluation of the director separate from the trustees’
evaluation of the director.
Administration: No report.
Finance: Tom Scully reported that the budget should be voted on at the March meeting.
Long Range Planning: Diane Costa reported on the Long Range Planning Committee Meeting
held on February 27, 2001. She reported that the report for the Long Range Plan should be
completed by October. A committee that will include groups from City government, education,
human services, general users, businesses, and seniors will be formed to provide input on the
Library’s goals and objectives. The next Long Range Planning Committee will meet on March
27, 2001 at 6:30 P.M.
Report of the Library Director
1) Copies of the Director’s report (on file with these minutes) were mailed to Trustees.
2) Mike Tracchia: Mike Tracchia, one of the Library’s full-time custodians, has been appointed to
the part-time position of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the city of Beverly. He will
continue as Library custodian. He will be using the Library van for both jobs. 3) Skinner
Appraisal: Tom Scully reported on the Skinner appraisal done at the Farms Library. 4) Online
Databases: Tom Scully would like to do an electronic “show and tell” at the next trustees’
meeting.
Communications
1) Symposium: MBLC will hold a trustee symposium on March 31, 2001. 2) Reception: Boston
Public Library and MBLC will hold a reception to introduce Massachusetts Center for the Book
and launch Massachusetts Book Awards on March 2, 2001. 3) State Aid: There was an
additional disbursement of state aid.
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
2) Upcoming Events: March 25, 2001 Nancy Robinson Dedication Ceremony; April 4, 2001
Friends Annual Meeting, Ray Bates – Shipwrecks North of Boston; May 5 &6, 2001 Book Sale;
March 26, 2001 Democracy in America Talk.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M.
LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT
February 27, 2001
Budgets
- The FY2002 budget needs to be completed and in the City’s computer system by the end
of April.
Electronic Library -
The Library computer system is now making a library patron’s record
accessible from home. Patrons can request a PIN number by bringing their library card or ID to the
circulation desk. Once they have this number, they can access their own patron record to see a list
of the items they have checked out, due dates of any items checked out, and any items that are
overdue. They can also renew items once, if no other patron has placed a hold on the item. Within
a few months, they will also be able to place their own reserve requests from home.
Within a week or two, the library will begin offering computer access to books on NetLibary.
NetLibrary is a database of electronic books that can be read on a patron’s computer. The service
will consist of over 3,000 titles selected by the staff of the Boston Public Library which is managing
the service for library’s throughout the state. The titles will be primarily non-fiction books of use to
patrons doing research rather than pleasure reading. The service is totally funded by the
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Beverly Farms Library
- Our fund raising continues with planning under way for a Fall fund raising
gala. Our committee has had a first planning meeting with Clara Batchelor of CBA Associates, our
landscape architect. John Margolis, an architect, who is on both our committee and the Beverly
Farms Improvement Society Committee will help us to make sure our landscaping is coordinated with
the Improvement Society’s plans for improvements to the West Street business district. Our
landscape architect will prepare two different plans for community reaction, hopefully early in April.
The surveyors have begun surveying the site and will do test borings and other geotechnical tests as
soon as weather permits.