Library Trustees Minutes Jan 25 2022 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: January 25, 2021, 4:00 P.M.
Place: Remote Meeting on Zoom
Board members present: Margaret Altman, Mary Behrle, Marshall Handly, Cathryn Keefe
O'Hare, Ivy Mahan, Kevin O'Reilly, Joanne Panunzio, Myron Schirer-Suter
Board members absent: Colleen Michaels
Others present: Allison Babin, Meghan Karasin
Recorder: Meghan Karasin
Kevin O'Reilly presided. Meghan Karasin stated that the meeting was being recorded.
Marshall Handly made the motion, seconded by Cathryn Keefe O'Hare, to accept the minutes of
the meeting of November 16, 2021. Roll call vote approved, 8 to 0. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None.
Committee Reports
Personnel: No report.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: No report.
Report of the Library Director
1. Fiscal Year 2022 Budget: The budget is on track but does not yet show the impact of union
negotiations. The library unit has negotiated a 2.25%raise for its 15 members. The full time
budget line can absorb about 1.25%, but not the whole raise. Allison Babin is in discussions with
Bryant Ayles about this and expects a transfer in to the budget to cover the shortfall.
In addition to the raise, the union has negotiated a $150 training stipend annually; a $500
one-time retention payment; and an optional $350 First Aid/CPR stipend annually for those who
qualify. These stipends can be partially absorbed in the training budget line. Allison Babin is in
discussions with Bryant Ayles regarding the shortfall and the transfer needed for the raises of the
Director and Assistant Director. There should be significant changes to the budget report next
month.
Cathryn Keefe O'Hare asked how staff development differs from training. Allison Babin
explained that the staff development line covers professional memberships and courses or
meetings staff members may choose to attend. The training stipends are separate and each union
staff member will definitely receive the stipend.
2. Building Issues: In December, the Department of Public Service (DPS)rented a 60ft lift to do
repairs on the roof and some window trim. There still are a number of leaks that they couldn't
address and additional work will need to be done.
For the snowstorm on Friday January 7th, the initial directive from the Mayor was to open the
library and Allison Babin informed the staff of this. All other NOBLE libraries were delayed or
closed and the timing of the storm was concerning for staff's commute and the ability of the
custodians to manage snow clearing for two buildings. After some phone calls, the Mayor
changed his mind, and staff were informed of the new decision. Allison Babin had a follow up
discussion with the Mayor about the impact of this and how things could be improved going
forward.
The Sohier Room is the library's biggest meeting room and the only one with a built-in
audiovisual system. While the library had been planning an upgrade before COVID, it is now
even more apparent that the system needs replacement. Allison Babin has met with two vendors
so far and is working on getting a total of three quotes, with the goal of upgrades in the next 6-12
months.
The library has purchased a 50" TV for digital signage in the main library to direct patrons to
meeting rooms and programs, and to advertise other library programs.
3. Routine Review of Challenge Procedure with Staff Librarians: There has been an increase in
book challenges across the country. Allison Babin reviewed the challenge procedure with the
staff. The staff workshopped some items for clarity but made no significant changes to the
procedure. If a challenge did escalate to a certain level, it would involve the participation of at
least one member of the Trustees. Cathryn Keefe O'Hare asked if the library has ever received a
challenge and how it was resolved. Allison Babn stated that it did happen once and the book was
kept in the collection.
4. Update on New Website for Library: The library has obtained three quotes from vendors to
revamp the library's website. Ona Ridenour, Head of Communications, is the project lead and
has done a great job negotiating needs and prices. A contract with a preferred vendor is under
review with the city. The bulk of the funds to pay for the website will come from trust funds,
with a portion from the municipal budget.
5. State Aid: At the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)board meeting in
December, Beverly was officially certified in the Fiscal Year 2022 State Aid to Public Libraries
Program. The initial payment of$35,723.94 has already been received by the city and the second
payment is expected in late March or early April.
6. COVD-19 Impact: The library has had a number of employees with close contacts in the
home, or who have contracted COVID-19 themselves. This has put a strain on scheduling.
Thus far, staff have been able to make it work without discussing closing or cutting hours. The
Children's Department has paused in-person programming for the youngest patrons, especially
those who can't yet be vaccinated. They hope to resume in-person programming with this age
group in March. The library still has in-person programming for older children, teens, and adults.
The library was able to obtain 200 rapid tests through FEMA/MEMA at no cost to us. These
have been helpful for staff who have been exposed, and have allowed peace of mind for
returning to work. The library has obtained N95 and KN95 masks for staff from the emergency
management department at the airport. Mary Behrle asked if these masks are just for staff.
Allison Babin said that they were, but that the library continues to offer surgical masks to the
public.
7. Community Engagement: The Black Lives Matter mural was delivered on Friday January 21,
2022. The custodians are working on building supports for its hanging, ahead of the unveiling on
Tuesday February 1, 2022.
The library partnered with the city's Sustainability Director to be a collection point for styrofoam
recycling from January 4 to January 7. Marshall Handly asked what happens to the styrofoam.
Allison Babin stated that there was a special arrangement with a facility that can break down and
reuse that particular type.
Katie Nelson, Teen Librarian, is offering monthly chess nights in collaboration with the Beverly
Recreation Department. Additionally, she just launched the 26th Annual Teen Poetry Contest.
Allison Babin thanked Trustee Cathryn Keefe O'Hare for serving as a judge once again.
The library is hosting an author visit this weekend for local authors JR and Vanessa Ford. They
will be reading from their picture book, Calvin, which features a transgender boy as he prepares
for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time.
8. Security: On Wednesday November 17th there was an assault and battery on the Essex Street
steps and sidewalk involving a man and woman who attacked a disabled, unhoused man. The
library was open but staff were unaware of the incident until the police notified Allison Babin the
next day. No Trespass letters were issued to the perpetrators through the Chief of Police. The
Chief also offered to increase walkthroughs of the building. Cathryn Keefe O'Hare asked if the
man was ok. Allison Babin stated that he was.
Sergeant Dave Costa was promoted and is no longer part of the Beverly Police Department's
Community Impact Unit. He connected Allison Babin with Sergeant Brown, the new supervisor
of the unit, who has talked with both Allison and Meghan.
The state offered a Cybersecurity Training Awareness Grant Program. The city received the grant and
the library has requested 25 seats for the training.
9. Friends of the Beverly Public Library: The Flynn Family Foundation has once again donated
$5000 to the Children's Room. These donations, which come to us through Sylvia Fermin, have
already funded the renovations of the Story Time Room and the Arts and Crafts Room. The
library is hoping to use this new donation as part of a larger renovation to the Children's Room,
funded mostly through State Aid.
The Friends are now actively accepting book donations, as pre-pandemic. They are asking
patrons to limit donations to two bags or boxes and they are no longer accepting DVDs.
There are three book sales tentatively planned for the year, in March, June, and November. They
will be using a Thursday-Sunday model, which they found was successful for their November
2021 sale.
10. Personnel: In November, a part-time children's librarian resigned to take a full time position
elsewhere. The library used this opportunity to look at how it is staffing all departments. One
deficiency is that there is only one full-time librarian in the Children's Room. Two other
full-time employees split their time between Children's and elsewhere. It was decided that one of
those split positions would move to Children's full time, with the approval of the union and
Human Resources. This has been beneficial to the Children's Department and has created a
second-in-command in Childrens.
The library then posted for a part-time reference librarian position and has hired Jianna
Christopher, previously a substitute librarian.
11. Trustee Appointment: The Mayor recommended Cathryn Keefe O'Hare for reappointment to
the Board of Trustees and this was approved by the City Council earlier this month.
12. Programs: For adults, the library is hosting Black History:Northshore Perspectives and is
collaborating with the Beverly Council on Aging for Exploring and Collaging Our Stories. For
teens, there's Chess Night at the Library, Valentines, and Dungeons & Dragons programs. For
children, there's Music & Movement with MaryBeth Maes, KatieBug Crafts, and the author visit
by JR and Vanessa Ford.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
None.
The next regular meeting of the board will be held virtually on Tuesday February 15, 2022 at
4PM.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:47 PM.