Library Trustees Minutes Feb 15 2022 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: February 15, 2022, 4:00 P.M.
Place: Remote Meeting on Zoom
Board members present: Margaret Altman, Mary Behrle, Marshall Handly, Cathryn Keefe
O'Hare, Ivy Mahan, Colleen Michaels, Kevin O'Reilly, Joanne Panunzio, Myron Schirer-Suter
Board members absent:
Others present: Allison Babin, Bruce Doig, Meghan Karasin
Recorder: Meghan Karasin
Kevin O'Reilly presided. Meghan Karasin stated that the meeting was being recorded.
Joanne Panunzio made the motion, seconded by Colleen Michaels, to accept the minutes of the
meeting of November 16, 2021. Roll call vote approved, 8 to 0 with Altman, Behrle, Handly,
O'Hare, Mahan, Michaels, O'Reilly, and Panunzio voting in favor. Motion passed.
Election of Officers
Marshall Handly made the motion, seconded by Ivy Mahan, to nominate Kevin O'Reilly to serve
as Chairman. Roll Call approved 8 to 0 with Altman, Behrle, Handly, O'Hare, Mahan, Michaels,
O'Reilly, and Panunzio voting in favor. Motion passed.
Margaret Altman made the motion, seconded by Marshall Handly, to nominate Joanne Panunzio
to serve as Secretary. Roll call vote approved 8 to 0 with Altman, Behrle, Handly, O'Hare,
Mahan, Michaels, O'Reilly, and Panunzio voting in favor. Motion passed.
Myron Schirer-Suter joined the meeting at 4:09PM
Appointment of Subcommittee Members and Chairperson(s)
Kevin O'Reilly reappointed all members to their previous committees:
1. Personnel -Panunzio (Chair), Behrle, Schirer-Suter, Michaels
2. Administration - O'Reilly (Chair), Behrle, Handly, Panunzio
3. Finance -Handly (Chair),Altman, Schirer-Suter, Mahan
4. Long-Range Planning -Behrle (Chair),Altman, Handly, O'Hare, Mahan, Michaels,
O'Reilly, Panunzio, Schirer-Suter
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 library budget is on track. There have been two transfers into
the Library Director and Assistant Director salary lines to cover raises given at the beginning of
the fiscal year. Some money has been expended out of the training line for the $150 stipend each
library union member is paid annual. Some of the remaining funds in that line will go toward
other contractual obligations. The paperwork for the raises and retro pay for library union staff
have gone through. Joanne Panunzio asked about funding for the library union raises and if it
will come from other areas of the library budget. Allison Babin replied that she is in discussions
with Bryant Ayles about those funds. Bruce Doig stated that typically the City would transfer
funds to cover the raises. Allison Babin said that this year there is some overage in the full-time
line that may cover some of the raises.
2. Building Issues: The library buildings were closed on Saturday January 29 and Sunday
January 30 because of the blizzard. The custodians did a great job with snow removal. Allison
Babin showed a picture of the Winter Street entrance, with icicles that form after a snowfall.
After this storm the falling ice cracked 2 of the glass panels above the door. The falling ice and
snow necessitates closing that entrance frequently after storms. The city is aware and the library
is hopeful that repairs to this roof and entry can be incorporated into the work done on the HVAC
system. The library closed early on Friday February 4th due to the ice storm.
3. Community Engagement: The Black Lives Matter Mural unveiling ceremony was held on
February 1. Many City Councilors attended. The mural was unveiled by two high school students
and there were speeches by the Mayor, the Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion, and the Library Director. It was a great opportunity to have people in the
teen room. Joe Bonaiuto and Mike Spiridigliozzi did an amazing job hanging the mural. The
library is participating in the Annual Boston Bruins PJ drive and pajamas can be donated in the
Children's Room, the Farms and at the Bookmobile.Katie Nelson, Head of Teen Services, ran a
pop-up program for teens to make valentines for senior citizens. Ten teens came and made 60
valentines for seniors. Katie worked with the senior center to get those distributed within the
community.
4. North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE)Updates: Ron Gagnon of NOBLE created a
graphic about the great value that NOBLE brings to the community. Allison Babin showed the
graphic. NOBLE is working on launching an E-Card project, with assistance from the
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This would allow residents to get an e-card just
by visiting the website. The underlying technology would verify the patron's identity and
address. This would make getting a library card much easier and faster. Allison Babin will attend
a demonstration of this software this week. The cost should be low due to network collaboration
and some state funding.
5. Personnel: The Director and Assistant Director have begun meeting individually with each
department head to discuss goals for the year. Lisa Ryan, Head of Reference, will speak at the
Massachusetts Library Association Conference in Hyannis in May. Her talk is entitled Self-Care
and Holistics Wellness: Programming and Collections in Libraries. Allison Babin shared recent
positive feedback from patrons. Graham Goss,Assistant Communications Librarian, was praised
by a patron who had booked a room for a community event. The patron noted that Graham was
phenomenally responsive and helpful. Kate Carpine, Children's Librarian, was praised by an
email from a parent who thanked her for running a graphic novel book club and for its impact on
her son. The library has resumed quarterly reader's advisory training for staff. Jerusha Maurer
leads this effort where staff pick a genre, read a book, and Jerusha leads a focused discussion on
the qualities and appeal of that genre. This quarter the genre is Science Fiction.
Mary Behrle asked if the company redesigning the library website will also host the site. Allison
Babin explained that NOBLE currently hosts our website but will discontinue offering hosting
services. The library will need a new provider but this is relatively inexpensive - about
$500-$1000 per year.
Kevin O'Reilly asked if there are any updates on the HVAC system. Allison Babin stated that
there are not.
6. Programs: For adults, there's a film screening of The 13th, and a series of workshops with the
Babson Financial Literacy Project. Teens have Chess Night at the Library. Childrens has Lego
Club and Movement and Music with MaryBeth Maes.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
None.
The next regular meeting of the board will be held virtually on Tuesday March 15, 2022 at 4PM.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:38 PM.