2007-02-27
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: Tuesday, February 27,2007 7:10 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Todd Balf, Roseann Benson, Alyse Gause, John Kelley, Anthony
Kline, Neil Olson, Kevin O'Reilly, and Joanne Panunzio
Board members absent: Kathleen McMahon
Others present: Patricia Cirone, Anna Langstaff, John Murray
Recorder: Anna Langstaff
Todd Balf presided.
Neil Olson made the motion, seconded by Joanne Panunzio, to accept the minutes of the Long
Range Planning Committee of January 9, 2007 as read. Motion passed.
Joanne Panunzio made the motion, seconded by John Kelley, to accept the minutes of the Long
Range Planning Committee of January 23, 2007 as read. Motion passed.
Joanne Panunzio made the motion, seconded by John Kelley, to accept the minutes of the regular
meeting of January 23, 2007 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
Neil Olson introduced John Murray, library supporter and former City Councilor. Mr. Murray
proposed donating the King's Grant gazebo to the Beverly Farms Library. The concept would be
to make it a veterans memorial gazebo honoring veterans of foreign wars, specifically disabled
American veterans. Todd Balfthanked John Murray for his presentation.
Election of Officers
Election of officers was postponed until the next regular meeting.
Committee Reports
Personnel: No report.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: Alyse Gause reported that the Long Range Planning Committee met
February 27, 2007 and finalized plans for printing, assembling, and mailing the survey. Target date
for mailing is March 22, return deadline is April 9. Trustees reviewed cover letters.
Report of the Library Director
1) Decertified Libraries: Because of financial difficulties, the Saugus Public Library and the
Stoneham Public Library may lose their certification. Both library directors have requested Noble
library directors to ask their trustees to vote to refuse Saugus and Stoneham residents borrowing
privileges if their libraries are closed or decertified. The trustees discussed how the Beverly Public
Library's Policy on Lending to Residents of Municipalities with Closed or Decertified Libraries
would affect residents of both towns, and in particular Saugus because their library is threatened
with closure.
Anthony Kline made the motion, seconded by John Kelley, to:
Affirm the Policy on Lending to Residents of Municipalities with Closed or
Decertified Libraries as it presently exists. Motion passed 7-1. Anthony Kline
voting against.
2) Action Plan: Patricia Cirone distributed revised 2008 Action Plan. 3) Lecture Hall Video
System: Patricia Cirone is writing a grant to obtain a remote video system for the Sohier Room to
allow taping of library programs that can be sent directly to BevCam. 4) Downloadable Video:
The library is participating in a trial of downloadable videos. 5) Downloadable Audiobooks:
Usage is increasing for downloadable audiobooks. 6) Book Challenge: The book challenge
committee decided to retain the challenged book in the children's room and to add a summary of
the book to the catalog.
Communications
None
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
1) Therapy Dog: Roseann Benson described therapy dog training that can help children who have
trouble reading. 2) Helga Senko: Anna Langstaff asked trustees to think of a way to thank Helga
Senko for all her years of service as a library trustee.
The next regular meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, March 27,2007 at 7:00 P.M. at the Main
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.