LibraryTrusteesSeptember2017Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017 6:00 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Margaret Altman, Mary Behrle, Ivy Mahan, Neil Olson, Kevin
O'Reilly, Myron Schirer -Suter
Board members absent: Marshall Handly, Anthony Kline, Joanne Panunzio
Others present: Anna Langstaff, Allison Babin, Bruce Doig
Recorder: Allison Babin
Kevin O'Reilly presided.
Myron Schirer -Suter made the motion, seconded by Neil Olson, to accept the minutes of the
regular meeting of June 27, 2017 as read. Motion passed.
Neil Olson made the motion, seconded by Margaret Altman, to accept the minutes of the Long
Range Planning Committee meeting of August 22, 2017 as read. 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) FY2017 Budget: Anna Langstaff reviewed the FY2018 budget. 2) Personnel: Meghan Karasin
has been hired as the new Head of Young Adult Services. Brenda Wettergreen is retiring from
her part time position at Beverly Farms after 15 years of service. A part -time librarian in the
Children's Room has given her notice. 3) Building Issues: Anna Langstaff had a productive
meeting with Mike Collins and Mike Bouchard to discuss a list of building issues. Some repairs
have already been addressed, including sealing the hole in the ceiling on the third floor and
cementing the ramp railing for the Winter Street entrance. Library staff did a great job finishing
the shifting project on the third floor. Crumbling bricks at the Farms are being fixed now. The
$170,000 set aside for capstone design work and the AC in the Sohier Room is still in the budget.
Mike Collins is following up to get this done. Technological advancements should make it
possible for the library to transition from ballasts to LED lighting. 4) Teen Renovation and
Expansion Project: $19,132.99 has been raised so far. The miniature golf fundraiser will be held
this weekend on Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24. 5) Summer Reading: Busy
summer of programming.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
Strategic Plan: After some discussion, Margaret Altman made the motion, seconded by Ivy
Mahan, to approve the Strategic Plan. Motion passed.
New Business
1) ARIS Report: Anna Langstaff reviewed the ARIS Report and shared a State Aid to Public
Libraries Program Guide. 2) Revising Ordinance for Alcohol in Public Buildings: City Council is
considering a revised ordinance that would no longer require waivers for city buildings to allow
consumption of alcoholic beverages. Library director would still have to grant permission for
consumption on site and a license would have to be obtained. 3) Comcast Letter: The library
received a letter alleging copyright infringement using Comcast Internet service. Anna Langstaff
contacted NOBLE and the City Solicitor. Anna Langstaff and Allison Babin met with the City
Solicitor and 2 City IT employees. After some discussion, it was decided to configure the
library's wireless to redirect patrons to the Internet Use Policy and to shut off wireless access
from l Opm -ham. Myron Schirer -Suter suggested that we revise the Internet Use Policy to more
appropriately address wireless users. 4) Bathroom Signs: A parent requested gender - neutral
signage for the single stall bathrooms located in the Children's Room. The library plans to
change signage accordingly in the Children's Room and for the single stall bathrooms on the
mezzanine. 5) Will Barnet Appraisal: The Will Barnet prints have been appraised at $126,200.
Anna Langstaff sent this information to Bryant Ayles, Director of Municipal Finance. Select
Barnet prints not currently on display will be refrained using Preservation Grant funds. 6)
Rotary: Anna Langstaff has joined the Rotary. 7) Volunteers: The Endicott intern did an
excellent job helping every department this summer. Two seniors participating in the city's
senior citizen tax work -off abatement program have begun working as library beautification
volunteers, dusting and picking up trash in the parking lot. 8) Full Staff Meeting: A full staff
meeting was held on August 25 at Sam. Anna Langstaff reviewed the Strategic Plan with staff,
specifically focusing on the mission and vision statements as well as the new customer service
goal, and group photos were taken.
The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at 6:OOPM at the Main
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20PM.