LibraryTrusteesOct2017MinutesBoard: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 6:00 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Margaret Altman, Mary Behrle, Ivy Mahan, Neil Olson, Kevin
O'Reilly, Joanne Panunzio, Myron Schirer -Suter
Board members absent: Marshall Handly, Anthony Kline
Others present: Anna Langstaff, Allison Babin
Recorder: Allison Babin
Kevin O'Reilly presided.
Mary Behrle made the motion, seconded by Myron Schirer- Suter, to accept the minutes of the
regular meeting of Sept. 19, 2017 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None
Committee Reports
Personnel: No report.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: The Strategic Plan was submitted on time.
Report of the Library Director
1) FY2018 Budget: Anna Langstaff reviewed the FY2018 budget. 2) Personnel: Part -time branch
librarian has been hired to replace Brenda Wettergreen who retired last month. Interviews are
beginning to hire a replacement for the part -time children's librarian for the Children's Room. 3)
Building Issues: Crumbling bricks and lighting issues at the Farms branch have been fixed.
Refinishing work on the Winter Street doors has begun. 4) News from NOBLE: Beverly's
contribution to OverDrive budget doubled in FY2018. The contribution for FY2019 will increase
by 5 %. Beverly continues to be the top circulator in NOBLE of OverDrive ebooks and digital
audiobooks. Middlesex Community College and North Shore Community College are leaving
the NOBLE network at the end of FY2018. This will impact our assessment which will be raised
about 3% and PC support will increase by 5 %. NOBLE is also introducing a new Overdrive
feature called OverDrive Advantage which will allow participating libraries to buy prioritized
content for their patrons. 5) Beverly Youth Collaboration: Meghan Karasin, the YA Librarian,
met with Merri -Lynn Lathrop of the YMCA and has been asked to join the Youth Collaborative
Board. 6) Meeting: There will be a meeting for interested Library Trustees in Sudbury next
month. 7) Mini Golf Fundraiser: Raised $4500 for the Teen Renovation Project and the attendees
gave a lot of positive feedback about the event. 8) State Aid Financial Report and Compliance
Form were shared with Trustees. 9) Alcohol ordinance has been revised. The new ordinance
states: The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all public buildings
except ADD (5) in the Beverly Public Library or the Beverly Farms Library under the
supervision of the Board of Library Trustees with the permission of the Library Director. 10)
Community events: Anna Langstaff and Siobhan Robinson will be participating in Beverly's
Downtown Trick or Treat on Thursday, October 26. Anna Langstaff has also submitted
paperwork to have the Bookmobile participate in Beverly's Holiday Parade on Sunday,
November 26. 11) The city is developing a new parking plan which may impact parking at the
library. 12) Chromebooks will start to be circulated for in -house use by patrons in November.
13) Action plan for 2019 is due on Dec. 1. 14) Allison ran a pop up library at the Energy Barre,
an exercise studio, as part of new efforts to broaden community outreach. 15) Programming:
Successful October programs included "Hunting Fungi with a Fun Guy!" attended by 84 people,
"Summer Reading Art Opening Celebration" attended by 120 people, and "All About eBooks:
Meet Libby" attended by 16 people. November highlights include a series of NalloWriMo
Write -Ins on Sundays and a "Robin Hood" play at the Farms branch, in addition to regular
library programming.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
1) Public Internet Use Policy: Library Trustees reviewed the Public Internet Use Policy. After
some discussion, Myron Schirer -Suter made the motion, seconded by Margaret Altman,
to approve the policy. Motion passed.
2) Selection of Materials Policy: Library Trustees reviewed the Selection of Materials Policy.
After some discussion, Mary Behrle made the motion, seconded by Neil Olson,
to approve the policy, as amended. Motion passed.
The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at 6:OOPM at the Main
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20PM.