LibraryTrusteesFebruary2018MinutesBoard: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 6:00 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Mary Behrle, Ivy Mahan, Kevin O'Reilly, Joanne Panunzio, Myron
Schirer -Suter
Board members absent: Margaret Altman, Marshall Handly, Anthony Kline
Others present: Anna Langstaff, Allison Babin, Bruce Doig
Recorder: Allison Babin
Kevin O'Reilly presided.
Joanne Panunzio made the motion, seconded by Mary Behrle, to accept the minutes of the
regular meeting of January 16, 2018 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
None
Committee Reports
Personnel: Joanne Panunzio provided drafts of library director evaluation surveys for staff.
Allison Babin will handle distribution of final surveys in April.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: No report.
Report of the Library Director
1) FY2018 Budget: On track, with a few noted exceptions as explained last month. 2) Personnel:
The part -time Bookmobile Outreach Assistant has resigned and will be greatly missed. The
position has been offered to a new candidate who has accepted. The library is also in the process
of hiring another MLS on -call substitute librarian to fill in gaps as needed. 3) Building: The fire
alarm panel needs to be replaced and will cost $13,000. Anna Langstaff talked to Mike Collins
about the Sohier Room AC and capstone. He is still waiting for a response from the companies.
4) Security: Police walkthroughs were conducted on Jan. 22, 29, and Feb. 5. Issued two no
trespass letters this month due to an incident of theft and another incident involving a patron
smoking marijuana in the library. Following the tragedy that occurred at the Winchester Public
Library, Anna Langstaff asked the Police Chief for additional walkthroughs this week. He
confirmed that this would be done. Anna Langstaff emailed the staff to inform them, and
discussed with department heads at the monthly meeting. 5) "Books and Brews" Program: This
successful new program was featured on the front page of the Beverly Citizen. 6) Trustee
appointments: Colleen Michaels is still pending mayor approval. 7) TLC changed their filming
location from the Beverly Library to the Hale House. 8) Anna Langstaff went before the City
Council on February 5 to present the library's Strategic Plan. 9) Librarians' union contract
expires in June and new contract negotiations will be starting soon. 10) Anna Langstaff and
Allison Babin will be attending Library Legislative Day at the State House on March 6 to
advocate for library funding. 11) Programs: Allison Babin shared a few highlights: Professor
Brian Glyn Williams will be speaking at the library on March 28 at 7PM about his book The Last
Warlord and research in Afghanistan. The Children's Room will be introducing monthly
Saturday story times. Nancy Coffey will be presenting "Tracing the History of Your House," an
instructional program for Beverly residents at the Farms on Tuesday, March 13 at 7:15PM.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
1) Position elections:
Joanne Panunzio made the motion, seconded by Mary Behrle, to nominate Kevin
O'Reilly for Chair. Motion passed.
Mary Behrle made the motion, seconded by Ivy Mahan, to nominate Joanne Panunzio for
Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Motion passed.
2) Link Policy: Library Trustees reviewed the proposed link policy. After some discussion, Mary
Behrle made the motion, seconded by Myron Schirer- Suter, to:
approve the Link Policy. Motion passed.
The next meeting of the board will be Thursday, April 26, at 6:OOPM at the Beverly Public
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:1OPM.