LibraryTrusteesSeptember2018MinutesBoard: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 6:00 P.M.
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: Margaret Altman, Mary Behrle, Marshall Handly, Ivy Mahan, Kevin
O'Reilly, Joanne Panunzio, Myron Schirer -Suter
Board members absent: Anthony Kline
Others present: Anna Langstaff, Allison Babin
Recorder: Allison Babin
Kevin O'Reilly presided.
Marshall Handly made the motion, seconded by Joanne Panunzio, to accept the minutes of the
regular meeting of June 26, 2018 as read. Motion passed.
Public Presentation
Katie Marsh, the new Head of Bookmobile Services, was introduced to the Board of Library
Trustees.
New Business
Anna Langstaff reviewed the Fiscal Year 2018 Action Plan and reported on the library's progress
on listed goals and objectives.
Committee Reports
Personnel: No report.
Administration: No report.
Finance: No report.
Long Range Planning: No report.
Report of the Library Director
1) Fiscal Year 2018 Budget: On track. 2) Personnel: The Assistant Communications Librarian
position has been filled by Katie Nelson. Katie was promoted from the Circulation Department
and is currently earning her MLIS. Sarah Goss, who worked for the library as a part time page,
was promoted to Katie Nelson's former full time position of Senior Library Assistant. The new
Bookmobile librarian, Katie Marsh, started on Monday, Sept. 24. The Farms branch is in the
process of hiring a candidate for a part -time position. 3) A new union contract has been signed.
The contract included a computer use policy, social media policy, and required employees to
agree to a paperless pay system. Union employees will receive annual raises of 1 %, 2.5 %, and
2.5% over the course of the next three years. 4) Anna Langstaff shared positive comments from
participants in the Adult Summer Reading program, and reports on the participation in the
Children's and Teen Summer Reading programs. Anna Langstaff shared the Annual Report
Information Survey (ARIS) report and highlighted the fact that circulation of materials increased
by a small percentage (less than 1 %). 5) Anna Langstaff shared a library brochure created by the
Communications department for new Beverly residents that is being distributed through City
Hall. The Communications department is also developing a brochure for new library card
holders. 6) Anna Langstaff met with Bruce Doig to discuss items including personnel changes,
security, building conditions, the salary of the Assistant Director, the open trustee position, and
the possible elimination of overdue fines. Anna Langstaff has asked Stephanie Williams, City
Solicitor, to review city ordinances to make sure there are no legal implications in regard to
eliminating fines. 7) The library, and former Bookmobile librarian Siobhan Robinson, received
commendations from the Department of the Defense for supporting former employee Austin
Bertrand's service in the National Guard. 8) Allison Babin shared upcoming program highlights
including: All About eBooks: Meet Libby; Community Baby Shower; Summer Reading Art
Gallery; the launch of weekly English conversation circles; and the Historic Beverly pop -up
exhibit "From Farms to Gold: the History of Beverly Farms" at the Farms Branch. 9) North of
Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) member libraries now have access to digital magazines and
the OverDrive collections of most other Massachusetts library networks through the Reciprocal
Lending Agreement.
Communications
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at 6:OOPM at the Beverly Public
Library.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15PM.