Lincoln Public Library Trustees’ Meeting
7:30 pm. May 20, 2003
Present: Emily Althausen, Al Kraft, Melinda Webster-Loof, Jack Pugh, Diana Abrashkin, Jenifer Burckett-Picker, trustees; Ellen Sisco, Acting Library Director; Lisa Rothenberg, Staff
Minutes of March 18 and April 16 meetings: Approved with minor changes.
Announcements
Letters of thanks from Jerry Cirillo (for his goodby dinner and gift) and from Amy Gavalis (for help during her husband’s illness and for trustees’ personal donation to Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research, 1111 Stewart Av., Bethpage, NY 11714) were passed around.
Archives camp will be held in Monson, Mass. from June 20-21 this summer.
Emily will be at library on Memorial Day to open it for speech ceremony and refreshments.
Discussion of need for more dialogue on how to ensure that library has been cleared of individuals before it is closed nightly and of need to make sure that main door is properly closed (or it wobbles and sets off alarm). Also desire to discuss responsiveness of present alarm company.
Mention that entrance bluestone platform has deteriorated under stones and needs to be worked on.
Discussion of need for a different kind of metal snow fencing on roof above book drop at entrance to library due to safety hazard of big blocks of icy snow falling there. Emily, Ellen, and Bobby (janitor) will look into fixing these last two items.
Financial Report
Discussion of payments from “other funds” which included work on painting, AC, generator and clock repair. The three new computers approved on the Town Warrant have just arrived. Plus four other new computers will arrive next month bought by State Aid money (one) and with the Library Gift Fund, Stratford Fund, and AG Edwards money.
Librarian’s Report
Circulation is way up for both children and adults. Plus, Ellen has come up with several tasks (book processing and repair, periodical processing, shelving adult fiction, etc.) that can be done by seniors through the Senior Tax Work-off Program approved at this year’s Town Meeting.
The Friends book sale was down a bit in sales, but this is probably due to the change of venue to the Hartwell Multipurpose Room (from Bemis Hall). The new officers of the Friends are Sarah Andrysiak (chair), Mary Van Vleck (Vice Chair), Nancy Rawson (Secretary), Barbara Low (Treasurer), Mary Winston (Book Sale), Rayna Caplan (Membership), Lisa Baer (Newsletter), Jane Herlacher (Wed. am series) and Martha Lufkin, Rick Wise, Anne Hutchinson and Karen Sinclair (At-Large).
The Library plans to ask the Friends for funds for the 250th (2004) anniversary events for special programs. Library will get its wish list to Friends by beginning of June. Items include books, programs, etc. Diana noted her interest in more programs for adults of the type offered to children, i.e. animals, etc.
The Friends Appreciation Luncheon went very well with good attendance. There was also a short presentation and formal goodbye to children’s librarian Deb Leopold who was leaving shortly.
There was a discussion of how the library could present some of its vault items to the public for the 250th anniversary of town in 2004.
Staff Concerns: Kathy Rushby is meeting with Chris Coleman every other week to work on the Town Personnel Handbook, which should be ready in a few months.
Library Lane
Design map/plan by VHB firm was presented. There was vigorous discussion about it. We asked Emily to write a letter back to Tim Higgins stating that the Trustees have not approved either sidewalk (church to library or parallel to Library Lane north of Library) or number of parking spaces or hash marks (to indicate specific parking spaces). Also the placement of two lights needs to be altered as per Diana Abrashkin’s overlay map. Construction is supposed to begin in late July – August.
Library Director
Ms. Myles has signed a contract and will begin June 16th.
Vault Issues
Three people have been added to Lincoln Archives “Vault” Committee so that it now consists of: William Carroll (Library’s hired archivist), Eleanor Fitzgerald (Lincoln Hist. Com. and Hist. Dist. Com.), Peg Martin (Town Historian), Anne Janes (Linc. Hist. Soc.), Jean Bracken (Ref. Lib.), Jenifer Burckett-Picker and Emily Althausen (Library Trustees), Kate Pool (formerly dealt with MIT photo archives), Nasrin Rohane Arbedian (formerly dealt with Polaroid archives for reproduction of famous paintings), Peg Boyer (community member and CPA), and eventually Barbara Myles (new Library Director).
Vault Committee will meet on both June 5 and June 12 from 1-4 pm at library. At these meetings important information from the Monson Library Vault Plan will be discussed and committee will study both old and new vault plans for procedures and policies regarding the vault. The committee needs an endowment of some $40K. It now has about $16K above what vault plan is costing (about $50K) to help support ongoing activities, but some $25K more is still needed.
Lincoln 250th Anniversary
There was discussion of a town quilt which could hang in the library during the year (2004) of Lincoln’s 250th celebration, after which time it would be removed.
Other Business
We will discuss a July 4th float at the June 24th meeting.
Melinda spoke to Susan Fargo about the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) being brought under the Board of Education oversight. Senator Fargo is in favor of keeping the MBLC as an independent body. The House had already voted to keep the MBLC separate.
Discussion of having a “Library Appreciation Day” on October 19th to showcase library to town and to introduce new director and new staff (waiting for new director to come on board before search starts for new children’s librarian).
Plan for integrating the new library director into library was discussed. Former director, Jerry Cirillo, has offered to come back if needed and it was decided to ask him when it seems appropriate. Emily will introduce new director to Town Hall staff, Melinda to Schools, and Jenifer to Police/Fire. Emily will meet with her once a week for first month and oral (with written notes for Trustees) reviews of her performance shall be conducted by Emily or other designated trustee after one (mid July), two (mid August) and four months (mid October). A written performance appraisal, based on the job description, shall be provided at the end of six months (mid December) as stipulated in her contract.
Next meeting June 24th at 6:30m at Diana’s home. Then July 15 and Sept. 23.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jenifer Burckett-Picker
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