Lincoln Library Trustees’ Meeting Minutes
Date: November 13, 2006
Present: Jack Pugh, Jacquelin Apsler. Peter Sugar, Al Kraft, Marshall Clemens, Diana Abrashkin, Trustees; Barbara Myles, Library Director; Kathy Brobeck, Lisa Bracken, staff representatives.
Minutes
The March minutes were approved as corrected.
Announcements
None.
Financial Report
Electricity rates are increasing at about 10% per year which will add extra cost and extra uncertainty to our budget..
We discussed the possible routes to meeting the 3% budget, and voted to eliminate Sunday hours in the 3% budget.
Al asked Barbara about our patron utilization rates as a measure of how much service we are providing. Barbara reported that programs were up – 9 new programs, and 600 more people participating. However circulation was down by about 2500, possibly due to the end of construction in Lexington and Concord and to the curtailment of the inter-library loans.
Barbara pointed out that our strategic plan calls for an improvement in our website and she has obtained a quote for $4000 to do some basic improvements, but this does not include any databases or other more complicated but useful features.
Librarian’s Report
There have been a number of popular programs running: Ellen’s book group on immigrants and the program on religions run by Irene Weigel. Also the Joe Sussman’s photo share group, Suze Craig’s chicken program, and the story teller program for kids.
Staff Concerns
Were about the impact of the 3% budget and the resulting cutting of hours and thus staff pay.
Building Committee
There will be about a Vault meeting on 11/28.
There will be a Window meeting on 11/20.
• Carpeting: we are looking for carpet for the children’s room and thinking about hiring Anita Sandberg for $400 to help with the choice. The feel of the meeting was that we should not hire Anita at this point. Rather than waiting for a decision of the children’s room carpet, we should go ahead with getting the other carpets ordered and installed.
• Handicap Access: Barbara has found an electrician to do the automatic door installation. The hardware has been ordered in green.
• Parapet Cracks: before they will guarantee the work, the bidding companies want to do a water leak test before the repair; cost $1900. We agreed this was a good idea and should be completed before the it gets too cold.
• Roof: we have not yet received a final bill or lien guarantee from Dave Gartner.
• Fire Protection: Jacquelin, Barbara, and Peter will be talking with the CPC about funding the for the fire protection project(s).
Next Meeting
The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday December 19th, 6:30 pm at Peter Sugar’s for dinner.
Respectfully submitted,
Marshall Clemens
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LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
November 13, 2006
TO: Trustees, Lincoln Public Library
FROM: Barbara Myles, Librarian
Adult Department
Chinese religions were the focus of the November meetings of the “From Others to Us,” the survey course of world religions given by Lincoln resident, Irene Weigel. Rob Diebboll displayed his paintings in the gallery during November. Many of his paintings were brightly colored beach scenes, which were nice to see as we head into winter. The Friday Morning Book Group discussed Jamaica Kincaid’s “Lucy” and a book of essays called “Becoming American” for this year’s theme, “Immigrants Integrating: American Experiences.” Classic Jazz’s November gathering, “String Theory,” was led by Gene Darling. The Mystery Mondays book group discussed “Dante Club” by Matthew Pearl. Author and former Lincoln resident, Suze Craig, came to the
library on November 13 to sign her book, “Roosters & Hens,” which is a beautifully illustrated coffee table book of all things poultry. For example, there are sections about how to assemble the perfect chicken run and how to wash a show bird. Joe Sussman showed beautiful pictures of diners and street scenes at the Photo Share group’s November meeting. The Write Stuff met on October 25 and November 8 to discuss their writing projects.
Children's Department
The Children’s librarians decorated their department for Halloween season and had a “Not Too Scary” Halloween stories and crafts program on October 31 for children ages 2-5. On November 9 award winning storyteller, Jim Weiss, captivated approximately 70 children and adults with his unforgettable telling of original tales and retelling of classic literature. Recognized as one of the foremost professional storytellers in the country, Jim has 36 recordings and over 75 national awards. The Friends of the Lincoln Library provided funding for this event. The full slate of children’s programs and book group, for ages 1 through 12, continued in November.
Reference Department
Reference staff answered at least 286 documented reference questions during October 2006. This is a significant drop from the 353 documented reference questions over the same period last year. Another new database, the Historic Boston Globe, is up and running. This database covers the years 1872-1923, which leaves a gap between it and the current Globe that starts in 1980. More promotion and training sessions are required to increase the usage of these databases.
Jeanne attended a meeting about the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ Digital Commonwealth initiative. The goal is to develop a standard for cataloging local history collections and store them in federated databases to make the records easily accessible by patrons. This collaborative effort eliminates the need for each library to develop its own solution to providing access to its local history collections.
Technical Services
The final batch of Dr. England’s music scores were sent to the Minuteman Library Network for cataloging. When they return, they will be put in the stacks, ready for patrons to check out.
Lisa Acker-Rothenberg is the Library’s representative on the Minuteman Library Network’s Bibliographic Committee. One of the issues this committee works on is the status codes for materials. Other committees also discuss these status codes but the code that the material starts with is important. For magazines, popular fiction and non-fiction books, the status code is set to “browse” when they are first put on the library’s shelves. This browse status expires in one month and it prevents the system from putting holds on these materials. Instead, the materials are on the library’s shelves for Lincoln patrons. In contrast, if the status was set to “available,” these popular materials could be sent to other libraries to fill their patrons’ requests. At least
the “browse” status gives Lincoln patrons first dibs on the popular materials.
Vault
Representatives from the Lincoln Historical Society came to the library Saturday October 28 for an archival training session. Jeanne showed them how to find materials in the vault so that they can find local history information in the vault for patrons. With their help, it will be possible to increase accessibility of vault materials to patrons. It is great to have the support and assistance of Lincoln’s historians!
Building Repairs
On November 2, I attended the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s Construction Health & Safety Outreach Program at Acton’s Public Safety Building. This course gives an awareness of construction safety and health concerns in the construction industry so that attendees are prepared to recognize and control a variety of hazardous conditions. Beginning July 1, 2006, Section 39M of Chapter 30 of the Massachusetts General Laws was amended to require employees on construction worksites for projects over $10,000 to carry documentation of successful completion of this course. Any employee found without this documentation is subject to immediate removal from the worksite. Furthermore, copies of this documentation must be provided with the first certified payroll for each employee. I attended
this course because I am onsite representing the owner during construction projects. While I am not a construction supervisor, I will be better able to recognize unsafe working conditions and make them known to the Library’s clerk of the works or the contractor’s supervisor. In short, a better understanding of construction safety and health concerns gives me the increased ability to make the library a safer place for patrons and staff.
1. HVAC
On November 2 the library had no heat. A power outage tripped the circuit breakers for the water circulators. Even though the boiler was heating the water supply, the water pumps could not circulate the hot water around the building.
2. Roof Replacement Project
The final invoice from Dave Gardner Contractor & Supply for the roof replacement project arrived on November 14 and was sent to the Town’s Accounting Department the following day. There is still one small leak above the triangle window in the Children’s Room above the handicapped parking area. Three price quotes were received for a water test to determine the source of the leak. The Building Committee will select the firm to perform the water test at their next meeting.
3. Vault Renovation Project
The Building Committee presented Red Hawk Studio Architect’s design documents to the full Board of Library Trustees on October 24. The Trustees agreed to have Red Hawk Studio Architects continue on to the construction documents phase of the project. The target construction price for this project is $350,000. The next meeting with Karle Packard is scheduled for November 28.
4. Public Phone
The public phone became operational earlier this month.
5. Window Replacement Project
A meeting is scheduled with Max Ferro, the architect from The Preservation Partnership for November 20. Max will present his report of the study phase of the window replacement project at this meeting.
6. Carpets
Two sets of carpet samples, selected by library staff and John Fitzgerald, the sales representative from Allegheny Contract, were evaluated by library staff and Trustees but no carpet was satisfactory. Another batch of carpet samples were requested on November 6.
7. Painting
The painting and plaster repairs identified in Simpson, Gumpertz and Heger’s condition site survey in January 2004 and funded with FY05 capital planning funds is now moving forward. The project had been delayed until the roof replacement project was completed and roof leaks were repaired. Kathy Rushby has shown several contractors the necessary work and has received price quotes from three responsible and eligible companies. The lowest price quote came from Dandis Contracting, Inc. for the amount of $7,500. Town Counsel has approved the contract and we mailed it to Dandis Contracting for their signature.
8. Automated Entry Doors
The new closers are on order to automate the entry doors for handicapped accessibility. No date was set for the installation but the hardware will be installed this month. After the new closers are installed, Lincoln’s electrician will perform the electrical work to make the doors operational.
Kudos
Thanks to the Dr. England Music Scores Project Team: Lisa Acker-Rothenberg, Kathie Brobeck, and Kathy Rushby, thousands of scores are now available to our patrons. These staff members came together for this project and worked together beautifully!
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