Meeting of the Norfolk Public Library Board of Trustees
February 14, 2008
A regular meeting of the Norfolk Public Library Board of Trustees was held on February 14, 2008 at the Norfolk Public Library. In attendance were Robin Glasser, Library Director; Heather Pisani Kristl, Associate Director; Mary Jo Gothorpe, President of the Friends of the Norfolk Public Library; and the following Trustees; Harvey Boulay, Ken Nelson, and Mary Jo Gothorpe.
The meeting was called to order at 6.10 P.M.
Approval of Minutes
The January 17, 2008 meeting minutes were approved.
Director’s ReportMrs. Glasser reported that the Guide to Services brochure was distributed to all Norfolk households. Several positive comments were received from patrons.
Mrs. Glasser announced that the Director’s Annual Report and Trustees Annual Report have been submitted for inclusion in the Annual Town Report.
The Selectmen are looking to raise fees town wide and requesting ideas to do so from the library. The MGL, c.78, s.19B-2 states that libraries can “make no charge for normal library services.” We are prohibited from charging residents from area communities any fee for using our library. This reciprocal service is a hallmark of the Massachusetts library system.
The material sorter was serviced and the belt was replaced.
ITG the company that makes the material sorter has announced new products which are in development. Two that are of future interest to the library are a material sorter for books returned inside the library and a DVD juke box which will dispense requested DVD’s. This will allow DVD’s to be securely stored inside the juke box and then automatically dispensed when requested by a patron.
The Board of Library Commissioners’ Legislative Breakfast will be held this year on February 29 from 8 -9 am.
Associate Director’s ReportMs Pisani Kristl reported that self check usage in January was at 49%. On January 29th the self check station processed 66% of the materials checked out. This compares to self check usage of only 37% one year ago during the same period.
Circulation for the month was 11,930 items.
There were 41 non-library related meetings in the meeting rooms during January.
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School House Project
Bids for relocation of the existing sprinkler system in the schoolhouse and to eliminate the exposed piping and allow restoration of the ceiling were received from two companies. Noremac Sprinkler Corp. from East Douglas submitted a bid for $9,500, and HFP Fire Protection Services, Inc. from Hopedale bid $4,900. A third company did not return a written bid. The Trustees voted and agreed to sign a contract with HFP Fire Protection Services Inc.
Architect Arlin Li has submitted a proposal for the scope of work, and bid documents will be advertised.
Strategic Plan Report
No report
Friends of the Library ReportMrs. Gothorpe reported that the Friends of the Library have begun planning for their Annual Book and Bake Sale which is being held this year on April 25 and 26. The DPW Garage will again be used to stage the sale. The Friday Night Friends-Only Preview and Sale will begin at 6:00 pm this year and will close at 9:00. This is an extra hour of shopping for Friends members only. You must be a 2008 Friend to attend; memberships starting at $15.00 will be sold at the door beginning at 5:00 pm. The sale on Saturday is open to one and all. Mrs. Gothorpe requested that the Trustees and staff help to spread the word about this major Friends fund raiser. All of the money raised at this sale goes directly back to the Norfolk Public Library. Last
year’s sale was the most profitable, and $15,000 was earmarked for programs, and projects at the library.
New Business
Norfolk Community League has asked to place a collection box at the library requesting that patrons drop in spare change to help support their programs within town. The Trustees had a prolonged discussion and while we approved the concept the logistics need to be worked out. NCL was requested to provide those logistics and present their proposal at our next meeting in March.
The agreement with the Provident Baptist Church was renewed for six months retro-active from December, and will be reviewed again in June.
Meeting Room User Fees also demanded an in depth discussion. The library staff is asked to review the potential of user fees and report back at the March meeting. Discussion should look at demographics of the users of the meeting rooms.
A warrant article was prepared for discussion and vote at the spring Town Meeting. The article addresses the addition of steps to the pay range for employees that are under the purview of the Personnel Board. Because the library director has reached the top of her pay range, she has not received a pay raise in three years. This article will increase the number of steps from 11 to 16 to address this problem. This article will also address the problem of employees who are under Mrs. Glasser’s supervision, that can potentially receive a higher compensation due to the fact that they have more steps under the Union contract.
Old Business
FY ’09 budget
Public Comment
None
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 6:00 P.M.
Adjournment
There being no further business it was moved and seconded and the Trustees VOTED to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 P.M.
Submitted by
Mary Jo Gothorpe
A true copy (attest):
Mary Jo Gothorpe, Clerk
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