2009-11-18
TOWN OF BERLIN
BERLIN-PECK MEMORIAL LIBRARY BOARD
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009
APPROVED
Members Present:
Frank Steele, Chairman Elizabeth Bennett, Vice Chairman
Sharon Powell Donna Moore
Jane Sorbo Elaine Borselle
Carol Welz John Day
Juliet Benjamin, Recording Secretary
Absent:
Dawn Stepensky
Staff in Attendance:
Sara Munson, Library Director
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Steele called the meeting to order @7:00 P.M.
2. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS:
None
3. DISPOSITION OF MINUTES, Wednesday, October 14, 2009:
Donna Moore made a motion to accept the Minutes of October 14, 2009
as written. Carol Welz seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
4. LIBRARIAN’S REPORT – DIRECTOR/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
Directors Report - Dir. Munson was contacted by a representative of the
new Liberty Bank which is due to open in January @1169 Farmington Avenue.
Liberty Bank gives out five grants per year and the library will be receiving a
$1,000 grant to be used toward costs incurred with the One Book Project.
In addition to the written Monthly Report included in the Agenda Packet
Dir. Munson also noted that the Garden Club would be decorating the library
on Monday, November 30 for Christmas.
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Budget – Proposed Budget FY2010-2011 Dir. Munson noted that the
proposed budget does not contain accurate salary or benefit information. She
reviewed the line items noting that she has asked for a $5,000 increase in the
Substitute account, from $10,000 to $5,000. This item had been reduced by
$3,000 in FY 2009-2010 in anticipation of funding the Sunday Hours account.
When Sunday hours were not funded, the library did not receive the $3,000
back in the Substitute Account. Due to long term illnesses the Substitute
Account is almost depleted for 2009 and in 2008, $17,000 was used. Dir.
Munson noted that the library is running out of money right now for the
Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes – 11/18/2009 - Page 2
Substitute Account. Dir. Munson said that the Library Board requires that four
people at one time be scheduled to work and she would be forced to close if they
are short staffed. Chairman Steele stated that he and the rest of the Library
Board would not be happy if this happens.
Dir. Munson noted that they have exhausted all existing supplies and the
amount of $5,000 is not sustainable. She has asked for $7,000.
Dir. Munson explained that the Maintenance Account request has been
raised to $4,000. She has also put in a 5% increase in the Book Budget,
raising it to $97,000. She noted that she has received no information about
Capital Improvement Requests, (computer replacements). Overall, the library
budget request has been increased by a mere 1%.
After discussion, John Day made a motion to approve the budget for
FY2010-2011 as proposed. The motion was seconded by Elaine Borselle and
unanimously approved.
Current Budget FY2009-2010 – As stated, Dir. Munson’s biggest
concern is the big hole in the Substitute Account.
Chairman Steele asked about the Monthly Statistics report. Dir. Munson
noted that usage is up among adults and down among children. There were 57
new adult patrons and 4 children. To keep accurate count of patrons, once a
year library cards that have not been used in 3 years are purged from the
system.
Dir. Munson and Carrie continue to work on the new website and it is
coming along well. She expects completion to be mid-winter or spring.
The children’s Story time will have a new name, Early Literacy Classes.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Chairman Steele did not have a report.
6. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
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Budget Committee
See Dir. Munson’s report above.
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Friends Committee
Dir. Munson noted that the Friends had provided Asst. Dir. Nelson with
goody bags for the Halloween Program.
Dir. Munson reported that The Friends had sponsored a program by Bill
Berloni, Broadway’s favorite animal trainer, on Saturday, November 7
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A few copies of Mr. Berloni’s book, “Broadway Tails” are still available for
purchase at the Library.
Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes – 11/18/2009 - Page 3
Saturday December 5 the Friends will be sponsoring children’s author,
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Rick Labadia and he will be giving a talk about snowmen. The children
will then have an opportunity to make snowmen.
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Personnel Committee
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Policy and Bylaws Committee
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First Floor Expansion Committee
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
8. OLD BUSINESS:
9. NEW BUSINESS:
Dir. Munson noted that all departments have been asked to submit a list
of goals for Fiscal Year 2009-2010. She presented the list to the Library Board
and asked if there were any suggestions for additions to the list. After review,
Carol Welz made a motion to accept the list of goals as presented. Donna
Moore seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
10. ADJOURNMENT:
John Day made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 PM. The
motion was seconded by Sharon Powell and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Juliet K. Benjamin, Recording Secretary