Loading...
2011-04-13 TOWN OF BERLIN BERLIN-PECK MEMORIAL LIBRARY BOARD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 APPROVED Members Present: Frank Steele, Chairman Elizabeth Bennett, Vice-Chairman Donna Moore Sharon Powell Elaine Borselle John Day Carol Welz Carol Ranieri Juliet Benjamin, Recording Secretary Excused: Jane Sorbo Staff in Attendance: Helen Aveline, Library Director Cathy Nelson, Assistant 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, March 9, 2011: Page 3 – under Plusses, remove statement “In library internet use was up 47%, etc.” – this item was left in error from the last report. Also revisit Library Ordinance paragraph from Page 4. After discussion, John Day made a motion to approve the Minutes of Wednesday, March 9, 2011 as corrected. Carol Ranieri seconded the motion and the minutes were approved as amended. 4. LIBRARIAN’S REPORT – DIRECTOR AVELINE: Directors Report – Monthly report with additional comments: MONTHLY REPORT April 2011 PERSONNEL: • Sue Fracasso continues to be limited in her workload. PROGRAMS: AARP Tax Assistance – continues to have full registrations Slide Show of Egypt – Part II had 12 people Berlin History (Early Settlers) w/Sallie Caliandri – over 40 people Star Wars Saturday Movies – still pulling them in Nutmeg Awards Night – over 100 people! Gardening series (Daylilies Program) – 27 people Cooking series (Dominican Republic) – 33 people Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes – 4/13/2011 - Page 2 April brings: • April 2, 9 and 16 – Family Movie Series – Star Wars • April 5 – Civil War quilts • April 5, 12 – AARP Tax Assistance • April 7 – Berlin in the Civil War • April 14 – Genealogy Group • April 18 – Herb gardens • April 25 – Mystery author Rosemary Harris • April 27 – Slow cooker program w/Frank Cocheo Cathy’s plans for school vacation week include: Tumblebooks demos, take out a poetry book and get a sweet, Family Film night with Bambi, a Lego workshop, family storytime, and ends with Danny Magic, a comedy-magic show . PLUSSES: • Helen asked to appear on cable access show at Nutmeg TV studios. • Helen began evaluations of mid-managers with a self- assessment assignment per Town HR Dept. • Programming statistics up over 50% over last year • In library internet use was up 46%, over March 2010 • Helen asked to speak at Berlin Garden Club mtg. • We have sent out the letters to groups using the meeting room outlining our new policy. While we have had feedback, many groups are placated by the use of the Community Center, especially after hearing that we ourselves had to put 2 library programs down there. • Cathy and Helen working very well with Deb Thibault, Literacy Coordinator for the schools re: summer reading PROBLEMS: • Art show in meeting room for 2 weeks will hamper our thth programming. April 25 through May 6. PLANNING: • Planning summer reading programs and working with the schools to be in the booklets they send home and to speak with classes in June. • June 22 will be the kick-off day for summer reading with a Multicultural Festival organized by staffer Sue Flynn • Planning series in the fall for caregivers of Alzheimer patients • Will look into taking classes to operate cable equipment to do our own programming to be shown on access TV. PROFESSIONAL: March 1 – Mtg. w/town manager to prepare for budget presentation March 2 – Budget presentation to Town Council March 2 - Friends of the Library March 4 – Helen to Town Annual Report Committee mtg. March 8 – Helen speaks at Rotary Club Sunrise Mtg. Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes – 4/13/2011 - Page 3 March 8 – Teen Advisory Council March 9 - Helen and Cathy mtg. with elem. schools for summer reading March 9 – Board Meeting March 10 – Staff Meeting March 14 – Cathy to Children’s Librarians Roundtable @ Farmington Public Library March 15 – Helen to workshop on services for older adults @ Cheshire Public Library March 15 – Helen and Carrie to McGee Middle School for Summer Reading mtg. March 15 – Helen speaks at Sacred Heart Church Ladies’ Guild mtg. March 16 – Helen to Top Managers Meeting March 18 – Helen to Employee Handbook Committee mtg. March 21 – Sue Flynn to Middletown Library Service Center to use their disc repair machine. March 22 – Program planning meeting March 29 – Helen & Cathy to QAlert Citizen Service training for town website BOARD MEETINGS: April 6 – Friends of the Library April 13 – Library Board May 4 – Friends of the Library May 11 – Library Board Chairman Steele asked how it came about that Dir. Aveline was asked to appear on a cable access show at Nutmeg TV studios. Dir. Aveline stated that she had called Nutmeg TV to find out how to get events on their scroll. She found that you have to pay $5.00 per event to advertise. After speaking further with Noreen at Nutmeg she was asked if she would like to be on a show focusing on new people and events. She agreed and is looking into taking required classes to operate cable equipment to do the libraries own program to be shown on access TV. Dir. Aveline has to go on May 4 to find out more th about the training. Chairman Steele also questioned the Art Show that will be taking up the Meeting Room for two weeks from April 25 to May 6. Dir. Aveline stated that thth the High School had booked the Meeting Room for the Art Show, which will include hung materials and sculptures. She did not know if was for such a long period, but the commitment was made. The Library does not have any connection with the Art Show and they are only using the room. Next year a shorter schedule will be worked out. Other programs, such as mystery author Rosemary Harris on April 25 and the Slow Cooker program w/Frank Cocheo th on April 27 will be held in the Community Center meeting room during the th run of the Art Show. Assistant Director Nelson noted that the children’s programs will be held in the children’s room near the window seat during those two weeks. Director Aveline noted that they have been working on the summer reading programs. One World Many Stories is the name of the children’s Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes – 4/13/2011 - Page 4 program, You Are Here, the teen’s program and Novel Destinations, the adult program. Director Aveline noted that the program statistics are up from last year. The Library Board reviewed the statistics and Dir. Aveline noted that she has been promoting downloadable e-books and their use has gone up. Chairman Steele noted that the Universal Class has gone down to three participants. But, Dir. Aveline stated that those three people are taking fourteen classes. Director Aveline stated that the Meeting Room Policy letters have gone out and she has had some feedback. Most people understood why the policy change was made and one group went and spoke with Town Manager McNair, but when they found that the reason was that the Library had been limited in their time to present programs they were more understanding. Director Aveline has arranged for a three week series concerning Alzheimer’s and how to take care of patients with the illness. She believes this will be a very informative series. Director Aveline explained that the town website has added a page where citizens can email town departments with questions or concerns. Both she and Assistant Director Nelson went for a training session on this item. The Library is saving the town $2,600 by taking CD’s and DVD’s that are scratched to the Library Service Center, which is a branch of the State Library in Middletown to use their machine. The machine, using a gel solution, repairs minor scratches on the discs and would cost the town $2,600 if it was purchased. Sue Flynn has volunteered to go to the service center and do this work. Director Aveline stated that she had attended the Budget Hearing last night and she felt that it went well. Assistant Director Nelson is working on two handouts relating to the two Civil War Monuments in Berlin. 5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Chairman Steele complimented Assistant Director Nelson on her program last Thursday, “Berlin in the Civil War” and said that she did a very good job. 6. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: ? Budget Committee Dir. Aveline noted that the budget for the current fiscal year is on track. ? Friends Committee Dir. Aveline stated that the Friends met last week and they will be working with the library on the summer reading program and prizes. Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes – 4/13/2011 - Page 5 The Friend’s will also be serving breakfast for the staff this week. This has been an annual event for the last several years to show appreciation for the staff. ? Personnel Committee ? Policy and Bylaws Committee Meeting Room Policy – It was noted that one Reference staff member was asked by a patron if he could bring his firearm into the library. The patron stated that he did not feel comfortable leaving it in his car. Director Aveline and Assistant Director Nelson felt that they should be looking into this matter. After discussion, Carol Ranieri made a motion to request that Town Manager McNair contact the Town Counsel on this matter. Donna Moore seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. ? First Floor Expansion Committee ? Ordinance Committee Library Ordinance - John Day noted that the Policy/Ordinance changes have been passed on to Town Manager McNair and the Town Council. 7. COMMUNICATIONS: 8. OLD BUSINESS: Director Aveline noted that the representative for the public fax machine would be meeting with her and the Superintendent of Public Buildings John Pajor next week to plan on a location for the machine. Donna Moore asked about the proposed cuts to the inter-library loan program. Assistant Director Nelson said that they have heard nothing further on this item. 9. NEW BUSINESS: 10. ADJOURNMENT: John Day made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM. The motion was seconded by Sharon Powell and unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, Juliet K. Benjamin, Recording Secretary