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
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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
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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
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on April 27 will be held in the Community Center meeting room during the
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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