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2016-10-12 TOWN OF BERLIN BERLIN-PECK MEMORIAL LIBRARY BOARD WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016 ATTENDANCE: Members Present: Sharon Powell, Chairman Kathleen Murray Donna MooreElaine Borselle Chris Fasciano Robert Lewis Carol WelzCarol Ranieri James Bengiovanni Staff in Attendance: Helen Malinka CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Powell called the meeting to order at 6:30P.M. AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS: None. DISPOSITION OF MINUTES-September 14, 2016meeting: Donna Mooremade a motion to accept the Minutes of the Wednesday, September 14, 2016, meeting, seconded by Elaine Borselle. Chris Fasciano mentioned that his name was inadvertently left off the Chairman's appointment to the Governance Committeein the minutes. Chairman Powell also added Carol Ranieri's request to be on the Governance Committee, as well.The motionto accept the minutes, with the added corrections,was unanimously approved. LIBRARIANS REPORT HELEN MALINKA, LIBRARY DIRECTOR: Director Malinka had previously submitted the Septemberreport for review,and answered questions from the members.(Septemberreport as follows): MONTHLY REPORT for SEPTEMBER 2016 October 12, 2016 PERSONNEL: Effective September 26, Reference Librarian Andrew Fal retired from the Library. PROGRAMS: Adult 15 Programs with 224participants Sit and Knit met four times with 52 participants Two Movie Matinees had 56 attendees Adult book club had 6 attendees Social Security program had 11 attendees Writing group had 3 attendees Investment group had8 attendees Joe Clifford author program had 36 attendees Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes –October 12, 2016Page 2 Lincoln Center Screening had 10 attendees “How to Raise an Adult” book discussion had 7 attendees Senior Center book club had 8 attendees Gargoyle program had 27 attendees Children 13 programs with 318 participants Evan Gottfried with 1 session and 52 participants Family Bingo with 1 session and 43 participants Art Expression with2 sessions and30 participants Rock the Block Legos with 1 session and 17 participants Chapter Chat with 1 session and14 participants Nutmeg Book Club with 1 session and 13 participants Minecrafters with 1 session and 10 participants Family Board Game Program with 1 session and 14 participants Family Movie with 1 session and 22 participants Dance Mob rehearsals with 3 sessions and 103 participants Teens 1programs with 4 participants Minecrafters –4teen participants New Baby Packets: 2 new baby packets given out Board Games Checked Out:34 PLUSSES: Digitized yearbooks have been put onto our website and 137 people looked at that yearbook page on our website in September. Sent out email to patrons whose cards will soon expire. BHS guidance counselor Jeremiah Berard came to our parenting book discussion. Knitting group was featured in the New Britain Herald on 9/12. Senior Book Club was featured in the New Britain Herald on 9/25. A patron emailed us to say how much she enjoyed the gargoyle program. Jennifer is helping a Girl Scout Troop conduct a Banish Bullying Book Discussion in November (for grades 4 and up) here at the library. Children’s haspurchased a Krayon Kiosk (an iPad holder and charger) and one extra iPad with funds donated because of the flood, so that kids can use the iPads while at the library. Staff from children’s, circ and reference covered cataloging due to staff retirement. Good teamwork! PROBLEMS: Writing group has low attendance, but those who attend asked to keep it going. Reference desk short staffed We need more space for patrons to study PLANNING: Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes –October 12, 2016Page 3 Planning to add at least one Notary among our staff. Ideas to reach businesses in town Mobile hot spots to circulate Looking into an AED and CPR training for the library Updating our business and investment resources to be more relevant to community – working with Chris Edge, Head of Economic Development for the town. Mtg w/facilities to reconfigure our circ desk and combine with reference. Looking into Hoopla, a media streaming service for libraries Pokemon themed program in Children’s for December school vacation Yoga for Kids Sit and Knit for Kids Santa storytime Senior Center iPad classes Online investment databases Series of programs on arts/cultural appreciation Staff evaluations PROFESSIONAL: Sept 1 –LCI Governance Committee mtg –HM Sept 6 –FLIC (foreign language films) swap –CT Sept 7 –UX committee mtg @ LCI –CT Sept 7 –Dealing w/difficult patrons webinar –LS Sept 7 –Friends mtg –HM Sept 8–Staff mtg Sept 8–Circ dept mtg –LS, LD, MC, MZ, ID, MD Sept 9 –LCI BOD mtg –HM Sept 14–Library Board mtg–HM Sept 15 –Passport training –HM, CT, AR, LD Sept 15 –Makerspace webinar –JN Sept 19 –Mtg w/town mgr –HM Sept 20 –Custodian interviews –HM Sept 21 –Custodian interviews –HM Sept 21 –Top Mgr mtg –HM Sept 21 –Capitol Region Children’s Librarians Roundtable –JN,SP Sept 21 –Mtg w/Girl Scout Troop –JN Sept 22–Dept. Heads mtg –CT, LS, LS, HM Sept 22 –LCI Circ Committee mtg –LS Sept 30 –Mtg w/Deb Thibault (district literacy coordinator) –JN HM=Helen MalinkaAF=Andrew FalSP=Sarah Prattson CT=CarrieTyszkaAR=Andrea RaynorLS=Lisa Spalla JN=Jennifer NeedhamUP=Ursula PendletonMC=Michael Cramer LB=Lisa BrownMM=Mindy MorrisonMZ=Maryanne Zaccagnino MD=Mary DiBenedettoLD=Laurie DeVivoID=Irene DeSanto BOARD MEETINGS: October 5 –Friends Board Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes –October 12, 2016Page 4 October 12 –Library Board of Trustees November 2 –Friends Board November 9 –Library Board of Trustees SEPTEMBER 2016 STATS SEPTEMBER STATS2016 2015 % New Cards5153-4% Renewed Cards79 73 +8% Total Cardholders5,996 6,386 -6% Door Count8,183 8,563 -4% Reference Questions1,846 1,444 +28% Programs 35 22 +59% Program attendance 694 535 +30% No. of patrons using computers 908 1,146 -21% Webpage sessions 7,555 8,151 -7% Downloadable mags, e and audio books849 857 -1% Circ for month (incl. downloads)11,857 12,979 -9% Cumulative circ to date 46,242 48,756 -5% Book a Librarian 7 8 -12% Test proctoring 0 0 - Computer assistance40 42 -5% Homebound Service19 15 +27% Public scanner117 228 -49% Study Room use127 96 +32% ILLs borrowed856 1,146 -25% ILLs loaned1,178 2,225 -47% ANECDOTES: More compliments for the Children’s Department: A mother came in and told us that she thinks we do a fabulous job –whenever she tells her son they’re going to the library he gets so excited because he LOVES coming here! Another mother told us that “As a child I went to the library every Monday with my dad and talked books with the librarian and I loved it and my hope for my daughter was always to find the same thing and when you were talking to her just now that’s all I could think of.So thank you for doing that.” A grandmother told us that she loves coming here because we have such great toys and activities for the kids to play with. INTERESTING REFERENCE QUESTIONS: 1)How much info can a flash drive hold? 2)British movie about the Thames River. 3)Where are horse trail rides in CT? 4)What’s the correct way to write matter-of-factly? 5)Nutritional content of a Dunkin Donuts cheese bagel 6)How many Weight Watchers points in a DD cheese bagel? 7)Fiction books with recipes inside Berlin-Peck Memorial Library Board Minutes –October 12, 2016Page 5 LIBRARIAN DIRECTOR'S REPORT (continued): Director Malinkareported that there was a recent Facebook post with beautiful flowers that were grown from the seeds that camefrom the Seed Library. Chris Fasciano added that 400 seed packets were distributed. A huge success! Director Malinka reported that there is a Passport Event scheduled for Saturday, October 29th from 10 -3:30 at the Library. Four of the Staff havebeen trained to help process passports and it has proved to be a good revenue source for other Libraries as well as provide critical services for the Public. Director Malinka gave an update on the status of the elevator.The Bonding Commission met onSeptember 30th and continued the request from Rep. Aresimowicz until October 28th (although it could go until Dec. 9th as well). Director Malinka was assured by Town Council that they will fund the remaining $10,000, so she is preparing aCouncilagenda item(for October 18th)to officially request the funding,contingent upon denial of the State Bonding Commission. She does not want to get this far along and not be able to complete the funding/grant process. At the same time, a meeting was held (without Director Malinka's knowledge) with Facilities, the CommunityServices Director, and the Architect who is proposing a corridor to separate the area in the current Community Center area of the Library's lower level. Director Malinka is looking to speak tothe Town Manager, (and the Board suggested that she include the Town Attorney), and schedule a meeting that she might attend to explain her position. She wrote the grant application in such a fashion that requested interaction between the floors that enables the Library to become ADA (Americans Disabilities Act) compliant. The parking lot expansion is also included in the funding of the project. This group that met expects the Library to carry the expenses of this project but the funding is not even secure at this time. Open communications is key to the success of this project. CHAIRMANS REPORT: Chairman Powell requested action on the Social Media Policy (previously emailed from Director Malinka for review). James Bengiovanni made a motionto approve the Social Media Policy, seconded by Kathleen Murray. The motion was unanimously approved. Chairman Powell requested that the Governance Committeemeet to understand the scope of their duties, and create an outline of their responsibilities.Committee members will meet at a later date. ADJOURNMENT: Carol Welzmade a motionto adjourn the meeting at 7:15p.m., seconded by Kathleen Murray. The motion was unanimously approved. Lecia Paonessa Recording Secretary