HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Trustees Minutes 10/10.2011MANSFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING - OCTOBER 10, 2011
RECEIVED
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Attendance: Nancy Breef -Pilz, Chris Cormier- Hayes, Leonard Epstein,Ar K �v and
Director Janet Campbell. Joe convened the meeting at 8:15 a.m. C� { P 5: 10
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Secretary's report. Minutes of the May meeting were reviewed and appoved; t U I OS F T TS
Treasurer's report. The treasurer's reports for June, July and August were reviewed and
approved. Chris is moving the trustees' operating funds to a free business checking account and
Mansfield Bank has agreed in response to Chris' application to waive its $25 /month fee for
accounts requiring two signatures on checks. There will be a $5 /month service charge for any
month in which the account balance is less than $250 and a $15 fee for any incoming wire transfer,
e.g. a rush transfer from the Merrill Lynch account. Chris noted that Mansfield has been without a
town accountant since January with Linda Darling, the assistant, in charge for now.
Librarian's reports. The librarians' reports were reviewed and details discussed.
Correspondence. Janet shared a letter from a former patron enthusiastically thanking the
library staff for help and assistance given his family when they were Mansfield residents.
OLD BUSINESS
LSTA grant application. The library has received its LSTA grant and the first job seeking
program is scheduled for later this month.
New England Library Association. Janet is leaving tomorrow for this year's NELA
meeting in Burlington, VT. $1,000 of the cost will be paid by a supplemental grant awarded in
conjunction with the library's LSTA grant.
NEW BUSINESS
Mass. P.I.R.G. Janet was called by Mass. P.I.R.G. asking permission to distribute
brochures outside the library. The board ratified Janet's denial of the request.
State aid. Janet must send a petition for a waiver by October 14, followed by a letter from
the Town Manager in November. Even though the library's budget was increased this year,
Mansfield still requires a waiver because it is unable to demonstrate a budget that is the average of
the last three years' budget requirement as set by the Board of Library Commissioners, plus
1.025 %. Until two years ago Mansfield never had a problem meeting budget requirements for aid.
In the current economy, however, the library will likely require waivers indefinitely given the
BLC's Municipal Appropriation Requirement. Avoiding a waiver next year would require a
$30,000 increase - 5% - which is highly unlikely in light of this year's addition. Janet noted that
more than one third of Massachusetts' 331 public libraries now require such waivers.
P.L.A. meeting. The board approved, subject to the town manager's agreement, Janet's
plan to attend the March PLA meeting in Philadelphia.
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Programs. The board approved scheduling The Parent Backpack ($200), run by The Parent
Connection in Duxbuiy. The program is described as a 90 minute seminar which teaches parents
strategies and skills useful in advocating for their children in school systems.
Capital improvements. The library had planned on town capital improvement funds to
refurbish the restroom floors which are 22 year old linoleum and in very poor condition. DPW was
unable to obtain approval for funding, claiming the project would be too expensive. Janet will
obtain price estimates and speak to town manager.
Staffing. Two new staff members, Cathy Hellard and Ben Phinney, have started work as
library technicians and are doing well so far.
Next meeting. November 5, 2011. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.
Leonard