SIMSBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Minutes for November 20, 2006
PRESENT: Bert Kaplan, Babs Gardner, Gail Ryan, Carol Bingham, and Charmaine Glew. Staff: Susan Bullock, Director and Eileen Sickinger, Recording Secretary.
There was no public audience. Bert Kaplan moved that Charter Revision be added to the agenda as item number 12. Second: C. Bingham. So moved.
COMMUNICATIONS: Mrs. Bullock received a memo from the Town Clerk requesting a list of meeting dates for 2007. Kevin Kane notified the Director of the transfer of $5,000 into the Library’s Building and Grounds budget line. This is from the state funds secured by Rep. Heagney.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: Friends: Babs Gardner reported that at the last Friends meeting their Board passed in their pledges for the building expansion. Friends will hold a thank you party on December 14th for the staff. Eunice Kelly, President, has requested a list of monies for the building fund that will be coming from grants, Town funds, and Friends. Mrs. Bullock will provide it. Friends endowment has increased since the first of this year.
There was no report from the personnel committee.
Building Task Force: Gail Ryan has pictures that illlustrates the condition of the furniture currently in the building. The pictures clearly show what can be salvaged and what should be discarded.
Building/Fund Raising: The Public Building Committee set a new schedule for the building project since the final plans are not in. A schedule of dates is included in the Director’s Report. It is anticipated the bids will be advertised when the plans are complete. The public kick-off for the Capital Campaign for the Library will be held November 30th at 1 West Street from 5:30-7:30 P.M. A phonothon will be held at Prudential Realty on December 4th from 6:30-9:00 P.M..
Items from a Chair’s Report are covered under other agenda items.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Professional organizers (National Association of Professional Organizers) have volunteered their time in helping the staff prepare an organized move and the organizing is in progress.
The new budget for the expansion totals $4,773,945, an overrun of $52,945.
Gary Feld, new technology consultant, will prepare the specs for the phone, AV and security systems while Rick Bazzano will handle the computer requirements. The Library was in the 99th percentile of Connecticut’s public libraries on the Hennen American Public Library Ratings.
The statistical report on all library activities, income and expenditures has been filed with the State and copies are in the Director’s report.
A copy of NEXT CHAPTER was also in the Director’s packet and is available on the Library’s website. Anyone interested in receiving a copy can sign-up for future copies. Mrs. Bullock reported on the donation of gently used office furniture from the Robert Hensley & Associates Co. This furniture can be used in the temporary quarters and then again in the new building.
The state-wide RFID committee has met and made a list of dates when libraries using this type of system want/need an operable system in place. If all libraries in the State have the same RFID system borrowing between libraries would be available and simple.
There will be no final decision on temporary quarters until the bids for the expansion are in. This will probably not be before March 1, 2007. A list of dates for upcoming activities related to the expansion were in the report. Mrs. Madrak’s report from the Children’s Room was also included in the Director’s packet.
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS: Gail Ryan moved that the Library close on Sunday, December 24, 2006 and again on Sunday, December 31, 2006. Following discussion the motion passed unanimously.
USE OF BULLETIN BOARD AND GIVE AWAY POLICIES: The use of the Library’s bulletin boards and what type of give aways can be available in the Library were discussed. Mrs. Bullock had the letter from the law firm of Updike, Kelly and Spellacy on what could be handed out regarding the expansion before it went to referendum. The Board Policies and the Library Bill of Rights also refer to these issues. Discussion focused on reviewing the policies of what appropriate literature and displays can be available in the Library on issues related to Town activities. A task force of Bert Kaplan, Gail Ryan and Carol Bingham was formed . After Christmas they will pursue what other libraries do on these issues and the current policies will be reviewed.
TOWN CHARTER: It was decided to review the library portion of the recently revised charter at the next meeting. The size of the Board will be changing over the next few years.
At 8:15 P.M. C. Bingham moved for adjournment. Second: B. Gardner. So moved.
Eileen Sickinger, Secretary Pro Tempore
| 
