Author: Reading

Reading Library

Board of Trustees Meeting

March 28^th, 2017

In attendance:  Libbet Downs, Vanessa Maxham, Tony Pikramenos, Bill Bakker, Milde Waterfall, Secretary.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Milde Waterfall

Called to Order at 6:10pm

Minutes approved for March 2, 2017 meeting.

No changes to Agenda

Secretary’s Report:  None

Treasurer’s Report: Recent budget shared and all on target

Librarian’s Report: Details in New Business

Unfinished Business:

Automation – Rearranged sections in Library.  Reference works now subsumed into larger collection with Dewey Decimal System.  Work on downstairs collection is underway.  Closing in on the entire collection.  Bravo!

Maintenance – Date to re attach gold letters on portico not yet determined.

Snow Removal concerns.  Board of Trustees will follow a

Complaint Protocol: Tony receives a complaint, sends an email identifying the issue to all Board members and calls Chairperson.  Chairperson either calls complainant or designates a Board member to make the call informing the person that the Board is aware of the situation and will follow up on it in relation to its urgency.  Appropriate action will follow.

New Business – Tony takes a vacation in April.  He will email the Board members the dates involved on Thursday.

Summary of Decisions – Tony emails vacation dates.  Board proceeds with Complaint Protocol.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:50pm

 

Reading Library Board of Trustees Meeting

March 2, 2017

 

In attendance:  Libbet Downs, Milde Waterfall, Bill Bakker, Tony Pikramenos

Minutes submitted by Milde Waterfall, Secretary

In Vanessa’s absence Libbet called the meeting to order at 6:10pm.

Query for Changes to the Agenda – Libbet suggested we focus on the two objectives for Town Meeting , the only actions requiring immediate attention and table the rest of the Agenda.  Milde, Bill, and Tony agreed.

New Business:  Town Meeting.  Milde will nominate Vanessa and Libbet will second the motion.  Tony will prepare remarks amplifying the reasons listed by the Historical Society in the Town report if its appropriate.

Milde motioned that we adjourn at 6:30pm.  Libbet seconded.  Meeting adjourned.

 

 

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees Meeting

January 31, 2017

 

In attendance:  Libbet Downs, Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Peter Seman

Minutes submitted by Libbet Downs.

Meeting called to order at 6:10.

Minutes approved for January 4.

Secretary’s Report:  nothing to report

Treasurer’s Report: Peter will research Sovernet bills to find out the amount of refund owed the library.  The hours approved for Tony to work on automation will be used up next month.

Librarian’s Report:  Automation is moving along.  Weeding the collection, repairing books and cleaning the shelves is done as they go.

Unfinished business:  Vanessa will meet with Esther about collaboration between the library and the Historical Society.  Interviews of long-time residents will be shared.

New business:  The septic tank needs to be emptied.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10.

 

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees Meeting

January 5, 2017

 

In attendance: Libbet Downs, Tony Pikramenos, Vanessa Maxham, Bill Bakker, Milde Waterfall with Esther Allen visiting as representative of Historical Society

 

Minutes submitted by Milde Waterfall

 

Meeting Called to Order at 6:05pm

Minutes Approved for November 30, 2016

 

New Business: As a result of Esther Allen as our visitor, Vanessa moved us directly to New Business:  Esther was discussing the future of the Historical Society’s property which joins the Library’s boundary on the north.  Her concern was to ask if the Board of Trustees would be supportive of the Town’s purchase of the adjacent lot.  Discussion followed. Libbet moved to indicate that the Library Board would be supportive of the Town’s purchase of the adjacent lot.  The Board will send a note to the Select Board indicating why this purchase would be a benefit to the town and to the library.

 

Secretary’s Report:  Appeals Letter: Received 44 responses to date.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Peter sent no report in his absence.  No concerns noted.

 

Librarian’s Report:  Included in Unfinished Business- Automation and New Business.

 

Unfinished Business: Milde indicated she has been in discussion with the gentlemen who restored the letters, which need to be reattached to the front of the Library.

Automation:  Back in business following the holidays and enjoying progress thanks to all of the volunteers faithfully fulfilling the duties of the task.

New Business:  See discussion with Esther Allen in minutes at the beginning of the meeting.  The Board brainstormed ideas on why we would be in favor of the town’s purchase of the lot abutting the Library on the north side of the lot.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:30pm

 

Summary of Decisions:  Tony will write a note approved by the Board to send to the Selectmen regarding the property abutting the Library on the north side. Milde will continue discussions regarding the reattachment of the letter on the front of the Library.

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees Meeting

November 30, 2016

 

In attendance:  Peter Seman, Libbet Downs, Tony Pikramenos, Milde Waterfall

Minutes submitted by Milde Waterfall

 

Meeting called to Order at 6:10 with Libbet Downs acting as Chair.

Minutes Approved for October 25, 2016

No Agenda Changes

 

Secretary’s Report:  Fourteen thank you notes sent to those responding to the Appeal Letter.

Lavender and side garden covered to winterize.

 

Treasurer’s Report: Questions emerged about Fiberconnect refund.  Tony will contact the Department of Libraries.

Discussion of Request for Town Funds.  Libbet made a motion to level Fund the Library this fiscal year ($29,280).  Milde seconded.  Motion carried.

Tony reminded Peter that the Year End Reports are due to Calista by December 15^th.

 

Librarian’s Report:  By switching from Staples in Lebanon to Red House Press in Springfield for the printing of our Appeal Letter we enjoyed a savings of $166.00.

Esther Allen suggested the Red House Press.

The volunteers enjoyed the goodies the Board prepared for them as a thank you for their continued work with the Library.

The Pumpkin Carving for Halloween was a success.

Cocoa and Caroling is on schedule shepherded by Stephen D’Agostino for December 17^th.   We are getting support from the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Fire Department, the Town Office,  Chris Titus and Diane Moore.

We agreed that our next meeting will be January 3^rd, 2017

The Catamount Annual Meeting, which Tony attended, was productive.  A plan for fewer meetings was encouraging.  Currently there are 13 member libraries with four or five pending.

Tony shared his experience helping the Historical Society move out of the old building into the new building.  We agreed that we are all moving out of old methods and ideas into new possibilities with the Historical Society and the preservation and celebration of Reading.  To that end we will formally invite the Historical Society Executive Board to join our Board of Trustees for our January 31^st meeting.  At that time we can explore new opportunities for collaboration.  Tony will write a letter to the members of the Executive Board.

 

Unfinished Business.  Automation is progressing on schedule. Maintenance. Gardens prepared for winter.

 

New Business.

Collaboration with Historical Society (see Librarians Report).

 

Summary of Decisions:

Vanessa and Libbet will go to the bank and complete a transfer of names for official signatures.

Board will provide cookies, cocoa, and candy canes for Santa on December 17^th.

Tony will draft a letter to the Historical Society Executive Board for Board’s approval and signatures to invite them to a joint meeting on January 31^st 2017

Libbet will remind the school of our celebration on December 17^th, 2016

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:03pm