Nesmith Library Board Trustee Minutes

November 18, 2003

Present: Mary Lee Underhill, Chair, Shirley Beaulieu, Vice Chair, Sharon Scannell, Treasurer, J. Gross, Assistant Treasurer, Pat Skinner, Secretary, Dr. Murray Levin, member, and Acting Co-Directors: Lois Freeston and Diane Mayr. Absent: Willie Day, member.

Mary Lee called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm

Minutes: The November 4, 2003 minutes were accepted as written, and the minutes of the Non-public session were accepted as corrected.

REPORTS:

Financial: Sharon Scannell reported that 80.32% of the budget was spent through October (83% of the year).

Acting Co-Directors: The monthly report was given at the November 4 meeting. After discussion regarding the pending facility needs,

MOTION: was made by Pat Skinner and seconded

That the Board allocate up to $2,500 from the Capital Account for the outside lighting project approved in 1999.

The motion passed unanimously.

Lois Freeston will make further updates needed on the Website.

COMMITTEES:

Finance: After the Board reviewed the remaining budget for 2003,

MOTION: was made by Sharon Scannell and seconded

That the Board approves the expenditure of $627 for Visual Storage Cabinets out of the unexpended Bond Fund.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: was made by Sharon Scannell and seconded

That the Board approves the expenditure of $3,334 for a CD rack to be paid out of the Electronic Cataloging Fund.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: was made by Pat Skinner and seconded

That the Budget Committee in consultation with the Acting Co-Directors be authorized to make purchases through the end of the year.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: was made by Sharon Scannell and seconded

That the Board approves the Nesmith Library budget for 2004.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: was made by J Gross and seconded

That the Director be authorized to spend up to $1,000 of budgeted funds without Board approval, except for books and magazines for which authorization is granted up to $5,000.

The motion passed unanimously.

Search: The Search Committee for a new Director met and composed a job description (distributed) to be placed on the Website with linkage to other Library networks. Seven newspapers were given the job posting referencing the Library Website. The committee will meet November 20 to continue preparation for resume review and interview preparations.

Personnel: Pat Skinner said the Search committee for the Youth Services Librarian will conduct two second interviews this coming week and expects to recommend a candidate at the December 9 meeting.

Needs Assessment: Marjorie Judd forwarded a copy of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ Building Analysis Worksheet for the committee to use when visiting other libraries.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

By-Laws:

MOTION: was made by Pat Skinner and seconded

That the discussion of the By Laws be delayed until the next meeting.

The motion passed unanimously.

Young Adult Project: Sharon Scannell said the project was moving along and will be completed after Thanksgiving.

Software/Hardware Status: Mary Lee will confer with Eric DeLong.

Relocation of Director’s Office: Repairs and preparation for the move to the Simonoff Room are planned for late December.

NEW BUSINESS:

A request was received by a group of parents to post a petition regarding their objection to text material required at Salem High. Mary Lee will give the parent who contacted her a copy of the Library’s policy on bulletin boards which permits such posting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Budget Hearing will be held on Monday, November 24 at 8:30 pm in the Planning Department.

The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9 at 7 pm.

December programs for adults at the library (free and open to the public) include:

“Sing-Along” Monday, December 1 at 1:30 pm

“Holiday Dessert Potluck” Monday, December 15 at 2 pm and

“Music for the Holidays” Tuesday, December 16 at 7 pm.

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:

MOTION: was made by Pat Skinner and seconded

That the Board enters a Non-public in accordance with RSA 91-A-3.

Mary Lee polled the Board: all were in favor.

MOTION: was made by Pat Skinner and seconded

That the Board exits the Non-public session.

Mary Lee polled the Board: all were in favor.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Lee Underhill

Draft subject to approval