DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2003
Members Present: Theodore Flynn (Chair), John Hill, Lynne Walsh, Carl Meier, Margaret
Lougee and Nancy Delano
Staff Present: Elaine Winquist, David Murphy, Nancy Denman, James Jaquette, Rose
Hickey, Carol Jankowski, Deborah Killory, Ellen Snoeyenbos, Martha
O’Meara, Regina Bannerman, Karen Hahn, Doreen Recke, Carol Segar, Amy
Tull and Judith Kusmin
Also Present: Sally Redmond (President of Friends of the Duxbury Free Library)
The meeting was convened at 7:38 am in the Setter Room at the Duxbury Free Library and was voted into executive session at 7:39 am. The meeting was roll called out of executive session at 8:06 am and the regular session was called to order at 8:08 am.
Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the January 8, 2003 meeting were presented.
Moved to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2003 meeting as presented.
Vote: 6 – 0 in favor
Director’s report
Ms. Winquist reported that she has contracted with a roofer to repair leaks. He will begin work when the snow clears off the roof. The library’s periodical jobber, Rowe.com, has gone into bankruptcy. Although the library has paid for subscriptions for all of its journals, only half have been renewed; the balance of funds was used by the company for other purposes. It appears that EBSCO will purchase Rowe.com. So far, publishers seem to be giving libraries a grace period and all issues of all journals have been received.
Department reports
Reports of the Children’s, Circulation, Reference and Technical Services Deparments were distributed to the trustees.
Friends report
Ms. Redmond reported that the Friends membership has increased from 90 to 250 as a result of the membership mailing and $14,000 has been raised through dues. The group is now working on establishing committees so that everything does not have to be handled at board meetings. The Friends are looking for a venue for book sales, and would like to use the Wright Building for storage and sales. They are also discussing holding sales at the Boosters Antique Sale and the DAA Art Sale. The Friends intend to mail Library Lore to their members and will have a section in the newsletter.
Library staff
Ms. Denman read a letter to the trustees, expressing support for the library staff and concern about staff morale as the result of protracted contract negotiations. Ms. Kusmin read a statement expressing her concerns about the effect of the prolonged negotiations on staff. Several staff members also expressed their concern and asked the trustees for their active support. Mr. Flynn and all of the trustees expressed their support for the staff and asked staff to hold on through the mediation process. If mediation fails to secure a contract, the trustees will review their options. Mr. Flynn asked that the written statements by staff members – submitted by Ms. Denman and Ms. Kusmin – be included as part of the minutes.
FY04 Library Budget
Ms. Winquist reported that she had received a visit from a member of the Inc. Board concerning the decision to close on Sundays for FY04. The use of privately donated funds to keep the library open on Sundays was proposed, and the director was provided with newspaper articles concerning other communities’ use of donated funds to keep their libraries open during difficult budgetary times. Ms. Winquist has consulted with the town accountant who informed her that as long as the funds are in place in advance, private donations could be used for this purpose.
Trustees noted that they would want written approval in advance from both the Town Accountant and the Town Manager before they would fund Sunday openings with private funds. Mr. Meier expressed concern that once funding is removed from the budget, it may be difficult to get it back when the financial climate improves. The trustees deferred a decision to a future meeting in order to give them an opportunity to weigh all of the implications of the use of private funds to maintain Sunday library hours and to obtain staff input on the matter.
Ms. Redmond said that the Friends are advocating for the library in town and will talk to Ms. Lougee, the trustee liaison to the Friends, on the best way to do this.
Moved by Mr. Hill, seconded by Ms. Walsh, to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 am.
Vote: 6 – 0 in favor
February 12, 2003
To the Duxbury Free Library Board of Trustees,
I’ve asked to speak to you today because I feel the Duxbury Free Library is on the brink of losing its most valuable asset, its staff. It is a staff that is unique: cooperative, enthusiastic, creative, hardworking, energetic, dedicated, and caring. Their work ethic and commitment to high standards is exemplary. Their support of, and commitment to helping each other and their customers is extraordinary. This staff, full-time and part-time, forms a cohesive team in the truest sense of the word.
They are a group of trailblazers and risk takers. Often pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone and the basic demands of their job, they mine their talents to initiate, develop, and produce programs and materials which enrich and enhance library service to this community. They exhibit a group synergy which affirms the idea that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. I believe their dedication to maintaining a superior standard of customer service is not replicated by any other town department and not by most libraries in Massachusetts.
As a supervisor who feels honored to work in such an environment, I am currently very frustrated by my inability to do anything about the protracted collective bargaining which has seriously impacted staff morale. I feel it has the potential to seriously damage the future of our library team.
Collective bargaining, by its very nature, is divisive and polarizing. The town manager wants to give out as little as possible, employees want to get what they feel they are worth. It is a political game with some of the players more practiced than others. But just as the staff of the Duxbury Free Library has achieved a new paradigm in the creation and delivery of library services, I believe the time has come for trustees and administrators to push for a new paradigm in negotiations. I am suggesting that the town manager and anyone representing the town in this process needs to be educated as to why the traditional mindset of “first contract” isn’t a progressive way of thinking when it comes to negotiating the value of a superior workforce.
I’ve noted that the library staff is a group of trailblazers and risk takers. As library trustees and administrators, I believe we owe them nothing less than to lead by their example.
Nancy Denman
Assistant Director, Children’s Services
February 12, 2003
To the Duxbury Free Library Board of Trustees
I am new on board and have the experience of working with wonderful staff and administration. During my extended sick time last summer, this remarkable group pulled together to keep the library at full tilt and helped each other. The atmosphere at the library has made it a happy destination for Duxbury people who, to date, have no complaints and I feel that is because we have worked together harmoniously. The Trustees, administration and staff have “equally” important roles. This library cannot stand if any area is weakened.
This staff works as hard and is as committed as any in town without equal benefits.
We are in our second year of negotiation with no recognition of the problems by administrators. We do not want what has to happen inevitably to cause a breakdown of morale, services and, finally, community satisfaction. We will lose quality and quality people if they must leave for proper and fair recognition.
Judith Kusmin
Library Assistant
| 
