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BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MINUTES 1/11/2011
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011
MASHPEE LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM



Present:  David Burton, Patricia Gamache, Jane Dolan, Nancy Soderberg, Carlo D’Este, and John Kowalski.

Also Present:  Helene DeFoe, Library Director
                    
Audience:  Sandra Lahart
              Kathy Mahoney


David Burton, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
Approval of Minutes

Jane Dolan motioned to accept the minutes of the Meeting of November 9, 2010 as written; Carlo D’Este seconded this motion.
Roll-call vote was taken and Carlo D’Este, Jane Dolan, John Kowalski and Nancy Soderberg voted “yes”.  The motion was approved with David Burton and Patricia Gamache abstaining.

David Burton motioned to accept the minutes of the Meeting of December 14, 2010 as presented; Nancy Soderberg seconded this motion.
Roll-call vote was taken and David Burton, Jane Dolan, Patricia Gamache and Nancy Soderberg voted “yes”.  The motion was approved with Carlo D’Este and John Kowalski abstaining.

Reports

Helene distributed her monthly report and the CLAMS Circulation Statistics report for the month of December as well as Janet Burke’s report for the same timeframe.  Copies of these reports are attached to the printed set of these minutes.  The reports were reviewed and discussed.  Helene informed the Trustees that the Mashpee Library received its certification.  Helene also mentioned that use of the meeting room space is being tracked and that people had to be turned away.  

Legislative Breakfast…Mashpee Library hosting the Legislative Breakfast event on Friday, February 4th  at 8 a.m.  Helene passed around a copy of the notice and several of the Trustees indicated they would attend.

Teen Programs…Helene reported that with the generous donation from the Shanker family she asked Kathy Mahoney to work at creating new programs for teens.  Helene said that some of the donation covered Kathy’s hours.  Helene asked Kathy to elaborate on the programs.  Kathy made the following comments:

  • Important to go out and meet people in community who work with teens.
  • Kathy has met with Kari LaPoint (High School Librarian) and Sheila Arnold (Principal, Mashpee Middle School) and they’ve been e-mailing and talking about ways they can work together—how we could help support their work and how they could help with our library program.  They are very enthusiastic and they are going to write a letter to School Superintendent Ann Bradshaw so she knows this collaboration is underway.  Helene said Ann was involved early on about this teen program and Ann was supportive.
  • 2 areas—programs that would be fun and recreational, as well as ways we could work to improve the library services.
  • School very interested in having gaming programs with us because library has the gaming equipment.
  • First movie will be “Social Network” (PG-13).  School offered to do the publicity for us…put up posters, newsletter, etc.
  • Hope to have some type of February vacation program.
Teen Programs (continued)
  • For February, Kathy said she is going with cupcakes and she met with people at CupCake Charlies and they might come and do a talk on decorating or frosting, etc.  Kathy said there are different things she can have teens do with cupcakes like challenges, characters, and theme from a book.
  • Group vacation could be a book to movie group.  Kathy spoke with Regal Cinema in Mashpee Commons and they are willing to provide a number of free passes.  The movie “I am #4” is coming in February.  It is based on a popular teen book.  Kathy said when she has done movies based on books before the students really get into talking about comparison between the movie and the book.
  • School suggested literary scrap booking.
  • Scavenger hunt is another possibility.
  • Fun activities for summer program could be geocaching:  “You are Here” (Statewide Summer Reading Theme).
  • Talk about data bases—find out what library has that’s compatible with school.  Show how to download books; homework alerts; Teacher cards that allows them longer time to take out materials.
  • Library bought gaming collection so work with school to find best way to make available to them on after-school basis.
  • Kathy said that January 29th will be the first film night.
Jane Dolan said Ann Bradshaw just started a group:  “Mashpee Cares”.  Kathy commented that it is important to get groups together and work together before a crisis happens.  She said if more people are involved, then it’s more successful.

Kathy pointed out that most libraries have a policy covering these programs that include such things as don’t drive anyone home; more than 1 adult stays with a child if not picked up right after the event; police called if child left too long waiting.  Kathy said the best protection is to establish policy so parents are aware.  Kathy said when there is an event and a child leaves, they cannot come back in.  That too should be included in the policy.

Kathy Mahoney exited the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

FOML Update…Jack Kowalski provided financial update, as well as following items:

  • Ann Bloomfield is a new Board Member.
  • Donor Wall…Friends want to try to make it as attractive as possible.  Friends felt they were excluded and the feeling was that negated the obligation we had to pay ½ the wall.  Friends decided now that they would offer $2,000 to settle the difference.
  • Author series will be held at the end of April.
  • January 27th…sale of jewelry event with 30% to go to Friends.
  • Friends agreed to make a donation to February 4th Legislative Breakfast to be held at the Library.
  • Friends are reviewing idea to sponsor breakfast event for estate planners to explore possibility of gift coming to the Friends through estate plan.  Maybe have a memorial wall…nothing political.  Thought is if you did one or two breakfast events a year it might be a good source.
New Business

Jack Kowalski said he read that Falmouth Library was having an amnesty on fines so that patrons would bring in food for the food pantry in lieu of paying fee due.  Helene commented that this type of thing is generally done for a week and only for late fines, not replacement of books.  It was felt that bringing in food donation in place of fine is good PR.  It was the consensus of the Trustees that this is a good idea.  Helene suggested maybe doing it in February at Valentine’s Day.

Old Business

Cape Cod Volunteers…David asked the Trustees to review the request made by Cape Cod Volunteers at last month’s meeting so that by February meeting the Trustees would be able to give a reply to Cape Cod Volunteers.

Meeting Room Policy…Helene said 2 issues arose that she wanted to present for Trustee review:

  • The Congregational Church is doing a musical for the church in the events room.  They asked whether they could have a raffle and give one-half of the proceeds to the Library.  They are not doing this but Helene was mentioning to the Trustees for them to think about should this question be raised in the future.
  • A real estate company wanted to do some type of employee training and asked if the library was a location where they could meet.  Helene said she did encourage this and they didn’t follow through.
Consensus of the Trustees was that for something like this they would say “no”.

Library Staffing for 2011 and Future

Helene advised that her last work day will be February 25.  She provided a copy of her job description as the Trustees had requested.  David reiterated that staffing is a priority.  Jane Dolan said she is going to check with Terrie Cook and ask if Fire/Police staffing funded then would they fund one of our library positions.  Also, since Helene is retiring then maybe they could use money to fund part-time position at least.

David broached the subject with the Trustees that perhaps subcommittees of no more than 3 Trustees could be organized to work on Library issues, such as:  search committee for Library Director; physical plant operations; meeting room; and budget/personnel.  Trustees did agree and volunteered as follows:

  • Search Committee…David Burton, Carlo D’Este, and Jack Kowalski.
  • Physical Plant Operations…Nancy Soderberg.
  • Meeting Room…David Burton, Pat Gamache, and Nancy Soderberg.
  • Budget/Personnel…Jane Dolan.  Sandra Lahart said she would be willing to serve if appointed to the Board.
Next Meeting…6 p.m., Tuesday, February 8, 2011 in the Library Conference Room.

Adjournment

John Kowalski motioned to adjourn the meeting; Patricia Gamache seconded the motion; and it was unanimously passed.  The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,


Jean Giliberti
Recording Secretary