BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011
MASHPEE LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM
Present: John Kowalski, Patricia Gamache, Sue McGarry, Carlo D’Este, Sandra Lahart, and David Burton (arrived 5:20 p.m.).
Absent: Jane Dolan
Also Present: Kathy Mahoney, Library Director
Mike Richardson – Board of Selectmen
Audience: Nancy Soderberg – Chairman, Mashpee Archives. President, Friends of the Library.
Jack Kowalski, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Patricia Gamache motioned to approve the Regular Session minutes of November 8, 2011 as written.
Motion was seconded by Sue McGarry.
VOTE: Yes-5. Motion passed. David Burton was not present.
Roll Call Vote: John Kowalski, yes Patricia Gamache, yes
Carlo D’Este, yes Sandra Lahart, yes
Sue McGarry, yes
Reports
Library Director’s Reports
Kathy Mahoney distributed copies of her monthly report, and Janet Burke’s monthly report for the month of November. Copies of the reports provided are attached to the printed set of these minutes. The reports were reviewed and discussed at length.
Responding to the Library staff request to close early on New Year’s Eve, the Trustees agreed to follow past precedent and modify the Library schedule for New Year’s Eve.
Motion: John Kowalski motioned to adopt a modified schedule of open Library hours for December 31, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlo D’Este seconded the motion.
VOTE: Yes-6. Motion passed.
Roll Call Vote: John Kowalski, yes Patricia Gamache, yes
Carlo D’Este, yes Sandra Lahart, yes
Sue McGarry, yes David Burton, yes
Kathy informed the Trustees that the Archives building is to be renovated and that Nancy Soderberg has presented a request that the Library take a portion of the Archives’ collection for storage and Library to administer and monitor the materials. Kathy spoke with Joyce Mason and Joyce would prefer to keep the collection in storage some place other than the Library. Jack Kowalski commented that this is fraught with danger and would take some looking into, but we would be willing to support storage. Carlo D’Este added that somebody has to handle it and that would be an issue for the Library. Nancy Soderberg said they were trying to make materials available to the public but ultimately the books can be stored in Anchorage Storage. The consensus of the Trustees was that the Library
preferred not to do this.
Friends of the Mashpee Public Library…Pat Gamache had e-mailed her Friends Liaison Report to the Trustees and briefly went through the update.
Pat said the Friends are happy to do the raffle for the February 24th event. Nancy Soderberg stated she has no further information, but she said they are going to get the permit from Deb Dami.
Pat said Constant Contact software is being offered to the Library and Trustees by the Friends. Sandi Lahart asked whether that would be good to use for the February 24th dinner/dance event. Kathy responded it is an excellent tool and could be used for the event.
Communications
Selectmen Mike Richardson…Mike Richardson said it is good to see the Trustees and Friends working well together.
He said it was great having last week’s annual holiday parade take off from the Library.
Unfinished Business
Teen Room
David Burton congratulated Kathy on her exemplary service and for her efforts in making the dedication successful. Kathy said she e-mailed the pictures she took of the event to Elsa at the Mashpee Enterprise and Elsa will publish in the Mashpee Enterprise.
February Dinner Dance Fundraiser
Pat Gamache reported that she went to Eastern Bank to set up account for the February event. Sue McGarry and Pat Gamache will be signers on the bank account. Pat said she spoke with Joyce Mason and asked whether Town ID number could be used. The bank needs a letter from the Trustees designating Sue and Pat as signers.
Motion: David Burton motioned that a savings and a checking account be opened at Eastern Bank for managing the event of February 24, 2012 and subsequent events, as appropriate, and further that the signatories on the accounts be Patricia Gamache and Sue McGarry. Carlo D’Este seconded the motion.
VOTE: Yes-6. Motion passed.
Roll Call Vote: John Kowalski, yes Patricia Gamache, yes
Carlo D’Este, yes Sandra Lahart, yes
Sue McGarry, yes David Burton, yes
Jack Kowalski reported that the February Dinner/Dance is moving along very well. He said all on the committee show up for the Friday morning meetings. Jack provided an update:
- One problem—no cloak room at Christ the King so we’re looking to borrow or rent coat racks. Right now thinking is that each individual will just hang their coat on the rack. Several suggestions were made as to where coat racks could be obtained…Pat Gamache suggested Marshall’s and she is going to check with them.
- Amber Crowley is donating her portion of the program.
- 4 Guys in a Tux will appear.
- Posters will be out by next week.
- Tickets are numbered. Pat Gamache said she had a question. Pat said while she and Sue are collecting the money, who is going to be marketing? Jack said all individuals are marketing and will get the tickets from Pat.
February Dinner Dance Fundraiser (continued)
Sandi Lahart said that in answer to her request for sponsorship of the February event, Eastern Bank has advised her that she did already apply through a charitable foundation and therefore she has to wait until after the first of the year to re-apply and submit this request. Jack will do this right away.
Discussion
Jack said as already reported, he sent Dunning & Kirrane law firm a letter regarding establishing a foundation and there is nothing new to report because we have not heard back from them yet.
Jack informed the Trustees that there is a beautiful holly tree on the corner of the property where his law firm office is located. Mark Gildea is willing to donate this beautiful holly tree to the Library if we can get it over here. Mike Richardson said depending on the size he can get it moved. This will be checked further.
Sue McGarry asked about access to ALA’s resources for Trustees and Kathy said she would work on getting the registration information distributed. She has not completed the process yet.
David Burton asked Kathy for information about e-book and e-readers. Kathy said the Library doesn’t lend devices; we do the books. She said we are working with patrons with their devices, but they need to make an appointment since it is time-consuming. Kathy said the Library owns a Nook color. Kathy pointed out that there are big problems with publishers placing lending restrictions and pulling e-books from collections. Kathy said Library buys books and it used to be same way in buying e-books but now they’ve put restrictions on e-books so that after a year you have to buy another copy. This is expensive. Kathy said some publishers won’t put books in library collections. Kathy advised that CLAMS is boycotting Harper Collins e-books in hopes that they will
modify their practices and make them more library friendly.
Pat Gamache mentioned the Mashpee Enterprise article last week about the taxes levied for the Library and wondered whether there was any feedback. Consensus was there wasn’t any feedback; tax increase was expected; and the enhanced benefits to the community make it worthwhile.
Next Meeting…5 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2012 in the Library Conference Room.
Jack Kowalski asked for a motion to move to Executive Session to discuss staffing.
Motion: Sandra Lahart motioned to adjourn at 6:08 p.m. The Library Trustees will enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing staffing. The Trustees will not reconvene in Open Session.
Motion seconded by David Burton.
Roll Call Vote: John Kowalski, yes Patricia Gamache, yes
Carlo D’Este, yes Sandra Lahart, yes
Sue McGarry, yes David Burton, yes
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Giliberti, Recording Secretary
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