Tolland Public Library
Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes: September 12, 2012
Present: Trustees: Penny Babbitt, Gloria Gery, and Jessica Kelmelis, Library Director. Excused: Jackie Bitso.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Gloria Gery at 9:00 a.m.
Minutes: Minutes of the May 10, 2012 Trustees meeting were approved as read.
Old Business:
Library Trustees: Jackie Bitso was elected to the Tolland Public Library Trustees for a three year term during town elections.
Expenditures from donated and grant funds: Jessica will review remaining funds and prepare recommendations for expenditures for the next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees Meetings. Penny Babbitt and Gloria Gery have again submitted volunteer grant requests to Aetna Foundation for their Trustee work. An additional $600 should be received by the Library in January 2013.
Air Conditioning: Air conditioner and required electricity was installed. Working well after initial unit problem resolved by supplier. Cools library quickly.
Landscaping: Hosta were purchased and installed. Landscaping will be enhanced by planting annuals for color in summer 2013.
Programmable thermostat. Library fuel conservation will be enhanced by programmable thermostat to regulate temperatures. Jessica is scheduling installation with Logsdon Electric to assure installation by the winter heating season. Library will be maintained at 50 degrees F. when unoccupied.
Alarms/monitors for power outage, freeze levels and water leak sensors: Alternatives were discussed. It was determined that there is sufficient activity at the library to obviate the need for all but water sensor alarm which notifies identified parties (e.g. Library Director, DPW) if there are water overflows from the basement sump pump. Gloria will send information to Jessica on units (between $80 and $110) for these security devices. If units address all risks, then they will be included with water sensor. Jessica will select unit and have installed.
Bathroom Cabinets: Jessica has determined that installing storage cabinets in the bathroom is not an appropriate use of donated/grant funds.
eBooks and procedures:
- Procedures for checking out eBooks for Kindle were published in News and Notices and the electronic Tattler and placed on Library web page.
- Penny Babbitt provided information on procedures for the Nook eReader and Jessica will develop and publish.
- Two workshops on library purchase, circulation, security, etc. policies for eReaders were cancelled. She is enrolled in a webinar during October and a workshop in November 2012. Goal is to learn about questions to ask, required policies, best practices. Following participation she will develop a list of remaining questions and circulate to library director List Serve for resolution.
- Jessica will develop recommendations on acquisition of eReaders, policy, practice and procedures and submit to Trustees for review. If appropriate materials and recommendations will be circulated online for review and electronic approval by Trustees. We will proceed deliberately and slowly.
Mass Broadband: The electric panel installed by Mass Broadband was moved to a more appropriate location.
Library Statistics: Library circulation statistics were signed by Chair Gloria Gery and sent to the state as required. Book circulation is down and has definitely been affected by eBook use by patrons. Efforts to maintain use of the Library will continue.
Pastels Workshop: 9 people attended this workshop. It will be scheduled again for 2013 due to participation and satisfaction levels.
New Business:
Payment for Internet: Currently the state pays for Library internet service through a grant from the Gates Foundation. Jessica will check with state officials to determine whether the state will continue to pay when new internet providers using fiber optic cable will be installed.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
Next Meeting: To be scheduled in Spring 2013.
Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Gery, Trustee
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