Tolland Public Library
Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes: April 16, 2013
Present: Trustees: Penny Babbitt, Jackie Bitso, Gloria Gery, and Jessica Kelmelis, Library Director
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chair, Gloria Gery at 9:08 a.m.
Minutes: Minutes of the September 12, 2012 Trustees meeting were approved as read.
Old Business:
Expenditures from donated and grant funds: There is $203 dollars left in the discretionary funds from donations and grants. Jessica will check with Margaret McClellan to be sure the recent $600 from Aetna supporting Trustees Gery and Babbitt’s work with the library have been credited to the account.
Electrical Work: Funds were spent on wiring for the new air conditioner, wiring for the basement alarm, purchase, wiring and installation of a programmable thermostat to achieve fuel savings.
Landscaping: Future landscaping will be with annuals with expense coming from the donated/grant account.
Alarms/monitors for power outage, freeze levels and water leak sensors:
Bathroom Cabinets: Jessica has determined that installing storage cabinets in the bathroom is not an appropriate use of donated/grant funds.
eBooks and procedures:
- The Tolland Library will use the CWMARS exclusively for downloading ebooks. Residents will have to go to another library like Southwick to obtain the requisite participating library card. Jessica will develop procedures, including adding the Nook downloading procedures and have them published on the website and in News and Notices. We will periodically publish information about this as more citizens use eBooks.
- The Tolland Public Library will not purchase and loan eBooks/readers at this time. Jessica’s research on other’s experience is that they are used as “samplers” and then patrons buy their own. With the decreasing cost of eReaders and administrative/expense concerns about purchase and management of eBooks, the decision to purchase has been deferred. We will reevaluate in the fall of 2013.
Mass Broadband: Fiber optic-based internet service will be installed and live at the Library within the next month. Jessica is meeting with Crocker, the provider selected by the Mass Library Association who will fund the internet service until September 2014. Kevin Donovan, the Tolland Wired West Delegate will participate in the requirements discussion. We will seek information about bundling telephone service with the internet. The Library has no need for television services at this time.
When the state funding for the internet ceases in September 2014, the Library will have to build internet expense into the budget. Dates/costs are to be determined.
Library Statistics: Statistics about circulation will be available after the end of the fiscal year and will be presented to the Trustees in September.
Coffeehouse Music: The Bruce Mandel concert was well attended. The synchronization with the Fire Department spaghetti supper made for a nice flow of activities. Bruce did a wonderful job as reported by Jessica.
New Business:
Library Budget: There are no changes in the budget submitted to the Selectmen; last year’s budget was used as the basis. No salary increases are budgeted since the Selectmen make the salary determinations.
Library Director Job Description and Salary Analysis: The consultant hired by the town worked with Jessica on the Library Director position description. She is satisfied that the duties and responsibilities and educational requirements are accurate and appropriate. The current $13.54 hourly compensation is significantly below the mid-point of the competitive salary range. Jessica Kelmelis has been the Library Director since 1999. Any salary adjustments are up to the Selectmen, but the Trustees endorse a salary increase to be sure the pay is competitive.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 a.m.
Next Meeting: September 3, 2103 at 9 a.m. at the Library
Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Gery, Trustee
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