The Amherst Library Trustees Board Meeting

June 14, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m.  Those attending were Don Holden – Chairman, Dick Martini, Bob Lown, Robin Julian, Tom Head, Dave Hallenbeck, Jackie Hockett, Children’s Librarian and Amy Lapointe, Library Director.  The minutes of the May 15, 2006 meeting were approved.

 

Children’s Services Report:

 Jackie gave us an overview of the upcoming summer reading program, Treasure Reading, and gave us samples of the reading log game board and calendar of upcoming programming.  The staff, dressed as pirates, visited the Clark & Wilkins schools to promote the program. Crafts, family story & movie times, a book discussion group and special programs are some of the highlights.  The children’s web site has been changed to include a question of the month and book reviews by children.  Emily Richardson, a former page, has been hired as an intern for the summer to help in the children’s room.  She will be working 20 hours/week.  Jackie has also been purchasing literacy building games for circulation.

 

Library Director’s Report:

·        The monthly statistics were presented (see report). The door counter has been remounted and we will start seeing door counts again

·        The Garden Club project is nearly done behind the library. Furniture has been purchased from money donated to the library in memory of Sue Blakeman.

·        There is an upcoming program on cat care by the Animal Rescue League and more teen program planning is happening.  Magic and knitting are future program ideas.

·        The children’s web site has been totally revamped and the on-line catalogue has been subtly changed for improvements, including patron self-registration, a new feature being tested. Reference has added new data bases including Newsbank and the upcoming Learn-a-Test and Auto Repair Reference Center.

·        The CD shelving project should cost about $7100. The Friends are donating $5000 & the Junior Women are donating $500 toward this project. Discussion ensued regarding the remainder to be funded from our current budget. Bob moved and Dick seconded that Amy may spend up to $2000 for the CD shelving project. The Board voted all in favor of the motion.

·        The audit of our accounts has been done and all is okay.

·        Summer hours start on June 17th.

·        A new page, Ruth Newhouse, has been hired and Jessica Nivens finishes her page job at the end of June. Pages can’t take more than 2 weeks off, and the library is now compliant with an RSA that requires a note from parents to hire 16-18 year olds.

·        Amy gave us a summary of points made by Attorney Bill Drescher on conducting public meetings from Gary Macguire.

 

Amy requested to go into a non-public session at 7:00 p.m. The Board voted unanimously to go into non-public session. The Board vote to exit the session at 7:48 p.m.

 

Treasurer’s Report: All accounts are where they should be at this point in the year.  Bob has asked for $4000 from the Trustees of the Trust Fund for the library.

Gifts:  The Board unanimously accepted the following gifts:  $965 in memory of Sue  

Blakeman and $300 for audio books.

 

Trustee’s Reports:

Programs:  Tom has tentatively scheduled the Peterborough Chamber Choir, an acapella group, for a November 12th performance of the Boardman Concert.

Buildings & Grounds:  Automatic door opener is having problems closing, but Fred from DPW has been reliable in fixing it.

Technology:  There was some discussion regarding the hand-out from Gary Macguire on email and the right to know and conflict of interest.  Also, MP3 books will not be coming out this month, but perhaps by the end of summer.

 

Old Business: None

 

New Business: Carol Byatt of Coldwell Banker wanted to use the meeting room, but Amy informed her that our policy was that the room could not be used for commercial purposes and the trustees reconfirmed that policy.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.  The next meeting will be held Monday, July 24, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                                Robin K. Julian, Acting Secretary