Library Trustees

BEDFORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Minutes

May 8, 2007

Meeting called to order at 8:05 p.m.

Present: Trustees present were H. Cohen, R. Dyer, S. Getty, A. Hafer, L. O’Connor, and M. Ross, M. Pulizzi was absent. Director R. Callaghan and Assistant Director V. Abraham were also present.

Library bills were circulated for signatures.

Secretary’s Report:

R. Dyer made a motion to accept the 4/10/07 minutes. Seconded by M. Ross. Vote: 6-0 to accept.

Director’s Report

Director Callaghan reported:

Richard got a letter from the Town reminding us that Bedford has certification as one of 60 “No Place For Hate” communities in Massachusetts. The letter urges each town department to think of new ways to advance respect and understanding.

In a response to a patron complaint about the appearance of the big green electrical substation outside the main entrance, it is now surrounded by four Japanese andromeda bushes planted by the Bedford Garden Club.

The new sound system and projector in Meeting Room are now in operation. The sound system has a DVD player, wireless microphone, Ipod station, and a connection for laptops. Great for our movie programs.

A. Hafer made motion to accept the Director’s Report. Seconded by H. Cohen. Vote 6-0 to accept.

Unfinished Business:

YA/Reference Room – Update

Richard and Vanessa met with the rest of the committee: Noreen O’Gara, Joanne Poage, and Kate Townsend. Consensus is to switch the positions of the Reference Area and YA room. The new YA room will be available to all ages until 2:30 (school dismissal), except summer. New Reference Room can be used as quiet study and will have a door. The 2^nd floor shelving area may also be designated a quiet area because youths will be in the larger, more appealing new YA Room. Oversight of the YA room and policies for use of computers inside and outside the YA room were discussed. Trustees discussed a policy allowing basic filtering of computers in the YA Room.

Noreen is in frequent contact with junior high and high school librarians and has been doing informal information gathering from students who come into the library. Lynne volunteered to lead a focus group with kids. We might offer Junior High and High School students instruction on how to do online research.

The next step is to contact consultants to meet with staff and exchange ideas. Richard will determine which firms have more experience with YA rooms. He will also try to visit the Wellesley library and others with YA Rooms. A general timeline for this project will be presented at the next Trustees meeting. Town bid laws apply because it’s a town building, even though town money isn’t being used for the renovation.

Reconfiguration of shelves and seating in the Periodical Room was also discussed.

One Book One Bedford - Update

The immigration program at the COA, moderated by Richard, had a good turnout and good discussion. People attending talked about their own or their families’ experiences as immigrants.

The adoption program had a smaller turnout due to a beautiful spring day. Vanessa got very good feedback on discussions of Digging to America; numbers ranged for 2 or 3 participants to 10 or 12. The Saturday April 28 discussion with special guest Shirin Ansari, whose life parallels that of Maryam in the novel, was excellent. Shirin also brought great Iranian food.

Performance Review of Director

The Review was moved to the end of the meeting. The Committee reported that it is in mid-process, will submit review to R. Reed by the 5/31 deadline.

New Business

AED (Automated Exterior Defibrillator) Training May 11 Richard, Ray Barry, Lisa Baylis and Joanne Poage will go to this training, provided free by the Police Department to town employees.

Report on Massachusetts Library Association Conference. Held last week in Sturbridge. Richard, Ray, Joanne Poage, Jo Ann Pierce and Sharon attended. Richard went to a panel presented by teens, a technology session, and a seminar on managing change in libraries. The “next new thing” is downloading videos, music, and podcasts. Also, teachers can have students submit their papers by email so the teacher can run the paper through a plagiarism check.

Richard will be vice-president of MLA for a year as of July and President as of a year from July. This will improve our knowledge of MLA activities and plans.

Other Business:

Holiday Closing Schedule FY08

H. Cohen moved to approve the Holiday Closing Calendar. A. Hafer seconded. Vote 6-0 to accept.

Step Raises and Appointments - none.

Kate Townsend, co-head of circulation, who was hired in 1996, has resigned to move to a job in chemistry, the field in which she has a degree. May 24^th will be her last day. We will be advertising for a replacement.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 8 p.m.

Motion to Adjourn: 9:15

R. Dyer moved and H. Cohen seconded. Vote: 6-0 to accept.