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Minutes
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Grafton Public Library Trustees Meeting
Minutes
January 15. 2015
Attending:
Bob Donald, Lucia Corwin, Christopher Schemm,
Deborah Toomey and Michelle Dufort
Bob Donald brought the meeting to order at
6:35 p.m.
There was no public comment.
The minutes from the November meeting were
approved.
Librarian’s
Report
A new reading list “Millie’s List” has been
created to honor long time library user Millie Haseltine. Every week Michelle
would select books for her to read, and the list will continue that tradition
with other community members adding suggested titles that Millie might have
enjoyed.
A graphic novel section has been added to the
juvenile collection to help encourage reading in reluctant readers.
Michelle reported that the library will
participate in the Vermont Digital Economy Project Website Grant from the
Vermont Department of Libraries (VDOL). Grafton will receive $600 and will use
the money to request Rob Fish’s assistance in designing a new Grafton Library
website that will incorporate photos. The new website will need to be easy to
use and update and the Library Board will be beta testers once this has
happened, most likely in the spring or summer.
The VDOL contacted Grafton to see if we could
use a new Lenovo laptop. With automation to happen this year, the library
certainly would make good use of it. Funds from the Windham Foundation grant
that would have been used for the laptop, with Board approval, will be used to
upgrade the scanner that will be used daily at the circulation desk to one
recommended by Library World. Securing the new laptop was discussed since some
buildings in Grafton have been broken into. After some discussion, the Board
and the librarian felt that it would suffice to cover the laptop at the close
of business.
Several of our long time volunteers who had
asked for temporary suspensions (Marge Prouty, Chuck Dickison,
Sandra Morrison) have indicated that they are
interested in returning to their usual volunteer times. Michelle had trained
two new volunteers, Charlie Carta and Barbara Nolan who are working regular
hours. Charlie Carta has been especially flexible in working hours and this has
been very much appreciated by the library staff.
Financial
Report
The financial report through January 9th
was presented. The current combined balances of the endowment and the Jerry
Stevens Fund now exceeds $1 million. December was not an especially good month
for the stock market. However, the library appears to be in fairly good shape
for the future.
The annual appeal has provided less funding
than initially budgeted. This was a concern of the Board since many Grafton
donors gave to the Jerry Stevens Memorial Fund, impacting the monies collected
during this annual funding request. At present, we are approximately $1,500
short of budget.
Automation
Update
The juvenile fiction has been completed, and
the juvenile non-fiction will be completed soon. Once this had been finished,
the book records will be updated with the VDOL and the download process with
the Vermont Union Catalog to Library World can begin to create a list of
Grafton’s holdings. Then all books and materials will need to be barcoded and
scanned.
Building
and Grounds
The French door to the handicapped entrance
has been completely replaced and looks nice. The new doors are more weather
tight and the lack of drafts were noted by the Board
during the meeting.
Other items that will need to be addressed are
that the side of the building facing Main Street is peeling paint and will
likely need to be painted this summer; the floors in the office space and Hayes
Room have dips and sways and should be examined; and the circulation desk is
inadequate and will become more of a problem when book circulation is
automated.
Also discussed were the previous plans to
renovate the building and a possible capitol campaign to address issues:
handicap access, a meeting room that does not require rearranging the
collections or climbing the stairs, and a possible community center area.
Various suggestions on what collections could be moved to the second floor were
made. Nothing was decided, but the needs were noted.
Policies
The town is requiring library personnel to
complete forms required for Homeland Security. As a result, the library’s
Personnel policy needs to be updated.
The Fiduciary Policy also needs examination to determine if it also
needs updating. Bob indicated that he’d examine both policies and let the Board
know what he finds at the next meeting.
Other
Business
Several names were suggested and will be
approached one by one to assess interest in becoming members of the Library
Board. Time is short because the petition must be filed with the town by
January 23 for the Town Meeting ballot. Lucia will contact a promising member
to see if she is interested.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Toomey