|
Minutes
Home - Hours - Book Chat Room - Calendar - Reference - Contact Us |
Grafton Public Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2017 6:00PM
Attending: Bob
Donald, Lucia Corwin, Andrea Dunmire, Deborah Toomey, David Whittall and
librarian Michelle Dufort
Special Guest presenters: Barbara Friedman and Gautier
Wallaert, TIAA-CREF
Bob Donald called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Public comment: No
public in attendance.
Barbara Friedman provided a comprehensive report on the
status of the Library’s endowment fund and the Jerry Stevens Fund. The stock
market has been good this past year and the endowment has grown back to where
it was prior to 2008. Ms. Friedman and Mr. Wallaert left the meeting after
their presentation.
The minutes of the March 18, 2017 meeting were read and
approved.
Librarian’s Report
Michelle attended the Department of Library’s (DOL) meeting
on the Library World automation system with the intent of requesting
information and assistance from other small libraries using Library World for
their collections. The meeting provided information on possible migration to a
system called VERSO, an integrated library system. Once the librarians heard
the presentation on this new system, the Library World meeting was scrapped by
acclimation and additional information on VERSO was requested. It appears that
this is an NISO/ANSI Z39.50 compliant system that will be easier and more
efficient to use. The DOL is offering incentives to libraries willing to
migrate and will pay all costs entailed in this process and the first year’s
subscription. The yearly subscription costs may be as much as $800. The Library
currently pays $450/year for Library World and while the fee may be adjusted
according to a library’s size and community, the Board should plan for the full
fee in the 2018 budget.
A thank you letter will be sent by the Secretary to the
Macks. Stan and Pat supplied and installed the new entry door handle, keying it
to current configuration. Stan also adjusted the doorknob on the storm door so
it would operate properly.
Signs will begin to appear around town that are related to
the Turner Family history and their lives in the Grafton community. One of the
first signs will be at the church. The Library may eventually have a sign, but
our current location was not where the library was located for most of their
tenure and Daisy Turner did not use the current library often.
Treasurer’s Report
79% of the year has been completed and the Library has used
65% of the TIAA-CREF draw. Another incremental draw is needed. The Stevens Fund
is used for health insurance and to pay the library assistant. Traditionally,
the Treasurer has taken this draw at the end of the fiscal year.
Building and Grounds
Members of the Investment group, Tom Senatori in particular, helped the Library by cleaning
up the sticks that had fallen on the lawn over the winter. All members of the
Board were most appreciative. Sarah Yarosevich is providing spring garden
clean-up and will mulch the beds as well.
Bob Donald will remove the exterior door on the front of the
Library now that the snow has melted sufficiently.
Strategic Planning
The Board read and discussed the previous Strategic Plan.
While the Library has accomplished many items including a massive weeding of
books and the automation of the collection, the focus of the previous Plan was
on increasing space and access to the second floor. The costs associated with
renovation and the need for fundraising to meet the costs prevented many of the
suggested recommended priorities from being met. An elevator to the second floor was deemed
too expensive ($90,000) and the suggested alternative of a stair lift was not
possible because the stairs are not sufficiently wide and installing it would
still not meet accessibility standards.
The Board brainstormed community members that might be
willing to participate in two four-hour meetings. In addition, the Board felt
that surveying the Grafton community would be a good start to understand
whether the Library is meeting community needs. Andrea said she would contact
Linda Montecalvo to see if she still has a copy of the previous survey. Board
members are to think of questions that they think would be helpful and
pertinent to planning for our future and review other libraries surveys to
glean ideas.
The Board will go into executive session at the next meeting
to discuss strategic planning.
The next Board meeting will be on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at
6 pm.
The meeting adjoined at 7:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Toomey, Secretary