|
|
Minutes
Home - Hours - Book Chat Room - Calendar - Reference - Contact Us |
Grafton Public Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2016, 6:30 pm
Attending: Bob
Donald, Andrea Dunmire, Lucia Corwin, Deborah Toomey, David Whittall, and
librarian Michelle Dufort.
Public Comment: No public in attendance
Bob Donald brought the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m. The
minutes from March 17, 2016 were approved.
Librarian’s Report
A new Atlas of the World has been donated courtesy of
the Lucy Daniels Fund and Bill Brown. Bill will make a stand for its use which
will reside in the room holding the non-fiction. The Board expressed their
thanks for these gifts.
A gift of 95 Keurig coffee pods for the Library coffee
machine was donated by library volunteer Heather Cagney. People have been
enjoying a cup of coffee as they sit and read in the Library and this donation
will keep us well supplied. Thank you.
Kent Haskell will start painting the Library on May 8th.
Bob Donald spoke glowingly of the Four Seasons family
concert that was held Saturday, April 9th. The music was exceptional
and the musicians interacted with the audience. It was attended by 22 adults
and 2 children. The Board expressed gratitude to the Windham Foundation for
funding the event and would love to host it, perhaps in conjunction with the
Grafton Elementary School, if funded next year.
The cataloging for automation is now completed through the
adult fiction authors beginning with the letter J. Michelle did not attend the
Library World meeting which would have required 4 hours of travel, preferring
to continue with the automation work. Staff knowledgeable about Library World
can all be reached by e-mail and Michelle felt that not attending would be a
better use of her time this year.
Michelle will take the last two weeks of June for vacation.
Angel Squiers-Restino and the volunteers will be covering the Library hours. If
no coverage is available, the Library would have to be closed. This was
approved by the Board.
Treasurer’s Report
The TIAA and Stevens Funds have continued to rebound in
March from the market downturn. Bob reminded the Board that the next meeting
will begin at 6 p.m. because Barbara Friedman will make her annual presentation
to the Board on the status of the Library investments.
The Library’s budget looks good, with less money spent on
snow removal and heating this winter. The excess funds were unanimously
allocated to provide the Library with a new telephone with an answering machine
($99.99) since the current phone shorts out, losing some calls. A special sign
with moveable letters ($134.50) to notify residents of special events was also
approved.
Building and Grounds
Andrea met with Don Dougal regarding planting trees on the
Kidder Hill Road side of the Library lawn. The Library will not be required to
plant them since they will be planted by the seller to ensure survival and
replacement coverage. Some small fee may be required of the Library. Discussion then centered on plantings of
native plants under the new trees. Concern was expressed about upkeep and any
plantings should be very low maintenance.
As discussed earlier in the meeting, painting will begin on
May 8. Concern was expressed regarding its completion by the Memorial Day
ceremonies. If that’s not possible, the side facing the park and ceremony area
should be completed first. Mr. Haskell had indicate that the painting should be
done in two weeks, weather permitting. Chris Wallace will be contacted
regarding the date of the Grafton Memorial Day festivities.
Other Business
Grafton Cares and the local knitting group would like to
donate books in memory of Sandra Morrison. Lucia asked what Michelle’s thoughts
were as to the kinds of books that would be appropriate and circulate well.
Michelle suggested cooking and knitting books would be good and that each group
could recommend what book(s) they would like purchased. She asked that the
books be purchased by the Library through Brodart so they will arrive already
catalogued.
The Volunteer Brunch to thank Library volunteers will be
held on Sunday, June 5th at 11 a.m. Bob will once again make his
annual quiches. Michelle will send out the list so Board members can register
for various tasks.
The Confidentiality and Safety policies need updating.
Michelle will send out electronic copies
for review and modification.
The Fall Book Sale was discussed regarding future book
disposal, transport to recycling, and ways ensure a smooth ending. Last year
was very difficult with the BF recycling not able to receive the books and
finding temporary book housing for only a couple of weeks. We’ll also need to
be sure that the dots used to mark the books to be kept are very obvious. Many
dotted books were inadvertently sent to recycling. Andrea suggested that other
organizations hosting book sales be contacted to see if they would like our
extras for their sale.
The flower urns need to be planted with flowers before the
Memorial Day celebration. Lucia indicated that she would be happy to do this
and will save the receipts.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. The next meeting of the
Board will be May 19, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. for the Board with Barbara Friedman,
and the public meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Toomey
Secretary