CHAPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Board of Trustees

Meeting Minutes

December 15, 2008

 

Chairperson Helen Weingart called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM.  Present were Board members June Rose, Diane Cox, Sharyn Rusch, Dianne Beer, Betty Urban, Rebecca Stockdale-Woolley and Kitty LeShay (7:10).  Others present was Library Director Gerre Helmer and friend of the library Patrick Pothier.  Unable to attend was Board member Bill Jenkins and Assistant Librarian Jessica Jahnke.

 

3.                  ADDITIONS TO AGENDA:  None

 

4.                  AUDIENCE FOR CITIZENS:  None

 

5.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  November 17, 2008

Motion to approve the minutes of November 17, 2008, was made by Sharyn Rusch, seconded by Dianne Beer and carried with one abstention by Rebecca Stockdale-Woolley.

 

6.                  REPORTS:

A.                Director’s Report:

Circulation for the month of November is 612.

            Fiction 164                 Juvenile Fiction 172                Video 25

            Non-Fiction 34            Juvenile Non-Fiction   50        DVD 150

            Periodicals 5                CDs 3                                      Audio 9

The Special Revenue balance is $9,209.40.

 

The Board was presented with a copy of the budget and program survey results.  Patrons are most interested in programs that pertain to nature and how to demonstrations that would be held on Wednesday and Saturday nights.  There was also interest in tai chi and yoga that ties in with health and wellness. 

 

Riverside Reptile will be the program held during February vacation on February 18th at a cost of $210.

 

B.                 Board Chair Report: 

There is no progress on Stafford Mechanical.  The Administration in Town hall recognizes that there is a problem.

 

C.                Board Members Report: 

Thanks to Rebecca Stockdale-Woolley for the tea tasting that had 16 people in attendance.  A presentation was given on the history, many types of tea and the different parts of the plant.  10% of the proceeds go to the tea growers to support school children.  Rebecca Stockdale-Woolley submitted request for reimbursement of $25 for refreshments.

Motion to approve $25 reimbursement out of Special Revenue to Rebecca Stockdale-Woolley for program refreshments, was made by June Rose, seconded by Kitty LeShay and carried unanimously.

 

7.                  OLD BUSINESS:

A.                Verso Automation:

Gerre Helmer presented a list of libraries that use Verso Automation and answers to questions brought up at the previous meeting.  The cost of the upgrade would be approximately $5,000 (depends on the number of books).  The program could either be a hosted system or reside on the server.  Interactive controls open records and apply updates with the Library of Congress.  The library splashpage is an easy to use webpage that patrons see on the URL.  The Board would like a presentation by the vendor before the budget process.  Kitty LeShay suggested visiting other libraries that utilize the system.  Kitty LeShay and Helen Weingart will visit the Guilford Smith Library.  Gerre Helmer, Jessica Jahnke and Patrick Pothier will visit the Eastford Library.  They will report their findings at the next meeting.

 

Patrick Pothier presented list of library systems that could be used for automation:  Library Connections, Bibliomation (costly), LION, LEAP and Southeastern CT Library.

 

            B.        Storyteller List:

                        The Storyteller List from Carolyn Stearns is not available due to family illness.

 

8.                  NEW BUSINESS:

According to the Bylaws, officers are to be elected after the November elections.  The Board will consider amending the Bylaws at their February meeting.  Helen Weingart will remain as Board Chair and Kitty LeShay will remain as Board Vice-Chair.

 

The meeting dates for the Chaplin Library for 2009 are as follows:

January 20 (note it is a Tuesday)        July 20

February 17 (note it is a Tuesday)    *August 17

March 16                                             September 21

April 20                                               October 19

May 18                                                November 16

June 15                                              *December 21

 

*The August and December meeting dates will be used for subcommittees.

 

9.                  CORRESPONDENCE:  None

 

10.              AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:

● Revisit Program Plan

            ● Report on visits to other libraries with Verso Automation

            ● Budget Proposal

            ● Library Pass for CT Science Center

 

Patrick Pothier presented grant information.  Many grants are geared towards larger cities and the type of facility.  There are National Leadership grants through CSLIB.org about systems and how to organize a database.  LSTA which is federally funded and controlled

 

by the State Library covers technical upgrades.  Helen Weingart suggested foundations that support libraries.

 

The CT Science Center in downtown Hartford will open soon with 15 month passes available for the price of one year. 

 

11.              ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by Kathleen Scott

Recording Secretary