Virginia Snopek - Trustee Chair Person
Dianne Barry
Carol Battersby
Linda Casey
Leah Condon
Nancy Evren
Gwen Morrissey
Bridget Roy
Renee Still

Trustee Meetings

Held in the lower level of the library.

The next meeting is set for Tuesday, February 7th. The group will be meeting promptly at 6:00 p.m.

PROPOSED LIBRARY

  • One story design with maximum accessibility
  • Central Reading Hall with clear views to all areas
  • Expanded book collection area, orderly, logical, clearly signed
  • Expanded Circulation Desk Area with sufficient room for patrons and staff
  • Expanded Children’s Library Area with Program Room
  • Young Adult Room
  • Reference Area with collection of both print and electronic reference sources with sufficient workspace
  • Group Study/Local
  • History/Genealogy Room
  • Periodical Reading Area with sufficient display areas and room for browsing
  •  Sufficient seating, computers, and work stations throughout
  • Multipurpose small Conference and quiet Study Room with seating for twelve
  • Audiovisual Area that can adjust to new technologies
  • Display Areas for new books
  • Self Checkout Bays
  • Small Area with comfortable seating for patrons to relax and access wireless internet with own devices
  • Display Cases for Community and Library postings
  • Multipurpose Meeting Room for 60 people, accessible after hours
  • Ample parking for patrons-40

PRESENT LIBRARY

  • No handicapped accessibility between floors
  • Crowded, with no clear views to all areas
  • 30,000 items crowded in space designed for 5000 items
  • Circulation Desk immediately adjacent to entrance;significant patron traffic flow issues
  • No separate Children’s Program Room
  • Young Adult section in hallway
  • Reference Area limited to a free standing bookcase, no usable table space; often unnoticed due to cramped quarters
  • Microfiche reader, most local history/genealogy in storage
  • One periodical rack with one chair adjacent to handicapped entrance door
  • Patron access computers share space with staff workspace
  • No Study/Conference Room;
  • Two tables serve for patron use ,programs, and meeting space
  • Cramped, separate Audiovisual Areas; no room for expansion
  • Very limited Display Area
  • No room for Self Checkout Bays
  •  No room for separate area with comfortable seating for patrons to access wireless internet with their own devices
  • Display Area limited to 1 small bulletin board and on Circ Desk
  • Children’s Room is closed whenever it is needed for Meeting Room
  • Limited parking – 12

Meeting Minutes and Documents

 

October 2008 Trustee Meeting Minutes
Posted on Nov 10 2008
Board of Trustees >>

Meeting Date:  October 6, 2008 
 

      Present: Virginia Snopek, Nancy Evren, Dianne Barry, Leah Condon, Amy Kimball, Gwen Morrissey, Bridget Roy, Jennifer Crosby 
       

Absent: April Judicki, Renee Still 
 

Visitors: none 
 

Minutes from our previous meeting dated September 11th, 2008 were read; Dianne made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections; Gwen seconded this motion; all in favor.  
 

Nancy gave an update on obtaining chairs from Mass Mutual.  The community liaison Portia Allen will be contacted regarding donating furniture to the library.  Virginia also noted that we still would like to have 20 resin chairs for the pavilion.  We will continue working with Deb Roy of the Friends on this. 
 

The Town Administrator, Chris Martin, was contacted regarding updating the library’s job descriptions.  He stated that they are fine how they are written because each job description includes the words “other duties,” which would include any new technological duties the staff have. 
 

Virginia, Renee and Jennifer attended a Construction Grant Workshop.  It was stated at this workshop that if we build a green building, we would received 5% more grant aid.  A motion was made by Dianne that we apply for this “green building” grant; Amy seconded this motion.  All in favor. 
 

As mentioned at our previous meeting, the deadline for submitting the covenant for our community library is December 31st, 2009.  It was stated at this workshop that the Trustees can appear before the MBLC to request an extension and explain what we have been doing since the grant was awarded. 
 

Virginia said that Chief Barry reviewed the surveillance system proposal letter.  Virginia read the revised bid letter for the security system.  Jenn provided more information on what has gone on since last month.  Discussion followed as far as where the monitor will be mounted and that training will be included once the system is installed.  Bridget made a motion that we send out the revised bid letter; Gwen seconded this motion.  All in favor.  Virginia will send out 5 letters. 
 

Regarding the pavilion sign, Chief Barry suggested that the school maintenance department help install the sign.  School Superintendent Pat Stevens okayed having them install the pavilion sign. 
 

The Building Inspector, Don Demers and Chief Barry visited the library to discuss the exact location of the 4 foot high vinyl perimeter fence.  Jenn contacted DigSafe to confirm that phone/cable lines are marked off.  The proposed area has been spray-painted.  Chief Barry will dispatch a prisoner work detail to install fencing on a non-open day.  The permit for the fence will also be submitted. 
 

Jenn received a letter regarding the Privacy Act and the installation of cameras at the library.  This individual is concerned that people’s rights and privacy will be violated because people will be able to view what patrons are charging out.  Jenn presented the Board with two policies, the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association and the Library Bill of Rights.  She explained that people’s right to privacy will not be violated by the installation of cameras.  The monitor will not be mounted in such a way as to allow the public to view what others are doing.  The library staff are professionals and no information will be given out as far as what people check out or view on the computers.  Jenn contacted the Chicopee Public Library to see if having cameras installed helped or hurt them.  The librarian claimed that it has deterred crime and vandalism.  A Camera Use Policy was discussed and will be revisited at a later date. 
 

The Action Plan Committee, consisting of Virginia, Dianne, Nancy and Jennifer, will update the 5-year plan on October 27th.  It is due December 1st. 
 

April Judicki called Virginia to offer her letter of resignation, stating that her job responsibilities at the bank had changed and was becoming more demanding of her time.  Virginia thanked her for her time as a Trustee and all that she did do during her short time with us.  April helped secure money from Easthampton Savings Bank to help with the building of the pavilion.  Names were mentioned to be contacted to fill April’s term until the next Town Election in June 2009. 
 

Librarian’s Report:  Jenn reported that there is still $5,000 left in the Waste Management Technology Fund.  Suggestions were given at the last staff meeting on how to best use this money.  Discussion followed to either purchase a Children’s Room circulation desk and computer or purchase patron computers and an extra circulation computer.  The cost of a desk, computer and having electrical work done to install a circulation area in the Children’s Room exceeded $5,000.  Along with the purchase of the computers, Jenn said the order will include a printer/scanner that will match the old one so that the technology and wiring is all current.  Bridget made a motion to purchase one circulation computer for upstairs and one patron computer for upstairs as well as one patron computer to replace an old one downstairs and a printer/scanner.  Gwen seconded this motion.  The motion passed. Discussion followed as far as placement for the extra circulation computer on the upstairs desk.  It was agreed that having a Children’s Room circulation desk is something the Trustees would like to see and will continue to be considered. 
 

Virginia asked Jenn to find out the cost of converting to wireless internet.  Jenn said she once did research the price and found it to be over $5,000.  The Friends of the Granby Library were not comfortable with using the technology money from Waste Management for wireless internet.  Virginia asked Jenn to find out if there is grant money available from MBLC to do this. 
 

The new arrangement for prioritizing cataloging was next discussed.    It appeared to be working as far as allowing more time for Jeanne to catalog but it did impair the other staff members’ ability to complete their tasks.  It was suggested that Jenn try arranging the staff schedule with a 2 weeks on/2 weeks off approach, with 2 weeks set up to push the cataloguing and then 2 weeks be a normal schedule.  It was also suggested that Jenn 1) have Janice sort her books out from under the upstairs desk and 2) have Jeanne record her progress to see if this approach is working.  It is hoped that sorting and cataloging will happen on a more timely basis. 
 

The Book and Bake Sale held on Saturday September 27th showed that between $700 and $800 was made on that Saturday.  Having the sale under the pavilion seemed to cause sales to be down because there was not enough visibility from Route 202.  The Friends also mentioned that the Trustees should be more present at these types of events. 
 

Jenn showed the Trustees the new signs (NO PETS ALLOWED, PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES, and LIBRARY HOURS). 
 

The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, November 3rd at 6:30pm.  Please note, meeting time has changed to 6:30 pm. 
 

A warrant item in the amount of $1,208.01 was unanimously approved. 
 

The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm. 
 

Respectfully Submitted, 
 
 

Nancy C. B. Evren

Secretary 
 
 

Attachments: Agenda

            Revised Surveillance System Bid Letter

            Code of Ethics of the American Library Association

            Library Bill of Rights

Last changed: Nov 10 2008 at 11:10 AM

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