AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. Meeting Minutes September 23, 2008 (attached)

IV. COMMUNICATIONS

a. Compton Rees resignation (verbal)

V. Librarian’s Report

a. 2009 Budget cuts continue

b. Highlights of State report, and 1^st quarter

c. Fundraising trends in public libraries

d. Grant Idea

VI. NEW BUSINESS
Suggestions for new Library Board member (term ends 11-1-2010)

VII. OLD BUSINESS

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

Minutes Mansfield Library Advisory Board Meeting

Sept. 23, 2008

Present: E. BarShalom, L. Bailey, ex officio, E. Chibeau, S.Q. Clark, presiding, W. Hare, H. Hand, R. Pollack, recording, C. Rees,

Absent: D. Truman

The meeting was called to order 6:01 PM

MINUTES: Minutes of the April 22 meeting will be sent out at a later date.

COMMUNICATIONS: The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in NYC wrote a Thank You note for hosting the celebration of the Taipei culture.

LIBRARIAN REPORT:

A. Regarding the Budget

1. After the Budget proposal was accepted, budget cuts were made by the town. The budget was flat lined to the previous year plus a 3% cut. One of the results is a decrease of $7,333 for our collection. The Friends bequest will have to be used to keep up the quality of our collection. L.Bailey wrote a letter to Matt Hall, Jeff Smith and Cherie Trahan telling them that it is unfair to base our purchases on Book Sales run by volunteers.

2. The Board considered some strategies for raising funds. It was brought to our attention that many out of towners use our facilities and come to the programs. One suggestion was to make people aware of the effects of the budget cuts with posters. Should we limit services? Another was to charge for some services, especially for people who live outside of Mansfield. More discussion is needed to see where we go.

B. Annual Town Reports

1. The Board reviewed the Library Advisory Report and under Accomplishments for FY 2007-2008 deleted the second bullet.

2. The Mansfield Library Annual Report was impressive, showing an increase in every area. A record number of people, 94,906 entered the building.

New Business;

A. Revised Collection Development Policy

1. Two changes were proposed. Under Responsibility for selection: professional librarians should be changed to library staff. Under G. “shall” be changed to “may” so it reads: materials…in poor physical condition may be discarded.

2. A motion to accept the Materials Selection and Collection Development Policy as revised was made by E. Chibeau, seconded by R

Old Business;

Renewals For Advisory Board: E. Chibeau and R. Pollack said Yes. Dale Truman has to be called.

Next Meeting will be Dec 2, 2008 at 7PM. No concerts are scheduled.

Submitted by,

Rita Pollack, Recording Secretary