Minutes Mansfield Library Advisory Board Meeting

Dec. 2, 2008

Present: E. BarShalom, L. Bailey, ex officio, S.Q. Clark, presiding,

H. Hand, B. Katz, R. Pollack, recording,

Absent: E. Chibeau, W. Hare, D. Truman

Visitors: Rick Hossach, Toni Vicalvi

The meeting was called to order 6:05 PM

MINUTES: Minutes of the Sept.23, meeting were accepted with the following corrections. B. Katz attended and the time of the Dec. 2 meeting is 6PM.

COMMUNICATIONS: Compton Rees resigned from the Board. His resignation was accepted with deep regret. A notice from the Town clerk requested the schedule for the 2009 meetings. 

LIBRARIAN REPORT:

A. Regarding the Budget

1. The Town-wide Budget is already running short by $56,000 for this next fiscal year. The funds for personnel are fixed due to labor agreements; this amount must be taken from the remaining items.

2. L. Bailey gave the Board some strategies for finding ways to cut. One method would be to close the Library for one day during the week. The least busy day is Wednesday. The neighboring town libraries are open if patrons needed services.

3. Other ideas are to raise fines from $.05 to $.10, charge groups for using the Buchanan Auditorium, and to ask the Friends if their contribution not be limited to just materials.

B. 1st Quarter Report

1. The circulation figures are steady. 

2. The number of reference questions increased by 145%.

3. The Children’s Librarian continues to go to pre-school classrooms. Deposit collections of books are brought to the Mansfield Rehabilitation Center and Juniper Hill for the residents.

C. State Report

1. Public Libraries are getting funds from other sources; 8% in FY 2005 and 12% in FY 2007.

2. Reference transactions have seen the biggest increase.

D. Grant Idea

A $60,000 Grant is being considered. It is for a joint venture between the Town and the Mansfield Library where the Library will do the research for Town projects, and join with the Town Manager to develop and implement solutions to specific community challenges.

New Business;

A. New Board Member - Looking for a new Board Member whose term of office will be until 11-1-2010.

B. Meeting Time 2009- The meeting dates for 2009 will be March, 3, June 2, Sept 1 and Dec. 1 at 7PM.

Old Business; none

Submitted By:

Rita Pollack, Recording Secretary