Minutes from November 5, 2014
The Board Meeting for the Trustees of Brown Memorial Library was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
Attendance: Mary-Chris Duncan, Nola Jordan, Robert Toppi, Patty Furness, Garry Kalajian, Meg Fearnley, Bea Howe, Connie Scheffy
1. Bob Toppi was seated as a voting member.
2. The Secretary’s report was accepted as presented.
3. A motion was made and passed to accept donations to Brown Memorial Library in October in the amount of $172.25. $119.25 of that amount came from our on-going book sale, $48.00 from general donations and $5.00 from the sale of a book bag. Bea mentioned that the reason the line item for “Books” was higher than usual was because the $400.00 fee we pay the State Library to be part of the consortium that allows us to download audio books and e-books was due this month. The treasurer’s report was accepted as presented.
4. Meg explained that the Program Attendee figure in the Circulation report did not include Halloween. Those Trustees who were present that evening agreed that at least 200 children and parents came in to the library so Program Attendees was increased to 319. Each child was allowed to choose a book to take home and keep. Both the pre-school and toddler story hours continue to go well.
5. Under New Business, Garry raised the question of how Meg’s salary compares to that of other librarians in the state. Information about salaries is available from the state and Meg will try to get up-to-date figures for comparable libraries by the next meeting. Bea explained that the Trustees had looked into the matter back in 2008 and at that time they discovered that Meg’s salary was well below that of librarians in comparable towns. They requested a 10% increase which the town granted, though spread out over a two-year period. Bea has not heard anything about the budget yet.
6. The carpets were recently cleaned by B. Edwards and Sons, who generously gave us a $50.00 discount.
7. Under Old Business, Bea reported that our request to have the roof replaced has been approved and the work should be done later this month. .
8. Garry and Patty were not able to speak to the librarian in Newbury about the Creative Feast program, but Meg remembered that Laurie had spoken to her and that she was quite enthusiastic. That program is scheduled for March 28.
9. Meg also mentioned that Andrew Pinard has presented an inscribed copy of The Yankee Magic Collector vol. 16, of which he is editor, to the library.
10. Scott MacLean will present a program on Invasive Bugs in New Hampshire at the library on November 13 at 7:00 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the Conservation Commission.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nola Jordan, Secretary