Present: Dee Magnoni, President, Leslie Schoenherr, Past President, Cathy Lee (Treasurer), Paula Polk (Assistant Treasurer), Cynthia English, Jeannette Hudson, Tom Jewell, Linda Stetson, Sunny Vandermark (MMRLS)
Meeting called to order: 2:39 pm
Motion to approve consent agenda: Hudson/Stetson
Good attendance 60 about half spoke; mix of residents in support of the regions; some spoke on behalf of networks; 4 grads from recent Leadership Inst.; written comments Bernie Margolis thought there should be new lines to the budget: 3.5 mill for building green libraries; 3.5 mill for literacy and 35 mill for digital projects.
Linda discouraged that no rep from Governor’s office—preaching to the choir. Sunny thought that the Governor’s office was not supposed to be there.
Next step: MBLC has been mandated to only present a 1.5% budget increase. MBLC will present, from these budget hearings, to the legislators increases that are approx. 40%.
Linda suggested that the state have a library license plate as a way to raise money and awareness. Both new and seasoned participants. Didn’t have a quorum from the MBLC.
Leslie, Tom, Linda and Dee met earlier to look at raises for staff for 2009. With budget constraints the discussion boiled down to COLA vs. merit. The recommendation is for a 2% COLA and up to 3% merit. The recommendation was sent to the budget committee.
The Plan is very similar to 2008 Plan of Service. Budget same, no increase. Two new action items include finalizing the delivery business plan and continue the work of the PR/marketing committee.
Jeannette queried the usefulness of continuing participation in NELINET. Sunny: MMRLS is a member of NELINET and pay a small fee. MMRLS provides access to FirstSearch and WorldCat. We only subscribe to 7 seats for FirstSearch and members would like more availability. FirstSearch is approximately $18,000 a year with 7 seats, and $1,800 year membership fee for training.
Motion: Polk/Jewell
Bottom line of budget same as 2008, $1,370.966. Plugged in personnel costs otherwise not much different from last month. No money for databases, nor fully funded for delivery. Ed Bertorelli, MBLC Commissioner, recognized that delivery consumes the budget and recommends that a line item be added to the MBLC budget for delivery. Tom queried where the extra money would come from if we run out. Paula spoke to Susan McAllister about the issue to apprise her of the fact that delivery budget may run out in 2009. Tom—why are we asked to pass a budget that doesn’t balance? Cathy and Sunny responded that we could further reduce other budget lines if necessary. Regional Reference is level funded, and Wellesley ILL has a small increase based on contract. Wellesley and Newton are tied to our budget, if we get a cut they do too. Initially for the 2008 budget we thought we were underfunded, but delivery came in under. The proposed deficit is less than $20,000. We could get through the year with our interest fund. This untapped emergency fund makes Tom more comfortable about voting the unbalanced budget. There is no funding for databases in FY2009. Only database we will have for next year is FirstSearch, since it is already paid. MBLC pays for the other databases. The NY Times Historical was dropped for FY2008.
Motion: English/Hudson
Leslie talked briefly about the proposed slate. She announced that we have a lay representative. She is still working on several slots.
3:30 Morse Institute, Natick Parking behind the library. Please invite other members.
Rita ordered the equipment for the lab and it is exciting. 20” monitors, flat keyboards and other features that will enhance classes. Rita did a great job negotiating price, each slightly over $1,000. Mac/PC interchangeable. Beth Gallaway finished the report for the storyteller grant. She’s busy with her new venture and activities. Sarah had the chance to ask her a few questions. It was a good use of our money to have Beth tie up the project. Sunny finished the report for Library Leadership Massachusetts 2007 Institute and will mail tonight. Planning for 2009 LI has started, will be even better! Staff submitted their quarterly report this month, and linked their activities to the Metrowest strategic plan.
No written report form MBLC this month. Paul absent.
0ct 27 Disability Awareness and Etiquette will be taught by Linda Stetson through Simmons continuing Education at Millis Public Library—please sign up
Motion to adjourn: Tom Jewell
Respectfully submitted
Leslie Schoenherr
Past President
I met with Trans-solutions on September 17th to review the first two (2) Delivery Center models. We will have a total of five (5) models when the route optimization study is completed. On the afternoon of the 17th I attended the memorial for Joe Hopkins, past Director of the Worcester Public Library and Chair of the MBLC.
The Personnel Committee met on September 18th to make a recommendation for FY2009 for salary and benefits. The information was provided to the Budget Committee so the FY2009 budget could be finalized.
Carol and I worked on finalizing the paperwork required for our school members to verify their edibility to be a Metrowest member. We complete this process every other year. Carol made the 230 plus copies, collated the paper work, and made self-addressed envelopes so the completed forms can be returned to Metrowest. After folding and stuffing all of the envelopes the mailing went out on September 27th. The first results have just started arriving.
I met with the school library teacher, principal and assistant principal of the Maynard High School on September 19th to discuss space concerns and collection issues.
At the September 26th MBLC Liaisons and Regional Administrators we talked about delivery, the routing optimization study, and the $75,000 LSTA grant for developing a business plan for a potential automated materials handling system. Metrowest is the facilitator for this grant. In addition, Rob asked for written testimony for the MBLC Budget hearing on Thursday, October 4. I will report on the hearing at the Board meeting.
Following the meeting the Regional Administrators met to discuss MassCat and the potential move to Lib Lime and the route optimization study. And then I attended a storytelling workshop at Country School in Weston. The workshop, a collaborative project between MSLA and Metrowest, was attended by school and public librarians.
I wrote the final report for the Library Leadership Massachusetts 2007 Institute. We have already started planning for 2009. Metrowest will not be the fiscal agent for the upcoming Institute. I thought someone else should have the opportunity!
Beth Gallaway came in on October 2nd to write the 4th and final LSTA report due on the two year Storytelling grant. Beth wrote the original grant and managed the project until her departure on June 30, 2007. It was great to see Beth, and to have her complete the project for us.
Please note that the first quarter reports from staff are included in your packet. I asked everyone to write them linked to our strategic plan. Hopefully this format will make it clear how staff activities relate to our strategic plan.