Cambridge Public Library

Board of Library Trustees Minutes

A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 in the Director’s Office of the Main Library. The following members of the Board of Library Trustees were present:

• Ms. Janet Axelrod
• Mr. Andre Mayer
• James Roosevelt, Jr.

also present:

• Susan Flannery, Director of Libraries
• Philecia Harris, Assistant Director

The meeting was called to order at 6:50 PM.

Correspondence was acknowledged.

Board members discussed the procedure for the dissemination of Board correspondence. It was the general consensus that there was a procedure adopted at an earlier meeting. Ms. Flannery will research past minutes and distribute procedure as approved to all board members.

The Board urged Ms. Axelrod to communicate with the Superintendent, CRLS Principal, and School Committee. The letter should convey the Trustees’ desire and willingness to work with them on the design of the library building, cooperative programming efforts, improving accessibility and services for CRLS students. It was agreed that the same letter would go to the all. Ms. Axelrod will provide copies of the letter to the Board at its next meeting.

The Board asked Ms. Flannery to get the date and vote of the City Council on the Main Library Bond issue. The Board expressed interest in sending thank you notes to Councillors who voted for the bond.

The Board discussed the proposed Trustees Communication proposal for the Library’s Strategic Plan. Mr. Roosevelt proposed that a Trustee Communication Committee be established. He suggested that a vote be postponed until the next meeting and announced his plans to nominate Ms. Woods to chair that committee. The Board expressed its appreciation for Ms. Woods’ work on the plan.

Ms. Flannery briefed the Board on the status of the Children’s Internet Protection Act. It has been announced that procedures/regulations for compliance will be issued in April and that libraries will need to indicate their intention to comply by the end of October. Ms. Flannery will continue to monitor the situation and keep the Board apprised. Mr. Mayer proposed and all concurred that the Board authorize Ms. Flannery to advocate the Cambridge Public Library’s position on freedom of access for all users.

Ms. Flannery announced that she had received one submission to the Library’s web site naming contest. The suggestion was "Books and Mortar". It was submitted by staff member Donald York.

Ms. Axelrod was called away unexpectedly and the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM. All unfinishaed agenda items will be brought up at the March meeting.

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Andre Mayer, Secretary