A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Thursday, February 5, 1998 at 7:30 at the OÌNeill Branch Library, 70 Rindge Avenue.

The following members of the board of Library Trustees were present:

Mrs. Olive Johnson, Chairperson
Mr. John A.P. Good, Treasurer
Ms. Janet Axelrod
Mr. Andre Mayer
Mr. James Roosevelt
also present:
Susan M. Flannery, Director of Libraries
Marilyn Gagalis, Administrative Assistant
Jessica Rabban, OÌNeill Branch Librarian

 OÌNeill Branch Librarian Jessica Rabban addressed the board. She presented an update of the activities of the OÌNeill Branch including programming, outreach, collections and a general overview of the staff and daily operations of the OÌNeill Branch.

Ms. Flannery reminded Board members about the Book & Author Luncheon on April 4, 1998 at the Sheraton Commander. This event is being sponsored by the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library. The guest authors will be Alice Hoffman, Nicholas Kilmer and Gail Mazur.

 Ms. Flannery also provided Board members with a draft of the libraryÌs new Collection Development Policy. After a brief discussion, Board members voted unanimously to approve this policy.

Ms. Flannery reported that she had received a letter of agreement from the Cambridge Community Foundation. This agreement is the final result of many months of discussions between the Cambridge Community Foundation, the Board of Library Trustees and the City SolicitorÌs Office. Ms. Flannery will update the Board as this process progresses.

Janet Axelrod asked Ms. Flannery about the status of the "Read, Ride & Return" bookstand at the Porter Square MBTA station. Ms. Flannery reported that the library has had much difficulty in maintaining the shelving unit. After being painted several times, it is still in disrepair because of its location. Suggestions were made by Board members to either move it to another location within that "T" stop, to move it to another "T" stop, or to remove it altogether. Ms. Flannery reported that the MBTA management had not been cooperative in relocating the shelving or providing access to a water source for library staff. Board members requested that Ms. Flannery contact MBTA management to investigate the libraryÌs options.

The next meeting of the Board of Library Trustees will be on Monday, March 2, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. at a branch library. Ms. Flannery will inform the Board of the exact location prior to the meeting date.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

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Andre Mayer, Secretary