Cambridge Public Library Board of Library Trustees Minutes
September 1997

A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Monday, September 8 1997 at 7:30 in the Administration Office, 449 Broadway, Cambridge.

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
                Marian Hampton, Assistant Director
                Marilyn Gagalis, Administrative Assistant

A motion to accept the minutes of the June 1997 meeting was passed unanimously.

Correspondence was acknowledged from the following:     Sissela & Derek Bok 
                                                                                                         Donald-Bruce Abrams & Roberta L. Rubin

Susan Flannery provided each Board  member with a list of 1997/1998  Trustee meeting dates.  This list was accepted not withstanding unforeseen changes. 

Ms. Flannery also announced that the Library had received approval for a grant proposal.  The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has granted the Cambridge Public Library a "Children in Poverty" grant in the amount of $8,000.00.  Children's Librarian Daryl Mark will administer this grant in coordination with the Fletcher School who currently has a program in place advocating family involvement in education.  

Ms. Flannery also announced that Fire & Ice, a new local restaurant, will host a grand opening event to benefit both the Cambridge Public Library and Solutions At Work, a homeless advocacy program.  Many local authors, business people and politicians have been invited to participate as "Celebrity chefs."  
This benefit will take place on Thursday, September 23, 1997.  

Ms. Flannery presented three nominations for the Friend of the Library Award which will be presented at the first annual Friends of the Library meeting.  Rita Richmond of the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library and Ms. Flannery have nominated Barbara Petery, Library Friend, George Wilson, President of the East Cambridge Savings Bank, and The Cambridge Rotary Club  as this year's award recipients.   The Trustees supported these nominations unanimously.  They also requested that the "Bookies," a book club consisting of preteens in the sixth through ninth grades be added to the list of awardees.  Their work in establishing a thriving book discussion group and in creating the "Bookies" own web page has been outstanding and the Board feels that their enthusiasm for the library should be acknowledged.  All in attendance agreed to present this additional nomination to the Friends. 

Ms. Flannery informed the Board of the request from the Cambridge Police Department for a sexual offenders registry within the library.  After a discussion, it was decided to request that the City post this registry on its web site.

The next meeting of the Board of Library Trustees will be on Tuesday, October 14, 1997 at 7:30 p.m. in the Director's Office.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

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Andre Mayer, Secretary