Cambridge Public Library Board of Library Trustees Minutes
November 1997
A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Monday, November 3, 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 Mr. Andre Mayer Mr. James Roosevelt also present: Susan M. Flannery, Director of Libraries Marilyn Gagalis, Administrative Assistant A motion to accept the minutes of the September 1997 meeting was passed unanimously. Correspondence was acknowledged from the following: Steve Tingen,Matthew Dunphy, Raghav Chandra Susan Flannery provided Board Members with a schedule and detail of work to be done at the Collins Branch Library beginning November 10, 1997. The branch will close on Friday, November 7th and reopen on Monday, December 8th. Mr. Roosevelt asked if the book drops could remain in place during this project to insure that patrons will have an alternative to traveling to another location to return books. He also requested that extended outreach programs be developed in this neighborhood.
Ms. Flannery announced the 1st Annual Friends of the Library Booksale to be held at the Main Library on Saturday, December 6, 1997. The Friends hope to raise money from this event to sponsor additional museum passes for the library. The Friends of the Library have also set the date for their 2nd Annual Book & Author Luncheon. This event will be held at the Sheraton Commander Hotel on April 4, 1998. Details about authors will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.
Daryl Mark addressed the Board with a report on the 1997 Summer Reading Program. Over 1300 children read 19,000 books during the two month period. Ms. Mark commended the cooperation of the Cambridge Police Department with this program. They provided programs in every library, donated a model police cruiser, and participated in the celebration at the end of the summer. She also informed the Trustees that the theme for the 1998 Summer Reading Program will be "Space." Mrs. Johnson requested that letters of recognition be sent to all staff members who were involved with the Summer Reading Program. Ms. Mark also reported on the programs that have been established through the "Children In Poverty" grant. A series of workshops have already begun in cooperation with the Fletcher Family Institute, the YWCA and the Newtowne Court Housing Project. Books, tapes, magazines and videos have been purchased for the Valente Branch Library to establish a parenting collection. Also multi-media kits for families have been created and are available through the Fletcher School, the Valente Branch Library and the YWCA Transitional Shelter. Ms. Mark was very pleased with the feedback received from those families who have already participated. Both Ms. Flannery and Ms. Mark requested that the Board of Trustees approve their proposal to discontinue the annual Peace Tree. Interest in this event has waned and attendance has decreased to minimal numbers. Although Board members were disappointed to hear of the decline in interest, they unanimously supported Ms. Mark's suggestion.Ms. Flannery announced that Starbucks will open a new store in Central Square and has decided to host a Grand Opening to benefit the Cambridge public Library. Although the date had not been confirmed, it will be in December 1997. The next meeting of the Board of Library Trustees will be on Monday, December 8, 1997 at 7:30 p.m. at the Collins Branch Library following an open house to celebrate the reopening of the branch after renovations. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. _________________________________ Andre Mayer, Secretary