Cambridge Public Library

Board of Library Trustees Minutes

A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Thursday, March 8, 2001 in the Director’s Office of the Main Library. The following members of the Board of Library Trustees were present:

• Janet Axelrod
• Mr. Andre Mayer
• James Roosevelt
• Nancy Woods

also present:

• Susan Flannery, Director of Libraries
• Philecia Harris, Assistant Director
• Marilyn Gagalis, Administrative Assistant

Minutes of the January and February meetings were approved.

Board members were introduced to Collins Branch Librarian Elaine Frances. She spoke with the board about her goals for the Collins Branch and told them how happy she was to be a part of the Cambridge Public Library.

Ms. Flannery informed the Board that she had received authorization from the City Manager to advertise the open trustee position and that she will be sending out a press release to invite applicants.

As per the Board’s request, Ms. Flannery also reported on the date and roll call of the City Council for the Main Library bond issue. At the suggestion of Ms. Woods, the Trustees decided to complete the timeline on the library’s web site to include the final siting vote and this bond issue vote. This would provide a permanent record of the Main Library building project.

The Trustees decided unanimously to table the discussion on the Strategic Plan/ Trustees Communication Plan until next month. Copies of this draft will be sent to Trustees in their next packets.

Ms. Flannery reported that there was funding still available for facilitator Steve Miller and she suggested he be contracted to organize a Trustee retreat. It was agreed that this retreat be held at the May meeting.

Nancy Ryan from the Women’s Commission and Hafthor Yngverson from the Arts Council presented to the Board the work of Ellen Driscoll who has been hired to do a "women’s history" piece in the new library. They also answered questions about contracting artists and artwork for the new main library. Through arts monies provided under state law, they proposed to hire at least one additional artist to work with the architects in the development of artwork for the main library.

Ms. Flannery reported on the library’s FY02 budget request.

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

The next meeting of the Board will be on Monday, April 2, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Library.

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Andre Mayer, Secretary