Cambridge Public Library
Board of Library Trustees Minutes
A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Monday, September 17, 2001 in the Director’s Office of the Main Library. The following members of the Board of Library Trustees were present:
also present:
Minutes of the June meeting were approved. Janet Axelrod requested that all future minutes include action items. It was unanimously agreed to change the format of the minutes.
Sarah Sugden, newly appointed Children’s Librarian for the Main Library was introduced to the Trustees. She presented her goals and objectives for children’s services offered in the Main Library. Board members offered their support and congratulations and asked Ms Sugden to consider what role the Trustees might play in support of her plans.
Board members continued discussion about the Galbraith Lecture Series. Janet Axelrod will forward a copy of the letter sent to Mr. Galbraith’s home to his office as well. Janet and Jim Roosevelt will set up a meeting with Professor Galbraith to determine the date and substance of the first lecture. If possible, the lecture could be held as early as November. The Trustees collectively decided that an appropriate topic for discussion would be the present national crisis and how it pertains to our economy.
All trustees received a report from Steve Miller. He will attend the next Trustee planning meeting which will be held in October on the regular meeting night, October 15, 2001.
Ms. Flannery spoke about the Children’s Internet Protection Act and how it pertains to the Cambridge Public Library. Jim Roosevelt as well as other board members were interested in determining what members of congress proposed and supported this.
Janet Axelrod inquired about the status of the applications for the vacant trustee position. Susan Flannery has already requested a response from the City Manager and should receive the list of candidates in consideration by tomorrow, September 18, 2001. She will keep the Board updated.
Susan Flannery reported that the library is being considered for a major donation to our endowment. Susan and Janet Axelrod met with the donor to explore this possibility and express the library’s interest. Bob Hurlbut of the Cambridge Community Foundation has been notified and is involved in the process.
Susan Flannery addressed the Board concerning the recent national crisis and what role the library must play as a resource for the Cambridge community. She informed the Board that the library immediately set up a list of reading materials and related web sites on the library’s home page dealing with grief, loss, and death. Bill Barry requested that an additional web site be formulated to educate the general public about our Muslim, Islamic and Arabic populations. In addition Bill and the entire Board of Trustees requested that Susan draft a letter from this board to be published in the Cambridge newspapers expressing the concerns of the trustees and library staff and our commitment to guiding our community through the healing process. Nancy Woods requested that the library keep a "storybook" of requests from the public specifically related to this national crisis. This will provide a permanent record of the areas of interest and needs of our community.
Nancy Woods inquired about a woman apparently living 24 hours a day on the sidewalk (under the overhang) next to the entrance of the Central Square Branch Library. She observed a woman apparently living on the library’s property. Susan Flannery reported that the Human Services Department had been called in by the City Manager’s Office to evaluate the woman and possibly assisting her in securing transitional housing. The Trustees requested that Susan ask the City Manager to develop a plan to relocate her to a more secure and appropriate location.
Nancy Woods requested that the Library 21 timeline on the web page refer patrons to the "Books & Mortar" section of the web page for updated information on the library building project.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
The next meeting of the Board will be on Monday, October 15, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Library.
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Andre Mayer, Secretary
Action items:
Janet Axelrod: Send copy of letter sent to Professor Galbraith to his Harvard office. Meet with Professor Galbraith accompanied by Jim Roosevelt
Jim Roosevelt: Meet with Professor Galbraith accompanied by Janet Axelrod
SusanFlannery: Determine who sponsored and supported Children’s Internet Protection. Draft letter from Board of Trustees to the newspapers expressing the concerns of trustees and staff over the recent national tragedy and our commitment to guiding the community through the healing process. Ask City Manager for a status update of the homeless woman who is living at the Central Square Branch Library. Add to timeline on Library 21 section of web page a notice referring patrons to the "Books & Mortor" section for library building information.