Cambridge Public Library

Board of Library Trustees Minutes

A regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees was held on Monday, May 3, 1999 at 7:30 in the DirectorÌs Office of the Main Library. The following members of the Board of Library Trustees were present:

Ms. Janet Axelrod

• Mr. John Good
• Mr. Andre Mayer
• Mr. James Roosevelt, Jr.

also present:

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

On a motion duly made and seconded, John Good was elected Chairperson Pro Tem.

A motion to approve the minutes of the April 1999 meeting was passed.

Correspondence from Jose Gomez-Ibanez and Nannette E. Wilson, STS, and the Massachusetts Library Association was acknowledged and discussed.

A check for $5,000.00 from the East Cambridge Savings Bank to support the 1999 Summer Reading Program was acknowledged and accepted.

Ms. Flannery informed Board members that the libraryÌs budget was approved by City council as proposed with very few changes. Only half of the requested increase in the book budget was approved.

A draft letter written by Janet Axelrod to thank the community for participating in the recent survey was reviewed and approved for publication.

Ms. Flannery announced that Daryl Mark, Coordinator for ChildrenÌs Services has been selected to receive a 1999 Outstanding City Employee Award. The Board requested Ms. Flannery to send Ms. Mark a letter of commendation and to present Daryl with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Board of Trustees at the award ceremony.

Ms. Flannery also announced that library volunteer Sylvia Piltch had been selected to receive an award from the Senior Volunteer Clearinghouse, a local organization that promotes senior volunteers. Sylvia was being recognized for her service to the library. She has run a weekly exercise group at the library for the last 10 years. Board members requested that Ms. Flannery send Ms. Piltch a letter of commendation on their behalf.

John Good was congratulated by all present for having received an award from the Senior Volunteer Clearinghouse also. Mr. Good was honored for his volunteer efforts in the Information Booth in Harvard Square.

Ms. Flannery updated the Board on the development of the Agenda for Children. This program has been recognized by the City Council and has been given financial support to reach its goals. The two main objectives of this citywide initiative are: that all children and their families be able to read and that all children will have a safe and productive environment to go to after school. Ms. Flannery, Daryl Mark and Phelicia Harris of the library staff are participants in this program. A pilot extended day program at the Harrington School will begin in September. One of the reasons the site was selected was its proximity to both a Youth Center and a library.

The next meeting of the Board of Library Trustees will be on Monday, June 7, 1999 at 7:30 p.m.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

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Andre Mayer, Secretary