Minutes of Scheduled Board of Trustees Meeting

May 16, 2001

Call to Order

The regular monthly meeting of the Library Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:05 pm. In attendance were Board President Hope Furth, Trustees Toni Cox-Burns, Betsy DeSoye, Campbell Geeslin, Don Simmons, Nancy Smith, Library Director Sandra Miranda, and Assistant Library Director Charlotte Szabó. Absent with notice were Trustees Janet Elmiger, P. Lynn Oliva and Saul Yanofsky.

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Library Board of Trustees

The minutes of the regular meeting of April 18, 2001 were approved on a motion by Trustee Simmons, seconded by Trustee Geeslin.

City Expenditure & Revenue Budget Reports

City Expenditure & Revenue Budget Reports as of 4/30/01 were reviewed by the Board.

Bills: 2000/01 Budget: #19 & #20

The payment of bill vouchers #19 and #20 were approved on a motion by Trustee Cox-Burns, seconded by Trustee DeSoye.

Report of Library Administration

Department reports for April 2001 were reviewed by the Board. Library Director Miranda was pleased to report that five promotions were approved by the City: Librarians Christiane Deschamps, Elizabeth Hughes, Cassie Trace, and Raquel Viera-Cavalcanti were promoted to Librarian II and, Library Clerk Terry Porcelli was promoted to Senior Library Clerk. Mrs. Miranda reported on plans being completed for the third floor renovations and the upcoming installation of four study rooms.

WLS

Board President Furth reported that WLS Director Mitch Freedman will be president-elect of the American Library Association.

The WLS Strategic Plan, draft edition, was reviewed by all present. The Library Board requested Library Director Miranda to draft a response to the WLS Board to reflect the Library Board’s considered opinion and recommendations regarding the draft Strategic Plan.

Friends

Trustee Elmiger, Board representative to the Friends group, reminded the Trustees about the upcoming Friends Annual Meeting on May 19th with noted author James Bradley speaking about his best seller Flags of our Fathers. It was also reported that the Friends would have a booth at the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival in Tibbits Park, June 2nd and June 3rd. Mrs. Miranda informed the Board that Friends Book Sale Chair Robert Lee Mills was stepping down from his volunteer position after 23 years of devoted service. She asked the Board how best to pay tribute to Mr. Mills for his extraordinary service. After some discussion it was decided that something permanent would be displayed in the Book Sale Room and a fall concert would be planned in his honor to thank him for his remarkable contributions. Mrs. Miranda spoke to the changes in the organization of the book sales made necessary by upcoming construction and by Mr. Mills’s departure. She reported that further book donations would deferred until September to give the volunteers a chance to take stock and reorganize.

Foundation

The Board received minutes of the Library Foundation Board of Directors Meeting of 4/4/01, as well as the Foundation Monthly Board Report, May 2001. The Board discussed some of the fund raising plans proposed by the Foundation Board. The next Foundation Board meeting will be on June 6^th.

Advocacy

The State Budget has not yet been passed.

Outreach

Library Director Miranda is scheduled to speak at the League of Women Voters Annual Picnic on June 19^th.

Holiday/Sunday Schedule for Fiscal Year 01/02

A draft of the Holiday/Sunday Schedule for Fiscal Year 01/02 was approved on a motion by Trustee Geeslin and seconded by Trustee DeSoye. The Board discussed shifting summer Saturday hours to 11am-3pm from the present 1pm-5pm to compare patterns of use. It was decided that the negative trade-offs for patrons are too many, and instead the Library Board and Administration will focus on enabling earlier opening/longer Saturday hours in the summer of 2002.

Renewal of contract with Museum Gallery Director

On a motion by Trustee Cox-Burns, seconded by Trustee Geeslin, the Board approved the renewal of the Museum Gallery Director Contract for 2001/02.

Parking Garage

Library Director Miranda requested the Trustees to complete a draft Library Parking Survey developed to help evaluate patron satisfaction with parking in the Library Garage. Information gathered would be shared with the Parking Authority. Invitation has been extended to Parking Authority Board and staff to attend the June or other upcoming Library Board meeting.

Adjournment

There being no more business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05pm on a motion by Trustee Geeslin, seconded by Trustee DeSoye.

Don Simmons, Secretary

Library Board of Trustees