Stowe Free Library

STOWE FREE LIBRARY

Minutes of Trustees Meeting Dec.5,'08

The meeting commenced at 8:30 a.m. with Dick Johannesen, Stephanie Chase (SC), Trisha Fong, Jo Sabel Courtney, Frits Momsen, Phyllis Thibault, Meg Kauffman and Nancy Stead present.

The minutes of November 7 were accepted with minor corrections for typos and dates.

FY ‘09-‘10 Budget:  The budget hearing with the Select Board went well. The Board looked most carefully at the capital improvement project and seemed anxious to get the project out to bid ASAP, rather than waiting until after town meeting.

Director's Report: SC reviewed the overdue notices and suspensions for unreturned circ items statistics to compare the figures before and after we inaugurated the "no fines" policy. The number of late returns is basically the same, and the number of suspensions of Library privileges for non-returns has declined.

After school behavior problems: Staff is now doing a sweep of the kids areas between 3 and 4, the most raucous time, to maintain behavior and that appears to be helping. Staff has agreed on a standard of acceptable behavior to enforce to avoid "good cop/bad cop" perception. The problems are mostly with 5^th to 8^th graders. SC suggests that when a new rec director is hired there should be a meeting, which includes elementary and middle school principals, Library director, reps from the Malt Shop and Lackey's and perhaps reps from the parents groups to figure out constructive after school programs for this age group. This problem has gone on for decades and too many parents think the Library is a good "dumping spot" for their kids after school. A partial solution could be for the Library to have a volunteer coordinator to find a core group of volunteers present at that time to be present and maintain order, and to use the meeting room during these hours for kids. Library staff does not have the time to do that.

The Body Lounge is donating 10% of its proceeds to SFL and the PTO on Dec. 9 and 10. Attend, and buy!

Director's Note: The text of the Director's Report may be found at http://www.stowelibrary.org/files/december2008.pdf

Guest Workers Reception Dec. 18th: The board discussed whom to invite from the community, particularly people who speak the languages of the guest workers. Jo and Meg will contact the various resorts and lodges for food. SC will have transportation link info to Waterbury and Burlington for the workers that night.

Policy Reviews: Drafts of the Selection Policy and Request of Reconsideration of Library Materials form, for patrons who object to circulation materials, and the Vermont Room Collection Development Policy, were reviewed for final acceptance.

Long Range Plan: Focus Group meetings are completed. SC will put notice in the Stowe Reporter for any interested patrons from the general public to contact the Library for a survey form the first two weeks in January. Trisha will amend the questionnaire to be applicable to the general public, and asked what the next step is? At this point the secretary toppled over and was carted away by the Rescue Squad, under the professional  and kind direction of Frits. (Director's Note: Nancy was found to be fine).It was reported to her that there was more conversation about how to proceed with the LRP and the meeting then adjourned.

The next meeting is January 9, 2009.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Stead, Secretary