Town of Provincetown

Public Library

Board of Library Trustees

Minutes of Meeting May 8, 2006

Meeting Held at Provincetown Public Library 356 Commercial St.

Members Present:  Marcia Fair, Chair; Mick Rudd, Vice Chair ( arrived at 7:40 pm);

C.J. Noyes, Secretary; Paul Benatti, Cathy Metzger .

Others Present:  Library Director, Debra Dejonker-Berry

Members of the Public: James Cole

Call to Order: The Meeting  was called to order by Marcia Fair at 7:20 pm

1. Public Statements

There were no public statements

2. Minutes

Paul Benatti moved; C. J. Noyes seconded; and the minutes of April 18th were approved by a vote of  3-0 with 1 abstaining and  1 absent.

Off Agenda Item

Marcia Fair welcomed Robyn S. Robbins as the new on-call secretary to the Board and introduced  her to the other board members.

3. Election of Officers

In the absence  of the Vice Chair, Marcia fair handed over the Election of Officers to Secretary C. J. Noyes who proceeded to entertain a motion for nominations for Board Chair for the upcoming term. Marcia Fair was nominated for the position of Chair upon a motion by Paul Benatti, seconded by Cathy Metzger, and was elected by a board vote of 3-0, with Marcia Fair abstaining and 1 absent.

Chair Marcia Fair then solicited nominations foe Vice Chair.  Mick Rudd was nominated for the position upon a motion by Paul Benatti, seconded by Cathy Metzger, and was elected by a board vote of 4-0 with 1 absent.

C.J. Noyes was nominated for the position of Secretary upon a motion by Paul Benatti, seconded by Cathy metzger; and was elected by a board vote of 4-0 with 1 absent.

4. Agenda

There being no revisions or addenda to the agenda, Cathy Metzger moved and Paul Benatti, seconded, that the agenda for the May 8, 2006 Board meeting be accepted. The vote was 4-0 in favor with 1 absent.

5. Chair’s Report

a. Belfry Update

Marcia Fair shared that there was no response yet from an email previously sent to Tom Payne.  She stated that previous discussion was had on the contents of the email in the Board Meeting of April 18, 2006.

b. Building Fund

Gift Report/Cash Report

Marcia presented  the Gift Report and Cash Report. She stated that there was an increase in April of $3,405 in cash gifts for a total of $1,020,282.  She reported on  charitable contributions to the Capital Campaign of  the Provincetown Library over the past 5 years and also outlined some aspects of charitable giving obtained from the “Chronicle of Philanthropy”.  Further discussion was had on increases in new donors during 2005 (150 or 13%).

6. Director’s Report

a. FY07 Budget and Fiscal Planning

Debra DeJonker-Berry said that there was a positive General Election vote last Tuesday for the 2 ½ override.

b. Building Report

Debra DeJonker-Berry outlined discussion on the building of the walkway in the front of the library building. She stated that Barnstable County Inmates would provide the construction which is scheduled for May 22, 2006.

The anticipated short-term building costs totaling $40,000 are as follows:

Center St Door                                     $  3,300

Cathedral Window Repairs             $ 15,000

Front Walkway                                     $ 15,000

Paint for North side of building            $   5,000

Chimney Cap                                       $  1,000

Further discussion was had on the building project  accounting. Marcia Fair said that it was well done and a tribute to the efforts of Town Treasurer John Fitzgerald and Library Director Debra DeJonker-Berry.   Marcia Fair stated that she had a letter of appreciation written to John Fitzgerald from the Board.  Copies of the letter were distributed for consideration.   Mick Rudd moved to send the letter as amended.  Paul Benatti seconded. The Board vote was 5-0.

c. Subscriptions

Debra DeJonker-Berry outlined digitization of the Advocate. She stated that the Banner will be able to digitize past issues.  She further stated that the library's  software runs on the computer and that the full run of the newspaper would be online.

 

Debra also stated that the library will be  adding 3 additional databases of magazine indices. Included will be a database of the Sandborn Fire Insurance Maps.  She stated that the maps would cover the whole state of Massachusetts and were not Cape Cod specific but that maps for locations on the Cape were available through Sandborn Maps.

Debra also outlined the Rosetta Stone subscription that she said the library would get.

d. Grants

Debra outlined the NEH Preservation Access Technologies Grant for $5,000 that the library was applied for and that the Board approved. She mentioned that Robyn Robbins was working on the grant application with her and that it would be submitted to NEH by May 15, 2006.

Debra also mentioned that Karen McDonald was working on a Massachusetts Humanities Grant for the Rose Dorothea, the Massachusetts Cultural Council Operating Support Grant.

e. Events

Debra outlined the “Out at the Library Exhibit”. She said that C.J. Noyes, Joyce Guide  and Marcia Fair helped put up the display which is to run through June 8, 2006.  The Opening Reception will be on Saturday, May 13, 2006 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Mick Rudd outlined the June 14 Lipton Cup Ceremony.  Tourism Director Bill Schneider plans to amplify the event though press releases and written historical background on the event.

Three 20"x30" photograph reproductions of the "Rose Dorothea"  from the Heritage Museum Collection stored in the attic of the Grace Gouviea Building are now at the Library, where  the Trustees will seek permission from the Board of Selectmen ro hold them on permanent loan.

Mick said that the direct descendants of Captain Marion Perry and Captain John Watson would be in town for the June 14 event as well as 14 members of the  Francis "Flyer" Santos family.

f. Tours and Events

Mick Rudd reported on the "Alice Joseph Memorial Reading Corner"  dedication on April 24, which was attended by more than 70 relatives and friends of  former Librarian Alice Joseph.  The "Corner" includes two "storyteller" chairs and the display of the original card catalogue on the 2nd floor of the library near the Local History room.

James Cole, member of the public, announced that the Library Supporters' "Genius Loci" Author Series will continue with Norris Church Mailer reading from "Windchill Summer" on Monday 13, at 7:30 pm in the  Reading Room.

7. New Business

The theme of the Summer Reading Program this year is  “What’s Buzzing at the Library,” that Renee Gibbs-Brady will   run.

8. Other Business and Correspondence

Discussion was revisited on the Rose Dorothea photos mentioned previously by Mick Rudd.  It was decided that the Library Director will email a request from  the Board of Library Trustees to the Board of Selectmen asking for the permanent loan of the three"Rose Dorothea" photograph reproductions from the Heritage Museum Collection.  The Motion was made by Mick Rudd and seconded by   C.J. Noyes.  

Debra distributed the new postcards for sale depicting the cubist art of Oliver N. Chaffee.

Next meeting:  The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 5, 2006, at 7;15 pm in the Library.

 

Adjournment: Paul Benatti moved and Cathy Metzger seconded the motion to close the meeting  at 8:30 pm.  The Vote was 5-0 in favor.

These minutes were approved by a vote of the Provincetown Library Board of Library Trustees members present at their meeting on ____June 5, 2006________________.

Respectfully submitted:

______C J Noyes__________                   _____Secrectary__________

Board of Library Trustees Signature                                              Title

Minutes prepared by C J Noyes, Secretary