A Regular Meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston as a Corporation was held at the Parker Hill Branch Library, 1497 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA at 3:00 p.m. following a Meeting of the Board in Executive Session.

Present at the meeting were: Trustees William M. Bulger, Berthé M. Gaines, Angelo M. Scaccia, William O. Taylor, and Karyn M. Wilson. Trustees Donna M. DePrisco and Joseph E. Mullaney participated by telephone conference call.

Also present were: Library President Bernard A. Margolis; Alice Hennessey, Special Assistant to Mayor Thomas M. Menino; P.A. d’Arbeloff, Executive Director, the Boston Public Library Foundation; David Vieira, President, City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library; Rebecca Manos, Branch Librarian, Parker Hill Branch Library; Mary Ann Nelson, Esquire, Representative, Friends of the Parker Hill Branch Library; members of the Library administration, staff, public and Friends groups.

Chairman William O. Taylor presiding.

The first item on the order of business was the proposed extension of President Bernard A. Margolis’ Employment Agreement. Chairman William O. Taylor reported that in Executive Session the Trustees thoroughly discussed the extension of the President’s current Employment Agreement as proposed by Trustees Joseph E. Mullaney and Angelo M. Scaccia who worked on the recommended Employment Agreement.

Following further discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, and subsequent to a viva voce vote, it was

“VOTED: to approve the extension of President Bernard A. Margolis’ Employment Agreement for a five year period.”

Trustee Berthé M. Gaines voted to approve the extension of President Bernard A. Margolis’ Employment Agreement for only three years. Chairman Taylor congratulated President Margolis and said that the Board looks forward to continuing to work with him.

Chairman Taylor introduced Ms. Rebecca “Becky” Manos, Branch Librarian, Parker Hill Branch Library and expressed appreciation to the staff of the Parker Hill Branch for hosting the Trustees’ Meeting and providing beverages and wonderful bakery items donated by Mike’s Doughnuts.

Ms. Manos welcomed the Trustees to the Parker Hill Branch Library which was designed by Ralph Cram and built in 1930 in the heart of Mission Hill. Following an introduction of the Branch Staff, Ms. Manos noted that the Library serves a diverse multicultural community and offers a dynamic array of reading and programming activities for both children and adults.

Ms. Kris Springer, Children’s Librarian, has developed strong collaborations with the three neighborhood schools through regular school class visits to the Branch Library which offers Homework Assistance and Summer Reading programs. Through the generosity of the Margret Rey Estate, the Children’s Room was redesigned in 2001 and includes a cozy story time area by the windows while the Adult Rooms were later redesigned with a grant from the Mabel Louise Riley Fund.

On the adult programming front, Ms. Manos reported that the Branch offers monthly Adult book discussion programs, poetry readings, and an annual African talent show. On the collaborative front, the Mission Hill Artists Collaborative displays art works at the Branch, including the current exhibition of paintings by Dianne Zimbabwe, coupled with collaborating on A Room of Your Own project in which patrons may participate in creating a Room of their own to be displayed in the spring of 2004.

Ms. Mary Ann Nelson, Esquire, reported on the ongoing activities and programs sponsored by the Friends of the Parker Hill Branch Library. Ms. Nelson noted that the Friends Group was founded in 2002 to support the work and special activities offered at the Branch Library, including Internet training classes for Senior Citizens. While the principal fundraising activities of the Friends Group is achieved through book sales, Ms. Nelson reported that the Friends are actively recruiting patrons to donate periodical subscriptions to the Library in light of the recent budget cuts.

The next item on the order of business was the approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting on September 16, 2003. Trustee Berthé M. Gaines requested three revisions to the Minutes of the Corporation pertaining to the discussion on the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund. Mrs. Gaines reiterated that the City’s Corporation Counsel approved in writing “to authorize the Trustees to use accumulated income from the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund to fund nine positions at the Dudley Branch to maintain the staffing (not operations) of the Branch for FY 2004.”

Trustee Gaines also requested that the Minutes be amended to reflect that the “Library has informed the City’s Budget Office that the Library does not plan to use for staffing and operations any of the money from the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund in FY 2005.”

Following discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, and with the three revisions made to the Minutes of the Corporation as recommended by Trustee Gaines, the Minutes for the Regular Meeting on September 16, 2003 were approved.

Mr. William O. Taylor, Chairman of the Trustees’ Finance Committee, provided background information on the recommendation from the Library’s auditors, Brown & Brown, L.L.P., to change the name of the committee to the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee. Under the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Guidelines, this action is a way of acknowledging the Trustees’ role in oversight of the Library’s audit.

Following discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, and on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, it was

“VOTED: to change the name of the Trustees’ Finance Committee to the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee.”

Chairman Taylor provided background information on the proposed additions to the Existing Trust Funds in the General Investment Account which were reviewed and recommended for approval to the full Board by the Finance and Audit Committee. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was

“VOTED: that the sum of $12,758.62 representing miscellaneous gifts be added to the following Trust Funds in the General Investment Account as required by their authorizing votes.”

Fund Name Amount

Irwin D. Hoffman Memorial Fund $ 5,000.00
Thomas Nason Memorial Fund 7,758.62
Total $ 12,758.62

Chairman Taylor reported that the Finance and Audit Committee received a comprehensive report on the Annual Audit for the Fiscal Year 2003 by the representatives from Brown & Brown, L.L.P. Mr. Taylor reported that this year’s audit was an unqualified audit and it has been recommended by the Committee that the audit be accepted as presented by the auditors. The auditors were very complimentary of the efficiency and performance of the Library’s financial staff under Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Kirleis’ leadership. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was

“VOTED: to accept the audit results of the overall Basic Financial Statements of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 as presented by Brown & Brown, L.L.P.”

Chairman Taylor reported that Trustee Karyn M. Wilson has agreed to accept the Chairmanship of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee effective January 7, 2004 and Trustee Angelo M. Scaccia has accepted the nomination to serve as a member of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was

“VOTED: to accept the nomination of Trustee Karyn M. Wilson as Chair of the Trustee’ Finance and Audit Committee effective January 7, 2004 and to accept the nomination of Trustee Angelo M. Scaccia as a member of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee effective January 7, 2004.”

Trustee Berthé M. Gaines inquired about the Chief Financial Officer’s update in the November 5, 2003 Minutes of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee Meeting pertaining to progress being made to have all Boston Public Library Trust Funds managed consistently as recommended by the Board’s auditors.

Ms. Kathleen Kirleis, CFO, reported that the reference in the Minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting relates to the Bernard J. McGovern Trust Fund which is the only Library Trust Fund in the Board’s investment portfolio managed by the City of Boston’s investment managers. The CFO stated that the Library is working in collaboration with the City’s Law Department to have the Bernard J. McGovern Trust Fund transferred to the Library’s investment portfolio so that the Library Trustees would make the investment decisions through the Board’s independent investment advisors.

Trustee Gaines asked that the Minutes of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee Meeting on November 5, 2003 be amended to reflect that the Bernard J. McGovern Trust Fund is the only Library Trust Fund in the Board’s investment portfolio which is presently being managed by the City of Boston’s investment managers.

Chairman Taylor updated the Board on the continuing review of the Library’s 180 different Trust Funds and presented three proposed Trust Fund resolutions which the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee reviewed and recommended to the full Board for approval.

The first Trust Fund resolution is a recommendation to rename The Children’s Room Fund The Artick Children’s Room Fund to acknowledge the significant bequest of $258,000 from the estate of Mr. Robert Artick. Secondly, the Committee recommended dissolution of the Building Repair and Maintenance Fund into The Central Library Building Fund given that these funds have the same purpose of supporting building repair and maintenance and merging them would make fund management more efficient.

Lastly, the Finance and Audit Committee recommended the dissolution of The Boston Book Fair 1938 Fund into The Library Employees Sick Benefit Fund also given their same purpose while their merger would provide a seamless administration. Following discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, and on the recommendation of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee, the following three Trust Fund resolutions were approved:

• Rename The Children’s Room Fund to “The Artick Children’s Room Fund”

History: Mr. Robert Artick started The Children’s Room Fund in 1994 with a gift in memory of his wife, Elvira Vecchione Artick, who was a teacher in the Boston Public Schools for 32 years. Mr. Artick requested his gift be earmarked to help ensure that “inspired state-of-the-art services for children in the Boston Public Library be continued far into the future.” At the time of his death in 2000, Mr. Artick bequeathed $258,000 to the Boston Public Library which was added to The Children’s Room Fund. To commemorate the Artick Family’s role in the creation and growth of The Children’s Room Fund, it is proposed to rename this fund “The Artick Children’s Room Fund.”

“VOTED: that Bernard A. Margolis, President of the Public Library of the City of Boston, or his designee, be and hereby is, authorized to rename The Children’s Room Fund to “The Artick Children’s Room Fund.”

• Dissolve The Building Repair and Maintenance Fund into “The Central Library Building Fund”

History: The Building Repair and Maintenance Fund was established on September 17, 2002 to support building repair and maintenance of the Central Library. In an effort to simplify the management of these funds, it is proposed to dissolve The Building Repair and Maintenance Fund and transfer these funds into “The Central Library Building Fund” which had been established to support building repair and maintenance of the Central Library.

“VOTED: that Bernard A. Margolis, President of the Public Library of the City of Boston, or his designee, be and hereby is, authorized to dissolve The Building Repair and Maintenance Fund and transfer these funds into “The Central Library Building Fund” to support building repair and maintenance of the Central Library.”

• Dissolve The Boston Book Fair 1938 Fund into The Library Employees Sick Benefit Fund

History: The Boston Book Fair 1938 Fund was established for the benefit of the Boston Public Library Staff and had a value of $1,010.45 as of December 31, 2002 generating $58.00 of income in 2003. Income from The Library Employees Sick Benefit Fund is to be used pursuant to the Boston Public Library’s policy guidelines for this fund and generates approximately $950.00 annually. Consolidation of these two funds would streamline the ability to deliver benefits to the Boston Public Library Staff.

“VOTED: that Bernard A. Margolis, President of the Public Library of the City of Boston, or his designee, be and hereby is, authorized to dissolve The Boston Book Fair 1938 Fund and transfer these funds into The Library Employees Sick Benefit Fund for the benefit of the Boston Public Library Staff.”

Chairman William O. Taylor provided background information on the confirmation of four telephone polls for Room Use conducted by Clerk to the Trustees Jamie McGlone. Mr. Taylor reported that the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee reviewed and reaffirmed the telephone polls approving the Room Use requests for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Innotech Systems, Inc., and The Beacon Companies.

Following discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, and on the recommendation of the Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee, it was

“VOTED: to approve the request from Mr. Paul Guzzi, President & Chief Executive Officer, the Greater Boston Chamber, for use of Bates Hall on Friday, November 7, 2003, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in connection with the City to City Leadership Program led by the Honorable Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The Greater Boston Chamber will make a $2,000 donation to the Library for use of Bates Hall.”

“VOTED: to approve the request from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for use of the Orientation Room on Thursday, November 13, 2003 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. hosted by the Honorable Mayor Thomas M. Menino and in connection with the After School Project Annual Conference. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will make a $1,500 donation to the Library for use of the Orientation Room.”

“VOTED: to approve the request from Ms. Lina Morales, Innotech Systems, Inc. for use of Novel Restaurant and the Map Room Café on Saturday, December 6, 2003 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. outside of regular Library hours and in connection with Innotech Systems, Inc.’s staff holiday reception. ”

“VOTED: to approve the request from Devra B. Lasden, The Beacon Companies, for use of the Orientation Room on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in connection with the Annual Holiday Party for The Beacon Companies. The Beacon Companies will make a $2,000 donation to the Library for use of the Orientation Room.”

President Margolis reported on an additional room use request received subsequent to the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting from the Commissioner of the City’s Assessing Department for use of the Copley Square Library on Sunday, August 29, 2004. The President noted that the City’s Assessing Department is hosting the International Association of Assessing Officers 70th Annual Conference in August 2004 and the Library could accommodate this event since it is planned for a Sunday when the Library is closed in the summer.

The President added that the Library has not begun discussions with the Association of Assessing Officers on a room use fee because the Library wanted the Board’s approval in advance of negotiating the room use fee for the opening reception which is expected to attract nearly 2,000 members.

Chairman Taylor proposed that the room use resolution could be approved by the Board subject to further negotiations by the Library President and agreement on an appropriate fee. Following discussions, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was

“VOTED: to approve the request from Ronald W. Rakow, Commissioner, City of Boston Assessing Department, for use of the Copley Square Library on Sunday, August 29, 2004 in connection with the opening reception for the International Association of Assessing Officers 70th Annual Conference, subject to further negotiations by the Library President and agreement on an appropriate fee.”

On a related topic, President Margolis noted that a draft list of the various rooms within the Central Library building at Copley Square and their accompanying proposed target figures for room use fees was included in the Trustees’ packets in advance of the meeting as a point of departure for future discussion about room uses. Meanwhile, the President said that the Library continues to be able to effectively manage these room uses with minimal impact on regular Library activities.

Chairman Taylor reported that the first meeting of the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund Advisory Committee was held on October 21, 2003 attended by Trustees Donna M. DePrisco and William O. Taylor, Sarah-Ann Shaw and Councilor Chuck Turner. Mr. Taylor said the meeting was very productive and the Advisory Committee adopted the “Purpose Statement and Committee Structure” for the full Board’s approval.

Trustee Berthé M. Gaines noted that Councilor Chuck Turner, in his role as a Boston City Councilor, would be a defacto member of the Advisory Committee and suggested that the President of the Friends of the Dudley Branch Library, or their delegate, should be appointed to the Committee. In addition, Trustee Gaines noted that she would be attending the Advisory Committee meetings given that all Board Committee meetings are open to all Library Trustees. Following further discussion, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was

“VOTED: to adopt the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund Advisory Committee Purpose Statement and Committee Structure.”

Trustee Angelo M. Scaccia, Chairman of the Trustees’ Capital Projects Committee, provided an overview of the highlights of the various capital projects underway throughout the Boston Public Library system as reported on at the last Committee Meeting held on November 6, 2003.

Chairman Scaccia reported on the status and progress of the McKim Restoration project, Phase IIC which involves the renovation of several significant public spaces including: the original Trustees’ Room; the Cheverus Room; the Abbey Room; the Sargent Gallery; and the Exhibit Room located on the first floor of the McKim building.

Slated for completion by July 2004, the project scope for McKim Restoration, Phase IIC also includes the renovation of the McKim fifth floor, the installation of a new elevator for greater accessibility to the Abbey Foyer, the installation of a new book conveyor system, the installation of new restrooms and the upgrading of the current restrooms, window restoration, electrical and mechanical work, as well as furnishing of the McKim Lobby and the original Trustees’ Room. The total project budget for Phase IIC is estimated at $20.4 million which is fully in place at the City Treasury.

The architectural services for McKim Phase IIC are being provided by Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott, Inc. and the contractor for the project is Lee Kennedy Company. Meanwhile, the restoration of the priceless murals by John Singer Sargent is progressing by the conservators from Straus Center for Conservation at the Harvard University Art Museums, which are slated to be completed by January 2004, along with renovation work to the Cheverus Room and the Edwin Austin Abbey Room.

Chairman Scaccia reported that preliminary planning efforts have begun for the next phase, McKim Restoration project, Phase IID with a focus on the project scope, which will include the renovation of several significant public spaces, including the Print Gallery, Music and Fine Arts Departments, Rare Books and The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center on McKim third floor. The project scope and related timetable for Phase IID will be crafted by utilizing the Master Plan for the Central Library which was developed by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates.

While the project schedule and financing for McKim Phase IID will be driven in part by fundraising efforts and by Phase IIC’s anticipated completion date of July 2004, funding for Phase IID will have a heavy reliance on potential individual donors and federal sources estimated at a total project budget of $25 million.

The Chairman reported that fundraising efforts for Phase IID have begun noting that the City of Boston has granted permission for the Library to utilize part of the funds raised by the Boston Public Library Foundation through the Save America’s Treasures program to be earmarked for Phase IID totaling $500,000. In addition, the Boston Public Library is in receipt of a gift from an estate totaling $150,000 which will also be slated for Phase IID. Meanwhile, the 2004 Boston Public Library Foundation Gala has been scheduled for Friday, May 7, 2004 in the McKim building to benefit Phase IID.

In a review of additional capital projects, the Chairman reported on the progress of the Johnson Building capital projects, including significant upgrades slated for the Johnson Building Fire Alarm System, in which bids are expected to be issued on December 1, 2003 with construction slated to begin early winter 2004.

Meanwhile, eighteen Branch Libraries are in various phases of capital work, including exterior renovations to the Codman Square, Grove Hall, and Lower Mills Branches; renovations to the Roslindale and South Boston Branches will begin late November 2003; and major roof repairs and ADA accessibility improvements to the Connolly Branch commenced in early September 2003.

Chairman Scaccia reported that construction is underway and on track for a variety of capital improvements to the Faneuil and Jamaica Plain Branches, which are funded in part from a $100,000 grant received from the Massachusetts Historic Commission. The Chairman noted that discussions are underway with City officials to consider seeking a waiver of deed restrictions being imposed on both Branches as requested by State officials as part of the grant requirement.

The Chairman reported on the status of the Critical Repair Fund Projects for FY 2004 in which a total of $350,821 in smaller critical repair projects not exceeding $25,000 are complete or are in process. The Budget Office has allowed the Library to carryover $148,637 from FY 2003 reflecting a total budget of $398,637 available for FY 2004. Included among the projects are: electrical upgrades in the Branches; roof and bathroom repairs; and mold clean-up at the Charlestown Service Building and the Central Library.

Following the business portion of the Capital Projects Committee meeting, the Chairman reported that President Margolis led the members of the Committee on a tour of the McKim Restoration project, Phase IIC spaces.

President Bernard A. Margolis, in his report to the Trustees, announced that the Boston Public Library launched today an expansion of the Higher Education Information Center, which has been located at the Central Library for the past twenty years, to include satellite centers at four BPL branches at the Codman Square, Dudley, East Boston, and Hyde Park Branch Libraries. As a result, the President said that this exciting initiative will bring information resources and scholarship assistance for patrons who want to go to college to their neighborhood libraries.

On the technology front, the President reported on the recent press coverage highlighting that the Boston Public Library at Copley Square and all twenty seven branches are wireless facilities and are being heavily used throughout the Library system. Through wireless technology, library patrons can now walk into any BPL facility and connect to the Internet using a laptop with a wireless Internet card.

On the programming front, President Margolis reported on the successful grand opening of the “Faces and Places” mapping exhibition in the Orientation Room on October 8, 2003. Meanwhile, the search is ongoing for a Curator of the The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center on the McKim third floor which has been funded through the outstanding efforts of Chairman William O. Taylor.

On the facilities front, President Margolis reported that the Brighton Branch Library has been experiencing significant flooding and roof leaks over the past month resulting in an enormous amount of damage to the interior of the Library. Meanwhile, construction of a new roof slated for the Brighton Branch has been prioritized in light of the severity of the damage.

President Margolis noted the successful 20th Annual Trustees’ Recognition Ceremony for Library Staff and Breakfast Reception which was held in Bates Hall on October 16, 2003 honoring nine staff members for twenty-five years of dedicated service to the Boston Public Library, including Ms. Connie Y. Yee from the Parker Hill Branch.

Chairman Taylor acknowledged the receipt of a Thank You card from Ms. Chin-Yi “Caroline” Young, Reader and Information Services Librarian, for the gift of the beautiful Windsor chair and Trustees’ Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of Ms. Young’s 25 Years of Service at the Boston Public Library.

President Margolis provided an update on the status and implementation of the Boston Public Library Reorganization Plan. Since the Board’s adoption of the general framework of the plan on September 16, 2003, the President reported that additional meetings have been held with the staff, including with the Executive Boards of the two Library unions and two all-staff meetings to review the plan. Meanwhile, the Library has posted the Director of Public Services position while the charge for the Evaluation Taskforce is nearly complete representing the internal Committee that will help measure the success of the reorganization.

Ms. Kathleen Kirleis, Chief Financial Officer, provided an update on the Library’s FY 2004 budget noting that the final budget totals $38.2 million, which represents a reduction of $4.5 million from the FY 2003 budget, including a $4.2 million cut in City funding representing a disproportionate reduction of 14.4%.

Additionally, the CFO reported the Library has had continuing discussions with City budget officials regarding the Library’s petition to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for a waiver of the FY 2004 Municipal Appropriation Requirement to receive State aid, which will be reviewed by the Commissioners at their January 2004 meeting.

Ms. Deirdre Brennan, Acting Director of Public Services, provided an overview of the public services activities and programs ongoing throughout the Library system. Noting the volume of activity at the Parker Hill Branch, Ms. Brennan reported that the Library staff everywhere has been working extremely hard to deliver services to the public with fewer resources.

On the grants front, Ms. Brennan reported that the Boston Public Library has received two grants from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The first grant will enable the Library to assess and improve customer service practices and a second grant in the amount of $120,000 will provide support to conduct a feasibility study to design a State-wide Massachusetts Online Digital Library.

On the collections front, Ms. Brennan noted that a documentary film maker is using the Fine Arts Boston buildings materials to develop a 3-D model of the 1872 Boston Fire while the MBTA Silver Line planners are using the building plans housed in Fine Arts to research the underground infrastructure along the Silver Line corridor.

Meanwhile, on the personnel front, Ms. Brennan reported that interviews are ongoing to fill the vacant Branch Librarian positions for South Boston and Uphams Corner Branches and a Children’s Librarian position for the Lower Mills Branch Library. Trustee Berthé M. Gaines inquired about the status of the vacant Children’s Librarian position at the Dudley Branch Library which Ms. Brennan said is next on the list to be filled in keeping with the goal to have a Children’s Librarian in every branch.

Ms. Ruth Kowal, Director of Operations, provided an overview of the operations and facilities activities ongoing throughout the Library system. On the capital projects front, Mr. Kowal reported that the Library will be going out to bid shortly for design services related to infrastructure renovations planned for the Brighton, East Boston, Egleston, North End and Orient Heights Branches.

Additionally, Ms. Kowal reported that the Adams Street Branch landscaping project is progressing nicely, which is funded by the City of Boston’s Browne Fund totaling $120,000, while the Friends of the North End Branch have applied for funds from the Browne Fund to renovate the garden in front of the Branch.

Meanwhile, Ms. Kowal noted that a variety of Library policies will be brought forward to the Board for consideration in the upcoming months, including a revision to the Patron Behavior Policy adopted by the Trustees in 2000, an Unattended Children in the Library Policy, and a Policy on Public Assembly for Demonstration Purposes in and on Library Property in light of the impending completion of the expanded plaza in front of the McKim building.

Mrs. P.A. d’Arbeloff, Executive Director, the Boston Public Library Foundation, reported on the fundraising activities of the Foundation noting the receipt of a National Parks Services grant totaling $470,000 earmarked for the McKim Restoration project and a $397,400 grant slated for the preservation of the John Adams collection. Meanwhile, Mr. Dale Patterson has joined the staff of the Foundation as a grants writer.

Additionally, Mrs. d’Arbeloff reported on the highly successful Foundation’s Young Professionals annual Festival of Lights event which was held on November 14, 2003 raising over $110,000 earmarked for the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center and Youth services programming at the Library.

Mr. David Vieira, President of the City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library, reported on the Friends’ activities noting that over $65,600 has been appropriated to the Boston Public Library over the last six months for various projects and equipment needs, including $35,000 pledged over the next two years to fund a part time Literacy position and a $10,000 grant to the Friends of the Parker Hill Branch earmarked for a Summers Arts program.

In light of term limits, Mr. Vieira said that today’s report would be his final one to the Trustees as President of the City-Wide Friends Group. President Margolis expressed appreciation to Mr. David Vieira for a remarkable job giving leadership to the City-Wide Friends Group.

Trustee Berthé M. Gaines proposed that a formal resolution be considered to express the Board’s appreciation to Mr. Vieira for his outstanding service to the City-Wide Friends and the significant contributions made to the Boston Public Library. On a motion duly made and seconded, it was

“VOTED: to express appreciation to Mr. David Vieira for providing outstanding leadership as President of the City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library and for the significant contributions made to the Boston Public Library system during his tenure.”

There being no further business, the meeting of the Corporation adjourned at
5:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jamie McGlone
Clerk to the Trustees

Minutes of Meeting In Board of Trustees
Administrative Agency Tuesday, November 18, 2003

A Regular Meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston as an Administrative Agency was held at the Parker Hill Branch Library, 1497 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA at 5:10 p.m.

Present at the meeting were: Trustees William M. Bulger, Berthé M. Gaines, Angelo M. Scaccia, William O. Taylor, and Karyn M. Wilson. Trustees Donna M. DePrisco and Joseph E. Mullaney participated by telephone conference call.

Also present were: Library President Bernard A. Margolis; Alice Hennessey, Special Assistant to Mayor Thomas M. Menino; P.A. d’Arbeloff, Executive Director, the Boston Public Library Foundation; David Vieira, President, City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library; Rebecca Manos, Branch Librarian, Parker Hill Branch Library; Mary Ann Nelson, Esquire, Representative, Friends of the Parker Hill Branch Library; members of the Library administration, staff, public and Friends groups.

Chairman William O. Taylor presiding.

The first item on the order of business was the approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting on September 16, 2003. On a motion duly made and seconded, the Minutes for the Regular Meeting on September 16, 2003 were approved.

There being no other business, the meeting of the Administrative Agency adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jamie McGlone
Clerk to the Trustees