September
19, 2000
A
Regular Meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City
of Boston will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2000 at 8:00 a.m.,
in the Trustee's Room, 3rd Floor, Johnson Building, Central Library.
Respectfully yours,
Jamie McGlone
Clerk
Agendas:
Order
of Business for a Regular Meeting as a
Corporation
on
Tuesday,
September 19, 2000 at 8:00 a.m.
1. Approval of Minutes
for the Annual and Regular Meetings of May 23, 2000
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
2. Confirmation
of Room Use Request
"VOTED:
to approve the request by Ms. Margaret Williams, Director, ReadBoston
for use of Library space on September 28, 2000 in connection with
ReadBostons Fifth Anniversary celebration."
Mr.
Bernard A. Margolis
3. Approval of Room
Use Request
"VOTED:
to approve the request by the Honorable Thomas M. Menino, Mayor
of Boston, for use of Library space on December 6, 2000 in connection
with the National League of Cities Conference held in Boston."
Mr.
Bernard A. Margolis
4. Trustees
Finance Committee Report
Mr.
William O. Taylor
5. Trustees
Collections Committee Report
Mr.
William O. Taylor
6. Trustees
Capital Projects Committee Report
- The Trustees
Finance Committee has reviewed and recommends to the Full Board
of Trustees the following award of contract for the McKim Restoration
project
"VOTED:
that Bernard A. Margolis, President of the Public Library of
the City of Boston or designee, be, and hereby is, authorized
and directed to receive and use, in accordance with the terms
of the Agreement, a contribution of $7,500,000.00 from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, for the purpose of Phase IIC of the continuing
restoration and renovation of the McKim Building."
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
7. Trustees
Education Committee Report
Ms.
Pamela Seigle
8. Presidents
Report
- Approval of the
Boston Public Library Collection Development Policy
- Approval of the
Boston Public Library Long Range Plan prepared for the
- Massachusetts
Board of Library Commissioners (Ruth Kowal)
- Approval of Annual
Leave Carryover Policy (Ruth Kowal)
- Approval of Sexual
Harassment Policy (David Young)
- Approval of AFSCME
Contract
"VOTED: to endorse
the terms of the AFSCME Local 1526 Agreement for July 1, 1999
through June 30, 2002."
- Approval of wage
increases for Management/Exempt Employees
"VOTED:
to endorse the wage increases (the same as those contained in
the Agreement with AFSCME Local 1526) for Management/Exempt
employees as follows: 3% retroactive to first pay period July
1999; 3% retroactive to first pay period July 2000; 3% effective
first pay period October 2001; Effective July 1, 2001 dental/vision
plan available to staff through the Citys participation
in the Massachusetts Public Employees Fund."
- Review of Strategic
Planning Effort (Strategic Process Team)
- Review of FY2001
Budget (Kathleen Kirleis)
- BPL Store
- Public Awareness
Campaign (P.A. dArbeloff)
- Trust Fund Review
- Report on the
Branches (Ruth Kowal)
Mr.
Bernard A. Margolis
9. The Boston Public
Library Foundation
Ms.
Marie Pettibone
10. Associates of
the Boston Public Library
Ms.
Vivian Spiro
11. Other Business
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
12. Recess of Corporate
Meeting
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
13. Executive Session
(after adjournment of Administrative Agency Meeting)
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
Order
of Business for a Regular Meeting as an
Administrative
Agency on
Tuesday,
September 19, 2000 at 8:00 a.m.
1. Approval of Minutes
for the Annual and Regular Meetings of May 23, 2000
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
2. The Trustees
Finance Committee has reviewed and recommends to the Full Board
of Trustees the following award of contracts:
- Contracts associated
with the flood
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into with OccuHealth, Inc., 44 Wood Avenue,
Mansfield, MA 02048, the most advantageous and eligible proposer
for the publicly advertised contract for providing an environmental
evaluation and monitoring program for the McKim and Johnson
buildings of the Boston Public Library, for the period commencing
October 1, 2000 and ending June 30, 2001, at the proposal price,
at a total cost not to exceed Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred
Dollars and No Cents ($17,800.00), pursuant to the agreement
with the City of Boston to reimburse the Library for costs associated
with the flood of August 16, 1998."
"VOTED:
to authorize President Bernard A. Margolis, in conformance with
a requirements contract process, to invite interested, responsible,
and competent persons, firms, or corporations to apply for prequalification
on a bidders list and thereafter enter into a contract
or contracts for binding and recasing services, as required,
to treat flood affected print materials where each procurement
of service is less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and
the total of all such contracts shall not exceed Thirty Thousand
Dollars ($30,000.00), pursuant to the agreement with the City
of Boston to reimburse the Library for costs associated with
the flood of August 16, 1998."
- Contract for
supplying Periodicals and Serials
"VOTED:
that, without public advertising, there be entered into with
the Faxon Company, Inc. 15 Southwest Park, Westwood, Massachusetts,
a contract for (1) supplying periodicals and serials for the
calendar year 2001, and (2) servicing the subscriptions for
the individual items throughout the year as specified in the
Specifications, and subject to the terms, agreements, and conditions
set forth in said contract, at a total cost not to exceed Three
Hundred Ten Thousand Five Hundred and Three Dollars and Seventy
Four Cents ($310,503.74)."
- Contracts for
the purchase of Library materials for the new Allston Branch,
(in anticipation of funding approval)
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Follett Corporation, in an amount not to
exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) for books and
other related Library materials, during the period July 1, 2000
through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Baker & Taylor, in an amount not to exceed
Three Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($390,000.00) for books
and other related Library materials, during the period July
1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Esteva Servicios Bibliotecarios, in an amount
not to exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($20,000.00)
for books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Lectorum Publications, Inc., in an amount
not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00)
for books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Pan Asian Publications, Inc., in an amount
not to exceed Fifteen Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($15,000.00)
for books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Russica Publishing Co., in an amount not
to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00) for
books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
Mr.
William O. Taylor
3. Other Business
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
4. Adjournment
Mr.
Joseph E. Mullaney
Minutes
| Minutes
of Meeting |
In
Board of Trustees |
| Corporation |
Tuesday,
September 19, 2000 |
A Regular Meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City
of Boston as a Corporation was held in the Trustees Room of the
Johnson Building at 8:00 a.m.
Present at the meeting were Trustees William M. Bulger, James Carroll,
V. Paul Deare, Berth» M. Gaines, Joseph E. Mullaney, Angelo Scaccia,
Pamela Seigle and William O. Taylor.
Also present were Alice Hennessey, Special Assistant to Mayor Thomas
M. Menino; Mark Sweeney, First Assistant, Corporation Counsel, City
of Boston; Vivian K. Spiro, Chair, Associates of the Boston Public
Library; Marie Pettibone, Executive Director, and Daria McLean,
Director of Stewardship and Events, the Boston Public Library Foundation;
Charles Worcester, Assistant Director, and Erin Hester, Senior Project
Manager for the McKim Restoration project, Department of Neighborhood
Development; Jennifer Grams, Capital Budget Analyst, Office of Budget
Management; members of the Library administration, staff, public
and Friends Groups.
Chairman Joseph E. Mullaney presiding.
The Chairman first welcomed Mr. James Carroll as a new Trustee of
the Public Library of the City of Boston. Trustee Donna M. DePrisco
was unable to attend the meeting for only the second time in five
and one half years since her appointment to the Board.
The first item on the order of business was the approval of Minutes
for the Annual and Regular Meetings of May 23, 2000. On a motion
duly made and seconded, the Minutes for the Annual and Regular Meetings
of May 23, 2000 were approved.
The Chairman provided background information on two requests for
room use noting that the Library President has conveyed to him that
both requests could be accommodated without disrupting the ordinary
functions and operations of the Library. Following discussion among
the Board, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was
"VOTED:
to approve the request by Ms. Margaret Williams, Director, ReadBoston
for use of Library space on September 28, 2000 in connection with
ReadBostons Fifth Anniversary celebration."
"VOTED:
to approve the request by the Honorable Thomas M. Menino, Mayor
of Boston, for use of Library space on December 6, 2000 in connection
with the National League of Cities Conference held in Boston."
Mr. William O. Taylor, Chairman of the Trustees Finance Committee,
reported that the Finance Committee met last on September 5, 2000
and received a status report from the New England Pension
Consultants (NEPC) representatives on the ongoing search
for a Small Cap Investment Manager on behalf of the Boston Public
Library.
Mr. Taylor noted that the search for a Small Cap Investment Manager
is being undertaken in order to fund a new allocation for the Trustees
Endowment Fund, in which the target allocation for small cap is
10% of the Funds assets or approximately $5 million. Following
a review of the potential financial advisors, the Committee members
agreed to interview three Small Cap Investment Managers in early
October 2000 and subsequently make a recommendation to the Full
Board at the November 2000 Trustees Meeting.
Mr. William O. Taylor, Chairman of the Trustees Collections
Committee, reported that a Committee meeting was held on September
6, 2000 with representatives from the Boston Public Library, the
Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Citys Office of Budget
Management.
The Committee members reviewed two potential sites for the development
of the Boston Heritage Center project, which would
address both the Boston Public Library and the City Archives long-term
storage, preservation and archival needs through the building of
a new state-of-the-art storage facility in Boston.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to have appraisals conducted on
the current storage facilities in Norwood and Charlestown while
discussions continue with Harvard University concerning the future
status of the New England Deposit Library (NEDL) storage property
located in Brighton.
Mr. Joseph E. Mullaney, Chairman of the Trustees Finance Committee,
provided background information on the proposed authorization for
the Library President to receive and use $7,500,000 from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts earmarked for the continuing restoration and renovation
of the McKim Restoration project. The required match of $2.5 million
is on deposit with the City and this resolution would permit the
appropriate transfer and expenditure from these funds.
Then, on a motion duly made and seconded, and on the recommendation
of the Trustees Finance Committee, it was
"VOTED:
that Bernard A. Margolis, President of the Public Library of the
City of Boston or designee, be, and hereby is, authorized and
directed to receive and use, in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement, a contribution of $7,500,000.00 from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, for the purpose of Phase IIC of the continuing
restoration and renovation of the McKim Building."
Ms. Erin Hester, Senior Project Manager, reported on the progress
of the McKim Restoration project, Phase IIB (Courtyard/McKim
Roof) noting that while the project is moving forward toward a successful
completion, they continue to experience some difficulty with the
untimely delivery of custom-made materials and getting supplies
for the job due to a robust economy and a busy construction industry.
Meanwhile, planning efforts are underway in collaboration with the
Boston Public Library Foundation to schedule a special event for
the opening of the Courtyard, which is slated for early Fall 2000.
In addition, the architects from Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson
and Abbott, Inc. continue to work on the design review process
for the next phase of the McKim Restoration project, Phase IIC,
which is in the early stages of design development and looks
not only at the technical side of the design solutions but also
at the programmatic operational solutions as well.
The design review process for Phase IIC, which is slated
for completion in late Spring 2001, includes much of the remaining
spaces of the McKim building, with the exception of the third floor,
and also includes restoration of the Sargent Gallery and
the Cheverus Room.
Presently, in collaboration with a Library Staff Committee, the
architects and restoration experts in paint analysis, lighting,
wood and mural preservation, have made good progress on mapping
out how the next phase of the project would be rolled out in anticipation
of a construction starting date of late 2001, which would be followed
by a two year construction period slated for completion in late
2003.
Ms. Pamela Seigle, Chair of the Trustees Education Committee,
reported that the members of the Education Sub-Committees worked
over the Summer in preparation for a meeting which will be held
between the Trustees of the Boston Public Library and the Boston
School Committee in January 2001.
The principal purpose of the meeting will be to highlight a Cooperation
Agreement, between the Trustees of the BPL and the Boston
School Committee, which would outline specific action steps to be
taken to foster meaningful collaborations between the Library, Schools,
and among other cultural and educational institutions for the education
and enhancement of services for the children of Boston.
Meanwhile, Ms. Seigle noted that a draft of the Cooperation
Agreement has been crafted and a meeting will be scheduled
within the next month with Dr. Thomas Payzant, Superintendent of
the Boston Public Schools, President Margolis, and key School and
Library administrators, to highlight and clarify the purposes of
the agreement.
The Cooperative Agreement will have several focuses
including: to strengthen the relationship between the Library and
the Schools to ensure that the Library effectively focuses on teaching
and learning in the Boston Public Schools; and second, to clarify
the roles and responsibilities relating to those specific initiatives
and activities. To further that end, Ms. Seigle said that an Education
Sub-Committee meeting would be held in December 2000 and invited
those interested to attend the meeting.
President Bernard A. Margolis, in his report to the Trustees, reported
on a wide range of important activities ongoing at the Library.
First among them, was a presentation on the Boston Public
Library Collection Development and Management Policy, which
was developed by the leadership of Mr. Gunars Rutkovskis of the
Research Library and included many participants from throughout
the Library over the course of a year.
The Collection Development and Management Policy is
an extensive document which reviews in great detail the approach
a Library takes to "growing" its vast collection of materials,
outlines the areas of collecting, and provides the tool for staff
members engaged in building its collections. In addition, the policy
is a basic "road map" for a Library and is valuable in
deciding how acquisition funds and resources are used in building
its rich collections.
The President noted also that this document is a requirement for
the Boston Public Librarys participation in many State-supported
Library programs and grant initiatives, particularly through the
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and recommended it
to the Board for approval.
In response to an inquiry from the Chairman, the President provided
further background information on the proposed collection development
policy noting that while it reflects a brand new document it does
bring together some disparate pieces that have been in existence
in the past and represents a new structure for presenting how the
Library dispatches its collection.
In addition, the President noted that the proposed policy is unique
in light of the fact that the Boston Public Library is a very large
Research Library with holdings of over 37 million items and its
depth of focus is on building very rich collections, including an
emphasis on collecting periodicals, newspapers and rare materials
relating to Boston, Massachusetts, and New England. In response
to an inquiry from Mr. Deare, the President said that the policy
corresponds to the revised language for Trust Funds tying into how
those trust funds are dispatched to build the collections.
The Vice Chair queried whether there would be an opportunity for
more discussion regarding the assumptions on which the policy is
based with respect to how the collections are built, including the
branch libraries. The President noted that the assumptions are the
same except for a significant acknowledge in the policy about how
the Library develops online electronic resources. Following further
discussion among the Board, it was agreed to defer formal action
on the approval of the Collection Development and Management
Policy until the next Trustees Meeting scheduled for
November 20, 2000.
The President provided background information on the Boston
Public Library Long Range Plan prepared for the Massachusetts
Board of Library Commissioners, which reflects a reformatting and
reorganization of the Strategic Plan that was presented
at the Spring Trustees Meeting. This reformatting is required
by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in order for
the BPLs plan to be in conformity with State requirements
and also for the Library to make application for State and Federal
funds through the Board of Commissioners.
Ms. Ruth Kowal, Director of Operations, reviewed the basic elements
of the plan at greater length and provided insight on some of the
potential programs and initiatives that would be available to the
Library through the MBLC including: multicultural community projects
that promote cross-cultural sharing; customer service campaigns
for libraries; information literacy and research skills; programs
for serving people with disabilities; preservation of library and
archival material; and digitizing historical resources.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is also considering
some new programs in the next grant round for FY2002 that would
be of great interest to the Boston Public Library including: the
Homework Zone; Web-based Information Center; Business and Career
Services; and a management grant tailored for planning and organizing
archival materials which are non-book materials.
In response to a question from the Chairman, Ms. Kowal noted that,
similar to the Collection Development Policy, the
Library has had parts of a long range plan that had been submitted
in the past to the Board of the Library Commissioners; however,
the Board has been eager for the BPL to pull those materials together
into a more consolidated program that lines up with the Librarys
Strategic Plan.
Following discussion among the Board, on a motion duly made and
seconded, it was
"VOTED:
to approve the Boston Public Library Long Range Plan, 2000-2003,
prepared for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners."
Ms. Kowal presented background information on a revised proposed
Policy on Annual Leave Carryover for Management and Exempt
Employees noting that this revision incorporates information
gathered since the last Trustees meeting by surveying several
public libraries in Massachusetts and is consistent with the policy
elsewhere in City government. The purpose of the recommended policy
is to clarify and codify the handling of annual leave carryover
for management and exempt staff and to bring it into line with the
language as set forth in the PSA and AFSCME bargaining contracts.
In addition, Ms. Kowal noted that adoption of this policy would
establish a target for the reduction of significant annual leave
balances for a small number of long-term Library employees and provide
a path for the Librarys financial liability resulting from
annual leave balances in excess of the permitted amount.
The recommended policy states that annual leave carried over, and
not used within the authorized time period, would be forfeited in
both time and pay and that any employee with an annual leave allotment
in excess of the maximum permitted amount would be expected to reduce
their leave to the authorized level within a reasonable period of
time.
Several Board members underscored the desire to include language
in the policy addressing the fact that the business requirements
of the Library would have to be taken into consideration prior to
the granting of any annual leave carryover/deferment requests beyond
the permissible allotment.
Following further discussion among the Board, on a motion duly made
and seconded, and subject to the addition of language in the policy
reflecting that the operational needs of the Library are to be taken
into consideration, it was
"VOTED:
to approve the Boston Public Library Policy on Annual Leave
Carryover for Management and Exempt Employees."
The Chairman requested that the Clerk place the Annual Leave
Carryover Policy on the Trustees Meeting agenda one
year from now to review its implementation.
On a similar vein of personnel issues, the President first introduced
the Librarys new Director of Human Resources Mr. David Young
who presented background information on the Boston Public
Library Sexual Harassment Policy and Investigation Procedure for
the Boards approval.
By way of background, Mr. Young reported that in a November 3, 1997
Executive Order, the Honorable Mayor Thomas M. Menino issued a Sexual
Harassment Policy and Investigation Procedure for the City
of Boston in accordance with the applicable law. The proposed policy
for the Boston Public Library under consideration reiterates that
Executive Order and Sexual Harassment Policy and Investigation Procedure,
which have been reviewed by the Citys Legal Counsel and shared
with the Library Unions for discussion in February 2000. In summation,
Mr. Young said that this proposed policy would bring the Boston
Public Library into compliance with the law and with the Citys
Sexual Harassment Policy.
Mrs. Gaines noted that the proposed policy states, in the notification
procedures section, that the employee may notify their immediate
supervisor, BPL Director of Human Resources, or the Citys
Director of Human Resources regarding any incident. Mrs. Gaines
suggested that notification of the BPLs Director of Human
Resources should be the first step for Library employees because
the Library is a separate entity.
Mr. Young replied that at the current time under the City policy
the employee could either proceed to the City or to an outside enforcement
agency such as the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination,
which permits full access and options for reporting any incidents.
Following further discussion among the Board, on a motion duly made
and seconded, it was
"VOTED:
to approve the Boston Public Library Sexual Harassment Policy
and Investigation Procedure."
The President provided background information on the approval of
a contract between the Library and City and AFSCME Local 1526, representing
the largest portion of Library staff with 330 members, reporting
that the round of collective bargaining was completed two weeks
ago, which was followed by a ratification vote held last Thursday
resulting in an overwhelming vote of approval of 212 in favor to
4 opposed.
The recommended Library AFSCME contract mirrors the City-wide AFSCME
settlement reflecting a 3% wage increase each year for three years
for the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2002, with retroactivity
to the beginning of the contract, and includes the addition of dental
and vision benefit coverage effective in July 2001. Following discussion
among the Board, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was
"VOTED:
to endorse the terms of the AFSCME Local 1526 Agreement for July
1, 1999 through June 30, 2002."
The President brought forward for the Boards approval a recommendation
to apply the same contract compensation provisions for the Management
and Exempt Employees of the Library, which would permit the 41 management
and exempt employees to receive wage increases concurrent with that
negotiated for the AFSCME members. In addition, both contracts would
be funded by the City of Boston. Following discussion among the
Board, on a motion duly made and seconded, it was
"VOTED:
to endorse the wage increases (the same as those contained in
the Agreement with AFSCME Local 1526) for Management/Exempt employees
as follows: 3% retroactive to first pay period July 1999; 3% retroactive
to first pay period July 2000; 3% effective first pay period October
2001. Effective July 1, 2001 dental/vision plan available to staff
through the Citys participation in the Massachusetts Public
Employees Fund."
The President updated the Board on the Librarys Strategic
Planning effort noting that a draft review of the Strategic
Goals for the Boston Public Library was distributed to the
Trustees in advance of the meeting and represents a recasting of
all of the strategic initiatives presented in a chronological format.
In addition, the President noted that the document includes a review
of the Strategic Goals with an articulation of the
action steps and the staff and the Library management staff members
who have volunteered to serve as "champions" for the goals
coupled with an outline of the results and benefits of achieving
each goal.
The President welcomed the Boards input and feedback on the
Strategic Planning process and the accompanying reporting mechanism
tailored to keep the Board informed on the progress and accomplishments
of the strategic goals. In a review of the goals, the President
reported that some of the earliest goals have already been implemented
and the Library is off to a great start in keeping to its proposed
timetable.
The Chairman remarked that the Strategic Planning process is truly
an ongoing effort that needs constant attention, review and evaluation
and noted that the Strategic Goals document is a very
valuable tool for tracking the progress of the strategic planning
effort. The Vice Chair echoed those remarks and expressed appreciation
to the President for responding to the request for presenting the
goals in chronological order and would like to gain an understanding
of how the goals are being prioritized as the strategic process
moves forward.
Ms. Kathleen Kirleis, Chief Financial Officer, presented a brief
review of the Librarys FY2001 budget. The CFO distributed
some background information on the City of Bostons FY2001
Budget from the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, which provides
information City-wide about how the budget overall was approved.
The Boston Public Library received a 3% increase in the FY2001 budget
appropriation, which is consistent with what many of the other departments
received City-wide. In addition, the State finalized funding for
the BPLs Library of Last Recourse program and the Regional
Services program, which was also consistent with last years
funding appropriation. Meanwhile, the Library is in the process
of applying for State Aid, which should result in an appropriation
of over $750,000 for this fiscal year.
The CFO stated that efforts are underway toward rolling out a new
budget reporting system at the Library, in collaboration with the
branch librarians and individual Department Heads from throughout
the Library system, in order for them to gain a better understanding
of their budgets and for identifying issues for the next fiscal
year, including the identification of capital projects for submission
in the FY2002 budget.
The President reported on the new BPL STORE which
is an initiative being launched on a two-year experimental basis
at the Boston Public Library. By way of background, 43,790 people
accessed the Librarys WebPage in August of 1999 compared to
over 80,300 "hits" in August of 2000, reflecting an exponential
growth in web-related and e-commerce activities.
The creation of the BPL STORE would enable the Library
to respond, in part, to patrons who are accessing the Library electronically
and would be designed to provide alternatives for access
to periodicals, books and research reports so that people might
secure these for their personal use by purchasing them or recommending
them to the Library for inclusion in our regular Library collections.
To further that end, the Library has been working in collaboration
with Rowe.Com and has outlined a plan which provides for their investment
in software development and the support for the operational elements
of the BPL STORE at no cost to the Library. The Library
would receive a financial contribution each and every time purchases
are made which in turn would support the Librarys programs,
services and collections while expanding the BPLs role as
a central information distribution hub.
Ms. P.A. dArbeloff, Communications Officer, reported that
Mayor Thomas M. Menino at a press conference on Labor Day 2000 launched
the first community outreach media campaign for the Boston Public
Library. Tailored to create a more professional and coordinated
image for the Library, the advertising campaign was developed pro
bono by Arnold Communications and is designed to reach out to
both users and non-users about the resources and services provided
free to all by the first public library established in America in
1848.
Phase One of the campaign began with the unveiling of a new Library
logo and theme entitled "At the Boston Public Library,
Books Are Just the Beginning!" as well as ads for television,
print, Internet, transit and billboards. The campaign then will
expand to include multilingual brochures on how to use the Library,
new Library cards, a redesign of the BPL Website, and the creation
of an electronic events Board that will be located in the Lobby
of the Johnson building.
Ms. dArbeloff shared with the Board some of the final advertising
copies of the print media ads which were on display in the Trustees
Room that focus on creating an overall awareness of the Boston Public
Library, including great Childrens programs, Internet access,
27 Branch libraries in the City, and the low fine policy for overdue
books.
In addition, the Communications Officer shared with the Trustees
a sampling of the public service television spots that will begin
appearing next week on all of the local television stations as well
as Cablevision which convey the message that Bostons libraries
are welcoming, accessible places that offer a wealth of information,
resources and services.
Ms. Kathleen Kirleis shared with the Board a preliminary review
of the Boston Public Librarys 176 separate Trust Funds that
she and the President have completed relying on the pro bono
work of Hale and Dorr attorneys in an effort to further refine
the Trust Fund review based on their legal advice.
The list of Trust Funds categorizes the funds based on additional
work and actions which need to be undertaken to ensure that the
Trust Fund files are complete and that the Library is accomplishing
the purposes established for each fund. In a review of the list,
a number of the funds now require Trustee action in order to increase
flexibility in their use, others require further legal research
and analysis, and a large number are acceptable as currently structured.
Mrs. Gaines inquired why the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund established
for the provision of literary instruction at the Dudley Branch Library
was identified in the category for which further legal review would
be required. The CFO replied that a legal review is required to
ensure that the Boston Public Library is carrying out the mission
for which the fund was established and to explore other avenues
to fulfill the purposes of the Trust Fund.
Ms. Ruth Kowal updated the Board regarding on the activities in
the Public Services area of the Library and the ongoing recruitment
efforts for Childrens Librarians in the branches. With regard
to the former, Ms. Karen Duff, Coordinator of Childrens and
Youth Services, has reported on a very successful Summer Reading
program for the BPL this year, including the participation of
over 3,000 children, and also the continuing successes of the Homework
Assistance program and the Online Tutoring program.
On the recruitment front, Ms. Kowal reported that the BPL is experiencing
the national shortage of Childrens Librarians noting that,
as recently as two weeks ago, there were six Childrens Librarians
vacancies in the branches as well as an additional two Childrens
staff vacancies due to long-term medical leaves. Subsequently, several
of those vacancies have been filled and there is optimism that the
remaining vacancies will be successfully filled in the near future
through enhanced national recruitment efforts coupled with the exploration
of alternative staffing patterns.
Ms. Marie Pettibone, Executive Director of the Boston Public Library
Foundation, distributed copies of the Foundation Goals for 2000
and reported that the Foundation is gearing up for a very active
year in which the top priority is to raise the remaining $2.5 million
State challenge match earmarked for the McKim Restoration project.
Among the Foundation Goals established for the Year 2000, the
BPL Foundation Board seeks to reaffirm the mission of the Foundation,
revitalize its Board leadership, refocus efforts on fundraising,
and create more cultivation opportunities for new donor prospects
through collaborations with other cultural groups.
The BPL Foundation Board next meets on October 10, 2000 at the Boston
Public Library and will include a tour of the Library, announcements
on the array of upcoming Foundation events scheduled for the Fall,
and a special preview of the John Hancock: the Forgotten Patriot
exhibit slated to be launched the following evening in the Rare
Books and Manuscripts Department.
Ms. Pettibone reported that the Foundation has been building internal
infrastructure this Summer and introduced Ms. Daria McLean who has
assumed the position of Director of Stewardship & Grants while
Mr. Derek Latham has been hired as the Communications Manager for
the Foundation. In addition, efforts are underway to develop internal
systems with the primary focus on stewardship, cultivation of current
and new donors, as well as grant writing opportunities.
The Chairman encouraged the Trustees to attend the upcoming Foundation
Board Meeting noting that he and the Library President plan to give
a presentation on the progress and future plans of the McKim Restoration
project. The Chairman also expressed appreciation to the Foundation
for all the wonderful work they have accomplished on behalf of the
Boston Public Library.
Ms. Vivian K. Spiro, Chairwoman of the Associates of the Boston
Public Library, reported that the Associates had the privilege this
Summer of working with Mr. David Burnham who offered very graciously
to work pro bono to guide them in the development of a strategic
planning process.
In existence since 1972, the Associates are presently undergoing
a change process in an effort to reaffirm its mission to determine
how they can best serve the needs of the Library and work more synergistically
with the Trustees, Library support organizations, and other community
and cultural organizations.
Meanwhile, the Associates will continue with their four signature
events including Literary Lights for Children, which
is scheduled for Sunday, September 24, 2000 at the BPL. The proceeds
from this event will benefit the Childrens Services of the
Boston Public Library and will go to support the Summer Reading
program.
Ms. Spiro invited the Trustees to the Associates Annual Meeting
scheduled for November 7, 2000 at the BPL, which will include a
special event entitled the National Book Awards for 1900.
The program looks back on books that were published one
hundred years ago which changed the way people thought about literature,
themselves and society.
There being no further business, the Board voted to go into a recess
of the Corporate Meeting at 9:37 a.m.
| Minutes
of Meeting |
In
Board of Trustees |
| Administrative
Agency |
Tuesday,
September 19, 2000 |
A Regular Meeting of the Trustees of the Public Library of the City
of Boston as an Administrative Agency was held in the Trustees Room
of the Johnson Building at 9:37 a.m.
Present at the meeting were Trustees William M. Bulger, James Carroll,
V. Paul Deare, Berth» M. Gaines, Joseph E. Mullaney, Angelo Scaccia,
Pamela Seigle and William O. Taylor.
Also present were Alice Hennessey, Special Assistant to Mayor Thomas
M. Menino; Mark Sweeney, First Assistant, Corporation Counsel, City
of Boston; Vivian K. Spiro, Chair, Associates of the Boston Public
Library; Marie Pettibone, Executive Director, and Daria McLean,
Director of Stewardship and Events, the Boston Public Library Foundation;
Charles Worcester, Assistant Director, and Erin Hester, Senior Project
Manager for the McKim Restoration project, Department of Neighborhood
Development; Jennifer Grams, Capital Budget Analyst, Office of Budget
Management; members of the Library administration, staff, public
and Friends Groups.
Chairman Joseph E. Mullaney presiding.
The first item on the order of business was the approval of Minutes
for the Annual and Regular Meetings of May 23, 2000. On a motion
duly made and seconded, the Minutes for the Annual and Regular Meetings
of May 23, 2000 were approved.
Mr. William O. Taylor, Chairman of the Trustees Finance Committee,
provided background information on the proposed award of two contracts
associated with the BPL flood of August 16, 1998, a contract for
supplying Periodicals and Serials, and six contracts associated
with the purchase of Library materials for the new Allston Branch
Library in anticipation of funding approval.
Mr. Taylor reported that the Trustees Finance Committee reviewed
the proposed award of contracts and recommends them to the Full
Board for approval. On a motion duly made and seconded, and on the
recommendation of the Finance Committee, it was
- Contracts associated
with the flood
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into with OccuHealth, Inc., 44 Wood Avenue,
Mansfield, MA 02048, the most advantageous and eligible proposer
for the publicly advertised contract for providing an environmental
evaluation and monitoring program for the McKim and Johnson
buildings of the Boston Public Library, for the period commencing
October 1, 2000 and ending June 30, 2001, at the proposal price,
at a total cost not to exceed Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred
Dollars and No Cents ($17,800.00), pursuant to the agreement
with the City of Boston to reimburse the Library for costs associated
with the flood of August 16, 1998."
"VOTED:
to authorize President Bernard A. Margolis, in conformance with
a requirements contract process, to invite interested, responsible,
and competent persons, firms, or corporations to apply for prequalification
on a bidders list and thereafter enter into a contract
or contracts for binding and recasing services, as required,
to treat flood affected print materials where each procurement
of service is less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and
the total of all such contracts shall not exceed Thirty Thousand
Dollars ($30,000.00), pursuant to the agreement with the City
of Boston to reimburse the Library for costs associated with
the flood of August 16, 1998."
- Contract for
supplying Periodicals and Serials
"VOTED:
that, without public advertising, there be entered into with
the Faxon Company, Inc. 15 Southwest Park, Westwood, Massachusetts,
a contract for (1) supplying periodicals and serials for the
calendar year 2001, and (2) servicing the subscriptions for
the individual items throughout the year as specified in the
Specifications, and subject to the terms, agreements, and conditions
set forth in said contract, at a total cost not to exceed Three
Hundred Ten Thousand Five Hundred Three Dollars and Seventy
Four Cents ($310,503.74)."
- Contracts for
the purchase of Library materials for the new Allston Branch,
(in anticipation of funding approval)
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Follett Corporation, in an amount not to
exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) for books and
other related Library materials, during the period July 1, 2000
through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Baker & Taylor, in an amount not to exceed
Three Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($390,000.00) for books
and other related Library materials, during the period July
1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Esteva Servicios Bibliotecarios, in an amount
not to exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($20,000.00)
for books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Lectorum Publications, Inc., in an amount
not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00)
for books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Pan Asian Publications, Inc., in an amount
not to exceed Fifteen Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($15,000.00)
for books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
"VOTED:
that, there be entered into a non-advertised contract, as authorized
under G.L. c.30B, Section 7(a), referred to as "Procurement
of Library Books", between the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston (a Corporation under Chapter 114 of the
Acts of 1878), and Russica Publishing Co., in an amount not
to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00) for
books and other related Library materials, during the period
July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001."
There being no further
business, the Chairman said that the Board would go back into the
recess of the Corporate Meeting and go into Executive Session to
address personnel items and a matter relating to the possible acquisition
of land for the Boston Heritage Center project. The Meeting
of the Administrative Agency adjourned at 9:55 a.m.