Medway Public Library

Director’s Report

February 5, 2012

Budget

I met with the Town Accountant and Town Treasurer. They asked me to redo the FY14 budget reflecting the current service level, and indicating from which budgets (Tuchinsky, Memorial Donations, State Aid) the shortfalls would have to be paid in order to maintain the current service level. I submitted a draft of the revision to Carol Pratt on 2/1/13.

Programs

The Baby and Toddler Lap Sit program with Amy Kaufman is going very well. There are now two storytimes, at 10:30 and 11:00 on Wednesday.

Technology

The security cameras have been installed on the first and second floors and in the back parking lot. The video goes to the Police Station, but apparently at this time it is not monitored in real time.

Ryan Kennedy (Town IT Department) is in the process of installing new computers. He is working with Minuteman Library Network to resolve an issue with Deep Freeze, the software that wipes data from the patron computers with every reboot.

We lost wireless, and Comcast had to replace the box in the data closet in the basement.

Both the Medway and Holliston Public Libraries have signed up for Zinio, the magazine subscription service, which, after a few glitches were worked out, is now live. Medway subscribes to about 50 magazines, including Rolling Stone in Spanish and Readers’ Digest in French. I plan to contact the foreign language departments at the high school to let them know that these are available.

Building Maintenance

There have been continuing problems with the heat, most recently with a sensor that is part of Howse Company’s computerized monitoring system. Howse initially believed it was a problem with the heating unit itself, but when Keyes came out they found nothing wrong. I called Howse and had the Keyes repairman talk to them directly. Howse overrode the sensor, and plans to repair/replace it.

Meetings

I participated in a focus group on the Massachusetts Library System Statewide e-book project on January 16^th. This e-book platform would be in addition to Overdrive. MLS would provide the funding during the first year, but after that MLS envisions contributions from individual libraries. They hope to have this in place in a few months, but there seem to be many details that have not been nailed down.

The directors of the libraries in Minuteman voted to add $10,000 to the Overdrive budget for purchasing additional e-books – always available Disney books and Lonely Planet guidebooks. Medway Library’s share of this additional cost works out to about $130.

-Margaret Perkins

Budget Report

Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles

Here is the proposed wording of the two articles. The allowed spending
limit from the meeting room fees has been increased to $1,000.

ARTICLE: To determine whether the Town will vote to re-authorize a
revolving fund for the Medway Public Library as provided for in
M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E-1/2. Said fund to have the following
restrictions:

1. The fund would be used for public printer, copier, and fax machine
expenses.

2. The revenue from the fund would come from public printer, copier,
and fax machine use fees.

3. The Board of Library Trustees would administer the fund and
authorize the expenditure of monies in the fund.

4. The limit on the amount to be expended from the fund would be
$1,000.


Or to act in any manner relating thereto.



BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES


ARTICLE: To determine whether the Town will vote to re-authorize a
revolving fund for the Medway Public Library as provided for in
M.G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E-1/2. Said fund to have the following
restrictions:

1. The fund would be used for meeting room maintenance, repairs and
upgrades.

2. The revenue from the fund would come from meeting room use fees.

3. The Board of Library Trustees would administer the fund and
authorize the expenditure of monies in the fund.

4. The limit on the amount to be expended from the fund would be
$1,000.


Or to act in any manner relating thereto.