Minutes of Meeting

Kent Memorial Library Commission

April 12, 2011

Bob White called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M.

 I Roll Call

Present: M. Alexopoulos, D. Battle, M. Chafetz, M.P. Coatti, J. Grimard, C. Kawalec, B. Rietberg, B. White and J. Wilson.

Absent: L. Cigal, J. Lobo and C. Rago.

Also Present: Library Director Jim McShane

II Public Participation None

III Minutes

Sam Coatti made the motion, seconded by Claire Kawalec, to accept the minutes of the March 8 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

IV Communication None

V Director’s Report

• Classical guitarist John Lehmann-Haupt entertained 60 listeners on March 9.
• Harpist Marcie Swift’s program on March 26 attracted 32 attendees.
• The UCONN Opera Outreach performed selections from the Great American Songbook on March 31.
• The library staff participated in the Library Association’s Virtual Spring Symposium on March 30. Substitutes filled in for staff that day so that the library could remain open.
• The budget review with the Board of Finance on March 21 went smoothly.
• Bibliomation will migrate to a new online system on Memorial Day. The new system’s official name in BibliOak.
• Bill Sullivan has requested $4,000 from the Zak Foundation for a display case for archival material. Joe Grimard made a motion, seconded by Bruce Rietberg, to approve the grant request. Following discussion, Sam Coatti made a motion, seconded by Mel Chafetz, to table Mr. Grimard’s motion until next month’s meeting. Ms. Coatti’s motion passed unanimously.

VI Standing Committees

 Finance

At last month’s meeting Mike Alexopoulos submitted a proposal outlining a policy for the Debit Card Account. Mel Chafetz made the motion, seconded by Claire Kawalec, to accept the proposal: Statement of Policy for Debit Card Account. The motion passed unanimously.

In recognition of their generosity, forty donors of the Reserve Our Seat project were invited to a special event at the Library to view the refurbished auditorium and to hear the Suffield Jazz Band. Ten donors attended this event.

VII Unfinished Business

Bonding for the New Library and Other Town Projects

Mel Chafetz encouraged Commission members to attend the Library Foundation meeting on April 14. A discussion about signage and other publicity regarding the upcoming April 28 referendum followed.

VIII New Business

Kim Lord recently attended a Trendspotting 2011 meeting at the Darien Library. The Library staff will discuss the main topics presented at this forum in the upcoming weeks.

The next regular meeting is May 10, 2011.

IX Adjournment

Mel Chafetz made the motion, seconded by David Battle, to adjourn at 8:28.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce M. Wilson

Secretary of the Commission

April 19, 2011