HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 1969.05.20 MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
May 20, 1969
CALL TO ORDER:
A regular meeting of the Burlingame Public Library Board was held on the above given date.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P. M. by President Cohendet.
ROLL CALL:
Trustees Present: Trustee Cohendet, Trustee De Martini, Trustee Hechinger, Trustee Lynes,
Trustee Phelan
Trustees Absent: None
MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting of April 15, 1969 were approved and adopted.
BILLS:
Bilis in the amount of $6,998.74 were ordered paid on a motion by Trustee Hechinger,
seconded by Trustee De Martini and carried.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
The Librarian's Report was read and ordered filed.
There was some comment on the large number of books cancelled recently. Trustee Hechinger
mentioned his enjoyment of the recent C.L.A. conference in San Francisco.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The Librarian read a letter from Richard W. Clarkman, American Computer Enterprises Inc.
praising the library for its initiative in sending introductory letters to all new businesses
in the area and offering its services to their employees. The Librarian also read a letter
from Mrs. Gertrude Smoody to the City Council quoting Ann Alexander commending the library
at a meeting of the Writers' Club.
OLD BUSINESS:
San Mateo Library Cooperative Project: The Librarian stated that there had been another
committee meeting on this project, and they had come up with several different requirements
to start the operation; but that until all requirements are specified at a future date it
cannot be stabilized.
Library Survey Report: The Trustees were informed that a joint meeting with the City
Council to consider this matter had been set up for Saturday morning, June 7, at 10:00
A.M. There was some discussion, and the majority of the Trustees plan to attend.
Budget: The Librarian informed the Board that so far there had been no budget review and
it was not yet finalized.
NEW BUSINESS:
Audio-visual equipment: The Librarian spoke of the necessity for the purchase of more of
these materials, such as phonograph records, slides, and a projector. We have an old-
fashioned projector and should have another one. He stated that there are many folio art
books which contain informative slides, but we have at present no safe place to store them.
He mentioned that by some rearrangement we might have a place behind the desk. The Librarian
stated that we might have enough money in the special fund to buy some of these things, and
that he had looked at considerable equipment and had found several good buys. He mentioned
the possibility of having some newspapers such as the S.F. Examiner and Christian Science
Monitor on microfilm, since we have a microfilm reader. He brought out that a new microfilm
reader-printer has been developed, which will make copies of microfilm materials. This
machine costs about $1,000. He suggested that, since audio-visual material is becoming
of increasing importance in the modern library, a decision should be made on the amount of
such material to be bought during each year, in order that it might be set up in the budget.
General : Trustee Lynes inquired if there were any type of individualized reading program
set up in the library for the assistance of the exceptional juvenile reader. He stated
that these unusual children do need guidance and direction in their reading. The Librarian
replied that such a program would require a full-time professional person with, actually,
the qualifications of a teacher, and that some of this work was carried on by our reference
librarians, and Mrs. Bergsing and Children's Librarians Mrs. Egan and Mrs. Dunn. He said
that in his opinion, one of the failures of most libraries is that they do not have enough
readers' advisors, and reminded the Board that Mr. Wickliffe, Reference Librarian, holds
advisory classes for young readers. Trustee Lynes commended Mrs. Dunn for having a fine
rapport with children in this regard.
New Board Member: President Cohendet welcomed Trustee Genevieve Phelan as a new member
of our Library Board. Mrs. Phelan has lived in Burlingame for many years, and has been a
regular patron of the Library as well as a member of the Board of the former Friends of the
Library Group. Until recently, she was active in Girl Scout work. President Cohendet
noted that Irving Amstrup should receive a communication from the Board expressing its
appreciation for his efforts on behalf of the Board. It was decided that she would write
to Mr. Amstrup.
Golden Gate Conference, California Library Association: Trustee Hechinger gave the board
a quite comprehensive report on his attendance at this conference. He spoke of his contact
with several institutional librarians at this meeting, and of the value they placed on
having a ramp to the building so that infirm people might be granted easier access. The
Librarian agreed, but said that in our case the pitch of the lot made it impracticable.
Trustee Hechinger particularly mentioned remarks by Assemblyman John Knox; Helen Cyr,
Oakland Public Schools, who brought out the role of the library in working with disadvan-
taged people, stating that 66% of the population of Oakland consists of minority groups,
and who recommended the use of audio-visual material for the non-reader; and Joan Fleming,
Palo Alto librarian, who stated she felt that most libraries were in favor of cooperatives.
Most members of the discussion panel advocated cooperation, and there was agreement that
the C.L.A. should be a vehicle to get cooperative libraries going. There were 275 members
in attendance at the meeting. Trustee Hechinger also noted the excellent address given
by Mr. Kashiwagi, Classical Literature Division of the S.F. Library, who spoke on Japanese
literature from its inception to the present.
ADJOURNMENT:
Trustee Hechinger moved meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Trustee De Martini and carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 P. M.
Respectful] aubmitte
George Paul Lechich
Clerk of the Board