Library Board of Trustees

TENAFLY PUBLIC LIBRARY MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING May 11, 2020 The Board of Trustees of the Tenafly Public Library held a teleconference Board meeting on May 11, 2020 for its regular Board meeting. Board Members Signed-In: Mayor Mark Zinna, President Patrick Rouse, Vice President Kathleen Cook, Teresa Austin, Martin Gilbert, and Elizabeth Warms. Staff Signed-In: Library Director Julie Marallo and Administrative Assistant Ann Marie Connolly Absent: Secretary/Treasurer Soon Juhng and David DiGregorio The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Julie Marallo reported that notices of the meeting had been posted and sent to the media. Minutes Board members approved the Minutes of the regular Board meeting of April 13, 2020. Moved by: Kathleen Cook. Seconded by: Martin Gilbert. Unanimously approved. Treasurer’s Report Martin Gilbert reviewed with the Board the Library’s financial statements of March and April 2020. Prior to the meeting, Soon Juhng had examined and approved the statements and noted that they were current and accurate. A motion was made to approve the financial reports. Moved by: Teresa Austin. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously approved. The Helen Haber Memorial Fund CD account at NVE Bank in Tenafly was renewed for 6 months @0.210%, to mature on 10-13-2020. Correspondence None Director’s Report Julie Marallo was asked to be part of the BCCLS Task Force that is developing possible protocols to open the libraries while protecting the employees and the public. BCCLS is investigating buying supplies in bulk, quarantining returned books for three days before checking them in, investing in self- checkout software, requiring all patrons entering the building to wear a face mask, and initially not allowing use of the computers or browsing in the stacks. Also being considered is the use of Plexiglass as a shield at the circulation desk. The Library answered 153reference calls in the month of April. Ebook circulation has increased tremendously since the library has been closed. From March to April, there was a 43% increase in Tenafly’s eBCCLS usage. From January to April, the increase was 111%. Hoopla, a pay-per-circulation service that allows Tenafly patrons to check out ebooks immediately and simultaneously, has experienced a 40% increase from March to April, and a 150% increase from January to April. Despite the library being closed, Tenafly residents have been requesting library cards so that they can access ebooks. Thirty-six temporary cards were issued in April. These temporary cards expire on July 31, at which point the patrons must provide proof of residence in Tenafly. Marcia Literati is doing Read-to-Dogs on line and has volunteers helping her. She is also doing an online craft class and has scheduled two children’s Musical Melodies online programs in May. Citizen’s Portion of the Meeting None President’s Report Patrick Rouse thanked Mayor Zinna for opening up the DPW center this Friday. Old Business Martin Gilbert spoke of his disappointment with last month’s vote to furlough library employees. He stated that it was the Board’s responsibility to protect and preserve the functioning of the library from interference from the Borough. The only other library in the consortium of 77 to furlough any employees was Hackensack, which furloughed part time employees only. He stated that the library is being nickeled and dimed for services by the Borough and getting less and less service. Mayor Zinna stated that while he respected Martin’s opinion, he had to make responsible fiscal moves to keep the town from going bankrupt. New Business None Report from the Mayor Mayor Zinna mentioned that the Borough had purchased in bulk PE supplies that included masks and gloves, and he would email Julie Marallo to work out the provision for any materials the library would need. Report from the Superintendent’s Alternate None Any Other Business Liz Warms requested that the Mayor ask the people in town to please wear masks when out in public. Martin Gilbert also mentioned that people were misusing Davis Johnson Park by bringing in dogs, playing ball and carrying in beach chairs. The Mayor’s response was that more patrols would be assigned. The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m. Moved by: Martin Gilbert. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously accepted. Respectfully submitted, Martin Gilbert The next regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Approved: June 8, 2020