LFNAC Minutes February 2, 2008

The Library Facilities Needs Assessment Committee met at the Town Hall at 9:00 a.m. Present were Martin Antonetti, Dodie Gaudet, Sue Gaughan, Harold Green, Sheila McCormick, Lynn Omasta, Mike Paszek and Mary Williams. Absent: Milton Howard

Minutes from the meeting of January 19 were accepted as read.

Sheila announced that Anne Larson, Library Building Consultant/ Small Library Specialist at the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners is available to meet with us on February 16. We decided to begin the meeting at 10:00 and meet with Anne at 11:00 on the second floor of the Town Hall.

Sheila called two libraries about their use of an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM). Both interviewed several people and chose the same company. The duties of an OPM are expected to take about 5 hours/weed.

Our RFQ for an Architect/OPM did not appear in the Central Register on January 30 as the online confirmation had stated. Dodie will call someone at the Central Register to find out why not. [Even though the confirmation said January 30, the data was entered after 4:00 p.m. and therefore not scheduled to be published until the following week. The date on the website does not change until midnight. Programmers are trying to correct this. The RFQ did appear on February 6.]

The RFQ must also be posted in the Library, the Town Hall and a newspaper. Sheila will contact the Republican for posting.

The committee continued with the brainstorming session that began on January 5 listing features that should be in the ideal Hatfield Public Library. We again attempted to identify all possible locations. Additions/Renovations could be made to Dickinson Memorial, Center School, or Town Hall. New building sites might be behind Dickinson, or near Smith Academy. There may be others. There is a need for the library to be in a central location, near the schools and within walking distance for as many Hatfield residents as possible.

Martin distributed a photocopy of p. 52 from the December 2007 issue of Library Journal showing costs for recent additions and renovations to libraries in Massachusetts.

The committee has two Saturday meetings scheduled: February 16 with Anne Larson at 10:00 at the Town Hall and March 1 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 11:00.


Respectfully submitted

Dodie Gaudet, Secretary