Minutes December 8, 2007

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

Group members elected Harold Green as President and Dodie Gaudet as secretary.

We discussed the three libraries that we visited after our last meeting: Sunderland, Wendell and Leverett. There are a lot of good reasons for erecting a new building, but there is also a lot of sentiment for renovating and adding on to the Dickinson Memorial building. We need to keep in mind that HPL’s delivery will increase a lot when the Library becomes a circulating member of C/W MARS. The libraries we visited last month didn’t seem to have enough work area behind the circulation desks.

We developed a mission statement to help us keep on track as we proceed with our work. LFNAC’s mission is to

Assess the present facilities, resources and services offered by the Hatfield Public Library;
Study all of the available options for a new or renovated facility that will meet the identified needs of the town of Hatfield for at least the next 20 years; and
Present these proposals to the residents of Hatfield.

This committee reports to the Library Trustees, which was given authority by the Selectboard.

Part of our process will be to consider other buildings in town such as the Center School and Town Hall (if it moves). Studies have been conducted on renovating the Center School, which would be helpful for us to see as part of our deliberations.

There was some discussion on the merits of hiring a Project Manager. The fees for a Project Manager will use up a substantial part of our budget, but is there anyone on the Committee who has the time and expertise to take on these duties? Some see a Project Manager as an unnecessary layer between the Committee and the Architect who will be hired. Others see the Project Manager as a liaison between the entities. The law that governs this aspect of the grant has not changed, but its interpretation has. We are no longer obligated to hire a Project Manager, but it is strongly recommended. This is an issue that needs to be resolved soon.

Several Committee members intended to visit the Meekins Library in Williamsburg and Lilly Library in Florence at the conclusion of the meeting.

Committee members were reminded to be sworn in as soon as possible by Town Clerk Louise Slysz.

The committee scheduled another meeting for Saturday, January 5 at 9:00 a.m. at the Library.


Respectfully submitted

Dodie Gaudet
Secretary