2026-09-22 - Library Trustees

00:05I'm Lisa Powers. I'm the chair of the

00:07Truth Brave Board of Library Trustees

00:09and this is our first meeting of the new

00:11year on September 22nd,

00:142026

00:16and we have a special guest today, Mo P.

00:20He's a former trustee and he's chairing

00:22the splendid evening celebration

00:26committee and you're here I assume to

00:29tell us more about that.

00:30>> Okay. I I it's a pleasure to be here. Um

00:35and I will tell you that uh Louise and

00:38Deb are on the committee and the comm

00:41and and right I'm sorry uh April the um

00:47the committee has done a lot of work.

00:49Everybody on that committee really has

00:51put in a lot of time and they've really

00:54done a wonderful job. We're very getting

00:56very close now to the celebration event.

00:59Uh and so I just came this one last time

01:01to talk a little bit about the

01:03celebration.

01:05Um the uh the big thing right now is

01:08there's two things really that would be

01:11helpful. We're we're at about 40,000. We

01:15had hoped to get to 60,000. We had a

01:18prospect or two that we hope to get the

01:21$15,000

01:22sponsorship for, which we have

01:24[clears throat] not been successful. If

01:26we have been successful, actually, we'd

01:28be right on target to get to 60. I think

01:31uh I think we'll get close to 50. If

01:34everybody kind of pulls together uh at

01:38the end here, if everybody kind of does

01:40a little bit, it I think it'll make a

01:42difference. Uh, one of the areas of

01:44course is and it's my second ask is

01:49tickets to the event. Okay, we really

01:53would like to have a really nice big

01:55crowd here to celebrate uh in order to

01:58do that. You know, it's a Friday night.

02:01Get people out on a Friday night to come

02:03and have a great time. Uh, but you need

02:06to invite people, right? If you don't

02:08invite people, then, you know, probably

02:10not going to happen. So, um, you know, I

02:13know I'm inviting, you know, six to

02:16eight people that I'll be bringing to

02:17that event. Each of you just brought two

02:20people besides yourself and your

02:22significant other. Uh, that would be

02:26just this group would be another what uh

02:29almost 30 people. Uh, so that's how it's

02:33got to work. Everybody's got to do a

02:35little bit. And so I'm really appealing

02:38that you reach out to people. The

02:41invitations are out. They're online. Uh

02:44you can purchase your tickets online.

02:47There's a link on the thing there.

02:48There's a link to donate. The first

02:51principle of fundraising and that's why

02:53I may not have any friends is if you

02:56don't ask, you don't receive. Okay? If

02:58you don't ask, you don't receive. But

03:01you know when you do ask for the

03:02library,

03:04people are responsive. You know, people

03:06are are really they're really

03:08responsive. I met this morning with Mike

03:11Bagano, who was the architect for the

03:13expansion, and he's coming. He's going

03:14to make a contribution. He and his wife

03:17will be here that night. We'll have to

03:18make sure we recognize them. They're

03:20just wonderful people, and uh you know,

03:23again, it's just you got to make sure

03:25that you let people know about it. He

03:27didn't know anything about it until I

03:29sat down and talked with them today. So,

03:32you know, you may think people know

03:33about it, but don't hesitate, you know,

03:35to kind of talk to them and ask them

03:38what they what they uh think about the

03:41library. And if they say, "I think it's

03:43fabulous," then say, "Great. Come to our

03:45event Friday the 23rd because we're

03:48going to have a lot of fun. We're going

03:49to celebrate." There will be, you know,

03:52uh gift baskets that you can buy tickets

03:55for. There's going to be a raffle, you

03:57know, and probably one of the uh most

04:00soughtafter gift baskets Deb's going to

04:02provide because it's a million dollars.

04:07Okay, it's scratch tickets and we know

04:09one of those scratch tickets has got a

04:11million dollars written all over it. So,

04:15you know, we're hopeful that, you know,

04:17we'll get a good response. We've really

04:19got uh right now about five or six

04:23baskets. If you think you could do a

04:26basket that would add value to the

04:29raffle, please, you know, let us know.

04:33We we can add another two or three,

04:35whatever we could get. And you know, you

04:37may have a great idea to do a give back

04:40and we'd welcome it really. Uh so that's

04:43that that's another another part of the

04:46ask. So it's never too late to get

04:49people to donate. They don't have to

04:50donate the big numbers. you know, we may

04:53get, you know, some of your friends may

04:55not be able to go, but they can donate.

04:57On the invitation is a QR code to

05:00donate. So, people could just go right

05:01to the QR code and donate to this event

05:04and support the event and support the

05:06library. So, I just I just think um

05:09those are the things that I came to kind

05:11of advocate for. Uh, and I hope that you

05:15can at least get one other person to

05:18donate and two people to come to the

05:20event and that would be really great.

05:23I'm going to end with one story.

05:26This is my story. I'm on Nantka. Some

05:30people know the story. I'm on Nantucket

05:32Island with my wife, my daughter, my

05:37granddaughter, and my greatg

05:39grandanddaughter. And we're walking

05:41around and I'm pushing the great

05:43granddaughter of course loving every

05:46minute of it. And I sit down on a bench

05:49and I'm sitting on the bench and I take

05:52out my book and next to me is another

05:54bench. Two teenagers probably 16, 17,

05:5718, two boys

06:00like this. So I go, "Hey boys," and they

06:05look at me, hold up my book. I said, "Do

06:07you know what this is?" They all look at

06:10me. This is a book. This is a book. And

06:14they they [snorts] started laughing to

06:16their credit. They got the drift. We had

06:19this big conversation. And I tell the

06:21story because you can quote me on the

06:24result of the conversation.

06:27The result of the conversation is books

06:30expand the mind. This controls the mind.

06:35Very big difference. And so I think they

06:38left thinking maybe I'll get a book. I

06:41don't know. I tried to talk them into

06:43it. Anyway, so that's my story and I'm

06:46sticking to it. I hope you all have a

06:49wonderful meeting. Sorry I have to

06:51leave. I I should tell you one last

06:54thing. I I I I don't know how well this

06:56goes over with this video, but

06:57[laughter]

06:59I go I go to yoga. And Deb's in my

07:02thought. I go to yoga. All right. And uh

07:05I was in uh I was at the Chamber of

07:08Commerce awards uh thing the other night

07:10and I was at the table with Notre Dame

07:12Academy. We were a little involved with

07:13Notre Dame Academy and it was like

07:15tonight all women and me. So I said at

07:20the yoga class it's all women and me and

07:23when I do that warrior one thing and I

07:25fall over those women pick me up. So I'm

07:29hoping you're going to respond to my

07:30requests you know and pick me up so to

07:33speak.

07:34Okay.

07:37>> Thanks so much. We'll see you later.

07:38>> That must be why I thought you were only

07:3970.

07:40>> That must be why I thought you were 70

07:42because you do yoga.

07:42>> Yeah, that's it. Yeah. Yeah. It's good

07:45for you.

07:46>> Thanks, wonderful people.

07:48>> Yeah. Thanks a lot. We'll see you.

07:50>> Thank you. [laughter and clears throat]

07:51>> We'll see you the 23rd for sure.

07:53>> Absolutely.

07:55>> Yes. That's awesome. Um it's a very

07:59inspiring speaker. Um, so the next item

08:03on their agenda is review and act to

08:05approve the minutes of the June 23rd

08:08meeting.

08:10Thank you, Barb, for doing the minutes.

08:14Fabulous as always.

08:20Move to approve the minutes of the June

08:2223rd meeting.

08:23>> Thank you, Louise. Do we have a second?

08:26>> All those in favor?

08:28>> I.

08:29>> All those opposed? And that passes.

08:34The next item on our agenda is review

08:36and act to approve the report of the

08:38director's activities of June, July, and

08:41August 2026.

08:48>> So,

08:48>> no slowing down over the summer.

08:50>> Yeah, no slowing down except the latter

08:52part of August.

08:56>> I wasn't.

08:58[laughter]

09:00Yeah,

09:01>> you needed the vacation. You deserve the

09:04vacation.

09:05>> Um,

09:06>> yeah.

09:06>> I was wondering if you could let us know

09:08how the meeting with the new

09:10superintendent and the new assistant

09:12superintendent went.

09:14>> Sure. Um, it was an introductory

09:17meeting. Um Sonia and I met with um

09:21Tiffany Astrander and uh

09:24uh Brian Callahan and um you know we

09:28spoke about how we have partnered with

09:30the schools, how we have been partnering

09:32with the schools the past few years uh

09:35all our youth services librarians, the

09:37children's librarians and the teen

09:39librarian uh and how we would like to

09:43know from them what more we could do. Um

09:47so this was just an introductory

09:48meeting. Uh we're hoping to meet with

09:51them again or meet with um other

09:55assistant superintendent

09:57and u plan more

10:01partnership kind of ventures.

10:05>> That's fantastic. I'm so glad you

10:07reached out to them.

10:08>> Yeah.

10:18Um, how about the meeting with the new

10:19HR coordinator? That was way back in

10:23June. [laughter]

10:25Oh. Oh, she Lilianne Exinar is a

10:29delightful person. She is now um she's

10:32been to so many of the interviews that

10:34we have done. She's been part of the

10:36interview panel. So, now we've gotten to

10:38know her very well. Um because Christina

10:42has been promoted to assistant town

10:44manager and now it's Ben Estelle and

10:48Lilianne Exonor who are the HR

10:50coordinators. So we um communicate a lot

10:56as as you can see we've been hiring over

10:59the summer. we uh hired for the new head

11:02of adult services position and that's uh

11:05we hired I mean we promoted Julie

11:08Cellularo as our head of adult services.

11:11So then the reference librarian position

11:13had to be filled. So we posted that and

11:18um we just hired we just finished the

11:21hiring. The person started last week.

11:24Her name is Heidi Pery and she comes

11:27from Worcester. She was working

11:28full-time at Worcester and I think

11:31she'll be a great addition and a great

11:33fit uh with the team here. So now we

11:36have Alli Shady who I think you met last

11:39time. Heidi Perdy as the two reference

11:42librarians and Julie as the head of uh

11:46adult services. So that's a team of

11:49three people now. And uh Sonia's team is

11:52now called the operations team. We're

11:54calling it the ops team um with Sonia as

11:58the

12:00uh assistant director and um Diana,

12:04Holly and Jess as part of that team. And

12:08then we hired for Sunday positions.

12:11Remember we had a few vacancies for

12:12Sundays. So we've hired two new people

12:15to work at the access services desk.

12:18They've started their training because

12:20we're going to be open on Sundays very

12:22soon. October 4th is will be our first

12:25Sunday uh that the library will be open.

12:28So we have two new people that we are

12:30training. There'll be a new reference

12:33librarian and two librarians in the

12:36children's who who have been working as

12:40children's librarians in the past. So we

12:42will have a new full team there for

12:46Sundays

12:48and we also have a new teen aid

12:52uh I think I've I've got it all under

12:55personnel so I could could mention it at

12:59that time also. Okay.

13:04>> The other thing I was wondering about

13:05is, and I can't remember if we discussed

13:07this at the last meeting,

13:09[clears throat] the visit to the Artemis

13:10Ward House.

13:11>> Oh, yes. Um,

13:14the we may have talked about it. I don't

13:17know if we did. Um, this was part of our

13:20staff team building um activity. We

13:23planned to visit the Atimus Ward House.

13:25We really enjoyed ourselves. Some of us

13:28walked over to the Atamus warehouse.

13:30Some of that some of us went by car. Um,

13:34we got a tour. It's lovely if you

13:37haven't been. I mean, I had gone a few

13:39years ago. It's always nice to go back,

13:41I think.

13:45>> What a great activity. Yeah, I love

13:46that.

13:47>> We had a lot of fun.

13:48>> Yes, that's fantastic.

13:52Okay.

13:57Yeah, I I'd like to point out another

14:00thing. Um July 2nd, I've written meeting

14:03with representatives from the Tri-State

14:06Learning Collaborative. Mhm.

14:08>> Um this is a group of um people uh

14:13they're all part of councils on aging

14:15that in the tri-state is Maine, Vermont

14:18and New Hampshire and they wanted to um

14:23they uh wanted they were wondering if I

14:26would talk um in a webinar about

14:29libraries as ageincclusive spaces

14:33because they had come across the memory

14:35cafe program at our library and they

14:37reached out and asked if I'd be willing

14:40to um do that. So, actually tomorrow,

14:43we've scheduled it for tomorrow. The

14:45this webinar that I'll be participating

14:48in, another li library director from a

14:52library in Kingston, Rhode Island, and

14:56uh I think Kingston, some place in Rhode

14:58Island and myself. So, we'll be talking

15:01about libraries as age inclusive spaces.

15:05Now you're representing Massachusetts.

15:07>> Yes.

15:08>> Great.

15:09>> Yes. We're a leader in the field in

15:12that.

15:13>> Yes. We were our library was the first

15:15library in Massachusetts to uh launch a

15:19memory cafe.

15:20>> That's incredible.

15:21>> 10 years 10 years ago.

15:22>> Wow. That's incredible.

15:26>> I hope that talk goes well. I'm sure it

15:27will.

15:28>> Thank you. Thank you.

15:32>> Any other questions or comments?

15:37Does somebody want to move to approve

15:40the director's report of activities?

15:42>> I I move to approve the library

15:44director's report of activities for June

15:46and July and August.

15:47>> Second.

15:48>> All those in favor? I. All those opposed

15:52and that passes.

15:55The next item on our agenda is programs

15:58and services. The director's report of

16:00programs and services offered June,

16:02July, and August 2026.

16:09>> It's a busy summer for sure.

16:13>> Yes.

16:16>> Yeah. Just a comment that there are so

16:18many uh non library groups also coming

16:21in, right?

16:23>> Yeah.

16:29Yeah,

16:30you can see the summer reading stats at

16:33the end of the report.

16:39>> 512 children registered.

16:42>> Mhm.

16:43>> 248 adult registrants. That's that's a

16:47lot. Seems like a lot.

16:49>> Yeah. The last two years I think we've

16:52been getting very good participation by

16:54adults

16:55>> and 269 teens.

17:02>> That's incredible. That's almost a

17:04thousand

17:06people.

17:08>> Yeah.

17:13I was looking at the the different stats

17:16from June, July, um, and August. And I

17:20was noting how

17:22>> so June is sort of still part of the

17:23school year, but July and August are

17:25really officially summer. And I was

17:26noticing how your numbers all go up

17:29>> in July and August. So,

17:32>> it's it's really interesting that the

17:33library is so busy. Um

17:38yeah, like there were about 26,000

17:40visitors in June and then July and

17:44August it bumped up to 29,000 a month.

17:46>> Mhm.

17:47>> Um and everything went up in July and

17:51August. Um yeah, the circulation

17:55>> everything. Yes. circulation and 3D

17:58print requests and definitely the free

18:01and discount passes to area museums,

18:04>> right?

18:11>> Pardon?

18:13>> I know. Yes.

18:14>> Oh, good.

18:16>> Yeah,

18:16>> I used it already.

18:22>> Thank you, friends. to the fence.

18:24[laughter]

18:32>> And I noticed how the

18:34>> I ducked in quickly to get the um it's a

18:37it's a military museum. Is it is it's

18:38the one in Hudson?

18:41>> Yes. Well, my uh brother-in-law came in

18:44and um my husband was supposed to take a

18:45golfing and it was cloudy. Maybe it was

18:48raining or something. So I said, "Oh,

18:49got you covered."

18:50>> [laughter]

18:52>> They came in like, "Oh, what are you

18:53going to do tomorrow?" I'm like, "I

18:54know." They were very happy.

18:56>> Wow.

18:57>> That's a nice museum.

18:58>> Yeah.

19:02>> I noticed um that our own local author,

19:06April Jones Prince, had her book on the

19:09story walk in July.

19:14>> Yes. Um

19:16>> your your book on the flag for children.

19:19That's awesome.

19:26>> Teenled program. [laughter]

19:28>> Yes.

19:31>> Something for everyone.

19:33>> Yeah, we had a number of uh teen le

19:38programs, workshops the summer. The kids

19:41are very busy.

19:52Okay.

19:54Any other comments on the programs?

19:56That's it's like literally it's four,

20:00five, I think it's six pages of

20:04programs. That's just incredible. It's

20:07huge. [laughter]

20:08No wonder we're all kind of speechless.

20:12Um, okay. I guess we can move on.

20:18The next item on the agenda is financial

20:21and legislative

20:24review and act upon the year-to-ate

20:27report.

20:28Um, and I notice we have two reports,

20:31one the full report from last year and

20:34one so far this year.

20:36>> Yes.

20:39>> Yeah. That was the end of the fiscal

20:41year in June. I think I shared that

20:44electronically with all of you earlier

20:47too. Yes.

20:50Yeah. And this year the operational

20:52expenses we've spent exactly 25%. So at

20:56the end of the first quarter impressive

20:5925.8%.

21:02>> Yep. That is good.

21:05Looks like we're right on target. Yes.

21:08Any

21:16other comments on the finan finances?

21:21Looks like it's very well managed. Very

21:24>> you're really you're really good about

21:26the spending, keeping it right on track,

21:29>> which cannot I'm sure that's not easy.

21:36Does anybody want to move to approve the

21:39year-to- date report?

21:41>> I can make a motion to approve the year

21:43to date.

21:44>> Thank you, Nor. Second.

21:46>> Second.

21:46>> All those in favor?

21:48>> I. All those opposed.

21:51That passes

21:54and then review state aid spending

21:57estimate for FY 2028.

22:00>> It should actually say FY27 and 28.

22:04>> Okay. because FYI27 is the current one.

22:07>> Okay.

22:08>> And uh FY28.

22:12Um so I've divided it into personnel,

22:15purchase of services,

22:17supplies and other expenses because

22:20that's how it's uh reflected in newness.

22:24um personnel. I think you're all

22:27familiar uh with the salaries that we

22:30are paying through state aid funding

22:34that is um the head of adult services

22:38funding uh funding her salary and the

22:40coverage for the reference librarian the

22:44second reference librarian.

22:46So the names are going to be changing

22:49now. Julie was the reference librarian,

22:51now she's the head of adult services,

22:53but it's the position that counts. Um,

22:56so

22:56>> this spreadsheet is not in the file.

22:59>> It is I had shared it separately.

23:03>> I had shared it separately.

23:06>> Yeah.

23:07>> But I think it's on the same thread.

23:10>> Yeah. The second second.

23:13>> Yeah. Cut forward.

23:15>> Yeah. So that's the personnel

23:18expenditure is uh the two the salaries

23:21of the two positions the reference

23:23librarian and the head of adult

23:25services. Uh and the purchase of um

23:30services it's the stipen for the

23:32contractual technology assistant

23:35position

23:37um for for we hired a person last year

23:40for this position. Um so we'll be

23:44continuing for a year at least in 27 and

23:48then we'll figure out about fiscal year

23:5028.

23:52Um similarly the memory cafe coordinator

23:55we have been paying with state aid

23:57funds. Um the stip in there is um

24:00$3,000.

24:02For 27 I have the same figure. 28 we

24:06might increase uh but

24:09it's uh it'll be at least 3,000.

24:13And then we have staff conference

24:16expenses. I think we have discussed this

24:18before. Uh so I've uh [snorts] included

24:23five uh the figure of $5,000 for fiscal

24:26year 27. Let's see how it goes this year

24:29and then we can plan for fiscal year 28.

24:34Um and then this would be conferences

24:38that staff attend either in the state or

24:41out of state. And then the quarterly

24:44staff development workshops, that's what

24:47we have inhouse. And the estimate is

24:51$4,000. I definitely did not spend

24:53$4,000 in fiscal year 26, but I'm just

24:57estimating that amount.

25:00And then we have supplies. Um these are

25:05things that um you know I'm just looking

25:07around the building the facility seeing

25:09what might uh need to be replaced and in

25:15what order. Um because everything all

25:18the furniture in the building is 10

25:20years old. Um so I thought we could

25:23start with the community commons the

25:25furniture in the community commons and

25:27this is just an estimate. I don't know

25:30the I don't know what we're going to

25:32purchase if we're going to purchase

25:34anything and what the cost would be but

25:37I'm just um including it in the

25:41estimate.

25:43Um the other thing is replacement of AV

25:45system in the meeting rooms. Again it's

25:4810 years old. It's technology. So we

25:50might want to at least do our homework

25:53and be prepared for um the cost.

26:00and other expenses, material expenses at

26:04the end of the fiscal year. Uh $10,000

26:08is just a ballpark figure. This year we

26:10did not use it, but I've uh put that as

26:13a number in 27

26:16supplemental programming costs. Again,

26:19if the friends are not able to uh pay

26:22for all the programs, this is just a

26:28backup kind of thing. And then

26:30unexpected technology costs 20,000.

26:34Uh annual summer reading prices every

26:37year that board approves $1,500.

26:41um the annual report which we which I'm

26:44already started working on this year's

26:46annual report um from joined from all

26:50the three boards that cost for designing

26:53printing and mailing is $4,000.

26:56Um

27:00and then staff kitchen equipment. This

27:02is these are some things that I'm just

27:06uh adding to this list. We may not

27:08purchase all of this, but um we do have

27:12a healthy balance in our state aid

27:15funds. Uh and we've been brainstorming

27:19ideas for uh spending it usefully. So,

27:22I've included that. Uh and everything is

27:2510 years old in the building. the the

27:28kitchen equipment. Uh in the staff

27:31kitchen, there's a there's an oven,

27:33there's a microwave, and um stuff which

27:37might have to be replaced.

27:41And then what is the next one? Baby bags

27:43for newborns. This year um we had

27:47requested 350 for 50 bags. We'll

27:50definitely need more bags. So estimated

27:53it as $700.

27:55And then we will be working on a

27:57strategic plan in starting in January.

28:01So the consultant's fee again this is an

28:04estimate is $10,000.

28:08So the total comes to $27,423.

28:15Um,

28:18I don't think you I don't know if you

28:20have to approve this right now. As we as

28:23I have specific requests, I'll bring it

28:26to the board. I think that's I don't

28:29know how you want to do it.

28:31>> We have two questions from like a review

28:33perspective because I think we're just

28:36reviewing it today.

28:37>> Um, can you speak a little bit more

28:39about the crossed out supplemental

28:41Sunday expenses?

28:43Oh, I crossed that out actually.

28:46>> Yeah, I mean,

28:47>> yes,

28:48>> the reasoning behind the cross.

28:50>> Um,

28:51>> I'm sorry if I missed it.

28:53>> Yeah, I don't know if we discussed it

28:55last time. Oh, supplemental Sunday

28:58expenses. So I again this was a

29:01brainstorming attempt you know last when

29:03we thought we had to hire for a whole

29:06new crew for Sundays. We considered the

29:10possibility of paying overtime to our

29:14current employees and having them work

29:16on Sundays. So the expenses we had

29:20talked about it um but then I brought it

29:23to HR and you know suggested it as an

29:28idea and she uh Christina actually said

29:31that that doesn't sound like a great

29:33idea because we'd be paying

29:36>> you know 1.5 times the regular salary

29:39and why don't we hire new employees for

29:42it. So then we went the traditional

29:44route and we have hired for those

29:47positions.

29:48>> My other question was um

29:51um as I'm looking at the the Excel sheet

29:56and then I'm looking at the

29:59um agenda for today. Yeah,

30:01>> I see that in personnel um sorry at the

30:03bottom in miscellaneous

30:06you're asking for

30:08um us to review and vote for the

30:12approval of the tech

30:13>> Yeah.

30:13>> the maker space assistant

30:15>> and the outreach and marketing

30:17librarian.

30:18>> Uh that that's to attend the conference.

30:20Yeah,

30:21>> never mind. Um the the first one, the

30:23technology and maker space assistant, is

30:25that the same

30:27>> as the technology assistant? This is I

30:29was just because of the maker space I

30:31was saying I wonder if that's a

30:32different

30:33>> Yeah. It's the same.

30:36>> Yeah.

30:38>> Yeah. So as I said these are estimates

30:42and considerations for uh state aid

30:45funds. I can bring to each meeting

30:48specific requests that I have and you

30:51can approve that. So however you want to

30:54proceed is fine. H

30:57>> so we should essentially just keep this

30:59spreadsheet for reference

31:00>> right

31:01>> so in the future when you bring a

31:02specific request you say this was

31:04reference

31:05>> so for instance today you will bring the

31:07tech and maker space assistant

31:10>> yes

31:11>> I think that makes the most sense

31:13>> yeah okay

31:15>> I would just um this is just I mean take

31:17it or leave it the the language is

31:19consistent in the agenda and the sheet

31:22>> okay

31:22>> just for the purposes of the minutes.

31:25Like, I know you're good, but I'd be

31:27[laughter] like, "Oh, is it two

31:29different things that happened?" Okay,

31:31that's it.

31:32>> I will change that.

31:35>> Well, I like how you kind of categorize

31:37things um in a general way and then as

31:40time goes on, you can be more specific

31:42about it at least. You know, I think

31:44when you're working in a space, you see

31:46you see the same thing every day and you

31:48don't really see it. And this really

31:50kind of encourage you to to do so.

31:53>> It's good. That's correct. And I I

31:55thought I could create an estimate for

31:57five years, but then it's not that easy,

32:00you know, [laughter]

32:01so I left it at fiscal year 27 and some

32:04of it we know we'll be doing it in

32:06fiscal year 28. So

32:08>> I'm glad that you included the staff

32:10conference.

32:11>> Yes.

32:12>> Funding because I think we've discussed

32:13that before of how we really support

32:16>> that professional development.

32:20And when I'm start working on the fiscal

32:22year 28

32:24budget proposal for the town, I'll also

32:26include a line item for conference uh

32:31conferences and workshops.

32:33>> And this is probably not the best place

32:36to address this, but it's on the

32:38estimated sheet. I'm just wondering if

32:40you at some point, maybe not tonight,

32:42could give us some feedback, your

32:44understanding of how the annual report

32:46is being used. Is it an effective tool?

32:49Do you get feedback about it? I know

32:51Worcester does one. I don't think other

32:53local comm community communities do. And

32:56I'm I'm raising it just because I know

32:58it takes a lot of time

33:00>> to formulate that. And is it something

33:03that needs to be done every year? I know

33:06it is an annual report, but maybe it

33:08could be

33:10>> something else.

33:11>> Yeah. Or something. [laughter]

33:13>> Yeah. Just

33:14>> And we don't send that we don't mail it

33:17out to every resident. It's not like our

33:19quarterly newsletter.

33:21>> We only send it to uh you know

33:25handpicked people.

33:26>> Residents gets the get the news but

33:29quarterly which is chalk full of

33:31information. So

33:32>> I don't know. I just think it might be

33:33wise to kind of look at that.

33:35>> Sure.

33:37>> I think that's a good point.

33:40>> Yeah.

33:43>> Well, thank you. Thank you for doing

33:44that, Priya. I guess we don't need to

33:46act on that in any way, but but um it

33:49was great to review that

33:50>> and

33:51>> yeah, thank you.

33:52>> Yes, and we do love, you know, the state

33:55aid is there to spend

33:57>> as we wish. So this is fantastic. I love

34:00it.

34:02>> Um so next topic is facility equipment

34:05and grounds. A new bench has been

34:08installed near the main library

34:10entrance.

34:11>> Yes. And I was so excited about it that

34:14I've mentioned it in two two different

34:16places. [laughter]

34:17It's under the friends also.

34:20>> This was a long time coming. [laughter]

34:23>> Yep. Yes. So it had it's had to be

34:25mentioned at least.

34:29>> The name plaque isn't in it yet though.

34:31Not yet.

34:32>> Not yet. That comes later. Okay.

34:35>> No, it's not yet.

34:39>> This is for This is her friend. This is

34:41for Frank Alio. Yes.

34:43>> Where is the left check?

34:45>> It's right there. Um,

34:49>> if you walk out the door, do you take a

34:50right?

34:51>> Left. If you walk out the door, it's

34:53left. When you're coming from there,

34:54it's to the right. Okay. Yeah.

35:00>> Under gifts and grants, a gift from

35:02Unib, the Shrewsbury Social Club, and

35:06also

35:07Sunday donations to date.

35:09>> Yes. for Sunday hours.

35:11>> Yes. Um so the uni bank gift was um it

35:15wasn't a response to our solicitation

35:18for the celebration. It was it just

35:21happened to be at the same time. They uh

35:24apparently all libraries in the uni bank

35:27footprint that is the wherever the uni

35:29bank is they they uh their board decided

35:34to gift the libraries

35:36um an amount. They gave us $2,500

35:40and two tickets to the Woo Socks game on

35:44June 26th at Polar Park. Um so Jean

35:48Fitzgerald, our the chair of our

35:50foundation board, um went and received

35:54it. So she got the big check and uh they

35:57Yeah. So that was a surprise gift and of

36:00course we're very grateful to them for

36:03that.

36:04Um the Shrewsbury Social Club was

36:07closing down. Uh they they had been I

36:12don't know for how many years. Uh it was

36:15a club an active club and now they're no

36:18longer going to be um

36:22gathering I guess and they decided to

36:25donate. I'm not sure I'm sorry I don't

36:28remember the exact amount. I'll give it

36:29to you later Bob. uh and they donated to

36:33the friends of the library. So that was

36:36that was uh

36:39very nice and we are grateful to them

36:41for that. Um the Sunday donations it

36:45will be in the newsletter. I don't have

36:48it right now with me. It is in the

36:50newsletter actually.

36:54>> So okay.

36:55>> Yes. We are very grateful to all the

36:57donors who donate to our Sunday program.

37:00Yes, definitely.

37:03>> Okay. Under personnel, we had a lot of

37:06hiring over the summer.

37:07>> Yes, I I did mention Heidi Pery as a new

37:11uh reference librarian. And then we have

37:14three Sunday librarians.

37:17Tinhan Ulari and Nita Mazumar would be

37:21working at the access services desk. the

37:24reference librarian. The paperwork is

37:26being completed, so I'll uh give her

37:29name at the next meeting. And our teen

37:33aid is Allison Jan Garcia.

37:38So excited to have a full team again.

37:43>> Very good. Very good. And then Sonia

37:46will participate in the

37:48>> Yeah. Mass Municipal Association and

37:51Suffukk University have a joint uh

37:54program. It's a certificate in local

37:56government leadership and management

37:58program and she had to apply for that

38:01and the town manager recommended her um

38:05had to add his recommendation and uh she

38:08was accepted. She started going to that.

38:10It's uh for 6 to 8 months she'll be

38:13attending once a week on Fridays. Some

38:16classes are on Zoom and some are in

38:18person. Uh she has to go to Palmer for

38:22that. But she's excited to do this

38:24program.

38:26>> What a great opportunity for her. Yes.

38:28>> And the town sponsored it and they are

38:31funding it too.

38:32>> Yes.

38:33>> Very nice.

38:35>> Yeah.

38:36>> And then Annie Lee, Julie's Selaro and

38:40Kim Barrett will participate in the

38:41Shrewsbury way emerging leaders academy

38:44program. Yeah. So this is a uh again the

38:47town sponsors this every year and um

38:52different levels of um [clears throat]

38:54managers or leaders are uh asked to

38:58apply for this and they these three were

39:01accepted and they are participating in

39:03this. It's um facilitated by John

39:06Wartman who does a lot of workshops for

39:09the town and um this is it's just once

39:14in two weeks I think the classes half a

39:16day and they will graduate in November.

39:22>> Fantastic.

39:23And then Kaye will participate in the

39:26teen services development day which is

39:29part of the association for library

39:31service to children conference. Um yes.

39:34So she she wanted to attend this

39:37conference. It's dedicated for services

39:40to tween and teens. And um ALSC is the

39:44Association for Library Service to

39:46Children which is part of the ALA. Um

39:50and this conference is in Buffalo and

39:53she um she will be attending that next

39:56week uh October 1st. She'll be going to

39:59that and we we are funding it from our

40:04regular

40:05um from the municipal budget where we

40:07have a line item called dues and

40:09memberships. So we'll be funding it

40:11through that.

40:13That's fantastic.

40:15>> Yes.

40:18Okay. So that is it for personnel. That

40:21was a lot. Um the Shrewsbury Public

40:23Library Foundation

40:25um is holding their splend our splendid

40:28celebration on October 23rd,

40:312026. It's going to be a big celebration

40:34for the whole town to mark 10 years of

40:37this beautiful library. And there's a

40:41proposal, I believe approved by the town

40:44manager to serve alcohol or by the

40:46select board to serve alcohol. Um, and I

40:50believe it needs our approval. Yes,

40:53I think that will certainly make it feel

40:56more celebratory.

40:58[laughter] So, yeah. Any thoughts? I I

41:02think

41:03>> I'm going to abstain from that vote.

41:05>> Okay.

41:06>> Due to religious reasons.

41:07>> Yes. Yes.

41:08>> Um, I have a question. Does it require

41:10um a um to have a bartender on?

41:14>> Yes.

41:15>> Okay. So the event manager, the caterers

41:18will take care of everything

41:19>> that portion. Okay.

41:20>> Including going to the select board and

41:22requesting

41:23>> okay

41:24>> a one day.

41:25>> Okay.

41:26>> So they're taking So so they're taking

41:27care of all that.

41:28>> They are taking care of

41:29>> talked about whether or not it's okay to

41:30serve alcohol library.

41:31>> Yes. And if you want to vote on the

41:33names of the litary themed cocktail

41:35[laughter]

41:37hard like to vote on the literary themed

41:40names for the cocktails, you're also

41:41welcome to do that. [laughter]

41:44Grapes of breath.

41:48>> That is so fun. I can't wait.

41:50>> There are so many. There's a There are

41:51whole books with puns about [laughter]

41:56>> That's fantastic.

41:59>> Um,

42:00yeah. So,

42:01>> okay. I move to approve.

42:04>> Any seconds?

42:05>> I can second that.

42:06>> Sure.

42:07>> All those in favor? I. All those opposed

42:11with one abstaining. And that passes.

42:17And let's see next. Friends of the

42:20library memorial donations to Dean

42:24Dillum.

42:25>> Yes. Um

42:27um the obituary for Dean stated that

42:31donations should could be made to the

42:33friends of the library and we've started

42:36receiving donations um for that.

42:39Um,

42:41oh, um, I guess I could mention it here.

42:44We had selected Dean as our library hero

42:48to be honored, uh, at the celebration.

42:50Unfortunately, we have to give that

42:53honor postumously, but I reached out to

42:56his son and uh, invited him to the

42:59celebration and he said he could come.

43:01So, that'll be good. Um,

43:04>> yes.

43:06>> Yeah.

43:06>> Did you know that we picked him before?

43:08>> Yes.

43:10Yes, I did. Yeah.

43:13>> He's very deserving and

43:16>> right.

43:18>> Okay. And we

43:19>> think we can ignore that.

43:20>> The bench. Yes, we talked about the

43:22bench.

43:23>> Yes.

43:24>> And I don't believe there's anything

43:27under policies.

43:29>> No, there's

43:30>> no

43:30>> nothing new to review. And then under

43:33miscellaneous

43:35um we received a beautiful letter from

43:38Jane Lazot um expressing interest in

43:42joining the library foundation board and

43:46that is

43:48um I believe subject to our approval.

43:51Yes,

43:52>> the board the foundation board has

43:53already nominated but it has to be

43:55approved by this board. Yes,

44:00>> I think she'd be a great addition. I

44:02move that we approve her to be part of

44:05the trustees of the foundation.

44:07>> Yes. [clears throat]

44:08>> Second. Wholehearted.

44:10>> Yes. Okay. All those in favor?

44:13>> All those opposed?

44:15>> Yes. I think she'll she will be a

44:17wonderful wonderful addition.

44:21>> So, and now that she's retired, she's

44:23going to have a lot of

44:24>> time to dedicate to the library. So, we

44:26will happily take her um her

44:30contribution.

44:33Um oh, so here's another Dean Gillum

44:36item. View and vote to approve proposal

44:38to name the learning lab after Dean

44:41Gillum.

44:42>> This was a suggestion from our staff.

44:45You know, he he was a DIY kind of

44:48person. He did so many things for us. If

44:50there was a a maker, it was it is Dean.

44:55He he was extremely handy and helpful

44:58and uh he came to our um what was that?

45:02>> Fix it.

45:03>> Pardon?

45:04>> The fix it.

45:04>> Yes, the fix it clinic. The first time

45:07we held it and he was helping people

45:09with different stuff. So we wanted a

45:12kind of a permanent memorial for him. So

45:16name we thought the naming of that lab

45:19uh after Dean Gillum would be an

45:22appropriate way to honor his memory.

45:24I'll make a motion to approve.

45:26>> Thank you.

45:28>> All those in favor? I.

45:31>> All those opposed. That passes

45:34unanimously. What a great idea. Y

45:38>> and review and approve payment for

45:41Beanstack renewal for three years.

45:44>> So three years it's up for renewal. We

45:47had we had purchased a subscription to

45:49Beanstack 3 years ago. Uh, if we do a

45:53three-year renewal, it's $848

45:57annually. If we do a one-year renewal,

46:00it would be $943

46:02for one year. So, I propose that we

46:07um vote to do a renewal for 3 years

46:13>> and we use next year. Pardon?

46:14>> It's well used as

46:15>> Oh, it's very well used. Yeah. Not only

46:18summer reading, you know, we have

46:19different reading challenges throughout

46:22the year and people have gotten used to

46:23it and uh do participate in it.

46:27>> The only thing with an app is like if it

46:30gets outdated or something better comes

46:32in the market then you're bound to it

46:34for 3 years.

46:34>> For 3 years

46:35>> but 3 years is not that long.

46:39>> But you know

46:39>> Yeah.

46:40>> Do you pay that in annual installments

46:43or all up front? If we sign uh sign a

46:46contract for a three-year um for 3

46:49years, then we would pay the whole

46:51amount.

46:52>> Yeah,

46:56>> I think it's I think it's a good idea um

47:00for three years for the reduced rate.

47:02>> Yeah,

47:03>> it's

47:05you refer to it a lot. So, we get the

47:07sense that it's used.

47:09>> Yes, it is used as I said all year all

47:12year round. I think it's $2,544

47:16if my math is correct.

47:21>> Does somebody want to make a motion on

47:22it? I can make a motion to approve.

47:25>> Second.

47:26>> Thank you.

47:26>> All those in favor for that amount that

47:29Pria

47:30>> 2544.

47:33>> Yes. All those in favor.

47:36>> All those opposed. And that does pass.

47:40And okay, [clears throat] review and

47:43approve. Vote to approve renewing the

47:45contract of the technology and maker

47:47space assistant for one more year using

47:51state aid funds to pay for their

47:54stipend.

47:55The stipened amount is 21,216.

48:00Um I don't know if anyone has met

48:02William Kates. He's the assistant. He

48:05comes two nights uh and um he's in the

48:08learning lab helping anyone who comes in

48:11or u helping folks who've made an

48:14appointment and he comes on Saturdays

48:17too. So it's really helpful to Jess who

48:20cannot be here um you know six days of

48:23the day.

48:24>> Does he also cover some of the

48:25orientation times or is that a lot staff

48:28that does that?

48:29>> I mean if there was an orientation in

48:31the evening then he would do it. Yes.

48:35>> So, how many hours a week

48:37>> he does? Um, 16,

48:41I think, if I'm not mistaken.

48:4412 or 16. 16 hours a week.

48:51Okay.

48:54I think um that's a good example of good

48:57use of state aid funds and that the town

49:00budget doesn't cover everything for us.

49:02>> Okay.

49:04>> So

49:06I move to approve the continuation of

49:09this year.

49:11>> Thank you.

49:12>> Second.

49:14>> All those in favor.

49:17>> All those opposed that passes

49:19unanimously.

49:22The next item is review and vote to

49:24approve state aid funds for outreach and

49:27marketing librarian to attend a

49:30marketing conference.

49:32>> So, um Diana found this opportunity. Uh

49:37it's a marketing conference at St.

49:39Louis, Missouri and um

49:43it's in October. Yeah, it's in late

49:47October. Um, the registration fee is

49:50$550 for a two-day conference. The

49:53flight is, she has estimated it as $400.

49:58Hotel for two nights, $422.

50:02And Uber for two rides. The total comes

50:06to $1,456.

50:10Uh, she thinks it's a great opportunity.

50:12There aren't too many marketing for

50:14librarians specifically. It's a

50:17marketing for librarians conference. I

50:20thought the registration fee was pretty

50:22high. The rest of it all sounds

50:24reasonable, but uh

50:28we can't control that. I know they're

50:30getting more and more

50:33>> based on your analyses, there is wiggle

50:36room in the state funds to be able to

50:38support this.

50:40>> She such a hard work.

50:41>> Yes, I think it would be. Yeah.

50:43>> Yeah, I think it's great. Do we know how

50:45large the conference will be?

50:48>> Um, I'm not sure,

50:50>> but it was it is specific to librarians,

50:53which is

50:54>> kind of like hurdle. You know what I

50:57mean? [laughter]

50:57>> Yeah. Marketing for

50:59>> marketing for librarians. Yeah,

51:00>> it is. It's really niche.

51:01>> It's tricky.

51:02>> Very tricky.

51:04>> For public service and yet

51:06>> you need to market yourself.

51:08>> Totally. Yes.

51:09>> Did she put food in?

51:11>> I was thinking

51:11>> she has not included.

51:13>> Yeah. I don't I I when I'm re listening

51:16to the estimate, it sounds like an

51:18underestimate,

51:19>> right? The client does not sound right.

51:22>> I think it's going to be about 2,000

51:25that

51:25>> I mean any conference that's out of

51:27state,

51:28>> right?

51:28>> 1,800 to 2,000 for 2 days.

51:32>> Yeah.

51:32>> So, I don't know if we want to

51:34>> can approve up to 2,000

51:36>> the upper amount and hope.

51:39>> Yes.

51:40>> Yeah. I mean, I'm just saying that I I

51:42thought she clippers.

51:44>> Yeah. I don't want her to be enjoy.

51:47>> Yeah. There's like no food. She's going

51:50really bare minimum.

51:52>> So, I think that's a good idea. Um,

51:56this was the only event of this type for

51:58this library special.

52:00>> Yeah.

52:02>> Yeah. She's such a hard worker and she

52:04really

52:05>> shines a bright light on everything we

52:07do at the library. So,

52:10Um,

52:13conference has sold out in the past, so

52:15don't wait to register so we can

52:16approve.

52:17>> Oh boy.

52:17>> Okay. So, um, I'll make a motion to

52:20approve up to 2,000 for this conference.

52:25>> Second.

52:26>> All those in favor?

52:27>> I. Thank you.

52:29>> It passes. Thank you.

52:33Okay. Let's see.

52:36Okay. review and vote to approve closing

52:39the library at 3:00 p.m. on October 23rd

52:42because we're having a big celebration

52:44that evening. So, we're going to have to

52:46close a little bit early.

52:49>> Um, that sounds very reasonable. You're

52:51going to need some time to prep the

52:53rooms and everything. So,

52:55>> otherwise, we'd have a lot of twins and

52:57teens.

52:58>> Yes. The Friday afternoon.

53:01>> Yes.

53:04>> Setting. Yeah. [laughter]

53:07Yes, that seems very reasonable. Does

53:09somebody want to move to approve that

53:14closing the library at 3 p.m. on October

53:1623rd?

53:17>> I move to approve closing the library 3

53:20p.m. on October 23rd.

53:22>> A second.

53:23>> All those in favor?

53:25>> All those opposed and it passes.

53:28Next item on the agenda is review and

53:30vote to approve treats for troops candy

53:32drive by student

53:34>> Dvija.

53:35>> Dvija.

53:37>> Yes. Um so after Halloween she wants to

53:40have a box here to collect candy

53:44um for that she will distribute to the

53:47troops.

53:48>> She did this last year.

53:49>> She did it last year too. She's done it

53:51for a couple of years I think. Yeah. and

53:54she remembered to send me the request

53:57quite early because I had mentioned that

53:59it has to be approved by the trustees.

54:02>> That's that's fantastic. Um

54:06yeah,

54:08think we should do that.

54:09>> That we approve treats for troops candy

54:11drive by student.

54:14>> Thank

54:17all those in favor.

54:19All those posts and that passes.

54:22And then last is

54:24>> another request.

54:25>> Vote to approve greeting card collection

54:28box request.

54:29>> Yeah, this is holiday cards for troops

54:32apparently. [clears throat] And I know

54:34we had said that we'd only approve one

54:36request per quarter,

54:40but um

54:42this seems like a different thing and I

54:46don't know if you want

54:47>> is it also by a student? Yeah, it's a

54:49student in high school.

54:51>> And I mean, I'm not opposed to approving

54:55anything, but I am a stickler for

55:00>> if we have a policy and we don't go by

55:02it, we're setting a precedent for that.

55:04The policy,

55:06we can navigate around the policy like

55:09>> that. That's like I'm

55:12philosophically not opposed to having a

55:14box

55:15>> and there's no money involved or

55:17anything like that. It's a greeting

55:18card. But I I just don't know the fine

55:21print of the policy. If it doesn't allow

55:24for it, then we should also consider

55:27rewarding the policy. We're not going to

55:30>> Wasn't it like one drive a quarter?

55:33>> It was something like that is what I

55:34said. One drive and one sale, like a

55:38bake sale.

55:38>> Something like that if I remember.

55:40>> Yeah.

55:40>> Yeah.

55:42>> Okay. Um

55:45drive. Okay. So, it's sort of two

55:48drives.

55:49>> Um,

55:51>> well, the the next one would be um

55:54>> are you likely to get the third dots for

55:57sure?

55:58>> I mean, part part of it is that the

55:59particular quarter we're talking about

56:01is that end of year

56:03>> with all of the the fall and

56:06>> winter holidays together in one cluster.

56:10>> Um,

56:12so I'm not sure how you want to I don't

56:14know. Do we need to rewrite the policy?

56:16That's what I'm saying. I think that,

56:18you know,

56:18>> yeah,

56:20>> generally speaking, but during the

56:21>> I'm not in favor of passing something

56:23where the policy still stands but

56:25doesn't because we just made it sit. You

56:28know [laughter] what I mean? It's like

56:29maybe we need to reevaluate the policy.

56:31Um, but

56:34>> yeah, the policy is pretty clear. No

56:36more than four fundraising sales or

56:38community collection drives will be

56:40approved each year with no more than one

56:42per quarter. So it's a fundraising sale.

56:44Okay. Just

56:45>> discretion.

56:46>> No, but what is the it's a fundraising

56:48sale or what? Community collection

56:50drive.

56:50>> Yeah. So these are both collect.

56:51>> So I guess that's the that's the thing

56:53that you would think about is does the

56:55greeting card collection box

56:58qualify as a fundraising drive or as a

57:02community colle? If it if it meets the

57:04criteria for those two things, then we

57:06can't have the second one or one of

57:09them. If it's going to also conflict

57:11with the the toys for tots.

57:13>> Yeah.

57:14>> If the toys for tots also is a if it's

57:17in the same order, then

57:20>> you might want to not approve either of

57:21them if you're saving space for that

57:24one. I don't know if it comes in order

57:25of appearance or what.

57:26>> Yeah,

57:27>> it's tricky.

57:28>> Yeah, this is very tricky.

57:30>> Yeah. I mean, one could say that that

57:33Toys for Tots is like fundraising

57:35because you you purchase toys and you

57:36put them there as opposed to candy which

57:38you already

57:39you have and you're trying to get rid of

57:42>> um [laughter]

57:43the

57:45>> Yes. And you can say that the greeting

57:47cards is not fundraising at all.

57:50>> Right.

57:51>> But the second part of the policy is

57:53saying a community collection or

57:55something, right?

57:55>> Yeah.

57:56>> Yeah. Which is candy collecting from

57:59community.

58:00>> Yeah. It's it's not it's not andor, it's

58:03or.

58:04>> So it's four things a year, one a

58:07quarter. So either a community drive or

58:11a fundraising activity.

58:16>> It doesn't say and not updated then.

58:19>> I think it's probably not updated on the

58:21website because we had approved

58:24>> we we did approve one of each.

58:28>> This is dated 52.

58:30>> I'm sorry. I thought it had no we

58:32updated.

58:33>> We had updated it.

58:34>> Yeah. I don't know what we

58:36>> No, we said one of each. one

58:38>> like a sale either

58:40>> and one

58:42drive uh

58:45>> I know these words semantics

58:47>> miss something what is the purpose of

58:49greeting card collection

58:51>> oh they're giving it to the troops

58:53>> oh I see so are

58:55>> Veterans Day coming up

58:57>> so people are supposed to fill out these

58:59greeting cards okay thank you

59:02>> sorry

59:03>> but the candy drive request came first

59:06if you want to approve of one.

59:10>> But um

59:14>> aren't both of them

59:18falling in the first quarter?

59:20>> Uh I mean sorry with the toys for tots

59:23as well.

59:24>> Toys for Tots maybe December. This is

59:26September, October, November.

59:28>> Okay.

59:29>> So maybe Toys for Tots can be approved.

59:34>> Yeah.

59:35>> Okay. after Thanksgiving, right? Usually

59:37they have the toys for dogs.

59:41>> Yeah. I mean, I I think the the candy

59:43drive and the greeting card collection

59:45are just so

59:48not asking a whole lot of people. Um,

59:52and not over I don't think it's

59:54overburdening people. And I think the

59:56whole point of putting limits on these

59:59drives is not to burden people, but

1:00:01these seem so not burdensome at all. So

1:00:05I I I wonder if we need to

1:00:08>> the po the post Halloween candy

1:00:10collection actually seems like a

1:00:11service. [laughter]

1:00:12>> Yeah, I agree.

1:00:14>> As opposed to a request. Um, yeah, cuz I

1:00:17I mean there we just never know from

1:00:20year to year how many actual, you know,

1:00:22kids are going to stop by the the uh the

1:00:24house and you hate to be caught short

1:00:27and so yeah, those of us who overby

1:00:29consider the the collection candy

1:00:31collection to be a huge service.

1:00:33>> Yes. Yes. I think people do like the

1:00:36candy collections.

1:00:38>> I think people just like having a place

1:00:40to bring their their candy so it's going

1:00:41to to a good place so and it's out of

1:00:44their house. Um but but yeah so if it's

1:00:47not uh

1:00:49>> yeah I receive so many requests maybe

1:00:52like if you got five requests tomorrow

1:00:55>> maybe we could in the few in next month

1:00:57or something again look at the policy

1:00:59and say once a month if it's a dry

1:01:02>> and I I do seem to recall there was a

1:01:04statement that was added to the policy

1:01:05at the discretion of the director.

1:01:07>> That's what we had.

1:01:08>> I thought that we put it at the

1:01:10discretion of the director because

1:01:11honestly you know like I said we we all

1:01:13seem to have a different We could all

1:01:15have different opinions regarding um you

1:01:17know what what's considered an ownorous

1:01:20>> thing you know an ask you know every

1:01:23person walking through the library do

1:01:24they see this as you know asking for one

1:01:26more donation kind of thing or do they

1:01:28see it as oh yay a place to bring my

1:01:30leftover candy me or yay oh isn't that

1:01:32nice I get to draw you know draw

1:01:34>> they're always asking for things at the

1:01:36library

1:01:37you don't know what they right you don't

1:01:38know what people but you have a better

1:01:40sense as the director you have a much

1:01:42better sense and the staff can give you

1:01:43feedback on what you know whether or not

1:01:45that's a good ask or a burdensome ask.

1:01:48So yeah.

1:01:50>> So it does say at the discretion of the

1:01:52director. So yes, but we're reviewing.

1:01:56>> It does not. It says at the discretion

1:01:58of the library board of trustees and

1:01:59when in the public interest, the library

1:02:01may allow occasional fundraising sales

1:02:03or community collection drives by not

1:02:05forprofit civic or community groups

1:02:07located in Shbury. The following

1:02:09guidelines will apply. Okay. And then

1:02:12the last one is no more than four. So

1:02:14it's sort of like the discretion is

1:02:17still bound by only four.

1:02:20>> Are you looking at the policy on the

1:02:21website or the one that

1:02:23>> I pulled up the one

1:02:25>> because you

1:02:27>> Why don't we change it to more than one?

1:02:29No more than one per month and limit the

1:02:33month.

1:02:34>> I want to be careful about saying even

1:02:37one a month. I don't want patrons to

1:02:39come here and say, "Oh, what are they?"

1:02:41You know,

1:02:42>> I I don't I think it should not

1:02:44necessarily be the exception rather than

1:02:46the rule, but I think we do need to be

1:02:48careful about the numbers. Um I I prefer

1:02:52at the discretion of the the board

1:02:54rather than once a month. That way we

1:02:57can keep a eye on the number as well.

1:02:59>> Plus, if we we [clears throat] wanted to

1:03:01greening cards,

1:03:02>> also sometimes we said about the order

1:03:04of ask and appearance like we're almost

1:03:08Like if if I were to be policy police,

1:03:11[clears throat] I would say that Toys

1:03:13for Tots has not yet asked.

1:03:15>> Yeah.

1:03:16>> We're making an assumption that it will

1:03:18be held based on precedent. What if I

1:03:20came on December 1st and asked for

1:03:22something,

1:03:24>> right?

1:03:24>> Yeah.

1:03:25>> And then like what happens? Does the

1:03:27order of appearance bypass the one that

1:03:30is always happening? Are we just

1:03:32assuming that that one will always

1:03:34always happen and therefore that quarter

1:03:37is already booked. So technically you

1:03:39don't have four in the year because you

1:03:42already slotted one for

1:03:45deserve. Yeah.

1:03:46>> I'm I'm just again I'm not opposed to

1:03:50the cards. Like literally not opposed to

1:03:52the cards. I'm afraid of

1:03:56bypassing a policy where the language is

1:04:00clear. Um, so maybe we if we don't

1:04:05approve this today, we should probably

1:04:08bring this back on the agenda to discuss

1:04:10that policy.

1:04:13U I don't think we can come to a quick

1:04:15consensus about the wording of the

1:04:17policy right now. That might be a bigger

1:04:20>> I for I'm not suggesting that we put it

1:04:23on autopilot

1:04:25>> that there be a different one every

1:04:27month. What I'm suggesting is that you

1:04:28make a limit that there shall be not

1:04:30more than one.

1:04:32>> But what if we want toys for tots and

1:04:34card collection in December?

1:04:38>> But [laughter]

1:04:39but the card collection is for is for

1:04:42Veterans Day. So it wouldn't be

1:04:44assumption,

1:04:45>> right? It wouldn't be

1:04:48>> Do we know that? I think we're

1:04:50>> because the the treats for troops will

1:04:52also be November because by the time

1:04:54Halloween's over. It's November and not

1:04:56October.

1:04:58>> I mean, they're both placed off this

1:04:59agenda.

1:05:00>> And then we might go February, March,

1:05:02April and have none.

1:05:04>> So if [snorts] we say one per month or

1:05:06whatever, one of each per month,

1:05:07>> your point is well taken.

1:05:11>> Sorry. [laughter]

1:05:14>> Reluctantly.

1:05:16[laughter]

1:05:20It's a tough one. I don't I don't know.

1:05:23>> Do you know if the greeting card is like

1:05:25>> like they like she's providing a

1:05:27template for people fill it out

1:05:29>> and drop it in the box or are they like

1:05:32bringing their own thing?

1:05:33>> Because to me that's an activity that's

1:05:35like something that you're encouraging

1:05:37people to write at the library.

1:05:39>> They have done that in the children's

1:05:41room. This one says on the box is a drop

1:05:45off spot for library visitors and

1:05:47residents to be able to place their

1:05:49signed cards in, which means they make

1:05:52their own cards and do it. I'll pick up

1:05:54the box, bring it to the holiday cards

1:05:57for our military challenge located in

1:06:00Hollis, New Hampshire.

1:06:02>> Oh,

1:06:02>> she's a student here. But this is what

1:06:05she said. This was also by the way a big

1:06:07conversation last time when we discussed

1:06:08this policy that does the person who's

1:06:12raising the funds have to belong to

1:06:13Shbury or does also the cause have to

1:06:16>> be located in Shbury like can it be a

1:06:19chapter of something that is global

1:06:21because that's what had come up.

1:06:23>> Yep.

1:06:24>> Right.

1:06:24>> Like it should all be

1:06:25>> it was tricky. Yeah. I don't feel like

1:06:27it should be

1:06:29run by somebody who lives here

1:06:32benefiting an organization that at least

1:06:34has a branch here.

1:06:35>> Yeah. So, she's a student.

1:06:36>> She's a student here, but she says the

1:06:39cards will be distributed all across the

1:06:42world to our active military members

1:06:46>> through an organization in New

1:06:47Hampshire.

1:06:48>> Through this organization in New

1:06:49Hampshire.

1:06:56I I mean, yeah. I don't I don't know.

1:06:59Greeting card collection doesn't it

1:07:03doesn't almost really sound like a

1:07:06traditional

1:07:08drive or collection.

1:07:10Uh I mean, the candy seems more like

1:07:13it's more like a mailbox. I I don't

1:07:16know. I don't know even know if it

1:07:17belongs in the

1:07:19>> collection.

1:07:22I don't know. I don't know know an easy

1:07:24way to resolve this. Um

1:07:27>> I think you can just go to vote. So one

1:07:30person will obviously you have to make a

1:07:32motion in the affirmative. So make a

1:07:33motion to approve it and then we vote on

1:07:36it and

1:07:37>> see where it falls. I guess

1:07:39>> I think we've all stated what

1:07:42>> you know the argument around it or

1:07:43whatever in the discourse if you want to

1:07:45call it.

1:07:45>> Okay.

1:07:46>> Or you approve one because that's what

1:07:48the policy says,

1:07:49>> right?

1:07:50>> I mean it depends on what happens. Like,

1:07:52yeah, we could do the first one if every

1:07:54>> because I did receive that request

1:07:56first.

1:07:57>> Okay. So, we vote on that first and then

1:07:59we vote on the second. Whichever way the

1:08:01vote goes, it goes.

1:08:02>> Okay.

1:08:03>> But both of us have them have to be

1:08:05affirmative uh motions.

1:08:07>> Okay. Okay. So, did we we didn't vote on

1:08:10the Halloween drive yet, right?

1:08:12>> We did not the candy drive.

1:08:14>> Okay. So, we we'll vote one by one.

1:08:17>> Yeah.

1:08:18>> Okay.

1:08:19>> You did. I think I did. You didn't.

1:08:22>> I thought we was like

1:08:24>> Okay,

1:08:25>> we did. We did.

1:08:27>> Okay. So, now make a motion for the

1:08:28second.

1:08:29>> Okay.

1:08:30>> I make a motion to approve the greeting

1:08:33card collection

1:08:34box with the caveat that we revisit the

1:08:38policy next month.

1:08:40So that we're not overruling our own

1:08:43policy.

1:08:44>> That's a tricky motion. [laughter]

1:08:46April, you got to take that back. or

1:08:49anything. You're asking for it to come

1:08:51on the agenda for next month. That's

1:08:53separate. Then are we doing this or not

1:08:56>> like in this moment?

1:08:57>> Okay.

1:08:58>> Just make the motion.

1:08:59>> Why don't we just vote on the the

1:09:01greeting card?

1:09:02>> Exactly.

1:09:03>> Yes.

1:09:04>> Okay.

1:09:05>> Can I make a suggestion? Can we say that

1:09:08we will put this on the agenda for next

1:09:11month after we review the policing card

1:09:14can come back next month? The agenda.

1:09:16>> After we review the policy.

1:09:18>> Right. We have enough time. There's

1:09:19enough time.

1:09:19>> That's true.

1:09:20>> But you're not making a motion for that.

1:09:22The motion is whether we're voting to

1:09:25approve this right now or not. And then

1:09:27there would be a side note that says

1:09:29this is coming back to the table next

1:09:32month and the issue can return. But

1:09:35right now, we vote on it because it came

1:09:37on this agenda.

1:09:38>> Okay. So, we're going to vote on it.

1:09:39>> But yes,

1:09:40>> regardless,

1:09:40>> would they want if it's for November,

1:09:43wouldn't they want the cards collected

1:09:44prior to November or many of them? If we

1:09:47don't decide this until a week into

1:09:49>> until October 23,

1:09:50>> she's actually calling it holiday cards.

1:09:52So may not.

1:09:56>> Oh, okay.

1:10:00>> If if we voted in October, we have time

1:10:02for holiday.

1:10:04>> Okay. So, we're going to vote just on

1:10:06the greeting card for

1:10:08>> Yes. Because that's on the agenda this

1:10:10time. So, all those in favor of

1:10:12approving the greeting card

1:10:14say I.

1:10:17All those opposed

1:10:19>> I.

1:10:19>> I.

1:10:21>> Okay. So, we're not going to approve

1:10:22that one

1:10:24um at this month, but we can address the

1:10:27policy next month and we can perhaps

1:10:32revisit this. So what we're saying to

1:10:34Priya is Pri just so it's on record Pria

1:10:36we're asking you to bring back on the

1:10:38agenda next week next not only next

1:10:42month

1:10:42>> next month the conversation around the

1:10:44policy

1:10:45>> and if they are still interested in

1:10:49having this drive we bring this back on

1:10:51the agenda next month maybe they will

1:10:53change their mind right it doesn't come

1:10:55next month I don't know

1:10:56>> but we should revisit the policy next

1:10:58month

1:11:00>> I am glad we approved the candy because

1:11:01that is a shrew student and and as Barb

1:11:05said, I I do think a lot of people see

1:11:07it as a service. So, I I I do think

1:11:09that's a nice thing. There there's

1:11:11several locations around town for candy

1:11:13collection, but but I I think that's I I

1:11:17do sort of like it that we approved

1:11:18that. Um and we will revisit everything

1:11:21else next month. So,

1:11:23>> did we know where the candy was going?

1:11:26The meeting is over.

1:11:27>> Oh. Um for the troops, right? like was

1:11:30it a is it Massachusetts

1:11:33local chapter?

1:11:34>> I don't know.

1:11:35>> Just because that came up in

1:11:37conversation.

1:11:38>> I mean, we've voted on it already, but

1:11:40I'm just This is a curiosity question, I

1:11:42guess.

1:11:43>> Yeah. Let's see if they've told me that.

1:11:54Here

1:11:56we go.

1:12:06[snorts]

1:12:16Drive through a come USA

1:12:20can.

1:12:24It's okay for you.

1:12:27>> I don't want to be that person.

1:12:29>> Okay.

1:12:30>> I did not ask

1:12:32the meeting.

1:12:33>> I did not ask them where the candy is

1:12:36going. [laughter]

1:12:38>> She said treats for troops and

1:12:40>> treats for troops. Okay.

1:12:43>> Next meeting is um October 27th.

1:12:48>> October 27th and

1:12:49>> which will be after the

1:12:52>> right after the celebration. for Gayla.

1:12:54Yes.

1:12:56>> All right.

1:12:58>> Motion to adjurnn.

1:12:59>> Motion to second.

1:13:02>> All those in favor.

1:13:04>> Hey, first meeting of the new year is

1:13:07over. Thank you.