This is the Franklin Township Public Library Trustees meeting. It's Wednesday, June 24th, 2026. I would like to call this meeting to order and start with a pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Uh, call the roll. Nicholas Champa, I'm here.
>> Clara Wilson, >> here. Deborah Kelly >> here. >> Aisha Ali here. >> Agnes Gulaba is not here. She's here. Mayor Kramer, don't see him. Kevin McNeel,
>> I'm here. >> And Tiana Gisham. No. Okay. We do have a quorum. January Adams, our director, is also here. Uh this meeting is being held in accordance with the open public meetings act also known as the sunshine
law. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. Copies have been posted in the library's vestibule and are also available at the reference desk. I would now like to open the meeting to the for public comment. The first
portion public comment. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak one of these days? Uh I I close the uh first section of the public
um part. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the um May meeting? A motion that we approve the minutes of the main meeting.
>> Thank you. Is there a second? >> A second. >> Okay. Thank you, Clara. Um, is there any discussion of the minutes or any of the content of the minutes?
I'm sure you've all read it two or three times while you're at home. Is it time to call the question? >> Does anyone need more time? >> Yeah. No questions. >> Okay. Those in favor of the motion to
approve the minutes from the May 27th meeting, please signify by raising your hand. Okay, this motion has passed unanimously. Thank you. Okay, now let's go on to our director's
reports. First, the uh financial report. January, do you have any particular uh comments on it? No, I don't except to mention that we are right on schedule with uh the amount of
money that's been spent. >> Okay. I have a question though. I've forgotten. If there is a surplus >> which it looks like there is going to be. Have we already designated that? >> You did last year.
>> We did it last year. I know we did it this year. >> Yeah, we did it last year. >> Okay. So, so any any surplus that we have is already >> capital >> capital gain >> capital just capital >> capital. >> Okay. You're still working on your
taxes, I guess. >> Capital G capital gain like I got capital. >> Thank you. Um Oh, January, would you like to uh elaborate on your
operations report? talk about um some highlights and we have a a new group that uh the head of youth services found and has reached out to and that's the uh the veterans and they went up to Lions on June 2nd and uh it was a good
experience because this is a group that wasn't necessarily aware of using the library that we were here. So now we've got that connection. And then on May 30th, the library had a community cookbook swap.
About 100 people came in and traded books and recipes and things like that and had a good time. And then we've got a new Epson scanner that was going to u make it faster and easier for patrons and staff to scan and save normal size pictures.
and the technology library is working on testing it out and putting instructions together. >> Is it available to the public yet? >> I don't think it's available yet. >> I'll double check if you want. >> And it's high resolution, I guess.
Or just fast. >> Well, it's fast photo, whatever that means. >> We tried to get as fast as we could, as good as we could. Um, the adult services department had 60 programs with teens and adults for 845
attendees. The youth services department had 42 programs that 1,221 people participated in. and members of the youth services department had a very successful in-house class visit with Hillrest.
They had first grade. They had three classes, six teachers and aids and 20 parent chaperones. >> Wow. >> All had a good time and I admire their energy. And at Lewis Street, uh, they've been having colonial tea
tasting. Tea tastings. And that's a series of programs that are featuring the cups of tea that were dumped in Boston Harbor. >> Oh, how fun. >> And I heard the first one was tasted dreadful. But >> second,
>> was it made with harbor water? >> No. >> It's not good. It's not what we're used to, but I think those four all together, the second one is said to be better. So, okay. >> They're going to bring me some samples. So, I'm going to try it, too. >> Thought it was a great idea. It was a
great idea. >> Yeah. >> Do they use milk? My mom used to drink that tea with milk. >> I drink it with you. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, I do. >> I have lemon with it when I have a sore throat. >> Okay. >> And that's it for me.
>> Okay. >> Mr. Hello, Mayor. Okay. >> Okay. Is that uh Thank you, January, for the um amplification of your uh program reports.
President's report. I'd like to uh report that uh on the library telescope program, we are very near to begin lending out the library telescope which has been generously donated to the
library by the Franklin Township Astronomy Club. While the responsibility of checking the telescope in and out will be with the club, some interest in the program is expected from the library staff and trustees.
The club will have an exhibitor's table at the township Independence Day celebration on July 2nd. I would like a trustee to volunteer to be present with the club president, Ron Murio, at the celebration. This will be
July 2nd. I'm not sure of the hours, but maybe you you know that. >> So, the band starts playing at 6:00 and the fireworks are at 9:15. Okay. And this will be here. >> Here.
>> Here. >> Parking lot. >> Parking lot. Okay. Not the gazebo. >> The band will be at the gazebo. >> Okay. >> The um booths will be along the parking lot and the food trucks will probably be
in the side parking lot. >> Okay. So, what I'm looking for is some member of the board of trustees or staff to uh be available >> roughly 6 to >> 6 to 9. >> You said it starts at 6.
>> Starts at 6, but you know, not the crowds kind of grow as time goes on. So, I I don't know that that's up to you whether it's necessary to be there right at six. >> Okay. Library staff will be there at our table. The library is gonna have a
table. So there will be library st. >> Oh, okay. Good. >> But there's this is a separate table >> from the table for the um telesc >> I would I would I I could volunteer for that. >> Oh, >> on the second >> July 2nd.
>> July 2nd. That's a Tuesday. >> Thursday. >> No, it's a Thursday. >> I knew it was one of those T's. >> It's a Thursday. >> I'm sorry. I'm looking at it right here. And it is a Thursday. That's even better. >> Okay. >> That's even better for me. Um
Thursday and and I could be there close to 600. I'm not sure. >> Well, Dr. Kramer just said uh right >> exactly 6 isn't isn't >> right. But I'll definitely be there before between 6 and 6:30. >> Okay.
>> And uh let me put that on my calendar now on the Thursday. the right team. >> What are you going to do? Are you going to uh showcase the telescope like allow people to use it and stuff or >> uh the telescope will be there at the U
table with the the astronomy club. Um I don't know what Ron Ron's exact plans are, but uh oh, and one other thing that isn't in here. We I am working on trying to get good photograph of the telescope
that we can blow up to 16 by 20 and have three copies. So we put them in our main here in our main branch and uh Lewis Street as well as uh the other branch. So, we're moving.
Maybe not at rapid speed, but we're moving along. Okay. >> Yeah. I might be available that day, too, if you want to have two people. >> Oh, okay. Fine. And maybe uh if you uh get bored at one, you can go to the
library. You can you can >> Yeah. Do we have any like regalia or sashes we can wear to um proclaim our our high status? >> I think crowns would be
>> Yeah. Yes. Excellent idea. >> Our service is enough. We don't need >> Okay. >> But do they have a plan for rain? Because last I think >> remember last year >> there is a rain I forget what it is. I
think it's the next is it the 10th? >> No. >> Yeah. But that year that it rained, it was perfectly dry until the first firework went off and then it it's like it burst the sky and it just rained and
stopped about the time the last firework. >> I remember one year I think it was last year I went and we got there and it started raining as soon as we reached. So we sat in the car most of the time >> and then >> I think then it was I think it was rain for like two events. I think it was
Memorial Day, right? >> I was like, "Wow, we have bad luck with weather." >> I don't know. Did this happen on under the last mayor? >> No comor to be careful because of present company.
Okay, thank you. >> All right. >> Um, we have some correspondence that's uh January was kind enough to send us and uh >> yes, >> it piqued my interest and there any comments on
>> Did anybody else not know what manga was? Did you know what that was? I didn't know. >> I didn't >> I didn't. I knew what a graphic novel was, but yeah, >> I always started them from the front. >> And you read them backwards.
>> Yeah. >> Oh, I didn't know that. >> Yeah, >> that's how I know about my kids. Um, >> how old are your children? >> 12. And >> and they they they they're into >> they talk about it. My older one is more
than my younger one, >> but they talk about it a lot. >> My granddaughter, I know she came over at my house and she was watching this um something Demon Slayers or >> Yeah, that's K-pop. That's the K-pop Demon Slayer. >> Is that I know it's not the same, but
they said it like bleeds over when I read the article. like some of it like bleeds over, but when she was watching it and she's like 13 and I was like I mean her parents was all right with it. It's at some some of
them were a little bit you know I was like >> I was like yeah it was a little like like right on the cusp >> spicy >> you know right of some of the not only the language some of the some of the um >> you know themes
>> not the book the themes right some of the themes you know were >> there's violence and there were violence but then it was like other things you know adultery and you things like that. I mean,
>> like I said, it wasn't it wasn't something that I was like, you know, no, but it was something that I would But anyway, um I didn't know. So, do we do you have >> Oh, yes. >> Is it Is it big here? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I thought it was more adult themed. >> Yeah.
>> So, it's high. >> Well, from what I was reading, middle school through high school, I think this >> Yeah. >> I think they had like because they they broke it down. And they were saying that I can't think of it now, but one of them were for like adults and one of them for
you know like like one uh section or one uh genre or whatever. They had different names for and they and I guess they were saying that you know this series was more for children and this series was more but I had no idea I had no idea about any about any of it. I
know I do see it a lot more now. um you know even with the K-pop you know than uh than this but it was very um >> also they have some story lines that are for younger children. I just know about the more mature ones. >> Yeah, that's what they were saying that
even in the article they were saying there some story lines that are really geared for really younger children but I guess the some of the ones that are for the teens because even now where where do where do where do we have them here? Are they in in the teen section or they in
>> Cuz they were saying in some libraries they put >> they have to put them in the adult section even though even though teens, >> you know, they're popular with teens. I guess some uh some library branches
choose to put some of the more um I guess mature ones or however they want to classify it in there. But anyway, in the adult section, but it was interesting. Good. >> Yeah. >> Good. >> Well, thank you. And uh and of course
the uh throwback to uh >> pricing of uh >> pricing of digital problem >> things. >> Well, Nick wanted me to talk a little
bit about it, so I'm going to um >> um Yes. Well, these I don't know I guess you can't call them publishers, whatever they are that produce these ebooks. Um they've been screwing around
with libraries since the beginning. And the issue is that you never really in some rare occasions, yes, you do buy it, but you spend money for it and you really do not own it. you are limited to
maybe 20 or so checkouts and then it just goes away or it's active for maybe two years and then it goes away. >> Yeah, that makes no sense. Like I get it for a book, a tangible
book, it's going to show where and but an ebook you think it would be forever. >> No, it's not. >> And it's not cheaper. >> No, it's not. It's a little cheaper maybe. A little cheaper. I mean, the advantage of a book is it's it's hours. We can do with it whatever we want. If
we want to let it go out 50 times, it goes out 50 times. >> Yeah. >> This is got limitations with it. >> So, you're saying that when you buy an ebook, once it's been checked out a certain amount of time >> because what?
>> You have to buy it again. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> No, no. I thought you had it for a certain period of time. And you can check it out. >> It's one of two ways. One of two ways, >> right? >> You can like I I think you can take it out. People can take it out as much as they want, but after two years it goes
away. >> Okay. >> Or there's a set number of times it can go out >> and then it goes away >> and only one person can check out at a time, right? With Hoopla, multiple people can take it out at the same time if they go in through the Hoopla app,
but then we have to limit our patrons to so many checkouts a month because it costs us >> each time somebody checks it out >> and that counts towards your let's say 20 limit. >> Well, that's diff that's kind of like a different category because we have some
coming directly and some we're getting through Hoopla. >> Okay. The ones from Hoopla are the ones that Yeah. multiple people can take it out at the same time, but we have to limit the number of times each patron can take it out during the month because it costs us money each
time they check it out. >> Does that make sense? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I'm just trying to look at it from their point of view. I mean, just when you when you sell a book, uh uh the the the
actual, you know, physical book, you you sell it, you get paid, the library owns it, and that's it. So, I'm like, like, why isn't it like that with the um with an ebook? It's I mean if if they
would sell it for the same price. I mean it's like how would they be are they losing money by by by allowing you I mean as opposed to if they had that same book in physical form right wouldn't they make the same amount of money like
they they sell that book if they sold you um would you would have to buy >> I don't know that's a good question that's a good question. How do they charge you for the digital copy? >> For with Hoopla or >> either in either situation like is it equivalent to the cost of a physical
book or >> it's a it's about 21 $22. >> Okay. >> For a title >> for a title >> in Hoopla. >> Not in Hoopla. Yeah. >> Um the >> if we buy it if we buy it directly confusing because there's a whole bunch
of platforms and there's all these apps and I don't use this stuff myself. So, I'm not as familiar with it as as >> I just did. I mean, it's it's just hard for me to understand how, >> you know, you sell one book or you sell
one ebook. To me, it's the same like how it'll be almost like saying, "Okay, you can you can buy this book, but once you rent it, once you lend it 20 times, we're going to come and take the book back." >> Yeah. >> You know, it it doesn't make sense. It's
like you have it even even if they even if now I can I can understand if they say hey you can't buy one ebook and rent it to 500 people at a time you know all at once because then I
understand that that's you know that's actually taken away from them but if they was if if it was a way to say that hey if you buy one copy of the book that book has to, you know, you can lend it out one, you know, one at a time just
like a hard coverver book, but obviously that's not it. Maybe the technology is not there for you to be able to do, but I guess it is there because you can't lend it out. You can't lend the same title out 50 times. I mean, at once, >> not unless we bought multiple copies.
>> Not, right? >> Yeah. >> I just Okay. So, >> well, on the other hand, you buy books and maybe one out of a hundred
you'd want to keep and maybe some of the other 99 you after a year they'd be out on the shelf for a dollar a piece. So, >> you know, >> right, >> not not everybody's going to write Gone
with the Wind and and you're not going to know. So, so you well I don't have an answer. >> So that's that's I don't have an answer either. That's >> you asked and this is >> Thank you. >> Interesting. It is. I never I never I never even
thought I guess I did think we talked about it before, but I just it just doesn't I just don't understand how you know you if I buy if I if I went to you know my my own self and I brought a book
or I brought the ebook for my for myself. It doesn't you know if it it's the same thing, right? I can read it. I can you know I can I can keep it you know. So once once I buy it, it's mine. But it doesn't seem like that with >> No, you're really You're really just
renting it. >> Really just renting it. >> It's really what you do. They call it buying if you're really renting it. >> Okay. Is there any old business? Is there any new business? I would like to entertain a motion to enter executive session for the
discussion of a personnel issue. Is there such a motion? I'll motion that we go into executive session to discuss a personel issue. >> Thank you, Kevin.
>> I will second the motion executive session. >> I hope there's no discussion at this point, but if there is, we'll have to listen to it. >> Otherwise, otherwise um Those in favor of the
motion to enter executive session, please indicate by raising your hand. Okay. This motion has raising rules. >> This motion has passed unanimously.
And at this point, I'd like to uh go into executive session. It is 6:13 p.m. >> I would entertain a motion to come out of executive session. >> I
get the motion. >> A second. >> Okay. And uh let's see. >> Time is 6:45. And it's seconded. Those in favor of coming out of executive session um
unanimously uh approved. Is there a motion? Any other motion? Uh I make a motion to uh increase the salary of uh above the current growth current
salary grow um current salary for inflation of adjusted for inflation of 3322 for performance and growth for a total increase of 6.29% which equals to $10,000. And the new salary is
>> the new salary would be 169,000. >> Is there a second? >> I second the motion. >> Motion is seconded. Is there any discussion on the motion? >> No discuss. >> I think uh is well deserved. >> Thank you for job.
>> Well done. >> Go forward. >> Yes. Um, any other discussion? Those in favor of the motion? >> I see uh unanimous.
>> Yes. >> Okay. So, where are we now? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well deserved. Thank you. No, it's I do not work alone and I will support the board. >> Yes. Good. >> Okay. >> Above and beyond public comment. I'd
like to open the uh public comment portion of portion of the meeting for public comment part two. >> No, no, close the public portion. Confirmation of our next meeting date
will be August 26th for doing this good job. This today we uh yeah we skipped we skipped no John >> I cannot make August 26 just letting you know >> I will be traveling >> to exotic locations >> like Australia.
>> Oh don't fall off. >> Don't eat the Vegemite. >> I got I got to try it >> kind of. I'm just kidding. Do you like it? >> Fine. >> Okay. >> August 26th. Um is there a motion to
adjourn? I motion that we adjourn this meeting. >> Any Okay, Clara. >> Clara has um seconded. Those in favor? >> I >> unanimous to adjourn and the time is something or
other here. 6:48.