Okay, this is the Franklin Public Library Board of Trustees meeting. It is April 23rd, 2025. And uh I will call the meeting to order at this time. Uh we'll start with a pledge of
allegiance to the flag. 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.
Like to call the role. Zach Wickman, Aisha here. Ellie Tiana Gisham is absent. Nick I'm here. Agnes is not
here. Amy here. Morrisella. Kevin McNeel. I'm here. And Mayor Kramer is I don't see him. I think he has a program a little bit later at the township. And January Adams
here. This meeting is being held as all of them are in accordance with the open public meetings act New Jersey also known as the Sunshine Law. Schedule and notification for this meeting have been provided to the Courier News, the Home
News Tribune, and the Franklin Township Clerk. Copies have been posted in the libraries vestibule and are also available at the reference desk. I see our two members of the public. I'd like to open the first public comment
session to anyone who would like to uh say to participate. Would anyone nothing to say? Okay. Therefore, I would like to close I will close the uh first portion of the public comment
session. Okay. Is there a motion to accept minutes from the March 26th meeting? Zach. And Kevin. Um meeting the motion has been uh made.
Seconded. U is there any discussion? No discussion on the minutes. Okay. Boy, you're doing a good job. Those in favor of accepting the minutes
as presented. Unanimous. This is unanimous. The minutes are accepted. So we can move right on to the director's reports. And January, would you like to start with the financial report? Yes. If you have
any comments. There's no comments that I have. I think it's self-explanatory. Everything is pretty close to what I expect. Yeah. You're going to have some money left over at the end of the year. Looks
like maybe. Okay. Hello, Agnes. Good evening. Hello, mayor. There you go. Yeah. Preacher of this where I sit.
I thought I had more room. Now I have to welcome spread out. So at this point I'm going to change the roll call in mark that uh Paris we have two more. Okay. Here.
Yes. Thank you. and Angus. So, you have no uh would you like to uh talk about the operations report? Yes. During the past month, we had uh in the adult services, we had 55 programs that
898 people came to and youth services department had 40 programs that 1,122 people enjoyed. And we have a new uh feature at the library. It's called the media PC. It opened up in the beginning of April and it gives patrons
access to a digital flatbed scanner that works for scanning multiple formats, photos, negatives, and slides. It's got a VHS player that convert both VHS and VHSC, a camcorder that can convert mini DVD slides, and a device converting
audio cassettes. And it's got a full suite of editing software. And the patron response has been enthusiastic and there's when I wrote this which is about a week ago was 22 reservations and five successful visits and they're going to planning on
amending what they have. So what is the process what you you call up make a reservation say what you want to do and they'll somebody will figure it out. What does it convert everything to? A CD or a thumb drive or it says it converts digital
a file? Yeah, probably. So, if you walk out, you can walk out with See? Okay. And where is the location? It's right down next to the YA room. It's called the media room. That's very wistful time that they is is
there a time limit or it depends on I don't think so. No, not now. Maybe if it becomes really popular, you might have because I think I think at least in the beginning these things are going to take time to learn. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And I would imagine that I'm looking at the uh main
instructor. Is that right? No, you're not. No, it's not Jack. Close. And the other thing we've got going on is the annual teen online poetry jam.
And we've got the uh summer reading buddies that's uh been open for a while. People are signing up. And that's it. All right. Thank you. There is no president's
report as such. But then we should move on to the correspondence and communication which I found quite quite uh yes interesting. Yeah. Nothing is without its uh I was my
daughter was telling me about this and I I joked with her I called her at work and I said you know I just found out that and I was telling about she's like that cuz she told you sound smart. No I was teasing her because she told me about this last week. She was when I was
using chat uh GPT, you know, she was saying, you know, that uses like 20 times for you to find out, you know, who uh had the most strikeouts last year. And it opened my eyes. And it
really uses a lot more uh energy. Um I don't I guess that maybe because it's just starting. Maybe it'll get better because they're saying like they're training it, you know. So what I I thought about is uh here a
government uh if a company is building a big building sometimes the government can say to them uh you have to pay for building the road that leads to it or can you imagine Mayor Kramer can you imagine
telling somebody who wants to uh put in a a facility of some sort that they have to pay a s charge on the electricity something like I mean all of this could happen. Yeah. You have to build a dam. Yeah.
If I could offer there are a couple of caveats to some of this. Um for example, some of the work that AI can be used to do can eliminate maybe a larger process of going down the research route. So
anecdotally, uh I used AI a month ago because I had to figure out the tensile strength and Young's modulus and flexibility of a 10- foot long telescope that I'm working on. So there's a lot of math and numbers involved and how you
figure that how you calculate it and then using different materials, aluminum, carbon fiber. So all of that knowledge I would have to research hours on the internet to come up with that data to then use the so I could go into chat GPT and say and design and write
down on out of paragraph the parameters and get the information in an hour's job would have been 3 to 5 hours worth of research. So using tech for 3 to 5 hours or using one. So there there are instances when that really saves you on
environmental impact too, but it's how you use it. And so not to say, oh, it's all perfect, but there's there's caveats where that's and that's what I I guess that's what I was trying to get at like Well, it might save you in in other ways. Yeah. Like if we're
looking up, you know, runs batted in or what, you know, like there's simple D. But if you're right, evaluating things or you're constructing, you know, a detailed schematics and you need like several steps along the way that might be. So there there's opportunity where it can save hours
in its infancy, every technology has its cost. It's look at the footprint of computers in 1970s. Right. Oh, and uh Hope Oaken's here is uh she has
hope library. Yeah, I think she she's assembly. I don't know how she's going to do both jobs, but Well, we have an assemblyman who has another job. Um and
as people do. Okay. about it. It's a quick time to go. Okay. So, and I thought this was very nice from the uh Republican committee about the uh National Library Week and then a picture of our Raven's nest. I saw that last month. I saw that. Um
Yeah, I took a picture of it. I took a picture of it right there. Yeah. No, I took a picture of it, too. And the picture doesn't do it justice to because it's like I mean that thing is huge and it's and and it's and it's so funny.
that it made its nest on top of the the the things that I think were there to keep birds away maybe. Yeah. So it's it's it's it's and spikes around. Yeah. It's spikes up there to
keep the birds away and they're little birds. It'll keep the little birds and they're using it to anchor down their It's like Thank you. But anyway, it's beautiful. Never more of the wave. I wrote there's another nest underneath of and one on
the other side that used to that's that's almost gone now. Like but when I last month it was it was more than what's there now. You can see the remnants of it. But it I mean it to me is is just amazing, right? Because you
know you see the small bird's nest with the little twigs, but I mean it this nest has you know branches. for eagles. Yeah. And it's, you know, it's it's just amazing to read. Okay. Nature. But anyway, thank you. Is there any other
correspondence that uh any of have I just like the statement that says a perfect reminder that even the birds know that FTPL is a smart place. Yeah. I thought it was this was very nice. Yes.
Okay. Seeing no other correspondence and communication, we're going to move on. Is there any old business? Unfinished business. Nobody. How about any fresh new business? That's me.
I guess business here. Um, some time ago, I got uh an email from a cousin of uh two teachers who retired. They used to teach in
Somerset and they wanted to make a donation to the library. I I I would like a motion to go into executive session with a clear statement of the purpose and I think I know who I
want to do it. Mayor Kramer, you seem to have uh some experience with this. Would you like to draft a motion? And I I can annunciate a motion, but I have no voting power today.
Um the motion to go into executive session to discuss negotiation of a donation for the naming of the children's area of the library.
Okay. Was that the motion or I can't make I'll make that motion in that language. It is 613. I'll second it. Okay. There's been a motion made by Zach, seconded by Kevin
and written down. You have it written down sort of. Yes. Um, okay. Without details as to who's looking for. Can you read what Well, before we vote on the motion, we'll have it read back. That's the I
think that's the rule. Okay. Is there any discussion on the motion to go into executive session? Seeing none, uh ask for a vote uh on the motion. Those in favor of of the motion to go into executive session, please signify
by raising your hand. Um, this is unanimously accepted. We are now going to go off. Is there a motion to come out of executive session and back into regular meeting?
I'll take a motion. Second. Amy seconded. Any discussion? Those in favor of the motion to come out come out of executive session. Um, it's unanimous.
Does anyone here have any new business? I think I miss I don't know how new my mine is, but I want to I I have planted a tropical plant in my home.
for the past nine years is out of a knot, a cola knot and it's getting big. It's getting big and I want to donate it to the library. They'll be somewhere where they can take care of it. I don't know how many of you know about cola
nuts. Colonut not in the African It's a not in the African culture which is used for many things. Weddings, funerals, diary, um many other things. Now, this is a
tree. Is this an indoor plant or an outdoor? No, it's not really an indoor plant, but if you can put it in a bigger container and put it somewhere where there's light, it I don't think it's in America it will grow the fruit, but just
that it's so how big is it, Agnes? Oh, now I have to lift it. So, it's not it's not that um you can lift it yourself. No, I now I'm not able to lift it. I mean, would I be? Yeah. Yeah, you'll be able to lift it. It's not It's not really You can
It's not really big. Where do you have it now? Indoors. No, it's indoors. Indoors. Do you put it will it will it stand outdoors for for temperature range that we have? Well, it's with the it will stand outside during the summer,
but you have to move it indoors. Oh, I see. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So, that's why I was saying there's a lighted place in the library. Some it wouldn't stay indoors. It's not it's not really good for just indoors if there's a good light. We don't need we don't need the fruits. It's just that yeah that it's a
learning thing for the kids too because cola nut I used it we traditionally when my mother passed away these nuts we you we use these nuts to um pay homage or something. So when you go home, just uh
Google colonaut k o l a colonaut and just see how important it is in in our culture. Okay. What's your time frame, Agnes, on this? Oh, anytime right now. Okay. Doesn't have to be this month. Could you send me Could you send me a picture of it? Yeah, we'll send you a
picture of Maybe we could put it in the butterfly. Yeah, that's what I was going to I'm always apprehensive about taking plants though because sometimes they don't survive. Yeah. Yeah. Then I then we feel bad. Feel bad. It's just to if
it has new um soil, I'm not able now to resoil it again and change the pot because every year I used to change the pot and resoil it and then the leaves. Right now we have I have fresh leaves on it. But I don't want to get rid of it
because it's I've planted it for years. My mother passed away nine years ago. Next year will be 10 years. And how did you plant it from a seed or I planted it from the north? Yes. From the when they brought it home when they brought it I kept some and then I noticed that it
started fl seeding rooting and everything. So I said well let me put it in a little pot and see what happens. And then it's amazing. How long? 9 years. Is that they can live longer than that? Yeah it can. It's a it's a if if
it has its good environment, it becomes a tree and it has its nuts. How big can it get? If now it's in a pot, if it's in the ground, it's going to grow big. If it stays in a pot, no, it will not grow.
It's not going to go through the roof. It would go through the roof. Yeah, I think we need a picture. Yeah, the right now the pot is not that big because of what I'm able to leave, but I want to repot it so that the roots the
roots will have a little more space. Do we have a local bonsai group? This is I mean I don't know I but I that's a popular thing. I don't know about one in Franklin Township, but I imagine there are people who would know exactly how to handle it if we reached
out. I don't know. I I wrote I tried rod girls. I didn't have any reply from them and um I don't know. So I thought I thought I could I remember one year years ago I planted um cotton in my
classroom and I donated it to this library but I don't know what happened to it so that they show the cotton how it pops up to the kids and the seeds. I don't know what happened to Yeah, send me a picture. Yeah, I will. I
will. Okay. And if and if you can um have something next to it, it'll give me an idea of how tall it is. Or can you measure it? Can you measure the height of it? Or can you just put it against something that you know the height? Yeah.
Thank you for sharing. I learned something new. It sounds like a nice thing to have. I'd be willing to uh take a look if it's I'm interested in seeing what it looks like too. I will try to bring the I'll try to get the not
I will try to get the nuts around town so that you eat the nuts you you you we eat the nuts and you can eat it and be have it the whole day. You don't feel hungry when you ground you grind it or No no no no you chew the nuts. Oh, you can live
on it for the whole day without being hungry. Weight loss. You going to have to take out. So, how big are the nuts? I'll try to bring Yeah, now we're very
nut sizes. It depends on Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you, Angus. Thank you. Now, some new business. As I was walking from my car to the building today, I met up with one of our new members who is
now moving away. And Zach Lickman is moving to Bucks County. He's been with us, what is it, less than a year or less than less than a year. He's made many contributions, including
those that you heard tonight. and uh I want to thank him for his service to the um board of trustees and uh thank you mayor for finding a
well-qualified person who in a short time has made a considerable contribution to our discussions. Yeah, I'm sorry to see him go from the library board and from East Mills. Thank you. Thanks everybody. But good luck. I appreciate that. Yes, I I feel
lucky that I got to see the inside of this a little bit and so I feel privileged that I got to be part of the team. When are you moving? Are you is it like July August somewhere? Oh, and you're you're now in the East Milstone section. Oh, I see. Okay. Ask questions. I can visit sometime.
Yeah. And maybe there's a library there. You could be telling you experience. Yeah. Right. Very good. Well, first library wasn't very far from there, right? Yeah. Didn't Ben Franklin start the first library in
uh Philadelphia? Well, that was not that far. Well, on trivia, my grandmother, my father's side here, made the first school library in Franklin Township. Really? The library? Yeah. So, the first school li they didn't have a library in the school, so
she made a school library in township here. Um, I'll ask my dad. I don't remember what school that was at the time. So, she they did like a book drive and fundraising and put together a collection and she managed it. That's a big deal. In your blood. Yeah.
Apparently, that stores. Yeah. Okay. second portion of the public comment session. Would anyone like to make a comment? Seeing none, public session
number two is closed. Our next meeting will be on May 28th here. 5:45. Okay. Is there a motion to adjurnn? A motion will be ajourned. Second,
Kevin and Agnes. Agnes seconded the motion. Any discussion about adjournment? Those in favor of the motion to adjourn signify. It looks unanimous to me. Uh we
are adjourned.