--------- This meeting is being recorded. Anyone intending to make an audio or video recording of this meeting should notify the chair at this time. Who wants to run roll call? Yes. We don't have anybody on. I need to Yeah, you won't even need to do a roll
call. I won't, right? Um, she just still does roll call of who's here and then Yeah, then you don't have to do a voice I forget the actual word of votes. Is there an actual wording or Uh, no, just a roll call vote. Roll call the vote. Okay.
Yeah, roll call for today's tonight's meeting. Joe Cunningham, here. Nancy Bating, here. Irene Monaghan, here. Um You guys get meeting minutes? We did. Yes. And I did read them. I read them. Yes. So, would anybody like to make a motion to approve the meeting minutes? I
will make a motion to approve the meeting minutes um month April of the month. April April April April April 6th. April 6th. Yeah? Second that. All in favor, say "Aye." Aye. Aye.
Okay. You have In your team track husband. Sorry. You have to write that. I do the meeting minutes. Yes. >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So That was a three zero zero. All right. Uh, recreation office program administrator updates. Yeah, but that's
what I tried to put in there. Okay. I'll take this list, but I can tell you something. So, we've got a bunch of summer programs that are online. Um, a lot of our spring programs we have our second sessions that are starting this week. A lot of stuff with the elementary school. Um, they're doing some summer programs
as well again this summer, which is great. And we've got a couple of um new adult programs that we're doing. One is date night that one of our staff is coordinating. So, those are four different Tuesday nights, I believe, in May. The
first one's coming up this Tuesday. Um, we do have space available still in that one. I think that's flower and cake one with votes. Um, so it's only $20 for a couple. So, it's just nice something to do together. So, that's kind of what the thought was behind that. We also just added a
wildflower wildfire, I think, workshop weekend. Um, so you can do one of them. One's on Saturday and one's on Sunday or you can do them both. One is a meditative trail hike. Um, the trail's still to be determined, but they'll be doing
different things. That's on Saturday in June uh, 13th and then on June 14th, that's going to be a mini retreat. So, there'll be some meditations, some different activities, some journaling. Um some other things, maybe some creative.
Uh, that's like a two or three hour on the 14th. And if you did both of them together, there's a reduction in price. Um, so that's what we're working with a new vendor for that. So, we're excited to see how that all works out. Um And then all the a lot of our other
programs, the art week, the dance for fun, our horseback um clinic and then and then the baseball clinic, there's a whole bunch of other ones that are up and running. So, check out the website. Okay. Uh, one only update on the 300th is
Saturday, May 9th is the art festival um, at the Fiske school and library house. It's really all I got right now. Fiske between the two playgrounds. Yes. Okay, awesome. And if they want us to do another like email blast or anything let people know about that, let us know.
Okay, I'll let them know. If you can send me a flyer. Probably wouldn't hurt to probably put it out there anyways, but yeah. Yeah, and if they have a flyer or something, we can we can do that again. Right. Um So great. And then I know I'm going to be meeting with you Colleen, I believe, about the parade. Mhm. Something about
the parade and registrations and all that. Try and run it through again. Yeah. Yeah. So They found it to be easier. Yeah, so we're going to try and see what happens. Yeah. Um, Fiske school. Um, so the Fiske school, I'm working with the facilities
department to um, do some fence repairs in the back. The fence is super super old and it was and it was broken down. So, since we run our little school preschool program there in the summertime, we're doing those repairs and they're also taking down a tree that's quite dilapidated um, and
cleaning up an area and then we're going to put a storage shed back there as well. So, we can put all those supplies and just keep there right now. We're moving them back and forth and it's just a lot to manage for that six week program. So, appreciate the facilities department helping out with that. Um, just general updates. Um, so it's
good to know kind of what we're doing. So, um, right now we're currently managing 160 activities for both the spring and the summer programs. Um, currently managing 3,600 hours of property use the fields and the buildings. That doesn't include our own programs, that's an
addition to. Um, and then the summer planning updates um How many hours was that? 3,600. Um, so then I love that you wrote that down. I know. Me, too. No, really. You do. You didn't get the 160 programs.
Yeah, for the spring and summer. It's a lot. Thank you. Yeah. And I think in the month of when we had registrations open in two days, we had had 2,300 registrations in two days. Yeah. So, it was a lot. Um I don't know what the total is right now
from the time that opened to now, but it's certainly a lot. Uh, seasonal staff recommendations. So, I know at the last meeting you had all had voted to let me move forward on that. So, I wanted to let you know those will be submitted probably tomorrow. I'm doing two more interviews, I think,
tomorrow. Uh, three more interviews tomorrow. So, um, once that is done, I will submit that to the board of selectmen. And we've got one, two, three, four, five seven new counselors, uh, a seasonal assistant program director and then one, two, three
six six park staff new park staff people. So, um And we're only voting on the new hires, right? So, I can vote on Yeah, so you guys if you guys already can voted last No, I Yes, only new hires. The other ones are
already they're just returning. Okay. They're already still on the board. Perfect. I'm sorry. Yes, yes. Yeah. Um, so then that will be good to go and then we'll just start finalizing all the other stuff that goes along with that, all our staff ordering their uniforms and getting new hires their packets of
information. Um, working with the human resources department to manage all of that. So any questions on the summer planning? Um, once our coordinators are in place, we do have a coordinator position open. If one of our returning staff is
interested in that, so we're going to be doing that. And then once they're on the board, they'll kind of get them in the process and on their way with that. Awesome. For the seasonal as well. I mean, for the overall planning of the program. Um, town meeting date, I'm sure everybody knows. If not, no longer May
2nd, it's now June 6th. Uh, we did send an email blast out as well. And then town election is May 16th. Do you know why it changed? Missy may know about it. Uh The budget needed to be finalized. As we
hadn't had free cash certified yet. We just got that recently certified and now we're just starting to look for warrants. Um I voted no to change it to June 6th. I would prefer it be during a weekday just because of graduation and
everything that's happening on Saturday after graduation, but um, they wanted to keep it on a Saturday, so. So, hopefully they can meet quorum. Yeah. I am hopeful we can. Yeah. But the the change we needed to happen based
on the warrant was just in May. What was the ask date, but yeah. And it's hard too for the new board people or people that are being elected in, they're going to have to be part of the conversation that they don't have enough of much of those. Makes it harder. Yeah, it's going to be a difficult transition this year.
Yeah. Um, new building property updates. So, the outside water is on for where the athletic fields um, the back entrance has main gate and that and the big one is broken and kind of dangerous right now. So, we were contemplating whether
we really needed that to be repaired or replaced or just take it out. Um Need a lot of time. Yeah. Thank you. Um Thank you. Yeah, he's up there. Yeah. Right at the top. I can see it again, but I don't see my um, my computer.
I'll be two years in. Fiske and library. Yeah, right there. Down at the end where like where it says I've been in the far right corner. Yep. That's where I am. So, I'm not There you go. Cool. I was like, it's not at the top, but then I couldn't see the There's no phantom, whatever it's called.
Hit that. Hey guys, it's about 6:15, 6:20 for me right now. Game ended up going a little bit late. All right, I'll talk slow. >> [laughter] >> Save all the important stuff for the end. You're good. Um, so the outside water is on here at Reed.
Um, the back entrance has started talking about the gate repair. We were trying to figure out whether we really still needed that anymore, um, but we are going to replace it and fix it um, just because it's helpful in the summertime too to have that main gate closed so we don't have the general public trying to come down while we're running the summer program. Um, so that
working with facilities department on that and then we'll be um, it's also helpful in the summer in the winter with snow storms too if you can lock up that space that we That's the end like path where tennis courts are on the top. Yes, a really big heavy one. Yeah.
Um, so again working with them on that. The fields, um, we'll talk more about that in the athletic complex, but that's they're all squared away and baseball is using them tonight, so that was great. Um Brace Beach Park property updates, the restrooms are currently open. I think the morning time is 8:00 a.m. if I
recall and I think it's scheduled for 7:30 p.m. to close. Um, so we need to still check on that. Property cleanup was going to somebody was going to be coordinating something for April 20th, but I just got back from vacation, so I don't know if that took place or not. Do you know anything about that, Anthony?
Um, I know our conservation, um, assistant conservation agent was coordinating that with a group to do some cleaning up. It does look like some of the phragmites were taken out of the beach. Um, so I was down there this afternoon, so they might have been there and done some cleaning up, which would be great. Yeah. Um, Harold he was down
there for other things. Too. Yeah. >> Yeah, we had the facilities department coordinated, um, a landscaping company or some company to help also go in and manage some of the um, other tall grasses in the rain gardens area. We used them to clean up for those every season, so that was
taken care of already. The AED installation, I don't know if that took place or not yet. I didn't get a chance to look at that while I was down there, um, but we are still trying to do the final installation over by the tennis court, um, shed. So that will be installed over there, but it's not done
already. Um, we're looking at park staff depending on availability and funds available, but to possibly start the week of May 20th, the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, so that that will give people at least a week to know that well they'll still have to have a
sticker, but it will give them a week to get the sticker before Memorial Day weekend with that whole week being open. We usually in the past haven't done that and it just it creates too much It's hard on the It's hard on the staff. Yeah, that's a great idea. Yeah. So,
I'll talk with coordinate that. For for that. To do that. And then the tree cleanup and the bench installation, um, so we talked to Paul Gallagher and they do want to install that bench that was already voted on at where that cedar tree is, so the
facilities department I think we got some of that tree. There was about a lot of dead branches and everything, so it looks really nice. >> That's good. Yeah, so the bench hasn't been installed yet, but it will will get installed. Um I just wanted to Did you see Matt's post
about the dog problem at the beach? I didn't see the post, but I I saw the thread back and forth, if you want to talk a little bit about that. Um, so he put it He didn't put it on Facebook. We talked a little bit about it. Um, he was really concerned in the last couple of days when he was down there doing the possibly cleaning up around that same
time that he had seen a lot of, um, dog mess mess all along the beach, um, where dogs aren't allowed. You know there's a sign there um, and people are leaving it there. His concern is that and it has in the past shut down the
beach for swimming because it's right there on the edge and if they do a sick test, it's going to shut it down for people like and then, um, it also impacts the shell fishing, which and then it impacts the oyster farming further off. So he's he's really
concerned about it. He's looking to potentially put two signs down there. We had talked about it to let people know that there is a fine that can be um, placed upon people through the conservation commission's
rules um, of up to $300. I would do the maximum. So yeah, so we're kind of going back and forth on that. I think for now that is kind of what we talked about and then in the future I can a bylaw in town that gives
authority authority to other people to do that to the police department or um, sir So there's a fine possibility of place, but no way to issue the fine. >> Unless it's on like conservation. Matt
said that it it's written that conservation can and potentially other like ACO police. And I'm not sure how that's going to have to be a conversation with the police department and how that all works, but I think more importantly just the education of it and
then Matt being down there potentially um, just letting people know about that. Bear with me and it's so silly and Is this something Is this a new thing? Or has this happened in the past? I think it's the the amount that was down there seems to
be a new thing. Okay. Um, I think in the past maybe if people didn't have their dogs on the beach and they were cleaning it up. Yeah. >> I think when our kids are down there are Yeah, that's yeah. >> down there they can help monitor the situation and help educate people, but
then that that's difficult to because if Sure. people aren't following the rules that are posted, then it makes it tough to engage in a conversation, but um And we can send out an email blast reminder too, especially the week before the park staff start to work and say,
you know, park staff are going to be here. People still sticker all year round, but blah blah blah and I think we can add that in there too about that. >> That would be great. Yeah, so I'm sure So that was just Yeah, gross and it it stinks because it
was shut down, I don't know, two or three times last year. >> It was. Right? For swimming and and the potential losing of the town's dog Yeah. So Right, no shell fishing. That's disgusting. That's gross. Yeah, it's gross. It's It's like somebody didn't do
All right. I don't know. They did, you know, I mean They can't tell, right? Right. They can't unless we get cameras. And Yeah, it's like there's a, you know, they're not supposed to be on the beach anyway. They're not supposed to be on the sand anyway, but if they are on the sand are they off leash possible in the
first place? You know, not picking it up after and if you are picking it up, they're leaving the bags with Oh, we don't have any We don't have any trash cans down there. Right. So if they can't take them just take them with them. And so yeah, they're kind of
hoping that maybe we can extend the bylaw if you wanted to read it that it in fact talks about all areas in town including sidewalks and just the in plain view of happening. New paths. So Yeah, his post was good. It was on
Facebook. It was It was funny, but detailed. I think people are listening. Is this Matt? Matt Panella from conservation. So he put it on his conservation's like Facebook. He put it on our town like He did. He shared it to locals and all things
Kingston. Yeah, but that would be great if we can send out something. >> I will. I'll send it out the week before all of that. And then, um, the other thing about the off leash, there is something that already says that. Well, they're not supposed to be off leash.
>> Right. But that Sorry, I just don't have them. Yeah. And we have a bylaw on top of that. Like the ACO can address that even if it gets reported. Right. There, but we don't have anything very specific about about the fine for that. Yeah.
Make sure we get that done. I'm cool. We got to work with the bylaw something on there. Yeah. Something, but it takes time and it has to be passed at town meeting and we don't have that time frame right now to put something more specific in place, so I think that's what Matt's going to do with this
for now. Great. Um, I don't think there's anything else that I think it's but oh, the only other thing was the kayak rack. So I know there's a couple people that have put their kayaks already on the kayak rack. I didn't do um, there was people parked there and I didn't have time this afternoon um, to go down and
check to make sure they have uh, one of the Coast Guard stickers on there, but I will send out a reminder. I think the sign's up there that says that you need to have it, so I'll go and check that and make sure that's up already. Do we have the Coast Guard stickers here or do we have to go to the I remember asking if they had it. Yeah, yeah, I said
harbormaster when you're in and they didn't have them, but they might have them in now. Is that the only place It's not only from us, so I don't Yeah. Yeah. You can get them ask the Coast Guard, so Usually people can Yeah, we can find out. put a few like in a baggie
kayak things to take. Right, right. Um Yeah, let me reach out to the harbormaster to see if they have them. Okay. Um And I'm happy to if they have extras and it's okay for us to send that.
They're just the orange labels you're talking about, right? With the name and the Yes, yes. I actually went to a workshop over the weekend and they were talking about the cost when they find, um, well two things. One if they find a boat without anything on it, then you just don't have any clue, but if they
find a boat even when there is something um if they find an abandoned vessel they call it, it can be up to $25,000 that it costs per day to look for somebody. Um, so having that information on there
is necessary and important for resources both financially as well as just personal people. I would be shocked at the cost how it could be, so it is a necessity to get those stickers on. Especially if we're allowing people to put them on our property. Yep.
So get that Um Perfect. Thank you. Yep. And then just let me know when Uh, and the other thing which is not here too, um, is well we'll still talk about the athletic complex and this is not
specific to the fields, um, but the children's garden cleanup day is this weekend. It's May 3rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. I will have another You've had a couple of email blasts going out. I've posted on Facebook as well, but I'll send out another email blast I think Wednesday is
scheduled to go out again. Um so anybody that wants to come, it is a great day. It's nice to see so many people involved. They are trying to raise money to um get some of the bricks replaced um and repaired, so that would be helpful. Um one of the trees broke down in the
winter storm, so we took that out. So it opens up a great space actually. That tree had gotten so big, so it opens up the space um for that to just have more room down there. So it should be a nice day. It's going to be a nice day. And then the
first um farmers market is well. Uh I'll have to double check. I think you mentioned that. I think it is. Name of Peace Garden I thought they would They said they didn't do it. I don't remember, but I had asked to um to
hit up the people in the morning to help with parking for that mini third instead of cuz they don't like helping parking. Uh maybe they switched and do clean up and set up services. I'll check that out right here. Oh it is. Yeah. It is. Okay. 10:00 to
2:00. Okay. So we can do that. And um Deb sometimes will be there as well, so I'll double check with Deb on that. If you want two down there, you can find it. We might as well just to help with the number of people. And then I'll mention that to Deb too. Um I don't think I have her
You don't have to get all dressed up for us. So we did all of that. I did. And then anybody asked who like if I offered to um organize to have the community service I don't think anybody I know is down there to go ahead and do it. I don't know. I thought I'd provide it. So I already talked to the guy a couple of months ago
that I can send in the forms for that. And once it was up, I know sometimes sports teams volunteer. I didn't organize any of that which is um I know it was Chili's Johnny. Yeah. >> Email went out to Jay Costantino with
the baseball team. Okay. Okay. Something but they're usually pretty good about helping out. >> Yeah, they usually are. Yeah. I've reached out to the football lacrosse. What's that? Boys and girls lacrosse. >> I did reach out to boys lacrosse. Um I didn't reach out to girls and they weren't going to put out to the
community. So hopefully Great. So we'll do that. But you you said you're going to coordinate for two park staff, are you? I did coordinate for two park staff. I didn't know if you wanted two park staff at the Peace Garden too, but it sounds like you probably don't have to. Yeah, we have plenty of people here. Yeah, so
they can volunteer too. Yeah, no that was great. Yep. Um so we'll have two. And I'll let them arrange it and go. Great thanks. Any questions on the Grace Beach Park? Kathy, we can start on the other one now. >> [laughter]
>> We will move to the other one. Um the other thing on Grace Beach Park, we are getting a number of people requesting to rent the property again. Um so just in case just as a reminder, we no longer do that. So if anybody reaches out to you, you can tell them we don't do that or you can refer them to us, but we don't do it just because it creates too much
confusion with stickers, not stickers, all that kind of thing. Um so I just let people know that they can use the property, but everybody has to have a sticker on their vehicle. And then, you know, they can't guarantee that the space is available except the way down there so you can see it available. Um and then the the process changed for
stickers for the pickleball people where there was a challenge with that, so they're all getting a sticker that they're purchasing. Um so anybody that's a pickleball participant will have a sticker right here to their windshield. No more hang tags for them, so there shouldn't be any confusion. And if they still don't have it, they need to We've been letting you
know since April. Okay. So once the staff's there, and then there will be another summer group coming in, so that will change a little bit, but overall it should be much smoother this year for the pickleball participants to not have to worry about access and the staff as well. That's great.
They'll be happy. Yeah. Um and then also on the staff too is Deb is working with Missy um on getting a binder together. So we're making a new binder for the staff. Um a little bit more detailed information for them. So same thing.
It's just going to be a cleaner organization for them to have contact information, them to know what their responsibilities are. They're also going to have a task list that they have to mark off what they're doing each night. Just we had it on a calendar on the schedule, so like certain things, but this is more like a detailed like this is what the opening shift does, this is
what the closing shift does, so that there's just those checks and balances for them when they, you know, working We have a bunch of new people this year, so it'll help move forward. So I think it will be it will be a good change for this year for that. Um Athletic complex field updates. Um
Pat, anything from KYSO? On John's behalf? No. Okay. Spring sports is in full swing now. Yep. Um We I was going to meet with them tomorrow, but that's going to be rescheduled till May. Um usually in the
springtime I try to meet with them twice a year, usually in the fall and in the springtime. Uh so that will be sometime in May and it will be a live in-person meeting here at the meeting. So um once that happens, I'll let you guys know. Um but like Pat said, the spring sports
schedules are all complete. Um that went really well this year um with John on board and Last year was first year? Yeah, so it was his first year. First full year. So this year just having more experience, it worked it was really smooth. It worked out really well. All sports were
great because of the specific insurance, Board of Health program, everything went as well. Um the irrigation spring opening is complete. Um they opened with minor um should you even say that out loud? minor situations um first time in many
years, so that was great. They completed it in one day um with uh I think just one call of that so far um on B5, right? >> that. I don't know. I This is my first They fixed that. I haven't heard anything. Okay. So I'll reach back out to them or reach out to
them. Um baseball. The turf management baseball and softball field openings is complete. They did all of that work um in the beginning of April. And then the mowing began on April 23rd, so and then they're starting the two
week two cuts a week um beginning this week. So today and then Thursday will be two cuts through the rest of the season until the summertime. Um so that took place. And as far as we know everything went well except for today. Just in case you didn't hear anything, I emailed I don't know if you got it, but um they were got delayed this morning, so they
were here a little bit later. So baseball was already practicing, so they just kind of waited around so the mowing could finish up here. So I did reach out to John and let him know that in case anybody complained. Um I don't have an issue with that moving forward. We just had a situation today.
Um major flag installation over at the complex finally at the the cell tower. We finally got the large flag back, so Rob was very diligent about working with our carrier and that It looks beautiful. Um it's really nice. Huge flag. It's not a little teeny one
up there. And yours that looks really good. 25 by 30 I think is what Is that what it is? Yes. Wow. That's always nice when the sun sets and you'll see it in the middle of the field. Yeah. That's great. We'll get that. Um and then I already mentioned children's garden clean up. So I think
that. And then on basketball courts um we do have the So like the basketball is going to be using the courts this summer. Um I think it's one day a week. Might be two days a week if they get enough more kids. Um and the facilities department already replaced the nets there.
So that took place. And then the only other thing is just CPC, the town meeting will be voting on the tennis court and the basketball project. for Peace Beach Park. And then if that takes place, we'll go out to bid right away. We're working with our engineer to get bids back from all of
them ready together. So hopefully right after town meeting, we'll go out to bid. And then we wouldn't start the project until the fall anyway, but it's a good time to start the bidding process. So we'll do that right away. And then for the basketball Basketball basketball is great. I had a quick question. Just sort of I
had a question about this and if you guys can answer it. Yes, but our turf management is the same company that does the mowing, Right? Different company. Yeah. Okay. It's a turf contractor, not a mowing contractor. And then and the irrigation contractor. Yeah. And then they're a well contractor.
>> And we used to have the town do it. Never. The town never mowed it for us? No. Oh. Okay. No. Then what When the complex opened in 2004, the streets trees and parks department was asked about actually receiving the entire
property and just said they didn't have resources to do that. And then it was given to And did they ever mow here? No. You? How about Grace Beach? We know >> Grace Beach Yeah. Grace Beach They used to. Okay. I don't think they ever did mowing when
I came on. There was a part-time person that used to mow um here before the field complex was open, but no, they've never And do you know how long it takes for them to mow the entire to do that whole all of the mowing? An entire day for our turf our mowing
contractor. Um Yeah, an entire >> people they bring with them? Well, they have they have I I have a question. Just for fast, maybe three because they have two robotic mowers. Okay. The crew beforehand had
seven or eight and they had a bunch of mowers. They were here the entire day. So there would be a significant impact asking the town to do that. Truly. Yes. Okay. Yeah, one of the concerns too, not only from a financial perspective because you have to have all the equipment and then the resources and
the staffing to do it. Um the other thing is just that if there becomes a shortfall, then we don't have the resources to then get it done. Um, so we have to see it a lot of other communities if the town is doing it and then they don't have the staffing or the equipment breaks down.
We also paying all the light, you know, different insurances to the town employees to try to hire more people to do that. So this way $40,000 is about what it just was. We went up to $50,000 for um for all 50 high school entire year. Which is less than some of the And we
don't pay for the equipment repair, we don't pay for I mean that's everything. And that's really on the low end because this new company that since they have the robotics, um, the bid closest to him would have been $4,000 per pipe. I think this one's just under a thousand. So
since we're talking Do the schools have a separate contract and must, right? Or do they do them as The schools have their own maintenance. They use the town facilities department. facilities They have their own um, yes, part of their facilities or they're outside of the department. Got you. So even though similar to soccer, you use this KIS.
Just Yes, that was their arrangement at the time that yeah, however they managed about earning the Yeah, so when that CPSC project went about the I wasn't part of that conversation, but in fact you might know better than I do, but I believe that they had an agreement
that KIS staff would mow the fields and then KYSO would pay for the turf improvements. Got you. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but that's really to our town versus other towns. So it's not They got 12
12 guys that are full time in the DPW parks. And the school only has three in the school department. Mhm. Are they ones who are currently How many people do we have currently that are doing the They did just do the Well, I don't know if we're short on the staff or No. I want to say it used to be 12,
but it might be down to 10. He's down and he's asking like for more because it's the school doing the small stuff, but he has he lost He has >> He hasn't increased since 1995 or something. Crazy. He's down and he lost people and
then he fixed it. So But no, someone was just asking me one of those questions. I I'm going to go in here. Are you going to Thank you. Um, anything else from the I think we will go over that.
Um, KYSO will need to go out on Wednesday with the reps and the presidents to talk about next steps. He's probably getting it in the the town's budget. So I don't know how that shakes out. And again, just uh, one thing we talked about um,
the partnership between the sports organizations. One of the things again we partnered with the cheers of Lake Placid cheers for signing partners with them this year to do a program at the schools. They have 70 people that are registered, which is awesome in the communities. Only 7,000 people. station
just now on the phone. So there's great opportunities to continue to do those things down with lacrosse. Um, I think that's it. Football has their own thing and then baseball's separate although he leads the division there. We tried to do one in football last summer, but I don't think we're going to do
anything. It wasn't on our end. Football's doing their own. So we did one one year with the football coach. Yes. Um, and then the Silver Lake Placid football then wanted to do their own. So they're doing their own. We don't partner with the coach anymore, but there could be that opportunity somewhere down the road to have that
connection between them. High school and that youth programs, which And I know lacrosse has been trying to do that. Baseball Yes. has been doing that. So Yeah. So speaking of partnerships, before we end this official meeting, I would just like to say thank you to
both um, Pat and Cindy Ann um, for being here for Did you guys both kiss each other? Um, I think like a half I think a year. I think before a year. I don't remember. I think I did a felony wedding. Yeah. That was great. I did felony for Yeah.
Just talk to Pat. Yeah. Yeah. So I wanted to officially um, thank Thank you both for everything that you've done. Um, Pat, I wrote you both cards, but I can't really talk to them probably going to get a lot emotional because But thank you for
you've done and supported Thank you. You brought a little sunshine. Thank you. You brought a little laughter and fun. Thank you. I appreciate it. A little brownie you can take home with you and ice cream. I have a little lunch speech for anybody that needs a brownie and ice cream. We have ice cream as
Um, but no, I really appreciate both of you guys and both brought different things. Um, I know Pat has been doing the fields and I think he's always been a commissioner and spent hours and hours. Now I get to be the whining one of you guys and Source. That's good.
I think all you learned was I know. Now now I get to know all the secrets. I get to know all the skeletons in the closet. He's going to put them there. Yeah. Um, no, but thank you for everything. And now you're so well He can Yeah, it's been great working with you and you can just build the relationship again KYSO
Yeah. I appreciate all I'll be here I think both of you are trucked right down the hill. We got to make sure we let Pat do it one last time, too, right? Yeah. Yeah, well You got to whatever whatever date you guys want to pick me next meeting, I'm fully available. I appreciate you saying that, too.
And thank you for your help and donating your time. I want to thank both of you guys. Um, so before you keep it fresh there. Donating everything, work and the stuff you've done here. Help on the playground. Yeah, we did playground installation and
working here. So thank you very much for that. Thank you. We'll be glad to make your final Sure, one last time. I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. I second. All in favor. I I. Part: 2
I'm going to call to order the April meeting of the Kingston Library Board of Trustees at 604. In attendance, we have trustees um Lee Lewis, Emily Bruce, Andrew Costa, uh Jen Quackenbush, Emily Curtain, and we have with us also
library director Donald Co. The first item on the agenda is minutes approval. and the minutes went out uh with the first email I sent for this meeting. Did anyone see any um changes or um edits? >> Not seeing any. I'll take a motion to
accept the minutes as presented. >> Motion to accept minutes as presented. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Not seeing any then. Um the second item on the agenda is policies.
Policies. Policies. [laughter] Now that we're in it, we're really going to get into into it because we have others to look at. Donald, >> [clears throat] >> um so this is more just of an informational um kind of mention. Um so we will be looking into two newer
policies. Um one pertaining to volunteers and one pertaining to courtyard usage. Um there's been a discussion with staff concerning so we have been using the courtyard for programming and stuff like that all
along. Um, but there have been concerns about not having guidelines for when, for example, it's a rainy day and obviously we have the courtyard doors locked, but a patron wants to go stand out in the courtyard to make a phone call. Um, or that it was, you know, um,
bad weather within the last couple of days, which if somebody went out with the brick work or whatever, would come in and be bringing in mud and dirt or whatever. Um, so we try to leave the doors locked until it is um, you know, viable to have it used and not put any
um, disruption to the interior of the building. Um, so there's been an ask for, you know, either setting times um, you know, weather permitting, etc. Just put kind of putting the practices in writing. Um, so those two policies will be um, coming in play that and the
structure. We currently we do have a procedure for volunteers. Um but currently the reference librarian um historically has not had volunteers to oversee but all of the other librarians have. So what I'm looking to do is to um
restructure the volunteer system so that it can be um spread amongst all the staff versus um you know getting a volunteer and the idea being okay well we can only put you in children's we can only have you do teens or do what have you but this would give an opportunity for the reference person to have some
oversight of um and supervision of volunteers as well. >> So these are two aspects of library operation that have no existing policies. >> Correct. there's procedural with the volunteers and historically for adult volunteers it primarily has been the use
of the senior tax write off um but recently I had been approached by an individual who's an adult um that wanted to you know do volunteer work here as well and historically it hasn't been something that's been welcomed so obviously I want to change that
>> so we're trailing [laughter] we're setting it a fire >> exciting um under this policy bullet I also wanted to mention I know we had discussed in passing um patrons of >> these certified libraries. Yes. Um so
with that so with the potential of a member library on OL within OLN um >> potentially being um closed due to um cuts in their community. It always brings up the discussion about um the the um
policy of libraries within OCL and to whether or not to provide um continued access to our collection to these individuals or whether or not we cut this the collections off historically. um the practices that we do cut it off
um because it is a matter of as much as I love statistics and I love my numbers going up >> um it does present a drain on our resources and that is kind of the um you know the guys of that it is one of the few things that we have to you know try
to support each other in advocating for the local town to support and that's the problem if our people are getting their needs met from other communities there isn't there isn't that you know forc's hands to support um you know the library that way um so we will be
revisiting um that policy so I can send it to you and um we can have that for the discussion for the next month's meeting um to revisit that and to just reshore that up as to um >> I know under our prior director we talked about it because it was uh co
times and lots of libraries were looking toward potential issues with funding and and descertification. And I know she made a point to say that um as much as it seems uh like something we wouldn't do to to turn away a patron,
it does help them build their argument when they go to their town and say it's not just us being unable to use our own physical library building like we are unable to borrow from the libraries in our network. >> Yeah. So, it's really cutting you off from like library access altogether,
which is a whole other thing than just not being able to access your building. >> And that has been something that has as I've gone through the budget process here, you know, for the last four years, um that when I've talked about certification, um members of FIMCOM have
specifically spoken up and shared that knowing that that is one of the tools that you know that um we have to kind of abide by. So, >> when is the town meeting that will be >> I'm not exactly sure. I haven't um been specifically following it, but um
there's been no updates. Um we had a members council meeting, but um they weren't in attendance, so >> So, we can at least look forward to that. >> Yes. >> All right. Um town meeting update.
>> Um so, this is just a quick one as far as town meeting. um is just this is a quick mention that town meeting which was scheduled for May has been pushed um to June 6th. >> Um and so they we've been asked to kind of get it get the word out as much as
possible. Today I was driving through town and I saw that there were old signs that um the signs were printed and then had to be reprinted with the new date. Um, so there are old sides signs still floating around in the community with the old May date, but it is June 6th at
9:00. >> Are those on public land or you almost feel like it'd be public service to like pick those signs up? What you found out? >> Um, they were actually on private property. So yeah,
>> I know they're trying to spread the word through um boards in town, too, because like the school committee, for instance, they're they know that the uh meeting's been pushed. It seems tight to me. >> But get much lower people show up for the first day. It's not there like, oh,
screw it. I'm not >> I know. And in June, it's technically summer for lots of people. >> Spoiler. >> Summer in spirit. >> Yeah. >> Weeks of school left, but summer. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> So, I'm just curious about this plant
because this is gorgeous. >> So, this is um Jen's last meeting with us um the end of her term. And so, I this to thank her for her service because she has been wonderful. And I feel as though I personally badgered her
once upon a time with pulling papers, but I knew that she was a big advocate of the library and that she was a a spirited patron. So I was like, I think she would be perfect. And you were [laughter] >> Okay, so facilities update.
>> Okay, so facilities updates. Um, so as you may or may not have noticed walking in, the sides to the new awning have been um installed. They were actually installed. [laughter] >> Well, that is because there is more window.
Well, that is because there was more window than wall, which is very nice. And it is like crystal clear. So, you almost kind of miss it. Um, so that has been um so those were actually done. They had to have been done yesterday because um
coming in this morning that's when um we discovered them. Um so we have that um that was done. Um there is some concern at the Atom Center for the HVAC system. Um this was a discussion that occurred
late last week um because there were um system issues that um and I don't know the specifics. I was they tried explaining them to me but it was basically systems were um competing
with each other um and um potentially um accuate what was it there were two >> huh >> attenuator >> no it was like an actuator or something. Um so there's two of them. One was completely burnt out. The other one was
doing okay. Um, and so they were going to look into it more to see if potentially it was the condenser. Um, and if so, that that would be a costly thing. So, we potentially may not have air conditioning at the Adam Center for at least the beginning part of the summer. >> Is there moisture in the archives?
>> There's not. There's not. And this is impacting upstairs. >> Well, and upstairs and would be like because of the gl the greenhouse effect and the stairs. Correct. >> Correct. Um so we have that going on
over there. We are also having over there um ongoing as I've reported in the past water infiltration issues. Um they do believe that they have it um tracked down to a small rubber roof um that's
over there. So we are looking into that. um the overhang as you walk through the door, you can see the the painting, the the flaking paint um and stuff from the the infiltration. Um so we're hoping that um the discovery of the potential leak in the rubber roof um versus the um
the copper roof will um not be as costly. So that is something that we're looking into as well. Um some of the things that have been done over here, the um in the playroom, the um there was painting done
um near the emergency exit from a previous um water um issue which resulted in the playroom being closed for a few days um due to the sanding and um filling in and stuff like that. Um
but that is basically um trying to think if there's anything else. [snorts] Um >> so slowly [laughter] >> the building is aging not so gracefully um sort of thing. So but um but we do
have the new awning which looks nice. [clears throat] So >> well and and you're aware of the issues. Exactly. Things are works things are works in prog progress. So there won't necessarily be any surprises of any detrimental lodge um you know
catastrophes. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Okay. [sighs and gasps] So, um I've attended multiple um meer and MMA trainings. Um and there's actually one
being held this week um tomorrow at at town hall um which is one of the ones that I've already attended um virtually. Um we've completed the project with the Eagle Scout. We're just finalizing. So, I say it's it is completed, but um we're
going to be doing a couple little additions to these kits that um were done for us. Um today began day one of the iOS um migration. Um so the basically the system is down. We can't
look for any look up any books, register any new library card holders. Um the only thing people can do is actually check out using their card. So if they don't have a card in hand, we wouldn't be able to provide that service. Um there was a little you know um you know
apprehension with it but overall I do think that it you know it went well for day one. Um we are looking into more factf finding about the data collection and the process to um have it migrate over to the new system. Um because at the moment it seems to be a little open-ended.
Um um we had the um adult craft time program over at the font school. It was the wood flower arranging. Um I did two sessions which actually was really good because um the afternoon session did bring in folks who have not attended any
of the evening programs I've had in the past. So you know conf you know conferring with them um afternoons are something that works for them as well. Um, so moving forward, I think I am going to try to do that and and make it a um two-time kind of program. Maybe not
the same day, um, due to, you know, the restrictions if there are other groups that need the fonts for the same day or what have you. Um, but I do think that it did work out and even though that they were smaller groups, we had about 10 in each. Um, it did make I think for a better um, you know, kind of
experience for folks. [clears throat] >> Um, we did >> still a good size. >> Yeah, 10 is still a good size. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was good and the folks were very very creative and thoroughly enjoyed it. Um, attended the Kingston Garden Club. Our
partnership that we've been doing for about three or four years now is the books in bloom. Um, which is when members of the garden clubs create um, arrangements that are displayed throughout the library that are based or
inspired by books. Um this year we did have a smaller turnout for arrangements but that was due to scheduling. Um and we did discuss that potentially next year opening up for example staff or perhaps trustees who would like to um do
it do some representation um you know in floor um you know for the for the program. Um but it was you know people thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a lot of creativity. there was a lot of discussions um so it was a very good um
community engagement um and partnership with them [gasps] um as far as like off desk things um I you know obviously with the um the loss of the reference librarian I've
at times had to cover the reference desk um I've completed reading the reference collection um so that is completely done and ready to be relocated to um a more um available location.
Um see, I've met with the Kingston um Public Libraries Foundation President to discuss money left over from the T-Mobile grant. There were funds that were um left over and um we met to
discuss perhaps getting additional seating um or potentially um display shelving for the adult section here. um which there will be we there's
going to be a relocation of furniture which basically these pieces of furniture three in a row will be gone. >> Um reference desk will be relocated into where the craft swap is at now. Um and
by doing so it would open up the floor space. We'd be able to have more displays. And the thing with the displays is those are ways to engage patrons and you know um market the materials and increase our circulation stats which is you know needed
>> and librarians themed. >> Exactly. Exactly. For folks to get creative with it. Um, I did meet with the town management team and legal council to discuss union negotiation proposals. Um,
I did meet we had a local IT vendor come and ask about possibly offering computer and device help. Basically, it's the same as what kind of services the reference librarian has offered. Um, as far as,
you know, trying to download something or using specific apps and things like that. Um, and this this company is based out of Duxbury. And what I didn't realize was that evidently large tech companies like Microsoft and this might I don't know if
this something you would be aware of that they offer grants to smaller companies that volunteer their time to offer tech support to nonprofits >> and then at the end of the year they'll
put in like their hours and then they can get monies like so they're not actually necessarily volunteering their time. Um so I have an inquiry in um to the town about it because my concern is is that um obviously they would be cried
and you know all that is and it is a commercial tech company so the average patron that comes in they're not going to be trying to get these people to be customers of them. Um but my concern is is that um
you cannot generate income on municipal property and the question is whether or not that act would be exactly that >> or at least the first steps toward that. >> Yeah. And so um so I have an inquiry into the town to um get clarification on
that. Um >> it does sound like an overall net positive for patron. >> It it it does. It does. um you know in this particular um man that I spoke to, he actually this company actually did
provide the IT services for the library um network down the Cape until they installed um a new firewall which was going to involve $100,000 worth of training
and it's they were the only company that yeahs is the network. um they would be the only company that used that. I think it was like Sonic Wall or something like that and um so because of that they um had to leave there. So they are
connected to libraries you know and stuff like that. So there there was that um but I you know there's really no rush but um >> we do have that gap to fill though because Steve was excellent with this >> exactly exactly >> program. So many people I approached me about how wonderful he was.
>> Exactly. So yeah, so we um so that we're looking into that. Um and I did meet with um Emily to discuss the use of the atoms for the Kingston 300s Art Festival
>> um which will be coming up May 9th from 11 to 3. Um so [laughter] it will be opportunity for folks to um access um uh experiences at the Adam
Center, at the library, at the Font School, and at the BL House. Um so if anybody's available and watching this um [laughter] >> it later [laughter] >> so um but if there are any other
questions there >> the posting for the reference position. So posting with the reference position is um I've re I've reposted to MBLC in order to get it at the top or as
close to the top of the listings. So basically when the position was posted um last time within two days it was because of the number of vacancies it was pushed to page three.
So, it has been posted to the um Simmons job line as well as the Rhode Island um job line um in hopes of um trying to gain new candidates. Um you know, we
have gotten basically since this process has begun um we've only had about six candidates which in previous vacancies I got that in two days. Um, but it this has been very very slowgoing. Um,
>> interesting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do you have any theories as to why? Not not that you know, but I'm just curious what you think. >> I don't I don't um you know, we had one candidate that I thought could potentially be good um that I know from
previous library experiences. um but one funding but as far as salary but then when I see newer postings for jobs that are more involved in seeing that their salaries are lower so I do feel that the
salary is competitive so I don't think that's it um so I don't know if it's just the um the need for other kinds we are getting inquiries so some of the applications were for if I was looking for a new
children's librarian or a new archavist >> which is surprising because when we posted for the archavist it was crickets. >> Exactly. [laughter] Yeah. So which which is interesting because even when we did like the teen librarian like we we got you know archives but I think that you know when I graduated in 2015 the
majority of my classmates were on the archives track. Um which was interesting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But I'd never hear references. >> Yeah. For adult services. Yeah. Um, so so you know it is a wait and see thing.
You know we are doing the best we can with as far as utilizing you know the staff that could cover the desk and obviously as I've mentioned I've you know put myself in as well which is great because it gives me opportunity to talk firsthand with the patrons and you know continue getting the pulse of what
the community is looking for and what the needs are. >> Thank staff report. Did anyone have any concerns, questions, or follow up on tobacco? >> Jen, sorry. Allergies are killing me
right now at noon today. All of a sudden, my voice just like be gone [clears throat] if you're a teaching. Um, but I partially from the staff report for the team library. Um, piggy back on just I've been spending more time there now that my children there um
and my daughter was only sort of independent minded and pushed through. But I was surprised I went there not so much by what books weren't in our library system, but I was like books I expected to find in the teen library I
found in the adults or in the children. And so I was wondering if I was like I wonder if there was an original design or like philosophy that kind of dictated like what was there. And part of it was that
I noticed how really strong, of course, like the graphic novel section is there. And then when I opened up their report and that was like a lot of what we were buying, I was like, well, like that's good because I know kids read them. My students read them all the time. But I was just wondering and I kind of went through and certainly we had like the
general circulation guidance, but when that because that room wasn't even here when I first came to Kingston, like when it developed, was there like a vision for how the collection worked there? Was it just age group or genre or what? I
was just kind of curious um if that sort of the story of it I guess maybe. >> So any collection is going to be evolving. >> Yeah. >> Um and you know what was old will be new again. My understanding is younger people are looking at cassettes and
music CDs and and VHS and stuff. So you know we might be seeing those collections coming back. My niece and nephew collect CDs. I sent them some of my CDs from the 90s. They >> and the bands from the 90s are listed. So absolutely true.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So initially what we would do is we would look at you know any title that we were going to select would be based upon um you know would follow the collection development policy. you look at the
journ the reviews obviously firsthand from patrons themselves and the thing with the um the graphic novels and the manga that makes the collection also look larger is that they write in series so it's not a matter and that's the
that's kind of the shift that I've seen as somebody who's worked in libraries for years is that you know in years past there were so many great standalone collection books But then there seemed to be a change to
series and so that kind of goes along with the anime and the graphic novels. Um so it is kind of community response. Um and we do look at the statistics. So if it is a case of for example um looking at um
you know um a collection and seeing when we get the end of year um stats for example that if we have a large section of say teen magazines but they only went out 2% like they only represented 2% of
the overall teen collection. we would look at it and saying okay you know what the teen DVDs we get a lot of use it it's not it doesn't have a lot of space so maybe we need to cut back the magazines and invest in DVDs so it kind
of becomes that um you know and things do fall off as far as like you know the classic works that we know um you know as far as um you know something being lost and perhaps not being replaced um you or you know something getting damaged or
whatever. Um but it is a lot it is kind of an eb and flow. So it's like the teen room of today you know I can tell you when I started four years ago didn't look like what it looks like now you know so it kind of morphs over. >> It was just interesting to me like middle and high school is my thing. Um,
and so like as we went around and I was trying to find some of like those books that I always suggest out of our school libraries, they weren't located there. And so I was here, >> right? They were here or they were still in the children's library. And so I was like I wonder what the guiding sort of
princip like in terms of like what's circulating in the library at large but just sort of like what criteria is used for like inclusion in that little space and my son went I mean he's a non-fiction World War II [laughter] >> he might have exhausted
we might have three or four books from the K >> and he will happily grab a book that was published 1978 about history as long as Yeah. >> And we did get I got to read the Corsy
Jackson to like stretch now that he likes ancient Greece, but it has to be history based and he prefers it if it really is or at least is rumored to have really happened. >> He loves it. um um it's why he likes Neapolitan ice
cream kind of took the root for a while and discovered that was why he liked it was because he thought it was Napoleon ice cream [laughter] but um but I was just like sort of surprised going through and so I don't know and it's one of those things I'm like if you pull circulation data like
people are finding those books eventually but I don't know if there's a way to create a mission statement or whatever for what is there. I don't know. Um it just, you know, I went through and I was like, "All right, but like the 12-year-old boy
scene, like there was not a lot there." Um and like the non-fiction, I was almost like, "I wonder if non-fiction almost doesn't need to be in the teens section. Maybe memoir, but you know, because it was like a few resources and then the rest I had to haul over here or go back there." And that was like all
the shelf space with like this little teeny section of history. >> Nonfiction Teen non-fiction as as a former teen librarian myself, teen non-fiction is one of those areas that um many libraries go back and forth of
having a teen or young adult non-fiction section and in order to get usage will then interfile it with the adult non-fiction because an adult may read it because it may be a topic that they don't need it in great detail but just
an overview. Um, but also I found at the time that I was doing it that as far as publishing that there was they weren't a t that wasn't a target market as far as the public library was. And that's the thing a lot of when we do our collection development it is based upon what we're getting from reviews and things like
that. So something that might be individual titles that you know from your personal experience might be something that hasn't been exposed to the current librarians but definitely share away. >> Yeah. You know >> just it was one of those things where here in France where it was. I'm like,
there must be something here. And then, of course, we came home. We talked to my daughter and she's like, "Oh, yeah, I just moved to the adult section like when I was like 13 because that's where I found everything I wanted to read." She's like, "It was all like very niche reading in there and I just ditched." Oh. I was like, I never knew that. um
>> in the fact that the collection has really you know from being what it was being the small section over here to being the the room that obviously as time has you know previously was that things would be pushed into the children's or pushed into adult because
there wasn't really the space to put it in um you know the teen section. But it is something that you know the librarians are always reading and you know re-evaluating and you know as far as redoing labels that's a constant conversation um the staff have about switching.
>> I do think that some things can be like I'm always nervous about libraries that are organized by genre because I'm like well some books fall into multiple genres so then where do you file it? But I feel like with teen
enthusiastic teen readers will will want to move to adult as soon as they can. So it becomes more of a tween room because as soon as they're older they're like, "Oh, I'm going to go over here to get what I want." >> Um, and also I feel like anime and manga, which wasn't even a thing
>> for a long time, now anime and manga is like dominates that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ones that are like the on the fence, the ones that you're going to convince, the ones you're going to help drive circulation. I think those are the the
mega >> and I also think the collection evolves with the librarian because we've had multiple librarians and with any section children's librarian adult reference librarian the collection will evolve with them. >> Absolutely. So look at it like it's
almost a pushpull issue of like how tightly do you want things organized versus like a better like I say holistic display I guess but like something a display that captures interest better. It's better marketing versus better organization and often times the person
who makes that decision is not necessarily the person who should be making decision. I assume it's the reference librarian that would decide where books go whereas maybe they're like someone with more of a marketing view would be the person that should be trying to design what grabs people's interest.
>> Well, usually the collections are overseen by the specific librarians. >> Um so the you know reference librarian would you know purchase and market for the adults teen librarian for teens and children's for children. Are they more incentivized for like that kind of
organizational structure or are they incentivized for circulation units >> or is there non assembly? >> Well, I mean I think it's a combination. I I think it's it's I think it's a
it's a [clears throat] more as far as the librarians and their purchasing. It's more about giving giving people what they want. So that entail does equal circulations,
but some of it too could be like give people what you think they'll want. So you have someone that's like on the fence of going to the next level of uh engagement in the library and you pick stuff that brings them to that next level. >> Oh, absolutely. Absolutely.
The other thing that guides how they choose the books whether they realize it or not is the journals and the publications that you use to read about the books will sort them. So it will say this is ya this is you know or children's definitely this is children's
this is middle grade this is ya this is adult. >> Um so there's that too. So when you're looking the way that school library journal or publishers weekly or kirkus breaks it down. Yeah they they'll say this is what this is intended for. Not that it has to be in that section, but
>> and a lot of times I've had experiences myself where I've purchased titles previously and it was a situation where that they were marketed both to the teens and the adults >> because it was a cross it was a great crossover that they would that's where
the interest would be for would be for either groups. >> Collection building is stressful as a librarian because you'll be like this is great they're going to love it and then you just >> [laughter] >> toy. >> Yeah. [laughter]
So, but definitely if there's any um you know with any anybody that um you know had specific requests, we would definitely um you know support it. >> Once I started going through I was
trying to find certain that's was then like I was like okay we have an abundance of teen romance. This kind of makes sense. Although I find like with my 9 through 12 students, they're like very niche. Like there's like always that group of girls who loves the teen romance.
>> It's really for like 9 to 12 year olds >> because they are like, "Oh, I want to get into that." >> 12. >> Well, not geared to them, but they want to read them. [laughter] >> Yeah. Whenever you've had a fourth of
Molly Hoover [laughter] carry that in the intermediate school library just seemed like there were certain issues but then there were other things surprised and so I was just wondering like is there a way because I imagine the people who then go to that room are
the people who read in those particular areas and the others sort of swim elsewhere but like to gather either circulation data from schools or even to serve survey more widely like what are the middle school and high school kids
>> reading whether they're getting it from here or not because if it's not there they may not get it from there and they're not going you know Gabby ventured her way into the adult section but I don't know that everyone would do that at 12 >> um you know she was like felt like she
should get IDed at the door um but um to sort of gather that information I don't know I was just somewhat surprised now it's now that I've ventured in there and kind of how like narrowly the interest pools were. >> It would be curious
to hear like what motivates the ordering like what generates the titles that they decide. >> Yes. Each department like in charge of ordering for that. >> Yeah, that's why I was like is there a mission statement for that section or like original that Because if the
mission statement had dictated those areas and then the high school Yeah. girls and boys or what they're reading. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I know like my son's girlfriend's madly in love with this like series of
books. I have no idea what it is. >> Yeah. Like I know like the World War II like they like World War II reading group out of middle school six seven eight that had been running for years and years and years and they
all got to the high school and they immediately look for all the World War II historical fiction you can get and it's huge like just that little time period. Um, so I don't know, but it just might be worth
considering. That's worth keeping an eye on. >> Makes sense. >> Especially like >> Well, I used to say I'm not going to buy my teenager books in my book library, but then does the library even have it, you know? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I mean, I think they exist in the
collection. I mean, I'm I put stuff on hold all the time. I leave all those all those data points for me. Um, and so I'll just go through and be like, "Oh, that's a good one. That's a good, you know, put the ball on hold for my kids and for me, whoever." Um, and they either come from here or elsewhere, but
they're they're more just like what was located geographically. >> I do note in the team report that they cross referenced the list of potential summer reading selections, what is available. So, I'm I'm that tells me there might be more more of an eye to
this than than we know about right now. But in terms of how they're trying to figure out what the kids are reading or what they're going to be reading, >> I do know they always have good communication with the middle school librarian about what they're because
>> this uh rising seventh and eighth graders definitely have a pool of books that they're expected to pull from. >> Yeah. >> And they're always available here. >> Yeah. How much does that pool change? It changes every year. They alter it every year in some way. Um they may keep some
titles that were proven to be very popular and engaging and that they did a lot of people because it's it's individual choice. You can decide what you want to read >> um to do the assignment. So if there's a title that was like overwhelmingly chosen, they might keep it for a couple of years, but they do revisit it every
single year. >> That's good. And it's all the librarians uh the elementary intermediate school librarians who have kids moving into the middle school are asked to comment. The um head of the ELA department comments
on it. Um everyone is involved and then they also get um recommendations from students themselves for the list because we can talk about it all we want but we might not have any idea what they're interested in reading. And I believe one of the recommended
ones is um Hail Mary. >> Oh yes. >> Which has a massive waiting list for adults. So we're hoping that it that they change their mind on that one because we won't be able to >> be able to do that.
>> All right. Anything else from the staff reports? >> Not seeing anything. Um, I know you already noted that you spoke to the head of the foundation about those funds that they had left over from the grant. So hopefully they go to one thing or the other >> sooner than later.
>> Um, payment of bills, we don't have any bills this month. This last >> kind of bills. [laughter] >> Um, under old business, oh, it was circulated the statistics from July 4th. They were requested at the last meeting so we could just see what the activity
was around the holiday. Um, so those statistics went out so you could take a look at them. Um, we can discuss it further um, at next month's meeting in terms of how it will play out at the library, but at least now you have some actual data that can inform your decision.
>> Anything you want to add to that, D? >> No. >> Okay. >> Um, any other old business? >> Uh, new business. I actually have business. Um Lee and I were talking about the fact that there is no um
contact for trustees and that actually when I looked around at other libraries it seems like that it's about 50/50 where the board of trustees is contacted it would appear through the library director they're given the I guess gives whoever's inquiring the contact information of the trustee
Pembroke for instance has a designated email address for their library board. Um, the only thing with that is that the way that we have our open meeting law set up, we couldn't have an email address that went to the entire board because then you're opening up a conversation or um with everybody and
that would be a violation of open meeting law. But you could set it up so that two people um could access the email so it was more than one. There were two sets of eyes on it. Um, and it could be set up that way. And I guess my feeling would be that it would probably
be like the secretary and the chair who could both access the email. >> Um just because that then it would whoever was in the position they could access it when they move out of that position. Password change the next set of people take over and then they access that that way people's uh personal
emails are not shared out into the general community. >> Yeah. >> Um >> which I appreciate. >> Yeah. I think it's just more comfortable that way. Um, I've actually had so few in the time that I've been once community members reach out, a handful,
but either I was face to face with them, so I didn't need to worry about email, or they just acquired my email and they reached out to me on my personal email, which I didn't really think about it, but it wasn't a big deal because the volume was so small. Um, and obviously any of uh the employees of the library can talk
to you face to face or they could reach out to you via your email. But this way it would be an official channel if we had an email set up. So Donald looked into it with the town and found out there's no email addresses available. >> Oh, there's none available. >> So we'd have to create an email address.
>> Well, wait. What do you mean there's none available? Is there a limit? >> It's interesting. [laughter] So basically as far as getting a town email so >> exactly so it' be you know Kingston library trustees at kingston ma.gov. Um
so basically they purchase blocks of emails and there are two different types of emails. One is and I'm going to call it level one and then there's like level three. Level one is just an email which
they're out of but then there's level three which includes so the email it's um through Outlook. So you would get with that you get Microsoft 365 which obviously for the intent of this board we wouldn't need that. So um I had
reached out to it >> extend the level one was they >> yeah I think I I I don't know. So I had spoken to it about it um and you know inquired about it and so you know he said that you know he can look into it see what he can do to like free up free them up or whatever because basically
what ends up happening is like when people leave for example that it is like archived for a while so like should you know um you know I don't know Emily say that you know she had sent the ref former reference librarian tax return information or whatever for the library
or for the foundation that we could access it just download the archive >> [laughter] >> That's an question. I think >> I will >> I guess my question is is everyone comfortable with the idea of two sets of eyes on the email? >> Yes.
>> Because we since we can't do the whole board. Um and the only reason I said chair and secretary is because it just seems to make sense in terms of how the board operates. >> That makes sense. And then that way when
those two individuals they will have access through the email uh with a password and then it will get changed as people shift off and I feel like that makes sense. >> So it would be okay if people saw like historical conversations there. That's fine. It's just that's a thing to consider.
>> I know these people mailing list teams. So, if you're on a team, um, you'll get emails that go to that email address. And you can do guilds. You don't have to do everyone here. It could just be, you know, like
appointed roles kind of thing. >> I mean, I don't know if anything is so um that the rest of the board couldn't see it. >> You also have >> Oh, so few. But, so I don't But >> you have that a different person
continuing it. Like that's a reason why you'd want to have the same email. Same thing with like I'm retiring today and I get an email three minutes before I sign off. I was like that's [laughter] >> Yeah. I I just figured it made sense and then it could continue to whomever sits
in those >> trustees at blah blah blah. >> Yeah. And that's how Pembroke has it set up with that general email address under everyone's names. I guess if they were looking to speak to someone specifically, they could mention that in the email. Um, but then the way Dexray
had it set up and a few other libraries look just like ours where it's just the name of the trustees with the year that their term terminates [laughter] and that's it. Um, and the only contact is the director or assistant director depending on the library. So, I mean, I
think it would be a good thing to set up. Um, but I don't expect there to be like a ton of I I don't think the two people who are manning it are going to be on all day answering email so that you know once a week somebody
goes in to make sure there's there >> um this came up I had some people I was at a field trip at Kingston and there was a bunch of moms And once they found out I had so much connection to the library, they did have some feedback which I actually learned on to later. Um, but in my thought like in that moment I was like, "Oh, it would be
really great for them to email this to me because I'm on a field trip with kids hanging all over the place and our conversations were rather ducted." But I also didn't necessarily want to be giving out my personal info, but there um and so I wonder if we have one. Um,
and we don't. So yeah, I don't think there'd be a ton of volume, but it would be even nice when you have those face tof face conversations. So you just say, "Why don't you shoot an email so that we can get the answer or whatever?" >> If it's a concern, then it's good to have it in
>> writing. Yeah. >> Um and not just, oh, it was told to me or told to someone and then told to me and now I'm telling you. Um but if you set writing then >> yes >> for all those reasons for three emails a year.
>> So I will email it and ask that we'd like to go move forward. >> We're begging for one of those level one >> like KPL trustees. [laughter] >> Yeah. So I will um email him. He
actually will be on site tomorrow so I can speak to him then um to see what can be done to you know create that and then um I can have them share the information >> the way that it appeared in other towns. It just goes up under our names on the
on the website because I feel like if they're going through the trouble to actually locate where we're listed on the website then that's a perfect place for it to be. >> Absolutely. >> [laughter] >> Well, we'll have to be because once we have shift every time there's an
election >> is the foundation. >> Okay. >> Anything else under new business? Okay. Not seeing anything else. And I just want to say again, thank you, Jen, so much.
I really appreciate it >> and I know Kingston appreciates it. Um then I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> I move we adjourn. >> Second >> at 655. All in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? Perfect.