All right. This is the uh Lakeville Library Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, April 8th, 2026, and we are meeting at the library. Uh I will let board members introduce themselves. >> I'm Ruth Gross. uh board board member
>> Jennifer Jones, library director. >> Yes. Lefave, library trustee. >> Patrick Marshall, library trustee. Um we know Lake Cam is taping the meeting. Is anyone else? No. Okay. Uh so we will start with the secretar's report.
>> 278.3% And when anyone's ready, I will take a motion to approve. >> I just have a question. Um, Elsie Goldstein is not a Lville resident. >> No, she's but she is an associate member. So, >> she's an associate member. I didn't know
if it needed to be specified in there. She does own property in Lakeville. >> She does, but she's registered to vote someplace in Berkeley. >> I think we've had people that have been >> Yeah, we have associate members. I just didn't know if it needed to be said in
in the minutes, but that's okay. >> Well, that said table, so >> assistant membership. I'm sorry, I missed that. Okay. Thank you. Sorry. Um, I make a motion that we accept the minutes as written. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. We have a first and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed extensions. All right. They pass unanimous. Uh financial report.
So I have the financial report. And for the gifts, we did get one. I don't have the little sheet like I usually do, but um Doris Kawuchi brought $50 more dollars for the Dr. Bournestein memorial. So, we have purchased another one of the little wall manipulatives that will go up on
the wall soon. >> They have not had the dification >> yet. No. Okay. >> They were seemingly not sure if they were interested. >> Oh, okay. Just want to make sure I didn't miss. They should do some publicity if
>> Yeah, we can definitely do some publicity. Get some pictures in the basket. Christina, >> even if some of them would >> and I can write up an article. >> Yeah. Yeah. We can see if Doris and maybe some staff can come in or >> as long as their names are in they don't
>> if they don't have the time. >> We Christy and I can look at writing a little article or something. >> Okay. And then um financial report and we're a little bit over in heating now because of the price of oil.
So, I know there's still a top off that we'll probably do. So, that line's definitely going to be over by more. Um, and we are in the spending freeze, too. Um, so it's only essential spending at this point, which of course our
materials are essential, so I do have to spend on materials. >> So, it's anything within our budget is not We just can't go over our budget line, >> right? Well, yeah. I can't go over the bottom line budget line in terms of
operating um and a lot of like the materials I can take out of state aid anyway. So, and we should be getting our second state aid payment at some point and they haven't mentioned when, but usually it comes around April, May. Um,
so that will go up and then um I haven't gotten a balance for I haven't looked to see if there's a new balance for SAS, but that was around 62 expendable. So, >> is there anything that the children's
room is interested in right now or is Savage helping with >> I I honestly think we're looking at how can we um change up the room, renovate it to provide an area for the middle grades
that's a nice little children's room teeny tween room. >> Teen room. the teen room is yeah is underway and um it just got primed yesterday. We'll paint it today and tomorrow get it done by the golf. >> I know it is. It's such a difference.
>> So that should be done soon and then the the rest of the furnishings ship next week. So we should be getting them by the end of the month and then Paul and Teresa and I will >> Are you thinking that you're going to dedicate one I know like one side is
very early childhood. So, the reason why we put the Borstein Memorial on that picture book side was with the idea that maybe the other side could become more tween friendly, middle grade. >> Middle grade. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> So, the idea of the young adult room is
like 13. >> It's usually 12 to 18. >> 12 to 18. >> So, with the tween, you're talking about like 8 to 12. >> 8 to 11. >> Yeah. Okay. those the kids that are wanting to be
apart from their younger sibs, >> right? >> Yeah. >> But are still happy to be in the library. >> Yeah. >> So, I I think that might be a good use of some of that money to look at. You know, we we've spent maybe we'll end up
maybe spending 20 grand on the YA room. I don't even think it'll be that much because >> we bought the paint and it was only $200. So, well, the STEM study has always been sort of geared towards children's and we've done summer reading program and
things like that, STEM and stuff. So, makes perfect sense to since we've adjusted the YA room to now a teen room that we do something for the other age group. >> Yeah. And I did see a lot of great furniture.
There's a lot of great stuff. I'm sure they would have a lot of >> They're spending now. >> I know. I know. >> Okay, great. >> But I think it's it's something that really hasn't been done in like >> 20 years. >> 20 years now. >> 21 years now. >> 21 years now.
>> Well, that's the thing. These are the children of the kids who started in that room. >> I know. Isn't that funny? >> Yeah. The grandchildren. >> And Yeah. So, the activities room has been redone, but we haven't done much in the room. So I think that would be an
excellent use of some of the sal money to really >> well we have responsibility of taking care of the culture for all age groups. >> Yeah. >> 12 months out of the year. So it's like >> I think that's a great idea.
>> Are you still considering using the magazine area for something else? And >> yeah the book room and having that book room available for >> Yeah. I know what I'd like to do is
maybe get a space planner in. So, we might want to look at that before we go doing the children's room is just to get a general space planning in. um Hullbrook um my fellow colleague director there um Kate Gomes, she um
hired a firm that did an excellent report that I can share with you um that had some really great ideas about changing up the space and they took a look at all the areas currently and made some recommendations
and I think she said they were about um I think it was about $8,000 to hire When they do this, do they look at the amount of time people actually use different areas currently as opposed to >> Yeah, they take a look at Yeah, they take a look at who's sitting there
>> trends instead of usage. >> And then they also make recommendations based on broader trends like how you merchandise your collection, you know, and what you do with shelving. Is it mobile? Is it >> static? So, >> it was a really interesting report. So,
I'll share that with you. I'll make a note to myself to share it. Has him done anything like that? >> No, we need to cuz we're kind of the same boat here. The furniture is the original >> and it's I think every library kind of needs
to cuz it's just >> tastes have changed over the years. >> Well, I think maybe updating your >> maybe you can get a package deal, >> right? >> I don't think they're local, but yeah.
Well, if they're going to come here, make it work to them. >> All right. Anything other questions on the financial report? >> None. Materials you've caught up on, right? I know last time you said you were getting
behind. >> Yeah. So, we we still have I think about 19K we need to do over the next couple months, but I know there's a few databases that are coming in. So, >> that'll eat up a bunch of it. And Overdrive, >> three ebooks will take care of that.
>> I did make an Overdrive cart that's about between audio and ebooks, it's about $3,000. >> How much does an ebook cost? I know they're expensive, but I have no idea what expensive means. >> Well, for some of them are cheap. Some of them are like $15 and then some of
them are >> is it because of the >> $79.99 author publishers dictate the price to libraries. So what you and I can buy on Audible or Amazon for 20 bucks. They're charging us $109 for it.
>> And that's just for one >> and we don't get to own it a lot of times. It's only for a certain amount of checkout. >> So it's rental. It's a rental field >> kind of. >> Yeah. But I've been I've been trying to get the one copy one user lensure. So we sort of own it. But >> yeah. Okay.
>> But Penguin I think the publisher Penguin I don't think they offer that. I think theirs is the one that's it doesn't matter. You get two year you can opt for two years or one year. >> Well it's working for them. >> I know. Well everybody needs to make a
buck, right? All right, director's report. >> So, we did a little shifting in non-fiction for collections. We moved the cookbooks into some empty shelving that was along the backside non-fiction. So, if you go over there, you'll see that the cookbooks have just been pulled
out. And we're shifting things around to kind of fill in where they were and ease some tight spots. Biography especially has been tight because it's the only it has only one section of shelving on the back. So, if we can sort of massage it around and
>> make it look a little less um tight and more browsable, >> like we've filled up the collection space. We everybody was concerned about cuz we had a shelves here. >> Now, we are in the point of oh, we we
need to figure out how to make space for this. >> 20 years to grow your collection. >> And um story times for youth services, they've continued to grow with a few new families each week. and Teresa has been trying to get the parent chatter down to a minimum because they tend to talk and
increase the participation and it's come with kind of mixed results but I did attend at her request of one of the storytime sessions at PLA. So I have some notes from that person about how they get you know story times and they do bilingual story times and they have
more parent participation. So share my notes for that. Um, Bookworms is going to discuss a non-fiction book of their choice at the next meeting with a steam inspired activity after. Dungeons and Dragons is an enthusiastic crowd. Apparently, they're the first ones to
come in the building on the Saturdays that they meet. And she also had foil art and Lego freebuild in March with attendees enjoying the chance to be creative with building and art. Um, we hosted yesterday the sales youth services meeting and Teresa today will
attend the teen services meeting in the afternoon. Robera Gregoire for adults, her workshop, Retire with Joy, was postponed due to weather. She felt like people wouldn't come out when it was that awful rainy day. So, we've we've picked a date
on May I think it's May 14th, I want to say. I have to look at the calendar. Um, genealogy club met March 21st with 10 participants joining for the virtual presentation and this had been rescheduled with Thomas McKente on creating an ancestor sketch which the
participants found really useful and they were happy to have it rescheduled from the day that he couldn't make it. So, um, novelties had 18 participants to discuss her last flight by Beatatric Williams, and we only had one for, um,
trending topics, but we discussed three different books because we had had the weather issue with um, all the snow. But I think once we get back on track, um, we're discussing the traitor and the spy. this um this
one is a cold war title. So hopefully we'll get back on track and have a few people coming in. I know um one participant would love to see more people come in and discussion instead of just having me >> just the two of you. >> Um we have an adult craft coming up
tomorrow at 6 p.m. and it is full. It filled up within like I want to say 6 hours of the registration opening. it. Um, it is felted succulent. >> Oh, wow. >> So, it's like a little felt succulent
thing and she's got all the materials and I think people signed up at midnight as soon as it opened. >> I don't think anyone >> Yeah, Christina does the program. >> Listen to it. >> So, it's been really popular. She's had a lot of success with her craft programs
and I'm happy to have more staff doing programming. It's nice to have them. And who Australia is? >> Christina. >> She's very enthusiastic about it, too. >> She has to, you know, learn the craft herself and then she does it with the group. So, she's she seems to enjoy it.
She's even thinking about We've been kicking around the idea of a another book club with maybe horror or some weird fiction. So, >> yeah. I don't think she's into sci-fi, but like weird or horror maybe.
>> So, >> so we'll see if that that gets off the ground. We're thinking maybe a quarterly type of thing, not a monthly book club for that. And then golf in the library is this Sunday, noon to 4. The friends will be here
volunteering and and uh setting it up. And then MBTA Gatra, we have a reduced fair event from 1 to 4 next Tuesday. Um, genealogy club, family pajama story hour, and then our book clubs and dinner
in a movie are all coming up. We of course have vacation week. So the family pajama story time and dinner and a movie are during the school vacation week. For buildings and grounds, the well drilling should begin sometime this month. I haven't seen if they've marked
it. I haven't gone looking to see if they've marked anything yet, but I don't know if they came last week to mark it. >> They've got marks out there for the people who are working on the ground. So, it might be and we might not know it. >> Yeah, >> it's I would assume it's someplace out
back, isn't it? >> I haven't looked at that. >> No, Jack. >> Yeah. um our servicer for waterfalls has retired and he passed his contact list on to another business in Rhode Island. So I got a phone call from the guy and
also one of his former workers came by and said he started a new company. So I think we're in a little bit of a turf war going on with the waterfall people. >> Was he from Rhode Island before? >> Yes.
>> Yes. Um, Earth & Water was a Rhode Island company and um, right now I don't think it's prudent to run the waterfalls this year because that, you know, we are in a spending freeze. That contract would be at least $1,200.
And um, >> we need to put a sign out that says why the waterfalls are not running because people think that something wrong with the pumps or somebody stole the pumps. Those are over the years some of the stories that were circulating. So if we have a sign that just says
>> due to financial issues then the article is not running period. And that way it take away >> see what you did there when saying water circulating. >> If we have a really rainy year we would be fine. We could do but it's also
electricity too that the thing price of energy right now is a >> little bit Well, that will have an interesting dry bread bed approach, you know. >> Yeah, >> dry bread. >> Yeah, we'll have to I'll have to make
sure it's weeded during the year. Um, and I'll look at season. >> I know. I know. We have to look at pricing and services. So, I I'll contact both of the companies and I think there's one in Massachusetts I was looking at in Easton that might be a
good one to contact. So, somebody local >> um and see what their pricing is. We got the name of Earth and Water from Jan and John Molini up the street with theirs. Um, so it wouldn't hurt to give them a call and ask who they're going with.
That's Southeast. >> Okay. And then um >> I'd be curious to at least get the pricing before we firmly commit to it. >> So the gentleman who he apparently gave his contacts to um his company, he gave
me this nice brochure with some pricing. So I kind of know, but I wanted to check because we do need some boards replaced at the top of both of them. >> So if we could get that done, too, do a whole package for getting them ready for the season. So, >> but I think this year it might be
because it's already April, usually they're coming to put the pumps in um around April. >> Is there anything special you have to do if you're not running them to make sure that they don't get damaged or something? >> They usually sit dry over the winter and it hasn't been a problem, but I can talk
to them. >> They may have to be weeded or something because >> that's okay. But I do have some algae algicide too that I can pop into a bucket with them and run them for a little bit and just get the algae out.
>> I wonder the boards on top if like a slate slab or something like that would >> Yeah. >> solid not rotting over the years. I talked to Joe from Earth and Water last season and I said, you know, Frank noticed this and
it really needs to be replaced and it never works. >> Well, they're out of business. So, >> um, and Emily is working on the HBAC controls capital project with our current vendor, Johnson Controls. So, I
sent over to her some any information I could find about the current software and the hardware to see if maybe Johnson can just upgrade the controls. Um, so I'll let you know when we have more information on that. >> And they are 21 years old
and we know how things that are only 10 years old no longer have parts and >> are not efficient and everything. So, >> yeah, it may be a more in involved upgrade. We'll see. But at least the software I think they're on version 15
and we have version five. So >> really >> yes. >> Oh my god. >> And I looked at it like oh they're on number 50. >> Story of my life. I didn't realize it went on. >> This is one of those things where I really believe we don't want to meddle with it because it may destroy it.
>> Yeah. >> You know, it just may not be able to handle it. >> Yeah. So, we have to um we have to see what they >> worked so long and hard to get it to actually function correctly. >> So, in uh other news, Teresa attended
the fire station groundbreaking on Friday, March 27th, and the library was recognized by select board member and fire station building committee chair Lorraine Carboni during her remarks. And then we had 23 people attend the Southeastern Massachusetts Libraries
coffee hour that was held on March 27th in Swansea. So thank you Ruth and Nancy for coming. >> Why were we recognized during the fire station ground >> I think for attending. >> Oh okay. Just being there and supporting.
>> Oh okay. >> We had our local >> I mean and we do occasionally host the committee meetings. >> Yeah. um when they need a space and they have no other space to go to >> soon they'll have a fire station. I know
>> like they have a good size meeting room and then the reuse of the old fire station the town. >> Yeah, I haven't heard much about that lately. >> They should have. Um I do believe they have met a couple of times. The historical commission has
>> So PLA conference, just to note, it had over 6,000 attendees. It was a huge amount of people there. >> And how was the atmosphere in Minneapolis? >> It was fine where we were. because we were in pretty much like a business
district. Um, so there wasn't a ton. I heard a lot of sirens, but there was not a lot going on right in the area. But I did notice that when I went to a restaurant on Friday night, there were not a lot of people out. And this was 7:00 at night. And I'm like, well,
that's usually when people start going out to eat. And it was just very quiet. And um it there weren't a lot of people on the streets even where we were. And I know they have that skyway where you can it was bad weather all week so you can
be covered walking through buildings through the skyway but it still seemed like there weren't a lot of people out. So oh well. >> But it was nice. It was really a great um conference to attend. So I I plan to
make a report. Well, maybe with that many people feeling comfortable coming into the city, they will >> I think they said we were the first big conference since everything >> to return. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe they're they're
coming back cuz they didn't do anything. >> Sorry. And then um Teresa and I are going to attend lake build day. Um, so we'll have the tent from the friends and depending on the weather, we might try to register users with a laptop and a hot spot and we'll demonstrate offerings
and talk about the library and the friends of the library can demonstrate that you >> going in costume like trunk or tree. >> No. >> No. >> No. >> I know. There's a little white onesie that you could wear. >> Oh yeah, my painting onesie.
>> I have some wings if you want to go. >> Oh yeah, I could do that. I have no idea where we're going to be because there's an event going on at the same time. So, I think we're going to be further towards the fields. So, we'll see. >> Well, fun.
>> Where was it last year? >> So, it's closer to Lon Pon Lodge because they had the food >> out out on out >> on the black top or on the grass. >> More on the grass. But people were tending to face the street and I thought we should face in the grass because you don't want people walking on the street
because there were still people driving. But >> especially if there's an event. Is there an event at the lodge? >> Yeah, there's an event at the lodge. >> So, I think it'll probably be more >> towards the parking lot in the fields. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Didn't they know this was going on when
they planned, you know, agreed to an event? But whatever. >> I I think always setting calendars, especially when you have a commercial element, is hard because people probably if this is kind of a family thing, They probably did it more than a year ago and
you never know. >> Right hand, left hand. >> Yeah. And it honestly you have to plan farther in advance. Like if you're going to do this every year, you should probably >> Yeah. Just mark out the calendar. >> Going to be good. >> Well, they'll figure out whether or not it works by having an event and having
this at the same if there's a lot of problems and then probably block up. And then the friends of the library met on Monday to finish plans for golf this weekend and tea in the library on May 3rd. So they'll be selling tickets
um during vacation week. So or is she starting >> they have a limit of how many they're selling? >> Yes. 28 tickets. >> 28 tickets. >> They're doing 28 tickets because they are >> multiples of
>> I think the tables are four and six. >> Okay. So, the idea was to um extend a free ticket to Carol Magner and Diane Brennan for there. >> Do you know what the time is for the event?
>> 1 to 3 for the tea and then 12 to 4 for the golf. Let me do this. Oh, what a nice I love Oh, look at the tiered plates. >> Yeah, nice poster.
>> And then um for the gallery, Charles Wood had a nice reception on Monday afternoon for his show um which will be viewable through the end of May. I would just like to say um it's a Dynamite show. So, if you haven't seen it yet,
take a look. He's a very talented artist. And >> where is he from? Westport, I believe. >> And we we got word, unfortunately, that the gentleman that planned to share his James Scene collection has passed. >> So, gallery committee is working on it
on a plan. >> So, maybe we can keep the middle school up for a couple of weeks and maybe Nancy can put her show up a couple of weeks early. >> Was this the guy that used to do the protest posters? >> No. No. It's just a a local resident who
was a member of the national James Dean. >> Oh, I feel like the you know who I'm talking about. I can't think of his name. The guy that used to go around and do had the various which were kind of cool. The old >> protest posters and things, but I feel
like we had him years ago. Yeah. Uh not the same person. I forget. This man's name was Brian Lewis. >> Yeah, that man wasn't like >> No. Yeah, this was a president. >> All right.
>> Very sad about that. >> Any questions on any of the director's stuff? If not, we'll push reorganization of the board to the end. Uh policy list review, local history room, discussion, and
possible vote. >> So, I brought the policy back. I just cleaned off the highlights and things and took out where I was removing the language and just changed coin op to coin operated.
We have coin operated in here. >> It's near the circulation. >> Okay. It's the the libraries. >> Yeah. It had said in the old policy it said there was one in here. >> There was one. >> Well, there used to be a little >> It It was mine. It was a little
>> So, didn't we have a sign off list thing? Did we eliminate that? >> The second sheet. >> Oh, the second sheet was the >> It's a release form like Yeah. >> Yeah. I didn't include that again this time. Did you want me to bring that back
for >> Well, I think one of the things was to give people sense of um responsibility. >> Yes. >> Because they are usually unattended. >> So, we did put as in the policy here is the same on the form that items should
not be written upon, altered or damaged and any misuse or damage will result in the loss of use privilege and a bill for the cost of repair or replacement. I think I think they still need should need to because it's sort of out of the way. >> Yeah. So, I didn't bring the form, but
we're still going to use that form. >> Okay. So, you're still using the form? >> Yeah. >> If someone brings material out of here to copy, should they stop by the circulation desk and show them what's >> supposed to leave this area?
>> But unfortunately, we don't have a question. >> Yeah. So, people do have to bring it out. But, you know, it's something we can keep an eye on and we if we know they're we can see them coming out. And >> some of the issue is that be >> I mean, we've had papers pages taken out
with a razor blade, which means premeditated if you came in with a razor blade. But people have a sense some people feel that because their tax dollars have paid for some of these things. In fact, many of the things we have in this room are donated by people
who are downsizing their own genealogical research. material and they have been copied or the more delicate things are stored in the other room in the Mary Fuller room. >> But sometimes people have an attitude that they are entitled to this and
unfortunately it then means the whole collection shrinks. It's everything's not available to the general public. I hope that because some more and more things are put online almost weekly. You can get access to books that are no longer in print and everything like
that. if you do even just a simple Google search or a link search that people will stop having that attitude. But we've seen that we've lost stuff over the years. There have books been that have disappeared. >> Is there anything that's too delicate to
be copied or well anything that was too delicate? what because of some of the the in uh directories that we had for this area, we the paper is not great quality paper to begin with and it's it's over 100 years old and what ends up
happening is just moving the pages means that things disintegrate. So I went through and I everything and put it in vinyl uh protector sleeves. The originals are here in case anybody absolutely had to see the original for some reason. Um, but ba anything
pertaining to Lakeville and the Middleboro area that covered us um is in here and it's it's possible to replace some of those sheets if something should disappear, but >> it's basically it's the hand mishand you know that you can't handle the stuff
after a while. >> Well, the truth is most anybody who wants to copy >> can you take a picture? I mean, I wonder if we should say the machine is available, but
because of the delicacy of of the items, we suggest you photograph them and print from home. >> Right. I had a person who came in here and that's what she did. She copied everything with her phone. She didn't
even bother to use the m copy machine. >> Well, just if you've got a book, it's going to crack the spine. And it depends on how delicately you handle the cover of the copy machine. And eventually it does do but a photograph on your cell phone. Everybody has pretty much a cell
phone. Yeah. >> It would be probably a very small group of people who would need actual assistance with photo. >> I mean people may not think of that unless we suggest it to them. >> Do you want to put a line in here? That's I think it means it's it is permissible to use your cell phone to
photograph or or use a card. >> I could put that in front of a coin operated. So >> coin operated machine is available near the circulation desk. However, due to the delicacy of some items,
we suggest photographing with your phone. >> Or could you just simple it down that if photocopying is needed? see the staff for assistance upon which then the staff could suggest the
>> or make copies or do whatever. >> Yeah, like some of the older volumes that are in there, they're in good condition, but over time I just find photocopying anything in a book is a dangerous thing for the book.
So, do we want to take out a coin operated copy machine is available at a circulation desk and put in if you wish to copy an item see staff for assistance >> or we or we can allow I mean taking a picture isn't going to destroy the print
or anything. >> Oh, but the staff person could then I just think that I mean we could have a whole bunch of stuff in here that they could do. the staff could just suggest maybe you have your cell phone take a photo.
>> So if there is a need to make a copy, >> but you we might find because of the um abilities and experience with of the users, they would just automatically take a picture of a page.
>> Well, depends on their age, you know. >> Yeah. Depends on who they are, what they've done. >> Yeah. They're not the ones that are going to go to the staff first. They'll just take the photo and Yeah. >> be done. >> Okay. So, I have If there is a need to make a copy, patron should seek
assistance from staff before using the copier. >> Yeah. >> Prior to using copier and then we could say, oh, why don't you just take a photograph if you >> will also help whoever had the question of, you know, now the item has to leave
the room anyways to make a copy. So the staff will know that it's left the room >> cuz it's always so easy to leave even if it's a sheet of paper, leave it in the coffee machine or whatever. >> So the one above it says items may not be removed from the local history room except to make photo copies with the
assistance of staff. Do you want to add that too? >> Yes. >> And then if there is a need to make a copy patrons I could move that one up. Yeah, maybe. So, >> we had switched the two.
>> I can remember when we first opened, one of the big concerns is that monitoring who was leaving the building, what they had with them was a real concern. And we talked about all the things like sensors and we never did it because it was just cost prohibitive to the collection as it
was 20 years ago. >> And you'd need to put tape in all of the things. >> Yeah. And then you have an alarm system that goes off and everybody >> Yeah. >> has no clue why. It's like when you leave a store and they forget to take those plant things off or clothing on. >> Who pays attention to a car alarm? You
just go, "Oh, somebody made a mistake with their car alarm." Not >> well, I mean being stolen. >> We in when I was working at Plymouth, there were security gates that read the RFID tag, too, and would be able to see if it had been checked out or not. So you can get really technical about your gates or you can get
>> and we really that's not an issue here >> sometimes but not frequently like people just I think forget to check it out. They put it in their bag and they walk out >> and forget that they haven't checked it out but and then there's some intentional non-checkouts but
>> well and also if you know that on eBay this book is worth $300. Not that we have a lot of those, but if we have something here that's was printed in the 1800s, there are no reproductions except online and people want that book because their
family member, I'm talking genealogy now, is was in that book. Um, it is a huge temptation people even if it's not for that reason, if it's for resale, you know. So, >> all right. Any further discussion on the
history room? Do people feel they would like to vote on this policy with the changes or do you want to >> I would think that we could say that um I'd be willing to uh make a motion that would we would accept the new revised revisions given at this
meeting as well as um the changes that we had made previous to this. >> Okay. All right. So, NY's made a motion to approve with changes the second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I all oppose
extensions. All right. >> Do you expect to be answering that? >> I don't know. >> Maybe one of these days I'll abstain just for the >> just for the purpose of it. uh FY26
budget process update. >> So I believe we are going to have our hearing before the select board and finance committee next Tuesday. I plan to write up a little thing to give to the select board of like Andrew had asked for our accomplishments and goals,
but I might write a longer list. He only asked for three. So feel like we've accomplished a lot. I want to make sure we get that and then talk about some of the projects that I want to work on. um in the coming year and also the
return on investment address, you know, because sales nicely does this um you know, value of service document for Lakeville. They do it for all the libraries every year. So, I want to make sure that the select board knows that number and how much value people
get out of using the library. I love it when we get the little register tape from the print out of what books you've taken out and what the value of them are. >> I mean, I think that's a good reminder to people that even though we loan things because they're free, we're a
free public library, there is also a cost to replacement and everything. And >> the cost is surprisingly hefty. >> Yeah. >> Like everything $40 a book. So your your tax dollars the percentage what did they
say that at the meeting they that the amount of money that is included in library budgets for town municipalities is like 1% of the total >> usually 1% or less >> or less of the total town budget. So,
you're getting a lot of bang for your buck when you have a library that is active and we have services and we can get you materials and it can save you a lot of money, especially if you have multiple people in your household who
are using the library or students. So, that's my little push. >> There you go. All right. Next up, we have the library director contract. So, I had a couple spots where I um highlighted we don't
know I don't know yet what the number will be for salary because they're still working on that. You know, that will probably be known once the override votes done and the town meeting's done and whether it's level funded or if there's cost or
percentage. And then the second spot was um the holidays. So it says Thanksgiving and Christmas. The day before Thanksgiving and Christmas have been designated as half days. So on um the
list >> which so that is page three. >> Three to four. >> Three to four. I think the the language is on page four. >> Yeah. So, um, it just needs to change from the day before Thanksgiving is
actually given as a town holiday. So, I don't know if you want to change that. What I have been doing because the library is closed. Um, like I don't Oh, wait. I don't think the town gets the half day anymore. But what
has been happening is that I usually am not here when the library is closed. So if it's closed the Wednesday, I don't come in the Wednesday or the Thursday, but I do come in the Friday because um I feel like I want to make sure like
book drop is checked that the building cuz it's a long span of nobody being. So what I usually what I have been doing is just take the Wednesday and the Thursday and then come in Friday and then check the book drop and all that. >> Do you want that? Do you think that
should be designated so there's no question? >> I I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to do that. Um because I'm not sure that the town actually does a half day before and Christmas is Christmas Eve is designated a holiday. Well, on this
thing here, it just says Thanksgiving for the um >> yeah, in the day after Thanksgiving that came out, >> but we are also open on Saturday at Thanksgiving weekend. So, I mean, it's not >> Yeah,
>> even though we technically we are always closed on a Friday at this point. >> It might be good for clarification in case someone questions. >> Yes. So the the Christmas Eve is now officially a town holiday. >> So that should be added to the list then.
>> Yeah, that should be added to the list. >> That's easy enough to >> and then I don't know if you really want to mess with the Thanksgiving or just in practice leave it as is because I don't know that it's the same.
I think they don't get that as a half day anymore. That's the day before Thanksgiving. >> We don't have any half days here anyways. The only time we have a half day would be if it's not really a half day because it would be a staff day
where you're doing workshops or something, right? >> So, it's there's no half day. So, I would eliminate um half day the word half days at least from there. So, >> yeah. Because because they don't get the day after Thanksgiving,
the staff takes the day before the holiday. >> Gotcha. >> I think that should be specified. However, however, our language is it's unique to us because we are open on the Saturday and only other would be
emergency. >> Yeah. And I'm fine with coming in the Friday because it's less of a span that nobody's in the building. If I did come in Wednesday, >> I think the if we're we're just taking out the half day, I would leave the others as day after because
>> it leaves it flexible for >> Yeah. >> for the director to be able to she generally does work on Fridays after or during the week anyways, but she's choosing. >> So, should it say also the day the days before Thanksgiving and Christmas?
>> So, Christmas will have to be taken out anyway. It's Christmas Eve. It's a holiday. >> So the day before Thank the day before Thanksgiving. >> So what you're looking at is are you keeping the half day before Thanksgiving? Are you eliminating the half day before Thanksgiving?
>> We don't have We're closed the day before Thanksgiving, >> right? So >> So we're closed on the Wednesday. >> We're closed on the day be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving >> because the day after Thanksgiving is given as a holiday. >> Yeah. right now.
>> They um since we're closed on Friday, the staff would not get that holiday. >> So, we're just eliminating that entire line and putting Christmas Eve above in the list of holidays. >> Yeah.
>> So, that we're going to eliminate the whole thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> But should we put the date? >> No. >> Before things, >> I would leave it as it >> just leave it and that leaves it flexible for her. Okay. Anything else?
>> I think that's all >> typos. Yeah, there's typos. >> Uh, under death on the last >> Are you really going to care that >> under the the last line? It shouldn't be maybe. It should be may be.
>> Where are we? Oh, >> number six. >> Roots orbit. I'm sorry. >> The employee dies during the employment period >> expect it. It should be good grammar if
it does >> because if nothing else >> on the tombstone for it'll say she had good grammar. >> She was the grammar police. >> It's left to me. We're going to spell grammar wrong. So
>> we're going to spell J M A. >> All right. Do we want to vote? I know we can't do the salary because we're still waiting on that, but do we want to do a vote for the contract to make sure Jen doesn't leave us? >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. So I will take a motion for
>> I move that we accept um the contract with the CL things like date changes etc updated and the removal of um may be to be may be and um
see the holiday. the holidays. >> The holiday >> sentence of Thanksgiving and >> Christmas. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> All opposed? Extensions. Well, of course, we should have put the uh date listed the new dates. That should have been the one thing, too. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. all the dates after the change. >> So, well, but we were doing this as
another what three year >> cuz this one was three years. >> Three years included dates. >> Okay. >> That has to go by this left board too. >> That's a personal board. >> Has to go to HR, right?
>> We'll give them a copy. >> Yeah, we have nothing to hide. You didn't give you the >> All right. Uh teen space redesign. >> So, the room has been primed and is ready for painting.
Paul has patched up a few holes and I think he's still got one more place to patch, but it looks pretty good. I mean, the primer covered the red pretty well. >> So, is the primer the same color as the top coat is going to be? >> It's a light blue. It's a um color.
>> Yeah, I have the the swatch in there if you want to take a look at it. It's Caribbean something. Um, but it's a a tealish light kind of like much light color on it. >> That the bag a little bit lighter than that. >> Yeah. Similar color family.
>> That's going to be pretty. >> Yes. And then some of the furniture has already come in and as I said, the shelving is getting shipped next week, so it should arrive by the end of the month. Um, and I know Teresa was asked at the Friends meeting if she wants to
do like a grand unve un unveiling of the room. Excuse me. So, um, we're thinking about that, but probably in May because then we can not be worried about anything that gets delayed. >> Yeah. So,
and hopefully they come and use it. >> Well, I think that maybe with the activity and craft stuff that she's going to add, that would be All right. >> Uh 250th anniversary program planning. >> So I'm a little behind on getting the
brochure ready. So I'm going to start working on that, you know, the end of this week and into next week. Um still kind of on the fence between two titles, doing 1776 or maybe doing Common Sense by Thomas Payne. They were doing a
reissue of it, so I'm thinking about it. And what I'd like to do is maybe get 10 copies um of the books that were giveaways for patrons using the funds from the car making corporation. So >> the um reenactors
>> I haven't reached out to them yet. So we're going to do that too. I'm a little little bit behind on that. And um so we I haven't talked to Ted Binstein too. So that's another program we could get on the on the list. Soon as we have I
put in the um local historical society things under historical town newsletter. So as soon as we have some of the dates in we need to get them in as early as possible so people will know more. >> Yeah we have the dates for the discussion
>> big poster type of thing here in the >> once I get the brochure we can kind of take that and make it into a poster size. So, um I did see Janway who does all the little novelty things and they have designed a really
cutesy logo. I don't know if it's cutesy. It's just a little eagle with glasses and reading >> a book for the 250th. But they have like bags and all kinds of stuff. So, I don't know if we want to look at some, >> you know, chop keys to give away to
people. People like it too. >> I love swag. >> Yeah. >> So, we can look at Jani. And then Rhode Island Novelty was there, too. I didn't see if they had any particular 250th, but they probably do. So, I grabbed one of their cataloges, too. Good.
>> All right. Strategic planning. >> Um, I have not yet reached out to MLS, but that's kind of my next move. I did attend a strategic planning workshop in during CLA
who kind of did a a different they started with um a survey then did focus groups. I think their timeline was a little different than what I had previously been experienced with. So,
I'd like to look at what they're doing and take some information from them and see about um getting the survey out as soon as possible and see what people are looking at and then going off focus groups and the information that comes out of that.
>> Cool. All right. Other new business. I got two things. one, the I told Jen the um Mass Broadband Institute equipment will be arriving, I've been
told, on Friday, February 17th at 1:45 p.m. >> February. >> Oh, yeah. February's really been stuck in my head. >> It's because we've all been drowning forever. Uh April, April 17. >> Because it was 20° this morning.
>> Yeah. give us. >> Um, so as soon as we get that, that'll be dropped off in one spot and then we'll separate out like Bill's stuff and figure out. >> So it's all going to go to warehouse. >> It all has to go to the one spot. Yeah. So we have to sort. So that should be
interesting. >> Oh, this is exciting. >> Um, the back. >> I don't know about Jen, but I totally have forgot what I've ordered, so you know. >> So long. Yeah, I've got to look at it. Um the other thing is uh we did do uh
her evaluation and we will get that to the HR department. Um needless to say she passed and you know >> we want her and all that stuff. >> She bribed me well so good. No thank you.
>> Uh so let's see next meeting date and time. I totally >> we do have to do re I just figured once we do that I can't control anything anymore. >> Have we heard anything about the employees we have discussed so far as
HR? No, there's and I don't know if now is the time to I think that's a good thing to work over >> put a proposal together because it's going to it's going to require some some money because what I think needs to
happen is because if we change the custodian's level that will put the custodian above the clerks. Oh boy. So, we need to think about where the clerks lie in that as well. And I think we should write up a
proposal for the select board >> to change both to be at a certain level. That makes sense. And I'm not sure there was discussion of understanding the class and comp study that was done
by HR and how there is a significant difference between other towns and Lakeville >> meaning we are higher we are lower. >> It's Lakeville Nancy how long have you optimistic? So the the the knowledge is
there. I don't know that they can do anything with it at this point because of the budget situation. But >> we did the same thing when we were looking for a new director was we went and surveyed what people what the number of hours and the size of the population
of other towns that were comparable with Lakeville, not New Bedford because it's a big city but >> and a different population. And what we found out is that we were lower than anticipated.
So it's not a big surprise, >> but I think that it's something that should be addressed. It's, you know, it's been brought up by the employee and I think addressing it would be good. Um, I just think that I want to get a nice proposal together for
>> Oh, I think you're gonna have to the proposal here, but as you said, that's going to start a chain reaction. So, it really has to be a town >> it has to be >> a townwide thing. It can't just be >> Yeah. Well, and this is something that we've tried for years to remedy because
once one position moves, then it affects a lot of other people who have similar responsibilities. So as long as the our employee knows that we are working on this, we haven't put it away or anything >> and I can let the employee know that we
have talked about it and we'll be working on it proposal to send you feel strongly this should be some should be a change. >> Yeah. >> I mean I speak for myself but I think >> well it's something that is going to be done right. It's it's got to be townwide
and it's it's something that's going to take time. It's not something that's >> it's not going to be immediate >> immediately going to be corrected. >> Oh god. >> And it's based on the funding available >> and there's >> and I'm going to have to put together what what it means for
>> the cost how much more it's going to cost to move the people to where they should be. So >> that >> I mean it's it should be done. It's honestly it it needs to be addressed >> and everything is out there. We're not fabricating numbers or anything like
that. This is what is currently being used um for pay scales and stuff like that for the municipality. >> So >> I think we had already scheduled April 29th. I don't know if you still want to
do the last week of the month. >> Is that going to be gone until the 27th? So I think that's why we >> that's why we date. Yeah. Yeah. Was that in case we needed to meet date? >> No, that was our >> regular schedule to be back on today is
our >> because of the budget stuff. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. 29th is fine for me. 9:00 >> if you want. Or if you want to wait till
>> May. >> Well, then that brings us um towards the end of May, right? 27th of May. >> I would not be able to do the 27th. >> I'm going to be out of town, too. >> How about the 20th?
>> I'm going to be out. >> Is that a Oh, is that a sale? >> I think the last two weeks of >> I don't think it is. Is it a board meeting? Maybe. >> I don't have anything yet on that >> cuz I know the annual meeting is in June. >> Yeah. >> And there's a membership this month.
>> Unless you want to go if we keep I mean the 6th. If you want to just for the May meeting do the six, it'll be four. >> Yeah. Instead of the end of April. >> That's because the >> budget >> 13. The um I believe the override vote is the 19th. Yeah.
>> Is what date? >> 19th. >> 19th of May. >> Yeah. >> Of May. Yes. Correct. >> So we are going to not meet on the 29th of April. Oh, we are going to meet on the 29th. >> Yeah. If you want to meet May 6, just to
put push the meeting to May and then >> Okay. So, we cancelled it. We're not there. >> 12 through the 29th. >> So, not meeting on the 29th. >> May 6. 9:00. >> 9:00 or 8:30. >> 9's good. >> 9's good for me. >> So, we're going to meet on the 6th of May.
>> Y >> at 9 a.m. here. >> Look at that. And then the last thing on the list would be the board reorganization.
Um I would nominate um Nancy Lefer as chair and Ruth Gross as secretary for the upcoming year of
>> I would nominate you for treasurer. Dr. >> member at large big responsibility. >> Yeah. Um so okay I will amend my motion to have the board be Nancy Lefay as
chair R as secretary and me as treasurer slash member at large slash dickback person. >> Second the motion. Any further discussion? All in favor? >> I. All opposed? Abstensions.
>> All right. >> Thank you for your service. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I will do the minutes for this meeting >> and then I get to start. >> You want to do the minutes again? >> Yay. >> Last but not least. Oh, I guess you
would make the motion to close at 9:40. Or >> is there I I will let you have that. >> All right. I will move to uh journ the meeting at 9:40. >> Second motion. >> All in favor?
>> I oppose. We out of here. Okay.