Right. Welcome to Thursday, January 8th, 2026 library trustees meeting. Um, do we have any correspondence? >> We do not. >> Any public comment? >> Doesn't look like it. >> All right. Minutes of prior meetings.
Has everyone had a chance to review? Okay. Any changes or edits? Right. You must Anyone want to make a motion? >> I move to approve the minutes from the Ruben Horn Library Trustee meeting on December 11th, 2025. >> I second.
>> All in favor? >> I I Great. So, treasurers report report it. So, MMDT has $43,485. The gift fund has $6,26262. State aid has $28,51361.
Building gift has $36,73461. Lead has $116,895. MBLC gift uh fund has $686,044 and the BAS month ending statement value was $1,877,714.18 and that's stable. Um, all right. Friends report.
>> They didn't meet since meeting [laughter] report. >> Great. And their next meeting is >> should be a week from Wednesday. >> Okay. [clears throat] 15th or something like that. >> Great.
Um, so any building updates? >> Um, just that Eric is um is waiting on the parts for the front door. That's why it hasn't been fixed yet. Um he when I spoke to him the other day, he said that they're supposed to come in this week. >> It's one more day, so maybe next week.
[clears throat] >> All right. So soon hopefully. >> Yes. >> Um anything else that is? >> Uh we're having an issue with these patio doors now. Um we think maybe the wind did something. Um but they're [clears throat] not shutting correctly.
So Eric is taking a look at it. Um, I think he feels like he might need to shave part of it down, but he's not sure. >> Is that too? >> Yeah, probably. >> Okay, >> but that's it. [clears throat]
>> Great. >> And the assistant director is short. >> Uh, I don't really have that much to report since it was mostly doing stuff. So, just working on our audio book screen. It's about
eating too many cookies. >> All right, Sam, do you have your director's report? >> Yeah. Um, again, not much to report. Uh, we closed at 4 for the weather on December 2nd. [clears throat] Um, we closed at two on December 24th for Christmas Eve and closed 20 Christmas
Day and the day after Christmas. Um, and the step town staff engagement committee held a holiday lunchon on December 16th, which I believe Susan went to. Did you go to? >> Oh, yeah. I went to >> Y. Um, I couldn't make it. >> I think they had, you know, four now.
Yeah. So, they had, you know, like a catered buffet and then I think people brought in desserts. I didn't have any desserts. They had >> Yeah. every uh department was asked to make some sort of raffle and so Susan made like a little gift bag >> that was raffled out and uh the IT
director Nancy won it. Um and we started winter reading program um about it. The rest is just the stats. Financially, we're pretty much on target for the year. >> About halfway through.
>> Yeah, we're halfway through. Sam up questions for Sam or Mike agenda again. All right. So, old business, we had fair 27 budget update. >> Um, yeah. So, this morning I met with
representatives from the FINCOM and select board um just to discuss my budget. mostly told them about the cuts that I discussed last time. Um, at our recent department head meeting, the finance director, Robin, said that um, all the cuts that all the departments
made um, brought us to a balanced budget. So, um, we're looking good. So, the budget pretty much looks like what I showed you last time, except um, she did add the colas for everybody. So, um I believe that took us over by 9,000 in
payroll, but over previous year over this year. Um but, um we're still under by about um I think it's negative.79%. So, we're doing pretty well. Um yeah, but when I discussed it with the fincom and select board members this morning,
they seemed okay with it. They didn't seem to have an issue. Um, I am scheduled to go before the FinCom and Slug Board big meeting on [clears throat] Wednesday, January 21st at 6:30 p.m. at the police station. Um, so that's when I will give my report to the whole select board and the whole
film. >> Um, that's also seen as the friends meeting. So Mike is going to go there for that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So Mikey's going to that and I'm going to the police station. Um, but yeah. And do you want any
physical support? Oh, you don't need me. Have you company? >> Um, >> we try to show up to hear you and >> it's fine. I'll be okay. It's >> We may show up anyway. >> Yeah, it's fine. Whatever. Um, yeah. I'm just telling him we cut stuff. >> Are there any questions that you're anticipating?
>> No. Um, this morning the only questions they had were is are you going to be okay with the cuts you made? I told him that yes, we have other income sources that we're looking to take it from, but we want this to become a regular thing. [laughter]
Um, and basically, um, I told them, you know, that we do have other sources, so I think it'll be okay. Um, I also explained to them how the MAR works and how we definitely can't keep making cuts like that in the future. It it only works this year, but in the future it
doesn't really work that way. Um, and [snorts] then I also told them that we're looking to create a new adult services librarian position in future fiscal years. So, they were made aware of that and um they had questions about the building, how it's holding up. This
morning I told them, well, other than the doors, [laughter] other stuff seems to work fine. Um, I have discussed like things like big things like the HVAC system and with the architect and with Eric and everybody seems to think they're going to be okay, that they will last for a while, but um,
you never know. >> Eric's like that. >> Yeah, Eric's on that. So, last years. >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't see that being for like another 20 years, maybe. Hopefully.
It breaks tomorrow. Awesome. Uh yeah, but other than that, I don't think there was anything no different from any other year. >> Any other questions?
Budget looked like just an adjusted budget from what they had before. >> Yep. >> All right. Ray Grande scholarship committee updates. >> So, yeah, I scheduled the meeting for what is it?
20th at 4:30. >> We'll be with Sam to offer him some support the night before he go to his meeting by adding another meeting the night before he goes to that meeting. >> Did you put together slides for the town meeting? >> Yeah, I already did. They actually give them to us. >> They give you a structure.
>> Yeah. Which is a pain in the butt because they highlight stuff where you're supposed to fill in. So I have to go back in and unhighlight it or else it looks my OCD mind won't let it. [laughter] But um yeah, they give us slides and it's pretty simple. >> Do you want anyone to take a second look
at anything? Not even financially, but >> No, the slides are just like literally just put in the numbers. >> Good. >> Yeah, it's not like anything [clears throat] too crazy. >> What task is the Ray Grande committee just getting started? >> Just getting sorry, just
Sam, myself, and Kimberly, and David had offered to be on it if needed, but was happy not be on it. we had had enough people. Um so we are getting started about how to publicize it and if there are any changes we're making for last year for the the assessment process and
we've not we've not discussed anything as we do it. >> Great. All right. Any other questions about the rain day? So the community reads update. >> Yeah. So I've booked several programs for the adults. My plan is to have the
kickoff on March 2nd. That's I'll start putting out all the books for patrons to start taking. Um, thanks Sarah. I contacted Silver Moon Lose and she's coming on the 17th St. Patrick's Day. >> Yeah. Yeah, that was the only day she was like able to do it.
>> We Italians don't care. [laughter] I I'm so fun because she's awesome and I really want to see her, but it's my husband's favorite day of the year. So, >> yeah. um adventures and vegetable gardens with Judith Taylor. She's going
to do a program. Um we're having arts and crafts, resin earrings program, mushroom talk, um supporting caregivers for the whole community aspect of it. Um composting 101, a spring forge with Emily Mccrez, and then the final day for
the book chat will be April 29th. Um, Jennifer and Megan are still working on what programs they're going to do. So, I'm waiting on them to do that. And then I'll probably come next month with a budget to ask for um to help cover some of these programs. So, um yeah. So, any
questions on that? >> Okay. >> Remind me of the book >> rating sweetness. Okay. >> Is there an audio book option? >> Yes. >> And there's a teen in children's tie-in plan. Yeah. So, Braiding Sweetg Grass
has um a teen book literally called YA version of Braiding Sweetgrass and then there's a picture book. Um I forgot what it's called, but there's a and I already bought them all. They're all upstairs in my office. So, we have >> Yeah, the plan is to just give them away
because >> So, you're going to catalog them? >> Yeah, it's a pain in the butt to catalog them all and then while we do them, people return them. So we'll give them away first come first serve and then anyone else can they're playing copies in the system that patrons can take out. >> How many copies can be purchased?
>> I think 50 of the the te of the adult 50 of the teen and like 30 of the children something like that. >> Wonder if there's a way to do a like if you finish it return it for someone else to borrow if someone doesn't want to keep it recycle.
>> Yeah, I could suggest that when I um come out. >> Yeah. or if there's a way to put him in the book sale room or something to >> Yeah. >> or one her family, which most people know. But >> yeah. Yeah, I'm definitely going to say that. >> Excellent. >> Yeah. >> You could keep them behind the desk so
staff tells them. >> No. Yeah, we could do that, too. >> Well, you want them to be able to see it to pick it up and like maybe one is a sample, but if you want >> Yeah, you could have display and then say go to the circ desk, >> I guess. Or not. >> Yeah.
Malaysia. So, >> great. >> Um, yeah. So, any questions about that? >> I'm really curious how you came up with these programs >> to go with >> Well, the book is about, you know, plants and it's a it's a non-fiction
book about science and um indigenous [clears throat] people and community. So, >> I like it. >> Looks like there's a nice variety in there. >> Now that it's over. >> Yeah. That's a great it's like a series of essays by this Native American
woman and she left a PhD in life. So she is looking at native interultural practices for both cultures and she takes her college students to marshes to show them how native people
set themselves and times in the year for example. She's so she's like a field trip >> college professor and she's exploring the resonance between ideas about what's sustainable from
different cultural perspectives it's lost different parts of the country book tells us about other other native groups traditions like fire west se was from upstate
like she lands in upstate New York and she does a lot with around Syracuse and there's like industrial wasteland now on places that were sacred >> Indian places and uh she sort of talks about the she's talking about spirit and
she's talking about land and the essays are all somewhat like you can read it uh you don't have to read it front to back you can read it >> selectively So it might work out well for one for family you're picking it up and reading
in a sitting >> interesting. We were just coming up with that community questions that I think the point I don't I don't [clears throat] um the only other thing I forgot is that I did hear back from town council today.
I asked her about the whole dance group thing. She said we're within our rights to um deny anybody the rooms, so it's fine. Um she said to keep um track of, you know, if [snorts] they damage anything and that sort of
thing, but um and she recommended that maybe we don't ban them forever, just wait a few months and then, you know, reassess. But she said that we're fine. >> So, do we need to update the policy at all? >> Yeah, we might want to. I'm going to
talk with Mike about how we want to update it, but I'll I'll let you know. >> So, you haven't told ADS they can't come yet? >> We have to. We have. Yes. And they've been um there's been a few that wanted to speak to me. So, I've spoken to them and I explained the reasoning and so
they apologized. They said that, you know, they're very sorry that that's this way and they they understand. >> Okay. Good. [clears throat] >> Okay. So you guys will talk about the meeting room policy and any propose any
amendments that you should bring to a future meeting. >> Yes. >> I think we had blanket language that supported it but not being Yeah. I literally just heard back from town council like 3 hours ago. So >> wait.
All right. We're at Nubis. >> This has been a very history. [clears throat] >> This is what happens when you hit a whole new >> I didn't have >> other than the meeting or anything to
add about the main question. >> No, I was just going to say when we were meeting uh and then kind of what's on the agenda for that you already >> No, I didn't know the agenda. So I just Yeah. Um Yeah. So as just to we already have this but we're meeting on January 20th um 4:30. The agenda is basically to
set our dates for when we're meeting and also when we want deadlines and all and things like that um to review and update submission form from last year and to make a plan for getting the word out. Like a good start.
Okay. So no hearing no new business. So 6:30. >> Yeah. [laughter] already other business which I don't think we're going to have because we don't have new business. So any trusty updates I want to share? I just completed one full bingo card for winter
reading. >> Yeah. So I got a late start. I didn't feel it already started. So yeah. >> Yeah. When does it end? February 22nd or something back.
>> But yeah, it's it's later in February time. >> That's good. >> I went to the legislative breakfast in Lancaster and this was their trifolds out double signed. >> Oh, interesting. thing, but um it had to look like the agenda of the
speakers and they also prepared a little history of their line and out something like this once history. Maybe it wasn't just it was way too fancy for me. Jeff was working on one. >> So anyway, um you know that was
that was good and they they invited um their library chair board chair opened it up and the library director sort of mcded it. So he would say a little bit and then he'd introduce him else. And then they brought in a high school senior congrat young man was dressed in
a tie suit and he was a passionate advocate for libraries >> and it was just it was great. They had a little five minute prepared speech and uh you know everybody loved that and then they brought in someone from MPLC
to talk about um legislative um priorities. Um and each each of these talks was kind of anecdotal. So they were telling their personal story and then of course they invited the legislators to come tell their stories.
They had a state senator So, and it was over fast and I took photos of the spread, the food and drink. That's that's probably the most important thing like breakfasts. Um, was good.
>> Was it just good food or was it alor? >> No, it was just good food. Um, and it made they made people kind of walk all the way through the time to get food and then to get place tacos. >> Intriguing. Yeah, that was good.
>> Their their library must be amendable to that plan. >> Yeah, it's sort of like a octagonal center >> and then wings off of it. >> Interesting. So you had to go in one wing to sort of sign your registration and you walk around behind through a
children's area to a place where the food was just just stacks and then to the living room uh which used to just be the periodicals room but they pushed all the periodicals out the way and it didn't make an open space
and they just showed slides on and I checked the schedule this morning on the others. So Clinton is February 7th, Friday. They're all at 8.
Andover is March 17th, right? And so is Subbury and >> Win Thursday. [clears throat] And the rest of the way.
>> Yeah, those are strikables. What do they mean? >> 13th Thursday. >> February of March. >> March. >> What is that? March 7th. >> Yeah. Both September.
>> When's the next weekend? >> Right. >> Next weekend. >> No, the weekend after the 17th. It is not on St. Patrick's Day weekend, Mr. Al. >> Also, I um I read 119 books last year.
90% were audio books. So, I sent an email to Mike and Sam just thanking them for especially Libby and Hoopla, which I use all the time and I really appreciate those services. >> 63. How do I not have it? Never.
>> Yeah, good readads will try. >> I read 25 >> also good. [laughter] >> I'm assuming it's for weekend the weekend of March 20th, right? 20th 21st. Do you call our own friends?
Is I realizing I'm not in my dunk? I think I Zoom. >> Oh, it's on the 20. Yeah, >> I knew it wasn't the same weekend as the news. >> Oh, sorry. We may have covered this
before since holidays again. Um, even made the marketing kind of the marketing page, the one pager. Um, did we come up with kind of a plan for how we're going to rent it, how we're going to use it, anything like that? >> Um, no. Not yet. >> This I just was wondering. Yeah. like for the budget next week. It's an
important thing to bring or are we good? Because >> not really. It's not really necessary. [clears throat] >> Well, my trusty update is that a former treasurer of the trustees has cleaned out their house and has given us their files to go through. So, I will be going through these to figure out what needs
to be shredded. [laughter] So, but it's an interesting look back at where we were in 2002. [clears throat] Okay. And also I could not get here right quick enough according to my son because he was really wanting to get here for D
and D. So I appreciate James and Megan greatly and giving them them opportunities to sorry you took over your [laughter] app but yeah I saw it at 6:30 on my calendar and I was like that kid right so I changed it to
Yeah, that happened. Well, we had a so great. Um, all right. So, next meeting, February 12th, 2026 at 6:30. [laughter] Change that now.
[laughter] >> All right. We need a motion to motion to adjourn. >> I'll second that. >> Oh, I can. [laughter] >> We'll give it to >> it was a tie. Just All right. All in favor? Bye. Night.