Okay. Uh, good evening everyone. Um, so, uh, this meeting has been advertised in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and is, uh, publicly accessible in accordance with the law. Can I have the roll call, please? >> Sure. Rocco, >> I am present.
>> Thank you. Um, so wait, I just want to see what they mean, too. Okay. Um, Dr. George here. >> Sarah Manino, accent. Maria, I am here. Zabad.
>> Gina, >> here. >> Maddie, >> here. >> Mayor Walker is out. Frank Weber. >> And now we'll do Dr. Sasso. Do you want to change it in here? >> Yeah, I'll do that. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> We do have a quorum. >> Yes, we do. >> All right. So, let's move the pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Okay. So, to start off tonight's meeting, um, we have executive session here. Do we need an executive session? >> I was hoping we could see if that's our our guest. >> Come here a minute. Um,
okay. Um, we have a guest speaker this evening, so it's up to you if you want to do executive session first. She's volunteering from another library to come in and speak to us. >> Yeah, do her first. >> Yeah, let's we're going to move executive session to um to later after
the presentation. So, we'll let's do the minutes first at least. >> Sure. >> Where were the rest of the people? >> And I'm gonna this unmute. >> Oh, that's Frank isn't here, right? I'm not hearing him. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, we will we're going to move uh we're going to skip executive session at
this time and move to the minutes approval of the regular meeting minutes of November 12th, 2025. Can I have a second? >> Oh, and both. I'm sorry. Of end of the executive session minutes on November 12th, 2025. Can I have a motion for both, please? >> I'll make the motion by second.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? Okay. Can we have a roll call, please? >> Roco, >> yes. Dr. George. >> Dr. George. >> We're voting on the >> broken.
>> Oh, okay. We're voting on the minutes. Joan, do you have a vote on the minutes? A yay or nay? I don't know if she can hear us. >> Joan, can you hear us? >> I don't think she can hear us.
>> No. Um, should I try a message? >> Yeah, let's try a message. Now, can we continue the vote? We'll come back around town. >> Sure. Um, I am voting yes. >> Uh, Gina, >> Maddie, >> yes. Uh, where's I'm sorry. I'm hitting
chat and I'm not getting chat. There you go. Oh, thank you. But she won't know. Look at >> it. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we're taking a vote on the minutes. Dr. George,
>> I'll abstain. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> And unfortunately, um I believe we've lost Leslie. >> She was on there and then >> she was on very clearly. Yeah. Let me
just make sure that she doesn't have >> Okay. um >> for the public and for Joe, we actually have a speaker, but uh they dropped out for some reason. >> So, we're just going to try to get a minute to try to take them uh get them back on.
>> Okay. Um I'm just if we want to go ahead with other things and then if she comes back in, maybe we can pause. >> Do we even have executive session issues for tonight? >> Um I'd like to just go over because we have a lot of the personnel with the leaves of absence. Okay,
>> we'll save that for the end. We'll we'll move that to the end. You know, we should move let's let's move forward with personnel. >> Okay. >> So, we're going to move forward with um personnel at the time until our guest speaker comes. >> Um unless this does this have to do with one with the other? >> You want to talk about those leave
before the board votes on them in exact session or >> Yeah, I thought it was good just to give everyone Yeah. Um my apologies. Um we are going to go to we're to take a motion for executive session at this time. make. >> Okay. All in favor?
>> I >> And then how am I moving to I don't know why I'm um I'm sorry. Put a meeting room. There we go. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. We are >> I'm going to pause this or Yeah.
>> Yes. Yes. >> We are back and we are admitting lesson. >> Okay. Okay. So, we uh we are back out of executive session. Um would you like to introduce our guest? >> Yes. Um so, welcome Leslie. Um thank you
so much for joining us. Um we're very fortunate um in that our board of trustees is very interested in adding a social worker to the library services and not just an an intern but kind of like your position is is committed there
and we're looking at having a full-time person here. So, as we go into that, um, I've it's been great to interview some library directors, but I wanted to speak to you directly, um, and let you tell the board a little bit about what you do and how you handle um, being a social
worker in a public library. >> Thank you. Uh, good evening, everybody. I, um, am delighted to be here. I was actually a retired social worker before I ended up in the South Brunswick Public Library and actually uh because I had a friend there who told me they were
looking for a social worker. Uh just went in to have a conversation to see what it was all about. It is a new and developing area for social work. So best practices are still evolving although there are places in the country that have had social workers for some time.
some of the larger urban uh libraries uh Chicago and so forth ha who have high need patrons I think brought in social workers to help connect uh homeless folks and people with uh high resource needs to uh services in the community um
entitlements and so forth. Um what's really interesting for me I've been at South Brunswick for two and a half years now um is kind of how it evolves. Um, and that is what I've learned uh from my colleagues in some of the other
libraries. It's a mix of suburban and urban libraries. South Brunswick is is you guys know South Brunswick, I'm sure. It's a township. Uh, you don't walk there. It's not like a high volume people off the street. It's really people who are coming to the library uh
for a particular reason to work, to play, to learn, to study, you name it. Um, and I think maybe there was one conceptualization of what library social work would would look like, which is
sort of patron focused, you know, working with people who come in and say they have a particular need um or a particular problem to solve. Um, and really what we've learned is it really goes beyond that that there are already
people using the library who have needs. You don't even know who they are. So um you may know some of them um but for instance uh there are a lot of people who have wellness concerns, grief and loss, caregiving um we in in our library
we have folks who work in the library who are doing trans national care caregiving lots of concerns stressors things like that. Um so I say that as a backdrop because there will be people
who may be looking for information and resources. They may need help with entitlements. Um they may need help with social uh programming um to help them solve whatever their life challenges are. But there's many
avenues to kind of engage the full library community in getting help and support. That can look like wellness programming and coordination with things that you would be putting on your calendar or have on your calendar already. You can add social work to
that. I really as I see it, I am an extension of our information services um team because um I have I have specialized resource knowledge. I mean, Don, you asked me the question like what's the difference between a social
worker and a community resource librarian? Um I mean, we can both do the job. Uh we have similar um objectives, which is to help people get what they need. Um I think what happens uh on my
side of the way I see it is that um as a social worker with some experience I walk through the door with an understanding of the systems of care and the avenues through which um you can maintain a currency and an accuracy of
information about what's available in the community. not just what is a service that might solve a problem, but what is the right service for this person, which takes um even though I know a lot of the resources, it takes a little time to kind of just decide you
can go through a directory, there are loads of things that might say, "Oh, these will help this person." And you start calling and you find, well, no, not really because they don't meet the criteria or no, not really, their funding was cut. Uh and so on and so forth. So I think that um if you look at
a social worker as an expansion of your team, not separate from um you really add a capacity and a value in that you have somebody who can spend the time it would need uh someone may
need to solve maybe the initial thing they come with and sometimes the story unfolds from there. Um, obviously you can be dealing with confidential information when you're asking being asked to help get access to entitlements depending on who that person is. They
may or may not have a facility with a technology. Um, sometimes they do, but then these processes are very cumbersome and I've sat with people got very frustrated um because they got kicked out of the system, etc., etc. It can it can look like a lot of different sorts
of things but I would say a social worker does come with some specialized knowledge. Um I think that um my my focus was getting engaged in the community by participating in for instance in for instance the human service advisory council which every
county in New Jersey has one. Uh you have all kinds of human service providers that participate in that from child care to senior service to to disability services etc. The real advantage of that is you stay current on what's happening in the nonprofit world.
So you have the opportunity to really not just make connections but again know that you're giving accurate information to folks that are looking for some kind of help and support. Um so I talked a little bit about programming patron
support. There's staff training and support. Um, sometimes folks come and say, "I'm wondering how I should approach." I'm only part-time. I should say that 15 hours. Um, you know, we we have this person in the library. We're not sure. They're not asking for help,
but we're not sure how we should handle. Um, you know, my approach is yes, tell them about the service, but it's really voluntary. You don't want to force anybody into anything. You want it to be a safe space. Um I have people who have come back over time who
uh with practical things but as they come back they tell me a little bit more of what their stressors are. Um so it is a go at your own pace kind of situation. It's not a clinical uh it's not a clinical situation. It's really
what information and support do people need and how can you help connect them to that. That's the sustainable part of it. you know, you want to get them into the systems and the places that will help and support them. I also look at social work in the programming area as a way to do prevention work, uh maybe
secondary prevention work, in other words, um or maybe primary prevention work. You know, I was bringing in some partners from um child serving agencies to talk with our parents after story times about child development issues, healthy
development. parents had a chance to talk about concerns they might have about where their child is. Um that starts to create, you know, uh another avenue for people to kind of talk about things that may be worrying
them. And therefore both can we provide an educational session on that and bring people together and also then can we say by the way we have a social worker here or we have somebody who can help you you know navigate the system if you find that you're having trouble. Um
I just want to see pat and then there's program development and community partnerships. I do see myself as engaging not just the library community but being involved in the service community. So that um I think it's a two-way street. Libraries are a great way to amplify the messages of social
service and nonprofit providers because you've got the general public. Um, we've involved our library in needs assessments the county was doing so that patron needs are represented, not just ser not just service recipients. So, there's a lot of different ways, you
know, a social worker can participate. Um, there is a group of New Jersey social workers. We meet once a month. um outside of the NJA NJLA then an NJA sub subgroup developed but we basically
provide support to each other or combination of um urban and suburban libraries um and sharing best practices ideas sometimes policy issues come up in the library we're trying to really create um a safe space
when there are students and interns so that they don't end up in a bad situation ation. Um, I shouldn't say bad situation, an uncomfortable situation when maybe there's just been a task supervisor. I I
do I have a bias. I will say interns can be great, but it's very tough on them to not have um the kind of supervision they would get in a in a in a different type of setting. No, no knock on anyone. Um, and I'll just give you a quick example and then I'll shut up if you have any
questions. um one of the libraries I was South Amboy I think it was South Amboy or Sville I'm not sure South Amboy I believe had an intern and um her last day she was calling me to say can you
help this person who I just has so many needs and it was an issue of somebody who who was injured on the job had brain injury had his whole life turned upside down and they were just trying to sort through what kind of things they they
could um get access to. And there's an example like there she happened to find me somehow. We didn't say anything about geography. This was a person who was in need. I discussed it with my director. We had the time to
help. Um and as it turns out, it was it's kind of kind of a complicated situation. So because she was leaving like here's somebody that kind of she got started with right at the very end but then really couldn't do the work that needed to be done. And I think
that's a I think that's a disservice to to somebody who comes to you to say help me and then it's like like I I would love to but I can't. Um, so I I think having a a a a social worker part-time
or beyond really provides that level of consistency. Um, you get to build something. You know, interns come and go. Um I would say after two years you know doing ongoing needs assessment becoming part of the team um you know creating a
visibility that's not scary like oh social worker you don't know it's another person in the library here to help with resources and support. Um so I I I mean I could go on and on. I'm a I'm a I'm a convert. I heard at the national
conference of of social workers they had for the first time in South Carolina that I believe there are 77 social workers across the country um in all kinds of settings. So this really is a developing and growing uh field and I think you know you could
look at high need individuals as sort of now you have a resource to deal with that but you could also look at kind of what level of wellness and support you can provide to the patrons who maybe wouldn't think about talking to a social worker but have life challenges that are stressful
um and difficult. Um, so, you know, it can be what you want it to be. It can be exactly what you want it to be. And I think that there is no one-sizefits-all. I think it's there are a lot of commonalities, but I think when it comes
right down to it, who what is your population? What are your needs? How does this supplement and support your team and expand the value of services that the library can provide? Lizzie, thank you so much. I'm going to
just jump in quickly there before we get to questions. First, I want to welcome our trustee uh Zamad. We're talking about the possibility of adding a social worker. So, Leslie has joined us from South Amboy where she's been successful.
>> South Brunswick. >> South Brunswick, I'm sorry. Um so, I've been working with people and this is we just had the mayor's uh the bridge to wellness on Monday. So the mayor wants to prioritize wellness um throughout the
the community and this is where um when she's talking about interns. So there was a program from 2022 to 2024 where Rutgers went through and had social worker social work students do their internships in libraries. And while
that's great, exactly what we're talking about, the consistency, um, you work so hard to have people understand that we have a social worker and then the social work's gone at the end of a semester. >> And I do think, um, some of the things that came up today at the emergency
management meeting was, you know, and these are things we'll work out with the town. I don't know how much time someone can commit right now to connecting a person with resources when they come in. So what is our role? What are the boundaries between the municipality and
the library? And I think we can do that very effectively if we are open um from the beginning um to see you know we're not calling somebody on a Sunday night whatever but you know we will if you
have to connect somebody with 211 we'll take that on rather than having to meet us of how we do that. So I think that can be a good partnership but that will happen with the mayor and the business administrator and other employees. Have you had any of that? Um what is your
interaction like with your um municipality or township? >> Um one of the first things I did is I talked to um I got to know our um social provider who also is our food pantry um and also our senior services uh our
senior center director. And so um I kind of went to learn what they were doing. I we were still evolving. what were we going to be doing and really just have continued the conversation. I introduced them to the notion of participating in HESAC because I thought they could
potentially benefit from some of those relationships and communications. Um, and we we we sometimes get people who uh I have a lot of uh contact with a particular senior who didn't want to go to the senior
center, but I called on when I need help about, well, is there a good resource um that I'm I'm missing. Um I've said to Jeanie, who's our South Brunswick uh uh food pantry and social services person, you know, call me if I can help with a
resource. here are the areas I have expertise in. Um, you know, and so we we do have a working relationship and that's been really great. >> Excellent. And one of the other things that I'm working on is I really feel like um our promotions rely on us
branding our different tracks. So our performances and concerts, that's something we do. Our learning sessions, that's something we do. And then our wellness. So we're already doing so much of that wellness. But I think that the person coming in could be the
coordinator for that and then we can say what are we doing for teens? What are we doing for parents? How many programs a year do we have to have as minimum for us to be provided? So um that's what I have. Does anybody have questions for Leslie? >> You do. Hi Leslie, how are you? Thank
you so much for coming in to speak with us tonight. Um, do you feel that being there part-time does allow you enough of time to meet with the patrons? And are you taking appointments with them? Are you going walk-ins? How are you how are you scheduling your day when you are
there? >> Oh, she probably >> um hopefully she'll unfreeze. This is one of the things that I think with um part-time is it really stays more just library. If we really want to venture into
my connection is unstable. >> Everyone except us. >> Dr. George is moving. >> Yeah, Zab is moving. Dr. George >> um I don't want to hit this and lose everybody. >> No, don't do that.
>> Okay. Well, um I >> Oh, there we go. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Uh it says my internet connection is unstable. Um I do not do automatic scheduling. Some people will have like
you can go online and put yourself in. Um I respond to people directly. The thing about me is because I'm a retired social worker, I have flex and and I'm at a certain
life stage, I have some flexibility in my schedule. So, I schedule myself based on what some of the needs of the patrons are. If I know somebody can't come in, you know, during the day, I do try to have like, you know, I I do work till 6 on some days. I come in in the
afternoon. Some days I have long days. Um, I do a lot of communication by email with people's consent. Um, that's probably the biggest thing is you end up playing phone tag trying to reach people. So, uh, our information services desk will say if you're okay sending an
email, you know, um, Leslie will get back in touch with you and then we coordinate when we're going to talk. Some people it's phone, some people it's in in person, some people it's a one-off. they just need some kind of specific information about how to get something, some kind of resource. Um,
and and then some people come back over and over again. As I said, I have a particular senior aging alone, um, truly alone, who has a lot of things she wants to put in order before she dies. So, um, I'm helping her work through that process.
>> Program, I have to remember which company offers it, where they come in and they help these seniors do their last living will. um the power of attorney, you know, the healthc care proxy, they'll come in and do everything for free. And I want to say that it's a
partnership for a drug free New Jersey, maybe, but I'm I'll look into it and then I'll connect it to you. >> And this is where you can bring in here then. >> Just having somebody who's doing this instead of me having to go out and vet the providers, >> you know, I I I really I appreciate Dr.
George said at one meeting like free me up to do >> are they quality stuff would be good. >> I have another question. How do you handle teens when they come in? >> Here's the other thing I would say. Um teens don't typically come to me.
>> I may go to them. Here's the thing. People, and this is an important thing in my mind, and and maybe as a part-timer, it's it's different than a full-timer. The people who know the patrons who may be in need the best are the people in each department. So the
children's services people, the adult services people, they see they know people, they have relationships for a long time. And in fact, what's been the most effective is for them to be a partner with me by being able to whisper in people's ear and do a warm handoff.
Hey, I know you're stressed right now. You know, we have somebody you could talk to who maybe can help you. do you want, you know, and then they'll come to me and they'll say so and so, you know, is going to come or they'll introduce themselves. Um, we have one person, one or two people at the information
services desk who are particularly good at kind of hearing what people aren't saying and kind of saying, "Hey, by the way, like here's Leslie can help you. She has the time to sit down with you. It's she's here
today, etc., etc." So the teens, I've had some young adults um but typically the teen interaction has been where we've gone in and I say we like me and my student have gone in and planned programs um to engage the teens so that they know
you know if they wanted to come they could honestly don't really see kids don't really see teens generally have talked to parents I've talked to college students I've talked to seniors I've talked to to young professionals um
>> and if this should come what's the ruling with that like what's >> there isn't one so I just want to I just want to interject what so I also spoke with um so we're very fortunate to have also um Leslie helped structure the program at Madawan with Kimberly Pon and
they have very intentionally not gotten involved with the kids because the schools already have social workers okay and programs going on Now, in exactly what Leslie was just saying for our young adults, once they get to be where
maybe they've stopped, they're not going to school anymore, maybe they're working, those kids who are 16 to 18 who may not be in school or something like that, they are very particular if they're going to sit down and meet with those kids that can't be in a private space. It's got so we're we're acutely
aware of that. And that's where after we get done with our discussion tonight, the next steps I was going to suggest for everyone is getting um a job description together and then also going over these issues with Chris in greater
detail where he and I can look at the liabilities from a purely kind of beam counter perspective to bring those back to everybody because our policy will dictate a lot of this and we are free to do what we want to do. So Leslie, what I'm hearing is is that
the patrons are being referred to you, right? More or less, somebody's referring the patrons to you >> or or self-referred. You know, they we advertise, you know, I for I'll give you a quick example like we did a social media post during eating disorder, national eating disorder month or
whatever. And we we've been using social media to advertise kind of basic information on different issues, uh different resources. somebody saw it, they called. They had trouble, you know, finding a place for their daughter um who had just gotten out of a treatment program.
>> So, they do self-reer also. >> So, if we were to do it here, it would be under wellness. People know there's a social worker, >> of course. So, this is one of the things that we would have to do a lot of promotion >> and this is why I want to think about it
very carefully. But then it's also um with the bridge to wellness with the mayor's initiative um going out to the HOAs and things like that. This is a person who could go out and do that. Yes, we have adult wellness program. Yes, we have youth wellness programs. We
have programs to reduce anxiety for kids with public speaking. Mhm. >> But if we put that into that one track, library track of health and wellness and this person can coordinate that for the other librarians and regularly lies with
the schools with um Rosemary and and um Matt's doing the social services and things like that. So, this person's going to constantly be doing that um back and forth with everyone and just keeping a pulse on every program that's available and being a resource for
everybody, too. Instead of you having to go dig through and find everything, this is a person who would hopefully have and exactly what Leslie said is um so wonderful. Leslie had said to me, you know, if we move forward with this position, the person would be welcome to attend this very supportive networking
group of experienced people in this developing um area of librarianship. >> So, Leslie, do you know anyone that is available that maybe you recommend that they can apply once we have a job description put out there? Because I believe strongly in referrals. I want
somebody who works like you and thinks like you, right? because we feel that you you're doing this, you understand, you've created the structure, you know what needs to be, and your recommendation would actually be a welcome, hey, you know, a little nudge. Hey, why don't you apply for this job?
This is they're looking to fulfill a position that's similar to mine. >> I don't I don't particularly know anybody at this point. A lot of my friends have retired. So, >> but hours and I could travel when I wanted
to. So, they said yes to that. Um uh I I will tell you that I had heard from Kimberly that she had she advertised and she got a lot of resumes. >> Oh, she did. >> My name is Gina Talama. I'm just curious. Um, do you find that people
feel that in the library setting it's easier for people to want to talk rather than like go into a medical facility and go on a one-on-one like where they like where they feel it's a therapist? And do you feel that it's just a little bit more laid-back and they can come in and not feel such pressure?
>> I think I think yes. I think of course people may need that medical center because they're getting mental health services or so, you know, things like that. I think I think people might be inclined to uh look for information. Um and
sometimes in the strangest places, quick example, we were at National Night Out. I had put something up about endorphins and like how to increase all the good uh chemicals for mental health and a man came up and said, "How do I stop the stop the voices in my head?" And um now
that's a whole assessment right there. This is a public event, etc., etc. You never know. But the lesson in that is you never know when somebody's going to come up with a question. He'd never been to any kind of counseling before. He didn't really know how to approach it.
You know, I did my own quick assessment to make sure that he wasn't at risk. I didn't get deep into it, but um why am I saying this? I think libraries are generally feel like safe spaces. Everybody I talk to says, "I love the
library. There are trusted people in the library. The trick is to make your social worker a member of that team and not make it some someone different. I made it a point of showing up at our our social events, our national night out. I
was I was actually giving out free books that were weeded books that were ma, you know, decent books that were going to the recycle pile as a way to talk to people after story time, bringing people in. you know, when you talked about a teen, if a teen has a particular need,
there are some newish programs that come out of the state. Um, you know, and actually like 4C's, I don't know if you've ever heard of them, but they can come in and do talks for teens Monday
>> stress and stuff like that. So, um, so I am Am I answering your question? I don't think I'm answering. No, I I I just to me it's I I can't think of a better idea of doing this. This is such a great idea. I could just picture people wanting to come in once it's, you know, feeling a little bit more at ease
because this is a safe place for them to do it. You know, there's no stigma. There's no right. >> There's no stigma. And here's here's the other thing I'll say. the current state of um you know the the of the federal budget and the roll down to the state and then the roll down to the county you
know there's a lot of concerns about how the safety net is going to be is already being affected for for a lot of people not just people on the fringe fringe and so I think libraries are uniquely positioned but also may find themselves
in a position where people are coming in saying I don't know what to do George you know, people who haven't perhaps been compromised >> um with their housing or with food insecurity or with their bene health
benefits. We've heard what what's going to happen to health benefits, the cost of certain medicines. Um, so in that sense, I think libraries can be a huge mouthpiece for information that really makes people's lives as
steady as they can be um, under the current um, circumstances that we find ourselves with political changes and funding and so forth. >> So Leslie, you'll sit with them and you'll fill out the application and answer questions and help them if they're not understanding.
>> I Yes, I have. And you're able to do it on the the the laptops there at the library. Personal information and stuff. It doesn't save and stuff like that. It won't be >> I do. We do it. >> We set up the computers. >> We set it up. >> All of our computers out there now,
nothing saves anybody's information. Every session is private. >> You're guaranteed privacy. >> Yeah. I would t sit with somebody and have them complete it. I do have somebody who has a vision issue and she's just like, "No." And I I, you
know, make a point of saying, "I'm reading it all to you. I'm reading every single line to you. You're going to tell me, you know, tell me if I'm right, I'm wrong, etc." So, yes, um, the library wouldn't be comfortable with information services folks doing that. Um, you know,
I'm sworn to confidentiality by license. Um, and so, uh, if it's it's up to the patron. I mean, if they want that level of support, I always try to get them to do it >> for themselves. >> You get the success stories. Do they come back and say, "It worked. I found
this. I have this. I found a house." Or whatever. Do do they >> I did I had I had a very stressed mother who had a disabled child who she felt the Department of Education was giving her the runaround because he was bullied at school and this changed his whole mental health uh situation. and she, it
turns out she had a lot of um financial issues, marital issues, maybe some DV, I'm not sure. Uh, two other kids and she was so stressed out and she called and said, "I need help because I can't take this anymore." When I went through the long list of things I could think of,
she had done them all. She had done them all. What was happening was the system moved slowly. And what the only thing I was able to give her was a listening ear confirmation that there was no other thing. Children and family services happened to be my area of expertise. So
I felt very confident that you know what she had done was everything she could do. And I just you know we talked about stress management, wellness for her, care for the caregiver and things like that but a lot of validation like what a good mom you are to be you know to be
going you've done everything. Um, three months later she came back at Christmas. She said, "They finally placed my son in the school that I wanted him to go into." And I just thought, "You should know." >> I didn't her to do that, but that was terrific. It was terrific. And I
literally I listened and I validated. I didn't have to call one person on her behalf. Um, and so sometimes it's like that, right? >> You know, sometimes it's like that. >> And all of you will be ambassadors for this program. Um, you know, I was in a a
meeting today and one of our municipal partners questioned the library having money for a social worker and where does that come from? And it just it's explanation. It's connecting people precisely, Leslie, like you said, it's not, oh, the library's got this separate
social work department. They're expanding what they're doing. No, we're just going into it's information services. we're we have an expert on this type of information to give to people. It's not like we're opening up counseling sessions. Um that kind of
thing so that you know you you'll hear that and what we'll do is we'll develop language together and give that to everyone so that you've got talking points. And I I would just add the other the other part of that is the expertise falls flows over to the staff because
even with the full-timer, does that cover every hour the library is open? >> Right. >> So, you're really building the capacity of your staff team as well um with the information and knowledge that the social worker can share, whether it's
about approach, whether it's about common problems that people need resources for, um you you name it. So, I think it it's efficient in the long run. It really is efficient in the in the long run in my in my opinion.
>> It's a great idea. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much, Leslie. And honestly, if you have nothing else to do with the other half of your day, you have a great place here. >> You're going to love them. You never you never know if you want to
send um if you want to send the job description when you have have it. I'll see if there's anybody in my network that my you know my my from my old network that would be interested. Um I'd be happy to.
>> Yeah, a recommendation is always such a great way especially in this area. >> Thank you, >> Leslie. We'll be in touch. Happy holidays to you and your family. >> Thank you. Well, best of luck. I'm looking forward I hope it I hope I hope it's a yes and I'm looking forward to partnering with
your future social worker. >> Excellent, Leslie. Thank you very much. >> Have a good day. >> All right. Nice to meet you. >> So, if >> Thank you. I'm going to start working on a job description. Um and um >> find the one that Leslie want to
>> Yeah. Actually, I was going to ask her for if she had her job description, >> but I thought you could do that. I have a question for you is so you were asked where the money could come from for this. >> Yeah. >> Somebody said to me um today, oh well taxes are going up. How do you have
capacity for a social worker? >> And I just said, you know, our funding is determined at the state level. It's not determined um by the municipality. But also, >> just so you know, I I did say to them, you know, we're a very large community
with essentially one branch. So Boot back up. But just out of curiosity, couldn't our health and wellness work in conjunction? >> Of course. >> Oh, it will. >> Yeah, it has to. >> And and this is why I was at the meeting
on Monday because we're already doing um gentle yoga and raiki and caregiver support and all of that. It's us having an expert on staff who can gain, you know, do that and then us developing a brand for it. having a visual, a logo
for people to come and look and see. I mean, if you look, I'm gonna give a shout out to East Brunswick. East Brunswick's done a tremendous job with their health programming. >> East Brunswick is like hands down on everything. It's amazing. Oh my goodness. On everything. >> Yeah, >> they are so wrapped up and involved,
cultural art, everything >> from top to bottom. >> They're they're doing they're doing a great job. But when you see that, um, it's because of the investment of time and staff in it. And that's what this would be for us. and and it'll grow and as the in the sense as the health and wellness bridge to wellness grows also
it's going to go across the entire town partnerships will grow and more needs will come up and we'll stamp it with the mayor's health and wellness seal on its >> the needs are there and we'll just keep tapping into what the needs are and just so everybody knows so um Hackinack already with them today they said that
they just did a health assessment for Middle Sex County and Old Bridge is in that and as soon as they get the approval for it and I'll have access to that. So, we'll really be able to see what the needs are here in terms of everything because they they hit every single thing from obesity to, you know,
um to mental health and everything. So, I'll pull that up and I'll share that with everybody because just especially from this perspective now that we want to bring a social worker in, it's good for all of us to see what the overall needs are here.
>> Yeah. Okay. All right. So, um I guess we Where did we leave off? Personnel. Okay. All right. So, uh I'm going to make the motion that to um approve personnel uh
letters A through F. Um so, we're just going to go through all we're going to try to do them all in one fatal swoop. >> Okay. So, can I have a motion for personnel letters A through F? >> I'll make a motion. I'll second.
>> Okay. Any discussion on any of the personnel letters A through F at this time? Any discussion? >> Okay, seeing there's no discussion, I will take a roll call, please. >> Dr. George,
>> yes. >> I am a yes. Gina, >> yes. >> Maddie, >> yes. >> And Roco, >> yes. >> Zanv, >> oh, Zanav, I'm sorry. I have because I have >> You're muted.
>> Oh, you're muted. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Sorry about that. >> All right. We're going to move on to finance um action on the December 10th bill listing in the amount of $245,535. Can I have a motion, please?
>> I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion on finance? >> Okay. All right. Roll call, please. >> Okay. Sorry. Uh, yes. Zanab,
>> abstain. >> Gina, >> yes. >> Maddie, >> yes. >> Rocco, >> yes. >> Dr. George, >> abstain. >> Okay, motion passes. Uh, moving on to old business. Uh, we've already done that already. So, um, we will move
forward with new business. Um, anyone have new business that needs to be talked about at this time? >> Um, it's not really new business. Uh, it's not a new business, but to go see the Marorrow um, location. Matt Mccurio is available on January 9th at noon. If
anyone is available for that to go see >> January 9th at noon. >> Yes, at noon. >> What day is he? He's flexible. He's flexible on the time, but we just figured we would pick a time. So, we figured lunch time. I can probably make that. >> You can? Okay.
>> Yeah. >> I won't be able. >> Okay. Would you like us to try maybe a Thursday? >> No. No. I mean, if you could do it a little bit later that day. >> Oh, yeah. We could do later. Can I do later? >> 1:00's fine. >> Can you do later? >> I just can't do >> one:00. Are you guys good? Don, are you good? >> I'll make you work. Okay. One o'clock.
Matty, you're not here with us anymore. >> I'll let Matt know. One o'clock. >> Maybe I'll mention that now. new business. >> Yeah, that's >> actually Yeah. So, um today is my last day serving on the board, the library board. Um I know the mayor's here. I do
want to thank her for giving me this opportunity. Um it's been a really great experience. I've enjoyed working and collaborating with all of you. And I mean, from what I've seen, a lot of progress in the library. Um a lot of
improvement. and um Dawn, you work really hard and you you're really transforming this library and I feel that um we're lucky we're very lucky to have you and just keep doing what you're doing and I'll probably see you some at some point here in the library and you
know I'm already seeing what's going to happen. So I think it's you know it's good for the community. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you for your service. >> Thank you. >> Oh miss you. >> Yes. >> I just want to say one thing. I met a woman the other day that came here for the the Medicare uh I think you have
like a program or something. She said to me this is more knowledge than she got anywhere else. She said the library is great. She goes they should do this every month. I said really? She goes it was unbelievable. She goes it I got to
answer all ask all kind of questions that I wanted. Everything was answered. It was plain and simple. And she goes and I she goes I told all my friends >> and it was just so nice to hear that that somebody did something other than just coming she does never comes to the
library. She saw that she's new to the program and she wanted some questions answered and she said to me I never knew that library did that and I said it just makes you feel good that we a woman that never comes to the library >> saw that and came.
>> Yeah. >> Now you have a regular And now she said she's going to come back. She says, "I don't realize everything that was being offered here." >> She goes, she said, "I thought library was get a book and read." >> That was it. >> Right.
>> And those are the people that we need to target. >> That's a good motto. We're more than just books. >> Yeah. But I'm just saying, you know, those are the people that you want to target. >> And and and that's what we're doing. That's why we got the children's manual so I can get the car guys next. But um also realize that half of our people who
use the library, you're never going to hear from them because they're online reading their ebooks and their audio books and their movies and things like that. >> Are we able to see how many people are utilizing it online? >> Yes and no. I'm working on sorting all the statistics cuz I'm a little precise with numbers.
>> So I want them all accurate before we start throwing them around. >> It' be interesting to see >> your your parking lot is always full. I never find a parking spot. Even I go out for lunch hour. come back. I can't get a spot. I'm like, that means I get to go home.
>> Yeah. Um, on the uh uh library public school front, um, just a couple of things of note. Uh, first off, we do have a new superintendent of schools, Dr. Vincent Sasso. Um, and so far he is getting himself well uh well well
immersed into the world of being a superintendent. Uh, but he is very interested in joining us. He will be here probably sometime hopefully in January. He was hoping to come tonight but he was a little disposed. Um also on um he is also extremely interested in
building more relationships between the school and the library. Uh as well as the pre the current president of the board of education. Um we've had several discussions and I'm going to be setting up a meeting in the near future. Uh the book kits that were sent out to the public schools um have met with a lot of
excitement. Uh particularly I think the one that stands out the most is the eighth grade selection uh when it was introduced at an ELA meeting last month. Um there was a lot of interest and so there's a lot of that going on and uh also in the public uh particularly at
the high school level a lot of interest in the AI and information literacy information that's going to be coming out in the next couple weeks. Um, I will be unable to attend next week's session because we are having a meeting, but I will be sending the um a representative
for the school district. Uh, her name is Rachel O'Neal and she is the ELA um she's currently the ELA um I guess you could say coach it is her title, >> but she does a lot more than that. >> Uh, she's my partner in crime in a lot of things that we uh we've been working
on in terms of uh ELA creating ELA opportunities and and for our students. make sure she has my cell so she can get in the building. >> Definitely I will definitely have some conversations with her about that before that but she's very excited. Um she has been like said a partner of mine in in a
particularly AI literacy for our district. So >> and the AI I just want to add with it with the in so there's the AI stuff and then there's information literacy. So, I think you all know I've worn a couple of hats before coming here and I taught information literacy for 11 years from K
to postgraduate level and I love it and I miss it and unfortunately or fortunately it hasn't changed in 30 years. It's it's the same stuff. So, with a few additions, but our staff have been really dedicated to making sure
that we can partner with the schools and help them out with that. Yes. >> What was the date of that class? Um I wrote it down. >> So uh the board members, all of our board members, it's uh December 19th is our training day. >> And from 10 to 12, we are going to have
uh Jim Craner from the Galysia Group. He is going to be joining us remotely from Ohio. Um but we're expecting he's got a little AI playground that um I'll be sending out. um loginins for so
that we can get some experience with that um and we're going to have that program. I've also extended it to um in the municipality if there's anybody who wants to join us and their IT department. Anybody who wants to come is
welcome to come over and attend that. >> Excellent. >> Okay. Any other new business at this time? Okay. We're going to move on to the director's report. >> So, I just want to continue with AI for
a second. So, I bought sets of these books. I know that this is super basic. AI for dummies. I want people to be comfortable asking questions. This is actually seven books in one. And then this is artificial intelligence basics.
um I haven't met any full experts from the impact of data centers to um really what's going on you know with uh open AI and where it stands financially at the moment. There's so much to learn and to
do and it's really just about talking and asking questions and understanding for our staff that this is your job. um when the community is has an information need, it's our place to step in and to fill that. So, we do have our AI task
force that's started meeting already um collecting articles. We're going to read these books and I've made these books part of a book club. So, once we're done with these in a couple of months, anyone in the community can get a set of these and sit with their friends and and start
a a talking group about this stuff. So, we also have we're very fortunate that Roco is going to come in in January and do a program for parents for um AI and and parents and what that means. And then we also have three other programs
um for AI and I think January, February, and maybe April. But we want to make sure that we're offering something to the public at least once a month and that we're doing evenings, weekends, and daytime so that we're covering all of our our different groups of people. Um,
and that we're promoting that. But, um, yeah, it's mostly just getting everybody's going to stop being afraid of it. We got to just weigh in. And then, and it's so funny because when you start talking about the mechanics of AI, it quickly moves into opinions and ethics. And so these are all different
things. So having a program once a month, inviting the community in to just talk about people's feelings about the ethics of AI, we can we can um launder a discussion on that where it can be good. So um director's report, just a couple
of things to cover. First, I just wanted to share um I went away for one week and I came back to all of these comment cards. We get our comic cards online, but people still fill these out um every week. And each and every one of them is,
"I attended the adult craft and enjoyed it very much. Cheryl was informative. Please offer more." So, we're doing more on Friday nights and Sundays when we can focus on our adults. We know that we serve our children fairly well and our seniors. We want to make sure that um
we're we're focusing on our adults this year. Um, again, adult craft night drop in was fantastic. There's one about an employee that was wonderful. Oldbridge Public Library employees are the best. Always helping above and beyond their duties, exceptional staff. Oh, programs,
uh, concerts, um, senior programs. Keep up the great work. >> Is there anything we could do for the employees that get like a special notation? I mean, I feel like we should acknowledge that >> we they just they just nominated one of the guys that works for me. His wife got nominated something here. Her name is Jackie Sto. >> Oh.
>> And she comes here all the time with her daughter. Matter of fact, I'm trying to convince her to join the board. I think it would be great to have a parent that has a young young child. Absolutely. >> So I'm I said to her, I went like this to her husband. I said, "So we have to film on the library board." So she said,
"What do I have to do?" I said, "Just be a part of the community." >> Yeah. So, this is um I love the trivia game, but having things like trivia, karaoke, programs like that, it gets people together and it does support wellness because it's people being together. Um here Kathy is extremely
helpful. >> So, what what I try to do is um so all of these go to their supervisors. I was taping them up when we first started having meetings and I can find a way to do that again. What I do like to try to
prevent from happening, we have public services employees and then we have backup of house employees and it's kind of difficult that there's not equal opportunity for recognition amongst everyone. So that's why I tend to present them together that they're all a part of that team pulling together. >> Okay.
>> Um Okay. Um I'm very excited. Unfortunately, Frank's not here. Um, we found um an alternative to our emergency messaging service. For various reasons, the police department didn't wasn't going to partner with us on that. Um,
and I think it's kind of good because code red is currently under assault. >> Is it? >> It's down, I think, statewide right now. >> I haven't gotten anything on the county. >> They got hacked. I think blue is the heating. >> Oh, that's heat and cold.
>> Yep. And we met about that today. I went to the OEM meeting, so we're on track for those things. So, um, for less than $2,000 a year, that's with startup to get started. We, um, spoke to other libraries. Pam Candela did a great job doing the research on this, um, finding
this message B notification system. So, we're starting off since no one's signed up yet, we're starting off just by buying 10,000 SMS messages and we'll get that started. And that's less than 2,000. Like I said, that's the setup,
the installation, and um >> the I think it's like uh 5.4 cents a message at this rate. >> And we are only going to be sending out three or four. You know, the water man broke, the library is not open until 1, that kind of thing. But it was very good
to talk to um office of emergency management today to see who wants to know when we are closed when we have an emer a weather closing because we're different than the municipality. Basically when I hear uh New Jersey declare state of emergency I don't always close but we kind of are supposed
to. Um the schools are a good indicator that we try to match up with them, but there are times when that doesn't work because of weekends and evenings and we're coming up on a state of emergency. >> You should close. >> You're really supposed to close because I know someone had a car accident emergency and it's a sure
>> can't be on the road emergency. >> Good to know. And and that was I think there were just some funny ones over the summer with the thunderstorms that were a little weird. >> Those are stupid. But I mean for me I never make anybody come to work if I think the roads are bad. I don't want to be held responsible. up when somebody comes into work. >> I have to say that. Did you see the
airplane landed on that car? I have to tell you, my head went right to Tom Gity. When I trained for Cert, Tom Gity would say, "People, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." On route nine, this major road that eventually a
plane is going to land and we need to be prepared how we're going to take care of this, right? How are we going to handle this? And I'm watching the news. I'm like, "Oh my god, Tom Gity." I'm going to call him later. I forgot. I was going to call him today. Yeah. Right there. Just not always
take that sort of class. >> I love that sort of class. >> Oh, yeah. >> I I actually asked them because they said both um Brian and Ruth that night said, "Anything I can do, we can never say no." So, of course, I texted both of them and I said, "Well, you know, would be really great if we could tie in with
the school and do a junior class for the students." That would be nice. >> How awesome would that be? But he said that the county took it over to have better control over all the trainings and stuff because to me I think it's one of the best things I've ever taken. Totally prepared in the in the case of an emergency. So that's true.
>> All right. So yeah, and I just want to thank all of you because it's been mostly working with either Sarah or Kevin, but everybody's been very understanding with whatever plans I come up with and obviously the municipality um is helpful and supportive. Um I wanted to make sure that everybody's
aware. I love that we're finally able to get to in your packets. This is a social media strategy. We haven't had one. Um so when you when you get in here and you take a look um having that position for our coordinator of strategy and
communication, this is all the work that Pam did and we're only going to elevate this um to really start to take a look at what our posts look like. So um anybody who ever wants to take a look at that and let us know, it's appreciated.
Um, I also gave you all an updated work chart just so we have it. Um, if anybody has any questions, let me know. Um, one other thing, um, the QPA, um, that
meeting is happening tomorrow. So, I will be meeting with the VA and is Don called the CFO? Joan is the CFO. Yes. >> Yes. So, I'll be meeting with them tomorrow. So hopefully we can get the last couple of projects that we've been waiting for that. The garden, half of
our lights being not working, all that good stuff. Um, okay. And then, um, just so everybody knows, with the PA system, it's been the bane of my existence. The microphone was still not working, but the vendor and the manufacturer have
been duking it out, and they're going to be sending us a solution to our problem for free with no cost for shipping. So the vendor that's why it's taking long longer so that that can happen. Um did anybody else have any questions about
the director's report? >> No, it's very good. >> All right. Um excellent. Thank you all. And I'm uh just in case before I forget, I hope everybody has really happy holidays and I'm really looking forward to January. Linda has um been working on
new manuals for everybody so that everybody's going to have our policies and all of um our our guidelines, but also things like the Freedom to Read Act so that you know nationally with the American Library Association what's
going on with all of that stuff. So, we're going to have those books ready for everybody in January. >> Okay. All right. Moving on to committee reports. Um, I can say there's nothing for building grounds as of right now. Um, I'm assuming we'll be getting
meetings next month. Uh, so that's where we are with that. Uh, finance. >> Um, the the only thing is I need to get a draft budget together for January. Um and uh there is one outstanding question
for the treasurer and that is that the auditor has asked that we have someone on the online account who has access to the online accounts. I currently do not. They suggested that it was me or a board member. Personally, I think since the
board takes responsibility for the for the money, um I think it should be the treasurer or someone like that, but I haven't had an opportunity to communicate that. That's all. >> Uh outreach marketing, >> personnel negotiations,
>> um we do have our contracts for our other administrators that have are due. You're the nonpart. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, we'll have to look into that next month >> for for January.
>> Uh policy. Nothing in nothing new for policy though there are some things that are out there, but we will have a meeting next month regarding those things. >> Yeah. >> And finally, technology. >> Just an update for everybody. I'm so excited that we proactively got the Wi-Fi upgraded. Um we're not waiting
until things break. We're increasing our speed. We have good understanding of what's going on. It's just really nice to have um a a cycle of updating things. So, kudos to our IT team. >> Okay. Excellent. All right. Um I will
open the uh if there is any public comments to be made at this time. Um please let yourself be heard. Do we have anybody for public comments? >> They did. I put them in the waiting room. They didn't come back. >> Yeah. I think I think he got confused when he got
>> Okay. So, uh, before we adjourn, I just want to wish everybody a happy holidays, uh, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, all of those wonderful things. Um, I I know many I I can say as we head off into the, uh, end of this year, I just want to thank all of you. Um, it's it's it's
an honor to work with all of you. I think we've got a lot accomplished this year and I'm looking forward to January and seeing uh to more um more of those good things happening. Um the look of the place is going to change. Um our relationship with the school district is
is getting better. It just seems like all way around. Uh it's it's it's good times. I I I can say working in two areas of public service doing this and in being in education. Um I actually feel pretty good about the future about this all. So
>> yeah, absolutely. >> I wish you all well. You're doing >> Yes. And thank you so much. >> Thank you. I mean this was my pleasure. Right. Any other comments? >> No. >> Okay. All right. We're going to make the
motion to adjourn. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> Thank you very much. Have a great night and happy holidays. >> Thank you.