Okay. Calling to order an statement of the compliance of the open public meetings act NJSA 1044-8 as revised. This meeting has been advertised in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and is publicly accessible in accordance with
law. Roll call. Lynn >> here. Rocka. >> Tom >> here. >> Sarah. >> Maria. >> Teresa >> here. Rosemary, >> Dr. Sasso, Gina,
>> yes. >> Mayor Walker, and Frank Weberg to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. >> Executive session. >> Were there any questions about personnel? >> And I wouldn't think we would need an executive.
>> All right. So, we're going to approval of the regular minutes of January 14th, 2026. >> A need a motion, please. >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion. Can I get a second? Second.
All in favor? >> Yes. Here. Tom, >> yes. >> Sarah. Teresa. >> Yeah. Yes. Rosemary >> Gina, >> yes. >> And Frank Lever, >> yes.
>> Personnel approval of the job description for a full-time social worker. Need a motion. >> Some moved. >> Okay. I'll second. >> You want discussion on that? >> Yes. Um
We have a very >> welcome. So um somebody can be a social worker. How much time will that person be given? Normally >> so we have to determine that schedule and exactly what that looks like. Um
we'll uh so one of the things that I'd like to do and meet with personnel committee to to give them um a framework of how we're going to break up that time. We have to decide their schedule. Are they going to be here on the weekends? Do we need evening hours? Those kinds of things all have yet to be
decided. My thought was since we don't want to rush into anything that we would move if we approve tonight, we would move to hire in April at our April meeting. so that we could have maybe special meetings or more discussion. Um,
but these are all very valid questions. How I mean this is a valid question about you know if we have one person who comes in and is taking up more time than is needed, how do we approach that? And it's also something where we'll be availing ourselves of the social workers
that are in public libraries. It's a group that meets every month and we have um places like Madawan and South Brunswick so we can um we can take some uh knowledge from their experience. >> So once we build to the point where
people keep wanting to come back, they want to be there every two weeks or whatever the case may be. At what point do we say when the social workers time book is totally full every week? Well, they're not here for therapy. So, that's
something that's important for us to note. They're here to be connected with social services. So, if all of those services have been exhausted, then the visit would become more of a social one and that's dependent on
whether time is available. Um, and I don't think that there's going to be a lot of time available if we collaborate with the township in the way that I'm hoping we will. Um, will the physics be my appointment? Yes. >> And and that's where I'm assuming that
we'll start out with maybe um, you know, a couple of times a week almost like a professor putting office hours um where we can choose an evening. We could make it one Saturday a month or every other Saturday, whatever we want to do, and then maybe, you know, Tuesdays in the
morning. We're we're pretty good at figuring out what times are needed for our different demographics for our working parents, for our seniors, for for that kind of thing. So, we try to make sure that all of our programs and we'll certainly do that with this
position. And then some of it will also be coming from the applicants um you know that we'll be taking their experience um and what they've seen and you know what availability is. But we certainly need to have evenings and
weekends as well as weekdays. >> And is the social worker that we're going to hire going to be totally um able to know what this person could qualify for governmentally or if they have anything where they want to cook. >> I mean, that's the way they're trained.
>> Okay. Because this is why I asked when we had the person here, my big question was what's the difference between having a certified social worker or a librarian who just really learns those programs and how to connect people with those
programs. And what was pointed out is that social workers are really typically have already um relationships with county and state groups and officials and just a different sensibility. Any
other discussions? And I just want to say that I I think a lot of it was already written into the primary responsibilities that you had gone. So it's all in if you read the description for the for the position, it's in there what they're going to do. At no point did we ever say that it was any type of therapy.
>> But when you say that though you're looking for experience, I mean, is there a minimum couple of years or like when you said you hope that they would already have connections with social service agencies? >> Yeah. So, that's going to depend on who's more qualified than the person next to them.
>> Um, as far as minimum, it's having their degree. Social workers have to do an internship um in order to practice. So, you know, we know that they're going to be walking in not with zero experience, but again, this is going to be an opportunity for us to put together, you
know, if we already have somebody who's worked in a library already, is that more important than somebody who already knows middle sex cap, >> right? So, you know, we're going to have to weigh those options. And that's what I'm saying. will you know this is something where this hire I think will be a little different than um the person
you know than more close I'll be working more closely with the personnel committee and um you know if there are people who want to be more involved with the personnel committee then we can update our committee listings >> speaking of which we should be joining
committee for this year >> we'd already I think we're going to do that later um We I don't know if you guys I don't think they were here yet, but you remember members when we met with that woman >> didn't work. >> No. So, we met with a a social worker.
Now, that's currently who come here. Um that was already working in a library and she gave us and she gave us a wealth of information. >> So, using her guidelines, I think would really help us. I mean, I would love for
her to sit down and say to us, "This is what you're looking for." Exactly. somebody just like her would be perfect. Now, she's retired and so she, you know, does a couple of hours, evenings, and she said she does weekends, so that would probably be the perfect person. Someone that's retired from the state or
from a school district that might be able to assist with us. >> She in South Brunswick, she's parttime. >> Yeah, she is. >> And Madana is part-time as well. Um, I was looking more at our population and about the the possibilities for
collaborating with the township, which will work very carefully with with um um the business administrator on that and she's acutely aware of, you know, us wanting to make sure that our boundaries are clear. So, I think we're set up for
success. Okay. >> The appointment of a temporary Oh, I'm sorry. Did you get my message? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Tom. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Um Gina, >> yes. >> Frank Weber. >> Yes. >> And uh Rosemary, did you want to vote on the social worker? >> Oh, yes. I saw that. Thank you. Yes. >> Sorry, I'm so late. And my phone is died. My phone is never dead. When is my
phone dead? Goodbye. >> Okay. Next. B. Move the appointment of the temporary adult service librarian Neander and an hourly rate of 3653 effective February 3rd, 2026 through April 26 of 2026. I need a motion.
>> I'll make a motion. >> Second roll. >> Uh Lyn, >> yes. >> Roco, >> yes. >> Tom, >> yes. >> Teresa, >> yes. >> Rosemary, >> yes. >> Gina, >> yes. >> And Frank Weber,
>> yes. Okay. Can I interrupt one second? How does anybody know how to get this? So, our screen is big again. Should just be able to click on >> those three dots. Maybe >> go. >> How about that thing? >> XDX.
>> No. No. >> That thing. >> That thing. >> No. The other one. No. You want to go back to that? >> Yeah. >> And view. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, approve the appointment of a
library assistant it Sha Valen at an hourly rate of 1991 pending a background check. Motion, please. >> I have a question about that. Okay. >> Are we going to approve that before we know about the background check? >> That's what we've typically done.
>> It's it's subject to. So, that would be a trap door. If the background check does not come back nicely, >> the the hiring is inval invalid. Okay. And our um just so you know the background check there was a problem with the state for a couple of weeks. It's been fixed. So typically those are
coming back very quickly. Yeah. >> Okay. Can I get a motion, please? >> I'll make the motion. >> Oh. Oh, we just have a discussion. >> No. Okay. You could do it's good if you don't mind. You keep up with the momentum. >> All right. Lynn. Yes,
>> Rocka. >> Yes, >> Tom. >> Yes, >> Teresa. >> Yes, >> Rosemary. >> Yes, >> Gina. >> Yes. >> And Frank Lever. >> Yes. >> Okay. Finance action on the February 11, 2004 listed in the amount of $263,199
discussion. >> Yes. >> On page one, creative speech and library. Now the second the second item complete security system $2652. What was that for?
>> Complete security system. >> Yeah. >> Those are our alarm companies. >> Okay. >> For both fire and burglar. >> So this is for sure if it wasn't for monthly fee. >> Okay.
>> I'm sorry. Um I it does say I believe it's the annual thing. Yeah. >> It's a service on the followup fire inspection and they replace the they replace 12 items it looks like. >> Yes. The the Blair horns something else.
>> The Blair horns are what I referred to previously as sounding like sick ducks. So now we have uh updated forms that will hopefully alert someone that there is an emergency. >> No.
All right. Anybody else has any questions on the bill list? >> I make a motion to accept the bill list as a >> second. I'll second.
>> Yes. >> Rocoa, >> yes. >> Tom, >> yes. >> Teresa, >> yes. >> Rosemary, >> yes. >> Gina, >> yes. >> And Frank Weber, >> yes. >> Do we have any old business? Do we have any idea when a new building
is going to be finished in the town hall new library building? >> I don't believe that that's been started. Are you talking about the Lawrence Harbor? >> Yes. >> Uh I've not heard anything about that project commencing.
>> Okay. And that does impact, just to add on to that, that does impact um the I sent the the draft budget to the finance committee yesterday and to the board president just to know that it had been
sent. Um but that would be dramatically altered if we had a full-size branch there. So, just to keep that in mind, that's been the plan that we're going to get all of our cleanup here done on this
building. Um, and then if we're um expanding those off-site services that we'll have the funds for that, >> but that's that's a while down the road. >> Yeah. >> Because we have to finish this building. >> Yes.
>> But I mean that that branch is also not sufficient. It's in better shape than the other building that they were looking at though. Less >> Yeah, it's it's my only thing is size because we have to use the parks and wreck building in order to have any
programs um across the parking lot. >> Okay. >> So, because people just don't fit in the other way. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. New business. I have a question on the uh
January expenses. The uh and this is for the second month in a row. I meant to bring it up last month. The interest rate has gone down from 4% to 2 and a.5%. >> Mark it down.
>> I asked on your behalf and there was none of them went up to 4%. They were at 1% and then we got them increased to two and a half. I checked in with our executive assistant for finance, >> but they were listed
fire. >> Then I'll I'll ask her for more of an explanation, but when I asked, that was the explanation I received. >> I'll ask again. >> Anything else? >> No. All right, let's go back to new
business. Was that part of the new business or was that old business, right? Because I know you brought up at the last meeting. No. >> Well, um it sounds like you got committee appointments. Was the board asked the board member asked you what
committees? >> That's going to be part of the >> All right. >> Okay. So, we do have committees. Um we have buildings and ground personnel. Uh what other ones we have? Finance. finance policy and technology. So um
right now I believe on buildings and ground you mean row are on buildings and ground right >> personnel I know I'm on I thought Sarah was on >> Sarah and Maria >> and Maria but has anybody heard from Sarah? >> Yeah.
>> I don't know if she's I mean how's what's the procedure here when either someone resigns or >> you do not have an automatic removal? >> No no not automatic renewal. someone chooses to resign, she would go through yourself.
>> Okay. >> And uh and don't >> she hasn't contacted them. >> Yeah. And and typically I think what was done in the past may correct me if I'm wrong, is that people reached out to a person if they hadn't heard from the morale just to make sure that they were
still in in wanted to be involved. >> I will. >> Has anybody heard from Maria at all? No, >> no. >> I tried to reach her several times. I have a cell phone number, but she's never called out. >> Absolutely. >> Now, I have a question. If they do decide not to be on the board, they would send a letter because it has to go
to the township clerk. That opens up the space. >> Need to notify that, right? >> So, who did he bills? >> They have been taken to um the treasurer and she if she has any questions, she
sends them back. But all of this communication is done by the executive assistant for finance. I'm not even alerted. So I would like to change that. And I've spoken to our executive assistant. She's doing things as they've been done here traditionally. But moving
forward, I'd like to know when um the checks because having the you know the the checks and things like that are off premises briefly. Um, and then she reviews them and if she has any
questions, she sends the questions back. Um, and if not, you know, typically we haven't been having questions. We haven't had anything out of the ordinary. I this town hall advice maybe a while ago that
Maria of course worked here in the my name shop and she retired and she got on the board but she I was told I don't know if this is correct and I was told that she filled an unexpired term of someone for four years that was Steve
Gold. >> Okay. Um, so would be she still would not be out. In other words, she was scheduled to according to her. She's still on ballot on the board. But she had said to me and
there was occasion because of the finance committee. She didn't want to be on anymore any of that. So we need to really reach out and get some kind of advance to send her a certified letter or something to find out what was going on. >> I've tried to call her seven times. >> I've called her 10 times. 10 years and
she hasn't gotten >> back. I think she teach mom or something like that. >> My mom's in Staten Island. She's got >> she's got a big burden and her husband's also got health.
>> So, um well, right, I think we want to have at least three member. I mean, we'd love to have three members on each of the committees. Um, so buildings and ground if somebody else wants to come on I have no problem stepping down if somebody has an interest in that. >> Um,
>> be interested. >> Okay. >> So it'll be frank. >> Yeah. We don't have to meet every committee every month either. >> You know we meet when whenever there's a what what we were doing is that anytime there was anything in discussion like
you know we wanted to get done in the building or have somebody prepare we met. So it was on an ad as needed basis. Um do you want to stay on the building? >> I would like to stay on building. >> Yes. >> Well, you want to be on.
>> Okay. Then I'll get off. >> Actually, why don't you stay on and I'll get off because you have a lot more experience when it comes to the contractors and things. I think you're more of an asset center than I would be. So I would prefer to step down and I'll go on to a different committee. >> And so then I'll be on the building.
>> All right. Finance. Who wants to be on finance? I'll be on finance. >> So will I. >> Can you give us an idea of what the responsibilities are for each one of these? So I mean if I say yes to something I know >> I I will tell you that what I try to do
is most of the leg work for the committee. Um so when we have a project come up, I'll send a report as an example the finance committee. I do a draft of the budget with some notes and then that goes to the committee for
review and questions and comment and if a meeting is necessary then they'll have a meeting. If there aren't any questions and there's no meeting then the draft of the budget would go to the to the full board. Um buildings and grounds we have
had a lot um and we've met occasionally and we just go over basically what we've done. Roco, please correct me if I'm wrong, is prioritizing. >> Yeah. >> Because we've had a lot of projects. >> Yes. >> So, we've got what's going on now and then next will be the lighting
renovation and that the garden that's this this spring and we have the um we can use the town's qualified purchasing agent. So, you know, it it's um you know, obviously if there's something coming up, but I hope that I
do a good job of doing the leg work and just giving a report and asking you all if you want to meet or comment by email. >> She does an excellent job. >> Thank you. >> Don't let it get >> Did it peak your interest?
>> Well, you know, you can't go on both. >> You're the chairman. >> All right. And then we have outreach and marketing. >> I'll do that. I'll go on that. >> Personnel and negotiations. >> I kind of think that Yeah, that that
that's pretty good. So, you want to go on that one? >> And I'm I'm I think I'm on that one as well. You are? Yes. I'd like to stay on that. >> We should have four people on that because we do have negotiations with the supervisory unit that we'll do this fall. So, if we have four members, we
can probably find three at any given time. >> Sarah's on that one as well. So, I'll put her name on it now. And who else? Do we have >> four? >> Well, say I don't I mean, >> no, it used to be Maddie, but Maddie is not here anymore.
>> You want to do that? >> Yeah. And I mean, the president gets I inform the president every time I send a communication to a committee, just so you're aware. Okay. And then policy. >> I'm on policy. I'd like to say
>> and what's coming up for policy is the state has changed its um requirement for how we address book challenges. We call them materials consideration requests. And so our policy has to be changed um
in order to align with um the state on our collection management policy. Is that on the agenda? Go right. >> It's Yes, it's going to be dealt with for next week. >> Talk to you about that afterwards. I saw that and I was very curious.
>> We'll get that sense. >> I did not know that. >> It's not due until December of 2026. >> Okay. >> So, that's why it's it's on that we need to get it done. Essentially what they're doing is changing. Before um I would
manage the collection management process. Now it has to be a committee and it needs to have at least one trustee on it. Um typically not a whole lot more because you don't want to run the risk of having um a conflict trying
to have meetings and the staff member, regular staff member also has to be on that committee. But other than that, it won't be significantly different than what we've done before. And we have a very solid collection management policy.
>> All right. And then technology. >> You got me down for policy also. >> I have you down, Frank. >> Thank you. >> Who was on techn? It was Frank was on technology. Was anyone on it with you? >> I believe so, but I don't know for sure.
>> Don't remember. technologically challenged. I'm the last person to step up. I don't remember. >> You were on a committee. >> I don't remember who was on technology. >> I don't remember. We We've run through We just did I not that we're not going to have things coming up. We just
upgraded all of our computers. We did a complete technology infrastructure renovation. Um I feel really good about what where we're at with that for now. >> Waco. Frank, you want to be on that? >> Yes. You could always collapse.
Wait, is anybody going to be on outreach with me on my own? >> Well, that's all you. >> It's all me. >> Cuz you do it at home. >> What is What do you do on that committee? >> What do you do on that? >> Outreach. >> You do outreach. What are you talking about? You do it all day long.
>> She does it all day long. So for for me it's also reviewing things like uh we change we decided in our approach that we weren't going to hire a social media or a graphic design person or anything like that some libraries have but instead we would subcontract it
out so that we can always have different vendors coming to us with new inspiration. We just did a logo so we just did a whole brand guide >> and that was approved by outreach and marketing. We did an updated the logo for the idea farm. We created a logo for
the concert series. Um all of our performances are called Library Live now. And we did um you went I don't know if they gave them out. They better. Um there were pens in the shape of >> and that's that those are you know
everything from those promotions to our targeted social media to our survey that we have to do. Um because I as soon as we get caught up with these projects, I needed to get on the strategic >> while you talked about outreach. Are we
using the uh return boxes at all? >> We are not only using them, we have updated signs. I think I've So, one of the issues that we had was that the boxes say they get picked up twice a week. In this day and age, people don't want to drop off their book and then it
doesn't get checked in for three days. They could end up with a fine. They could end up with lots of things like that. The other problem is that they said book drops. >> That made people think that they could put donations or book returns. >> So now that we have the driver, the
books are being picked up every day, Monday through Friday, not the weekends. Um we just got new signage for them along with the idea farm. So now it's going to say Monday through Friday it says collection times like the post box,
but realistically um we're going to have to re-evaluate what we want to do with those book drops um because you know we could have the the book u they haven't been heavily utilized and we're doing everything we
can to do kind of a last ditch effort because co really took them down from use. So, with the new signage and increased pickups, um hopefully we're going to see more use, but we'll be revisiting that. >> Well, they went up because of co because
when people could come and pick up the books at the library, they didn't have to come back here. They could put it in a box. That was closer to what they >> and and I certainly understand. It's just now people, you know, if they return a book, they expect it to show in
the system right away. So, it has to be picked up every day. And it wasn't for a really long time. >> Is there what is the reason that we cannot return the books at the counter? >> Um, you mean why we have book drops at all?
>> No. >> Or right now? >> Like if I return a book, I have to put it in the drop. I can't bring it to the counter. >> It's because they go into and some of this is left from CO. So, they go into bins and they're sprayed down with disinfectant
um because it's it's, you know, a lot of people going through and touching things. We actually need to replace those bins. You're going to see that cost hopefully next month. I think they're about 30 years old. But, um you know what we can look at now that we have RFID. So, we did the radio
frequency identification tagging for the whole collection. If there are some systems um in Edison now they have them where when they put the book in it checks it in and it's a completely automated system. No human beings ever touch those books. I question how
accurate that could be but it's in Edison if ever we wanted to go take a look and see how it's working there. Um but I I think that the way our system is working is good. I've never seen it done this way either where it got dropped
into the bins outside, but it works very effectively here. >> Okay. >> So, um, if somebody returns a book late, I didn't do that, but if somebody does, uh, then they wind up the next time they come, it shows that they owe 15 cents or
whatever it is. >> Yeah. And, and I know that, you know, this is something I know that most of the libraries in our consortium no longer charge fines. most of the libraries in the country no longer charge fines and there are numerous
reasons for that. So, in doing our um our draft budget um I went through to look at the income at what we're still taking in from those fines. Um and you know, I I was hoping we could
have more of a discussion on that when we get to the the budget review. There's a couple of things I want to go over. how we're showing profit on passports um and also how we're doing fines. So if you look at that category in your um 12
month um income uh there's one I think you got it last month was the January to December 2025 income. It's about it says $20,000 in fines and fees. >> Yeah, the fees in there, right? It's also people who lost the book and had to
replace it, which I can guarantee you is more than the fines. And what we're finding now is that um there's quite a log jam because people coming from other towns who want to use the library because we're part of this 44 member
consortium, their town doesn't charge fines. So then all of a sudden they come in and borrowing from Oldbridge, they get fines. So it's very confusing for the rest of the consortium. which I'm okay with that. But um it's uh it's
it's a real question. How much time are we investing? Let's say half of that money was um uh actually fines. How much time are we investing to collect $10,000 when our circulation people could be doing something else? And
basically the rationale has been that fines deter library use and they have um an impact on our um our sorry our patrons our patrons who don't have the money for
fines are the ones who are most negatively impacted. You know >> people who don't care are probably buying books rather than borrow. Um, but you know, for our vulnerable populations, they're impacted more heavily by fines. >> Do you find that people will take
advantage if they know there is no fine that they won't return the book so quickly? >> That's been the question since the beginning. >> Right out of my mouth. >> Yeah. I mean, I have to tell you something. Joe just got out of the nursing home. But he panicked and made Lewis go to the nursing home, pick up
the book to bring it back because he was panicking. He's getting rid of it. >> And and he panicked. And so this this is what has been I and I can find you some some of the articles on this because that was a question, right? What is the incentive to get them back on time?
Library users are typically civically minded. Um you know what I mean? They recognize that they're a part of a community agency that's doing this. And we still have people who run up outrageous fines and then come in and argue with us that they don't think they should pay the fine and they don't want
to pay the fine. So, what deterrent is it to the to those people who are going to really have a a problem? What deterrent is it already? Because then they'll just stop using our library and they'll go use another library. >> So, um it's a conversation. I can
certainly pull some material for that, but I thought it was appropriate for our budget meeting. >> This month we're showing $29,217. You said that was like what it was all of last year. So, which is correct?
>> Um, I don't >> It says fines and fees. I'm sorry. Yeah, fines and fees. It says 29,27. Now, I know >> that is including passports in that. >> I know. I've been asking 5 years to separate them, but that hasn't been done. >> And I just said that that's what we plan
on doing. I I absolutely agree. That's what I was discussing with Tom getting that. So, >> we're going to revamp the chart of accounts. >> And and one other thing, when you're seeing fines and fees here, that's not the um degree to which it's broken down.
That's in a separate piece in your fines and fees. When you turn to the next page, >> yeah, that's where that's where Yeah, that's where it's broken down. And you can see Envisionware, wireless printing, cassette finds, passport fee. So, it is
broken down there. So, if you look at um >> where's the fine is $70.88. >> That's so >> No, that's for January of 206. >> 2026. >> That's for this one.
>> Do we have something in place in case there is a family that is behind and they don't have the money? >> No, there's I mean we do. Um her name is Felicia Fleming. Um and she is I don't even get involved. She is the arbiter of
those things. If someone doesn't like the answer that they get from circulation, they can certainly escalate it to me and then I will make a decision beyond that. But typically I allow them to enforce the policies that we have in
the way that they've usually done it. >> I look at it as a donation. might find >> and and that's the thing for people who have it, right? >> You know what I mean? It's it's okay. And most libraries will have a change jar
>> near the near the desk anyway because people like to drop their change into to donate into the library. So, you know, there's a lot of things that we can we can do and it's something to really think about, but I do think that um you know, Frank, the other part of this, and
this goes to your point, um the passport service fees and all of that don't show the cost of postage. >> So, this isn't a genuine profit from the passports. >> It doesn't show the >> gross, >> right? So, yes, we're making that much
money, but how much is the library paying these people? >> Yeah. Well, they they've changed. We used to be able to we process 20 passports in a day. They're all calculated to have an individual mailing
fee, but we used to group them all together and send them out one time. That stopped either a year or two years ago. >> So, that was a big hus, right? No, this is somebody's coming in for a pass. Let's say 10 people come in a day. >> In theory, there's supposed to be 10
separate envelopes that get mailed to the government. >> We would put the 10 in one envelope and save money by doing >> a lot of postage checked in the last year or >> what I put into the draft budget. There was actually I mean we make a
substantial amount of money. Um and there was a $40,000 increase last year. I think that was because of the real ID and I think that there were some other national things going on that inspired people to take that step. So, um I don't
know I didn't add that on to next year's budget because I don't see that being a continued trend. I feel like the people who were doing it took care of it. Um so you'll see all of that in the in the budget. Do you have any way of reviewing the passport applications where you know
where the people are from? >> That's not allowed. >> Okay. All right. Um, when I first got on the board, East Brunick had Barbara Can was here. She worked in East Brunick and they had a big passport operation. We didn't have any.
So, we sent out 5,000 post cards to all of the libraries and that were south of us. We didn't go forward and we had a thing because if you
remember the way the post office does it, you go to a post office, there'd be two people working there. You came in, you wait for trying to do a passport application, it screws up the whole thing. So we grew tremendously and we had a lot of
people who still come that they have usually have some younger families. They were manal they're here they're that so we advertise in the stats that's those kind of things out there you know you can and the fact that we're open hours at the post office.
>> Yeah >> something for outreach we should we should be able to protect this as well. There are a lot more libraries now that have passport offices though. But um this is part of the outreach and marketing like we talked about all of our new residents giving them some kind
of a mailer um and you have that information. But the company that we're using for our emergency messaging, which hopefully that's set up by next month so that everybody will get a text when the library is closed who wants to know when there's an emergency closing. That
company also specializes in doing those kind of mailings. >> And we should probably get through township at least we can get the closing information so we know exactly who moved in where. >> Um Rosemary has that and Gina you have that as well. >> We have
>> Yeah. >> The other thing with the budget for the passports that can make a difference, you can renew online so people don't have to come in like they used to. I don't think we do renewals >> regular anymore. We used to do it like
two years ago. >> Yeah, we don't even So, we just handle other things. >> Okay. >> They don't they don't let me. >> We make a lot of money. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. I mean pictures and you know all of that that kind of thing. But
you know passports is something else that like um you know as passports evolve in this country I don't I personally because you've seen the way things have changed in the last decade I don't see them as a reliable
permanent source of income. there's something that I would take as that's a great benefit, use that for some of our projects. You know, I don't know 10 years from now that you're still going to be making $300,000 a year on a on passports. And if you, you know, have
the library security based on that, >> how long are they good for? >> 10 years. >> 10 years. I have to do mine. I I'm still one. I'll be in next week's numbers. Next month's numbers. >> You can't renew. >> No, I'm not renewing. I have to actually get one. I haven't had one in years. I
haven't tra but you're still renewing basically because you've had one before. >> Oh, I think the last one was like in the 80s. >> And and they they and this is this is I tell everybody call them. They'll absolutely tell you. >> Okay. Well, I I have the application.
I'm ready because I'm going in October. So, I can't wait long. >> Yeah. September. >> Oh, okay. >> So, as part of outreach, can I invite everybody? I'd like to um actually so we will be hosting the mayor's health and wellness council. It's called a bridge
to wellness and our tagline is uniting our community for a healthier tomorrow. So our goal has been to do kind of like a traveling health fair and we've been bouncing around to all different places to really meet with our residents and be able to teach them how to be proactive instead of reactive and help them with the community services that are out
there not only what's in our community but also at the county level and the federal level. Um, but what we are doing here is I'm very big on networking. It's a very important part of our business and our businesses and our organizations here in town. So, Dawn, I had spoken
with her the other day. She has graciously allowed us to use the large room here and we will be hosting the next mayor's health and wellness event here on March 9th from 5 to 6:30 and I would like to invite all of you to come. Um, Dawn will be our guest speaker.
She'll be speaking on all the different programs that we do have here. Again, this is so important, I feel, for everyone in our community to really know what we have going on here. This is such a great um organization that we have. So, she'll be able to tour us all around
and there will be hopefully a nice turnout of different businesses and organizations. Um and there'll be networking going on. And then also we also have Erin Keller that will be speaking on um Club Serenity which provides um a place to go
for families that have family members in rehab or recovery. So it's a place for them to all grow and there's different types of meetings Alanon and um Alatine we're looking to bring into town and there's a lot of different stuff and I really have a great cross-section of um
organizations in town that will be attending. I do these monthly and I specifically invite different organizations so they can network and this one will be one of our larger ones and we will have everybody across the board from Hackinack Midian will also be here um RWJ mental health there'll be a
slew of different services so I'd like to invite all of you and if you are able to attend it's only an hour and a half but it really is a great way to for all of you also to see what different businesses and organizations that we do have here in town and for us to support Dawn as she's you
supporting what we do here. Um, >> what time when's the start time? >> 5 to 6:30. So, everybody starts to come in and they mingle and I would say about a4 to 6 is when the mayor will speak and welcome everyone and then we'll have our guest speakers and then when we're done speaking I guess in the dawn you could
tour us and then people who would like to stay and linger and network. Otherwise, if they want to head out, they'll head out. It's a great way for them to see all the great work we're doing in here. >> Absolutely. I I have to tell you there's part of this that reminds me of something that we had in another town where I worked in Union County and their
chamber of commerce meetings turned into a community update meeting. >> Like the meeting started off with police department, schools were there, library was there to give a report on everything going on around town and it was really great. So I look forward to it. And I
sent you an email. There was another event that was requested on the 9th that I sent you an email. It was apparent. >> Oh, I didn't see that. I'm sorry. >> No, no worries. Um, I know that they >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I was actually at a conference last week for two days. So,
I'm still trying to play catch up. >> My inbox is like insane. >> And my phone. I don't know. I can't even. >> Yeah. I just And I want to make sure that you see that because it was a person asking us about a program for parents and if we had space that day. Oh, and that's another thing that we're
looking to do with um NJ4 from Ruckers is something we would like to bring here. It's called a parent cafe and it's an opportunity for parents to come and network with one another with resources they're aware of for their kids. So, we like to do that also and
that's something hopefully we're going to have information on at that meeting. So, did you want to give up the room to them or >> No, no, I'm I'm I need to find out for them. They said that you had asked them to >> see about using the library.
>> Oh, yeah. That's William. That's it. That's it. That's the parent cafe. >> And that's the thing. I just >> Right. >> So, since we have the other event from 5 to 6:30, I don't know what the parent cafe is. >> It's not for that day. They they were just looking into seeing if this is
something that we would be able to entertain to host here >> and we would love to have a parent cafe. He said it was specifically for the ninth. >> No, I think he Okay. He miscommunicated that we'll figure it out. He'll be speaking on it at the 9th. He'll just hopefully if we have it set up, he'll be able to introduce it to everyone and
say, "This is the parent cafe. This is how we're hosting it. This is what we would like to do. Please help us spread the word. >> Look at all the work that we're doing." >> Was he was he at the last one? >> Yes. Yes. Yes, William was at the last one and then I had one this past um Monday which was very well turned out.
We took over Jeppes but it was very specific. It was healthc care in certain areas. So it was like very specific people they were there. >> Do it again on Monday. This Monday. >> No, this Monday is actually a fundraiser.
>> So So what happened is Carlos is the best and he always opens up his doors and allows for fundraising to go on. He he does that. >> Unbelievable. So on that Monday event, it was our networking event. What he did is he allowed anyone who decided and I
did appetizers and stuff when everybody came in that day, but anyone who stayed ate or took out to eat, he gave 15% of the bill towards the domestic violence um organization that was there. And hopefully she'll be here too, so you'll be able to network. Um it's called Touch
Link, and they're House of Biscataway. And she has helped me tremendously with residents here. So I really felt it was important for everyone here to get to know what she does and what their services are in case anybody knows. I I view it as we are all an extension of each other's salesforce, right? So if we know and I always say we need to keep
our resources at arms length. I met her two years ago and when I had somebody in front of me that needed the help, the first thing I did is I called for um emotional support for her and the next thing I was doing was texting this woman saying 911. and she came in and
transformed this woman's life like I cannot even tell you resources but she's privately funded receives no grants she herself was a survivor of domestic violence very severe and she decided to take the initiative to show other women that they could be resil not just women
but women and men other um survivors of domestic violence she wanted to show them that you can be resilient and her organization is now worldwide and it is unbelievable and I just want to share that the young lady that we wound up helping said to me, "How do I pay this back?" I go, "You pay it back by just
showing other people how resilient you are." She said, "Okay." And I swear, not even 3 months later, she called me. She said, "Can you please come on this Zoom call?" I go, "Absolutely." I get on the Zoom call. She was the keynote speaker for the organization saying how never to give up in your faith in God to continue
to go and she spoke of the experience that she had and how they were able to help her and turn it around. I was with tears in my eyes. Did we help a lady another woman result? >> Yes, we helped several women. So, this organization, it went from me never needing their resource to all of a
sudden there was this like this big influx. But this is why I feel it's so important for all of you. Like our school district, we're very involved with them, especially now. Um, you know, Dr. Sasso is amazing and he is so I said to him, I go, "Are you tired yet?" Like, we're all pulling you in a hundred
different directions. But it's wonderful because he wants to be part of this. he is part he's always been part of this but you know that reach is really important because like the school sack counselors sometimes need certain resources and they'll call me so now if I'm able to share it with everybody we
all have it already so that's it in a nutshell but yes so cafe that's the parent cafe that we're looking to bring in >> okay so they'll I'll let them know how to respond right because he'll normally coordinate that that with you services >> okay perfect yeah we just wanted to make sure that you were okay with the program
and then if we can fit time and dates in and then we can advertise it to the school districts like the parents of all the churches synagogues. >> Yeah. And and that's where um you know I think everybody knows from looking at our calendar it's hopping here. Mhm.
>> So, this is where regular recurring events, we do need to be a little more careful with how many we try to put in because right now we're having to turn people away who want to have monthly events here because we're we just >> um we're getting the small meeting room
better utilized, but the large meeting room is um definitely there's a lot going on and it's all good stuff. >> It's all great stuff. I I will tell you as an employee I get very excited when I see there's no room in the parking lot. Sometimes not not so nice when I have to come back and get a spot but for the
most part it's really wonderful to see because during co we saw everything transition that there was hardly anybody and then slowly was like creeping back up but now to see us at full full force is a wonderful thing. >> So do we have anything else on the new
business? >> Do we want to start your director's report? >> Yes. Um, first, does anybody have any questions about the director's report? >> Yes. Um, on page three,
the outfit that's going to uh $5,800 a year. That's going to do tell people how to make a decision. high school kids how to make a decision on opposing viewpoints.
>> Oh, opposing viewpoints. What was your question? >> I need more information, >> right? And that's what I'm doing now. So, sorry, that's on here. So, I just wanted >> Yeah. Thank you. So, um opposing viewpoints is something. So, uh last
week or the week before >> last week. >> Yeah. Um I went in, um thank you so much for Rocco. um arranging for me to come into the high school. Um opposing viewpoints is something that I've wanted to get for a long time. We have the
books here. This is a database so that people can access it remotely. Opposing viewpoints is designed for high school students and basically other students in the first two years of college. And what they do is they have listed every
controversial topic that you could imagine. And they go down through and explain here's here's why people don't agree. Here's what the early formations on the opinions were. And they do that objectively. So they're giving they're
not taking aside. It's not a persuasive resource. What it is is for students going in to do any type of research. And not just students, right? This is for our adults. If they want to know more about um um medically assisted suicide,
um people can go in and look that up and it'll give you the history, all of the documents, current documents. What it is is instead of unleashing our students on the internet here, go look for YouTube videos on this, you know, very
controversial topic, they at least have a resource to start with. And this is an expensive database. Um, I think that it's so expensive because basically every county college that you're going to find has it. Um, and that's why I
wanted to introduce it to teachers. um show it to them to see what they thought. What we want to do is start to give our educators um some authoritative information that they can um look at online and recommend to students, places
for them to start. If you want to go look at Wikipedia and everything else after that, that's fantastic. We also want to get some resources that you're not finding by googling, right? because the kids can do that on their own. So,
what we want is to arm our educators with resources that they only have access to from um you know, I always tell people if somebody's giving it away for free and somebody's charging $5,387
for it, which one's going to typically be the quality >> piece? The other thing is is um when our students are out doing this research, nobody's tracking their information. Um you know, they don't have to put an email in to to get the information. They
use their library card. So, it's increasing our library cards. It's a safe space for educators to send students. And then we're going to be moving ahead with um creating an assignment alert for our teachers to be able to go in and let us know when
they've got um things to work on. We want to just continue to work together. You know, when I went in, I showed them um the New York Times historical versus the current New York Times. Two very different databases. We have both. Um
the historical newspapers, I was showing them an example. Um, it was Theodore Roosevelt. And when you go and look at the local newspapers, two high school students from New New Brunswick or East Brunswick were um funded to go to Teddy
Roosevelt's inauguration in Washington DC and you can actually go in and see their pictures. >> And those are resources that our teachers will have at their fingertips and our students will have. So, it's part of that effort, but I would certainly suggest that we do it for
minimum a year and take a look at our usage and our statistics. That's something we do every day doing that. >> Yeah. And that the last she uh Dawn came in twice uh from English department um at the department and the next day for social studies. So, they were able to
see the depth that the public library has to offer. And I think opposing viewpoints I think for all the reasons that Dawn has been saying you know this is one of the areas where we are very concerned um you know in the age of AI and the age of information and
disinformation and you know we have a warehouse now that can actually provide them some solid information that isn't going to send them somewhere that we really don't want them to go someplace inappropriate or somewhere that might lead them down some kind of path that
they shouldn't be in. So and and again you can think of all the worst things in the world and you know how it is on the internet. So we now have something that is at least we can firewall our students from that at an age where they should be firewall. Um so I think that I think and especially now with with even the
legislation that's coming out that's limiting cell phone usage and all of those things the things that the kids used in the classroom now or try to use in the classroom all of that is going away. So we need to provide them with something and I think this is probably the strongest thing that we have at our disposal and I think you know everything
that the library has being able to access that is is very important for us because again you know we we really don't have the finances in the educational world you know with with all the problems that we've been having over the last couple years. This has been a big big help in those
>> Well, it sounds to me like it's a comprehensive research tool too. >> Yes, absolutely. I mean, which >> is great. >> Yeah. >> Because, >> you know, you go on Google right now and AI comes right up. It gives you some sort of answer. Okay. >> And it's not necessarily right.
>> And one of the other wonderful things that I'm going to mention to all of you because I think our teachers really liked it. There's something called ground news. >> Yes. >> And what ground news does is it takes every news story that comes out. So, if you go to our um website, I can show you
where it is. You can go to ground news and get make an account with your email. Don't do that. We want you to do it with your library card number because we're paying for it and they can't track anything. If you go on and what they do is they take every single news story
that comes out and they show you how many news sources are covering this. Is it 10 or is it a thousand? And they try they they cast a very wide net and they explain exactly how they go about doing this. And then they show you is this a
typically um right, left or center publication and how do they judge bias and is you know one side more interested in this than the other. So it gives our kids such a completely different perspective on the media. Who's
reporting this? Why are they reporting this? And just those tools and then it gives you links to all of those stories. and we are just scratching the surface on on ground news. So that's something that you know we got that subscription
and you know we cancelled some other databases that we weren't using. I tried cancelling New York Times.com because they're more of lifestyle than the historic New York Times. >> Um but we got so many complaints we reinstated it.
>> So and they weren't giving us good usage statistics either which is why I did it. Um, but also I didn't ask for an increase in our databases. We removed some of our databases that we weren't using as much. Some of the instructional
ones which have never really taken off. Um, and we're replacing it with um our time to go in and talk to our teachers and show them how to use research tools rather than trying to turn over the instruction to these anonymous.
Who creates opposing viewpoints? >> Who creates the database? >> Uh, the opposing viewpoints team. It's an EPCO. Uh, no, it's not an EPCO. It's Gail. G A L E. So, it's um a publishing company that has made um this series of
books for a very long time. When I was going to school, I would go in and find the opposing viewpoints on my on my topic and take out the book. And we have the books. Um but this is the database so that um all of our students can go in
and uh borrow these simultaneously. >> But Gail Gail is Gail Research is the one. It's Sengage and Gail Ce those are the publishers of many
databases, journals, research materials, that kind of thing. So they're they're reputable >> and and I uh we also made a push for all of our faculty particularly in the English and social studies for farms to get library cards so that they can have access to all these databases and that
was the I have a bunch to give to Dawn tonight because they collected a bunch of them. Uh but we also are going to make a next next the next step is to push out to the students themselves. We know a lot of students have library cards but not everybody. So that's our
next that's the next step. And people are logging on remotely. >> Yes. >> I I tell everybody that, you know, we're we're still work. So part of my report is to tell you tonight that we're still working on our statistics because our databases, we have all the ones that we
purchase. Then there's a whole suite of databases that you get from the state. We're not even collecting those numbers. I'm telling people about half of our users, we're never going to meet them. So, how are we finding a way to interact with them online? You know, we've got a
lot of people. I'm still getting numbers sorted because the catalog changed. The consortium is in our business in ways that I don't care for. Um, but we're getting all the numbers so we can see. Um, are our online materials being used
more than our in-person materials? With magazines, we know that they are. You get almost every popular magazine. I I'm a huge fan of The Week. Does anybody know the the week? Um, you get that online >> um in in Libby. So, making sure that
people know how to use these things and that, you know, you're able to access them and we have the numbers to make sure that we're spending our municipal appropriation strategically. You know, if if 60% of our books that are going out are print, then I need 60% of our
book budget to be print. If 40% are ebooks, then I need ebooks. And right now in your accounting, your ebooks are NAV. So, we're going to straighten that out. But it's it's coming. It just takes a lot of digging and we've got a lot of projects going on.
Um, anything else on opposing viewpoints? >> I wish they had this when I was a kid. >> Now, the only problem would be you couldn't get to one computer. >> Yeah. computers. >> They just barely had punch cards.
>> As far as going to an inauguration, the only one I went to is I did meet JFK at the Satn. >> Oh, wow. >> Cut school. >> That's a good reason to cut school. >> 1959. >> And and just so you know, our our
librarians too, they sent me an email back. I asked him to take a look at the database and it was, you know, you know, I noticed the results on this were heavily from this resource rather than this one. And I was like, okay, they they'll figure it out because, you know, these companies do better when we're
watching them. So, our librarians are on it, and I'm sure our teachers will be, too. Um, okay. Um, just want to let you know something I thought I was going to have to bring up tonight, but I don't. Um, and this will be coming up with the contract negotiations in the fall. Our
current current conference um reimbursement if somebody wants to go to a national conference for 3 days, their limit right now is $850 and that would cover the hotel. So that's something that people may be asking for. I thought that the person in
question was going to go to three days of the conference. He's decided to only go to one. So, he should be within his aotment, but just something to file away. That will be coming up in the fall. Um, the statistics again, I think we're almost finally done with
databases, but our circulation and our collection numbers. Okay, so do the 600s go out more than the 200s? We need to know what's the age of our collection and and make sure that we're um collecting strategically. So, we're
working on all of that and we are making progress. There have been tears and frustration at times, but we're getting there. Opposing >> It's okay, Don. >> Um, opposing viewpoints, we just discussed
the energy auction is off again. This is the third time they've canled apparently. So, we talked about that energy auction and we passed um yeah, we decided we were going to go ahead and do it, but then with the storm that's had a
huge impact on prices and things haven't been stable, it goes back and forth and back and forth. So, just to let you know, we're still looking at that. Um, in other really good news, um, not for our senior
community, but, um, our AARP tax preparation is fully booked now for the rest of the season. So, what staff are working on is creating a list of other libraries that have AP tax preparation so that they can send them
there. And just so you know, there's a fleet of people who come in every Tuesday and Thursday, I think, um to do taxes for most of the day in the large meeting room. So that's the other reason why we get booked up from um February
through April. Um and I just also really want to thank Silver Linings and Kristen Agambia Day who runs Silver Linings. When AP approached us this year, they said, "We don't have we can't do the
scheduling piece of this anymore." Well, our staff already hand out the flyers, manage it, take care of all the questions, and we commit space. So, to do even more for that program, pun intended, would tax us. So, um, they
stepped in and they're doing all the scheduling, which I think is remarkable. And it's been really nice for me perhaps some different people to come into Silver Linings and it's another fantastic partnership like the way we do with the cultural arts committee we're
now doing um with Silver Linings on this and other projects. So kudos to her. Um super special thanks to our Department of Public Works. um what you see out there with our circulation circulation
desk being gone wouldn't be possible without them. Um so we're really really appreciative, always responsive to us and and super helpful. Um and they're going to be helping us. The building gets opened at um 7:00 to the
contractors for the bathrooms for the next three months and they're going to be helping us by opening the facility in the morning. So again, to all of of those people on that team, Casey Lenning and Kevin Cole, just a lot of appreciation.
Um, and as I said for buildings and grounds, as soon as we get the install done next week, we're going to be getting to the the lighting renovation and the um garden atrium. So, those things have to
be first on the list um public by public request. Um I just wanted to let you know that I just found paperwork as we're going through drawings to see what we need to keep and what we don't need about the library. The last there was a lighting renovation here done in 2002.
Um so some of these fixtures are are rather old. Some of it was updated um but but some of it's been there for a while. But we're finding um I don't understand why there was a renovation in 2002 when I think the library was built in 96. It
>> started in ' 87. It was opened in '91. >> Okay. Oh, okay. So, I'm wrong. Um and then um I also found the proposal for the wiring through the floor of all of the internet wiring. So, some of these things are interesting. I'm not sure
that they need to be taking up space in a file cabinet, but we'll make sure anything relevant we're holding on to. Um, other than that, everybody's working hard pulling together to make sure that we have a a seamless experience for the
public throughout this time of transition. And that's about all I got. >> I have a question though. Will there be anything being done for Revolution 250 here to highlight the whole celebration that's going on across the whole town?
>> Yeah, I think we've just been waiting to see what's going on in the town. >> Okay. >> Um to hear more about what's going on with the schools and with all of those things because that's something that both our adult and our youth services >> teams are going to need to look at. I
just was trying to tie in with something big that was going on around the town and I don't know what that is yet. >> Well, I know they're working on the Ch Farm >> and then Thomas Moore Museum wants to partner up with the school. So, there'll be a whole bunch of other stuff. I mean, we could in cultural arts and then I
also have um one of our former employees who is retired now um Alex Yakahovich. He's got he's an amazing classical um violinist, but he has an organization and he applied for grant money. So he actually has grant money um to do a
concert for Revolution 250. >> Okay. >> So you know um he's actually his group has performed in the library in the past too. So I don't know between the farm and there but there's so many different options. I just wanted to know if you had anything yet in the idea form of that
>> historical discussions here are popular and they're constant. So we all every year we have some of the revolutionary um era program history programs that go on here. Um so our our live performances, our history performances,
those are some of the tracks that are super popular. We just had something on diving wrecks and things like that. So yeah, I I would like for us to coordinate and not duplicate effort is what I'm really trying to make sure that we're not doing. I'll make sure Matt
reaches out to you when he's planning to shop because that's actually great physical pathway and people can walk >> they want them. We have some things we're we're working on when the time comes we'll be sharing. >> We're trying to we're in the planning stages right now trying to figure out
what to do. There's a lot. >> All right. So committee reports. Do we have any committee reports? Don't believe we have any finance outage policy technology.
>> Tom, I'll make sure that I send you the draft of the budget tomorrow. >> Great. And uh we'll um by email make an appointment. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But when Terry comes in um you know to talk about uh you know
>> trustee 101. >> Okay. Uh, I want to be part of that meeting as well. >> Yeah. And and I mean that's a that's a priority. We'll make time for that. We're not we're not too busy. >> All right. Do we have any comments from
the public? >> Sean was a little >> Yeah, that's it. >> That was nice to see him on. >> Yeah, that was very nice. All right. Then I make a motion to close the meeting. 88.
I am missing out.