Five for receipt, 30 for decision, 30 for appeal. Right. >> Do you want me to add the sentence about appeal there as well or just about this particular document? The first step? >> I don't think so. I think the the
response would list the appeal language. Um I think well I'll make a motion if people want to see it. I'll move that we accept the redlinined collection development policy including the two appendices
uh and the form uh subject to the uh edits just noted. Uh, okay. Vote. Uh, Andrew, >> yes. >> Andrew, >> yes. >> Pat,
>> all in favor? Motion carries. Five. >> Thank you. Thank you for that. It's nice to have that housekeep. >> Um, next item on the agenda, review updates to the policy on distribution, posting, and collection of materials. >> Don't know why I stopped sharing my screen.
Um, most of these are housekeeping details. Again, we just like to review these, make sure that they are ah relevant. This is why I normally bring a mouse to meaning.
Okay. So on the red line, um the first few are related very specifically to to making to clarifying. Um also it takes the borrower services desk out of the loop. um there's no reason they need to be able to answer questions about things posted on the
board. Um we want the bullet points are clarified so that they match because we don't have cherry here to make sure that all of our all of our grammar is equally um balanced.
I took out the paragraph um I took out two things very specifically. um posted material shall not contain illegal, threatening or intimidating messages. First of all, we can't actually um monitor content. We are not We can do
time, place, and manner, but not content. Also, if something's illegal, then that's out of our hands, and we would be calling public safety. So, um I I think if something's illegal, that's that's that's a given. And the second thing that I took out was
the there's no reason that special considerations or the friends or the foundation. Um but rather because everything and this has really more to do with the collections of things or or having a fundraiser or something like
that. Um there's really no reason to have that in there because they're really essentially part of the library. But the community organizations may petition the board for or authorization to install temporary collection receptacles for initiatives that serve the public interest
or enhance community welfare. And I know I copied that from someone else's policy because I thought it scanned very well. Um, but it really gets to the point of yes, we'll do toys for tots. No, we might not do the shoe thing again because it was out of control.
Um, but it gives you the discretion to decide, you know, um, you know, if the board decides everything that we're going to collect has to do with environmental things. So, we'll collect batteries or, you know, um, you periodically go through, we still collect the glasses for the lions, but
it's not viewed as a permanent thing. It's something that we kind of revisit every once in a while to make sure that it's okay. Um, the history behind that piece is that at one point everybody wanted it. everybody had a box at the library and there were literally shoe boxes lined up for ink cartridges and
batteries and and it was kind of getting out of control. So, um it became sort of a an application petition and rarely does anyone say no. But if we've had this discussion before, if we're already doing three things in the lobby, we don't necessarily want to add a fourth
thing. So it just gives us a little more control of those collections, not so much the posting of materials, but this is really more about the collecting of things. So those are the big changes um that you can read through. There is a merged version in in the document that
you can read over for the next meeting and decide if there's anything else that you'd like to change there, but mostly housekeeping and a few clarifying flucifying comments. I mean changes Are there any questions
>> of time >> before we >> do we have any sort of time limit in terms of when how long you have a box in the collection box? >> So so far it's been has to be part of the application. Um, we asked people
when is the start and when is the end. So, Toys for Tots, which we actually should probably be talking about today, but I don't have on the agenda. Maybe I do. Um, usually has a start date and an end date. Um, if it's not on the
agenda, it should be. Um, and then you know the shoe people that I think that was for one of the elementary schools, they had a long date which I remember we were like that's a long time. So I think in that case would be something like well can you shorten the
time because it was a long time to have shoes piling up in our lobby. So I think it's part of the application. >> Is there an actual application? No, it's it's just um we ask that people send a note or a letter to either addressing
the trustees or addressing someone at the library. Um sometimes it's just someone comes and you know, often the student ones are very actually the student ones are very sweet. They actually follow the directions very specifically, but um usually it's sometimes it's a
scout troop. Um most people follow the directions. Clear questions. Anybody? >> That'll be for a vote next meeting. >> Yes, that would be in November. >> And did you excellent? Um, next item on the agenda
is director's report. Is it not financial report? >> I did not put the toys for tots on there, did I? Um, it so we're talking over here about the toys for tots which as I recall we
normally put in the October one because they start collecting like the very first of of November and it we always do a retro thing like oh by the way we have the toys for tots things out. So I would ask at this point um they do have a limit. It is organized
through the fire department and the US Marines and we usually have one box and um it usually gets full quite quickly. The fire department slashmarines are very good about coming to empty that and make sure that it doesn't overflow. So, um, as the first part of the director's
report or financial, before that, I would request that that the, uh, board approve having a Toys for Tot box in the lobby of the library. >> Move that we approve the placement of
liys for Todd's box in the library for this Christmas. >> Second. All in favor? >> Motion carries. Five out. Thank you very much. I apologize for leaving that off the uh
the agenda. Okay, financial report. It was a great financial month because the foundation gave us the money for the library project. So, we have a very a big influx. Um Megan has been great working with accounting, making sure it
goes into a very specific account. It's where everything will be paid out of. We are ready and waiting. Um, we also had a few other minor gifts. Um, one in memory and then some general cash donations. Um, the director's report in your packet says that the draft level one budget
will be at the November 12th meeting. That's a Wednesday. I'm changing that because I will be away at that point and I will just not have time to create the draft budget before I leave. So, um, rather instead it will be at the December 8th. So, we have done it in
December. And then you should know that I'll be presenting that same budget um barring any major changes you might have. Um presenting that budget to the select board on December 9th, the very next day on Tuesday. Um it's nothing you
have to vote on. It's just a really a courtesy so you all can see the budget before we u make it public to the rest of the world. Uh the financial forum was on October 9th. Um, tomorrow, I'm sorry, it wasn't was last week the
9th. Yes, last week was the 9th. Wednesday, the finance committee will meet again to deliver the actual guidance and that's where we do things like from that meeting is where we'll set the non-union increases and then what the over they decide how much cash to use. They and gives the overall but
um it is going to be a very financially tight year. you can expect to see a reduction um to bare bones expenses. The goal is not to have any uh cuts up to any services. So people will stay um it's really hard to cut all expenses and then cut you know a little bit in every
expense and maintain all level services. So we will try our best but every little bit helps. Um, so it'll be it'll be an interesting budget year and at this point so far they don't see the need for
an override in 2026 for the FY27 budget, although there may be need one needed in 26 or 27 for the FY28 budget. So that's another year out. Are there any questions about finance or
budget? you heard yet what the percentage increase is that's going to >> that's that's what they'll confirm um on Wednesday so I can't speak to that I think my guess is it's somewhere 3% or below um obviously the lower the harder it is
um the schools you know percentage is significant so um but my sense is that the schools and the town and Um, all the departments and particularly Sharon Angstrom, the town accountant, are working really, really
hard to try and juggle as much as they can to get as much as they can out of this particular budget. It'll probably be the hardest budget that we have or have had since 2017. I am not going to recommend cutting Sunday hours at this point. Um because I
do think I mean unless something happens on Wednesdays and it's a much more drastic cut that would be the next thing that would go. It's it is salary but it is technically an expense because it's not nobody relies on that. It's not in anybody's benefited hours. They're all voluntary
extra hours but I really don't think we want to do that because we do want to provide level services and Sundays are very very important between October and May. and we get that feedback regularly from a a wide age range from students to older adults who just need something to
do on a Sunday. So that would be an absolute desperate measure. Okay. Um September was a was a good month. They're all good months. Um, we uh, you
know, our our circulation remains pretty steady. It's more than it was last year, as is our overdrive. Locker use is going up. Um, new library cards are steady.
Um, and our visitors remain really strong. We are getting more and more visitors which just sort of speaks to I think a lot of the programming that we're having now has taken a couple years to kind of
dig out of that the COVID programming but now we do have a lot of people um coming into the library. I will say we are now officially completed the rooted in reading grant and it was a really amazing grant. It
was only $20,000. We had about uh I think about 11,000 or so of inind I I I don't quote me on that. I mean I'd have to double check, but we anticipated spending about $11,000 of inkind spending whether it's through
books or extra stuff for the garden or things like that. Um, but it was a really co collaborative program that ran with every single team throughout the library had somebody involved. Um, and we had a lot of partners and we had some really big
programs like the Arbor Day program. Um, and so we really made a lot of partnerships that I think will be lasting. Our goal is to have rooted in reading in some form for um another four
years or five years. We um MLC we told the NBLC that we would like to see this sustained for a minimum of 5 years until it gets embedded into our culture. Um so one of the things we'll be doing in honor of that is applying for sustainable library certification which
is a real thing. Um, and there's a whole bunch of stuff that we can do to become a sustainable library, something that we're committed to. I do want to point out um that the Aspen catalog is live. I don't know if you all have gone on to the the website. It
looks very different. I mean, I shouldn't say the website to the catalog. Um, it looks it's speedy. It's um it gathers information in a different way. It's a completely for for some people it's just like oh yeah the website changed or the you know the web
page changed and it looks different and oh gosh I have to figure out how to get into my account again. Um from the geeky side from the librarian side it is incredible. It's it's a huge jump from where we were and able to present information and take all the data that we have in our evergreen catalog and
present it to the public. Um so it is a it's a it's a big deal. Um, and there's APIs that are integrating with our app and all sorts of other things. So, it really is I' I'd encourage you to explore it. It's something that comes I
mean there is a cost to that, but it's all embedded within our um when you when you sign those large contracts and those large checks for Noble. That's what it's going for is for enhancements like this that benefit all 26 libraries in the Noble Consortium. I would also encourage you to check out
all the program program brochures Michelle does an amazing job every quarter um along with Desiree putting out and the rest of the staff that do PR and social media and Tik Toks and and Facebook. Um but the the uh
they have once again in a ridiculous number of as you heard in September a ridiculous number of programs going on. So, go ahead and check that out. You may have se I guess you probably saw it. Um, and one of the big things that we had
that was really popular was the flu clinic. Um, we had I can't remember. I think it was like 30 >> Yeah. >> Uh, last Monday. So, she had 30 people
come in and get their flu shots. And then I'm not sure how many she had on Tuesday, but just the placement of it up in the health nook, it's much more visible. People just coming in for the day were able to get their shots. So it's it's very successful in that space. >> Yeah. So it's a great partnership with
our public health department. We'll have more they they're great. We've done hearing screenings, blood pressure screenings and vision screenings I think even maybe. Um, and these are often for people who don't have the time or the the
I guess resources to go to a doctor. Um, and it's just easier to get to the library. We have a new student page um who's starting this week. We're very excited. Um, we appreciate that we can hire these students. Um, a couple of them every
year they do graduate and leave and then we have to hire again. But um we like to think that it's a really great experience for them. Um as I recall, some of them have been like things like, you know, validictorian or gone to Ivy League colleges. So I'm sure that's all down to they're working at the library
for some small amount of money. Um a little bit of a surprise, but we're very excited. Elizabeth Wbacher, who was our elder services librarian, departed. Um but she was able to get a directorship at another library. So, I think when we when we see people being promoted at
that level that we know we're doing something right with training our staff. But we are now um in the process of hiring for that position as well as in preparing for Susan Bogard's retirement in January. We're doing a dual a dual librarian search. So, we have a a great
team working on that right now. And mentioned Susan this month. Actually, Susan hits 32 years at the Reading Public Library, which is pretty pretty incredible. She actually has agreed to do a few Sundays, which is nice. We have several other retired librarians, our retired staff, including
Susie Axelson, Kathy Mixes, Eileen Barrett comes in sometimes. So, we do have um Ashley Wearing still comes in. We have some nice um uh alum who come in and help us on on Sundays or whatever. Also, this month,
Jamie Penny hit her 25 year mark. So, I just like to call out those big those big numbers. Um, and then you'll see all the rest of the anniversaries that we have this month. There's a lot of events going on in October, not least of which is connected
reading. It's another one of Michelle's big projects. That is something we do across the town. Uh, we host it here and there's like 40 tables. There are 49 tables with town departments and nonprofit organizations along with the chamber of commerce who
offer goodie bags. It used to be newcomers for for new residents and now it really is just open to anybody who wants to come learn more about the town trying to be really inclusive. There are people who may have lived here for years that really don't understand how recycling and the trash work. So
maybe they can come and talk to someone from the DPW. That's actually going to be an interesting discussion this year. >> Is participation closed? and you would you would speak to Michelle if you had had uh had more um information about that to get more
information. And then finally, our list of um selected list of things that we learn every month. And I just I'm always amazed every every month that the range of stuff our staff uh complete to stay on top of what we can do to provide
services to to the community. And that's the director's report. >> Excellent. Thank you. Any questions? Anyone? Not. We can move on to the approval of the September 2025 meeting minutes. There's no questions. Do I have a motion?
>> Move to approve the minutes as presented. >> Second. >> All in favor? Motion carries 5. Uh moving on to future agenda items. And Amy, you're going to change the
budget one, right? It's off. Um Michelle will be here. Michelle will be running the meeting and um hosting the agenda. So um she'll be sending Cappy Au and Pat. She'll send you the draft agenda. Everybody can send any items to Michelle and or Megan. The
meeting will be posted because it's on a Wednesday, but Tuesday is a holiday and Friday town hall is closed. We'll still need to post it, I think, on Friday, the previous Friday, which is sixth, maybe November 6th.
7th. Thank you. Yes, that's the 7th. Correct. So, that's when it will need to be posted by Thursday. No, Thursday, October 6th. Is that Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, November 6. The
the November meeting. So, we'll need to have any agenda set by Thursday, November 6. There's one there's one um policy to review which we can either hold on, but it's it's more just housekeeping details. is the gift policy, but um you
can also discuss the distribution policy that was reviewed today and vote on that. It hopefully will be a quiet quiet one month. >> We have any other questions, additions to the future agenda items or anything?
Um, just a reminder, at some point you may want to discuss the Mass Library Trustee Association, the MLTA, which is the $100 membership. Um, if you want to I don't know if anybody had a chance to look at it. It's completely up to you. Um, it's unclear to me. I think we would
pay that I think we would pay that as the town on behalf of the trustees for you to belong. So, I think that's all we you would need to um I I don't have an opinion one way or the other. >> Is that for each of us? >> No, it's for the entire board.
>> I forgot refresh my memory. We're also a member of another group. Right. >> Right. So we have access to United for libraries which is through the mass board of library commissioners Massachusetts library system that we get
for free and I think you see on the um MBLC emails if you're signed up for them um I don't know if it's Sarah Sarah or there's a couple people that would regularly send you emails and they'll say oh there's a there's a conf online online conference or whatever and those
are all usually free. Um, sometimes there might be something that costs 50 bucks or something, but in general, most of it's free. And, um, it also supports friends as well. I don't know anything about that because
I'm not a library trustee. So, um, you're welcome to research it and decide whether it's something one or all of you would be interested in like just attending meetings or anything like that. And they do note that they have um the
MLTA does have a conference November 1st at the Shrewsbury Library Saturday. Um yeah, this the email had come in. So was there I don't think there was any >> Yeah, we just said we'll think about it
and put it on a future agenda. So >> $100 for the $100 for the year for the entire membership. >> Oh, wait. Thank you, Michelle, for reminding me. I have to share my screen though. Um I
have to find the right thing. So as part of the rooted and reading, this is when I meant to do it. Um just see if I can share my screen. One of the things we got through our Rooted and Reading grant as we created the wildlife habitat, we wanted to see
if there were any actual wildlife. So we actually bought something called a bird buddy. And um the sound's not going to come through, but if you were listening to it, this is our first visitor. Came on Monday or Sunday, I think. It was raining, but it wasn't as terrible on as
on Monday. And uh it's a little blue jay. He's been back several times. Um we'd love to see other birds there, but we'll take a blue jay. Um but somebody has found our our little bird feeder. So that this was very exciting for us. And Michelle's working on ways to share this out to social media um to kind of
promote it >> live bird. like Yeah. So, but it is exciting. Um, we created a wildlife habitat. Um, we know the bunnies found it. Um, so there's there's evidence the bunnies
found it, but um, we are very pleased um to find some to find some bird life there. And um, we have also in addition to the bird feeder, we have a number of um, plants that have um, berries. The American cranberry which has berries that are really attractive to birds as
well as some of the seed pods and some of the various plants that we've left are very attractive to birds. So, we're very excited about this. It's just wild bird seeds. I think it's sunflower. Oh, yeah. He's he's very being very selective.
So those are that's a library moment for you. >> Well, it's better than what was there prior. >> Yeah. A year ago. >> Oh, a year ago. Yeah. It's it's an amazing Nothing. >> Nothing. Weeds. Weeds and grass. >> Weeds and grass.
>> Oh yeah. The fountain is is amazing. you know, we have to remember to keep filling up the little thing, but the fact that it's just even if it didn't have the water in it, it's it's beautiful and it really is meaningful. So, I'm so that's reusing or reclaiming
or upycling, I'm not sure what we want to call it, but it really was it's it's really meaningful to have that back. >> If there's nothing else, do we have a motion to adjurnn? All in favor? We are returned as of 7:37.