WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=qAuc0j3yOEk

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: qAuc0j3yOEk):
- 00:00:07: Welcome, Introductions, and Upcoming Meeting Details
- 00:06:24: Checking for Quorum and Trustee's Report on Grant
- 00:07:15: Library's Circulation and Usage Statistics, New Cards
- 00:12:39: Grant Details and Potential Town Meeting Presentation
- 00:14:16: Follow-up News Story and Public Facing Strategy Discussion
- 00:16:58: Community Meeting Room, Insurance Policy Discussion Begins
- 00:24:50: Insurance and Open Access, Postcards and Private Events
- 00:30:28: Potential Insurance Loopholes, Legalities of Volunteers
- 00:34:41: Postcards, Community Involvement and Public/Private Access
- 00:39:38: Revisiting Private Party Policy and Insurance Clause
- 00:43:18: Ice Skating Parties, Motion to Include Insurance Language
- 00:49:18: Hesitations About Insurance Hurdle, Accessibility Concerns
- 00:55:46: Release of Expendable Trust for Marian to ALA
- 00:58:47: Travel Reimbursement Discussion and Community Building
- 01:00:52: ALA Recognition, Grant Program Discussion, Adjournment


Part: 1

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Yeah, here. I'm not going to >> I'm not going to stand I don't think. Just trying to get this to work. the same thing. Here tonight is my family or friends. Oh, windows that open. Isn't that nice?

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>> Isn't that nice? Yeah. >> Yeah, it really is. >> That is getting cool. Temperature is dropping fast. >> No, I left my house and it wasn't as cold as it is when I got here. I was like, whoa. >> Yes, >> that's different. >> What was that down the hall?

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>> What was that? curve. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I know about it, but I just >> Yeah, I know about Yeah, >> I really do. >> That many hours. >> Yeah. >> Just came for the >> Yeah,

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>> I read her things that she posts. That's about it. Yeah. Um, so is not going to be here tonight, so somebody has to lift. I brought mine just in case. >> I'm really not a good little pick, but

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I could if I have to. I did it for like about seven years and I was like, I don't really want to do this again. But anyway, um >> All right. >> There you go. >> Just sent me the the notice,

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>> isn't it? So, a great idea. >> Yeah. It really It's snow, but like it's Yeah, it's real. >> Yeah, it's real. >> It's great. Did you hear about that? Marian won the Lemony Snickicket prize from the

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American Library Association. Oh yeah. >> It's a national award. She has to go to the ALA conference in Chicago to accept it >> in the face of adversity and the dedication to the principles of life. >> Soul and

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>> Yeah. It hasn't really been public yet. >> Yeah. But now Penny worked on it. I thank you for letter support too. >> I actually did not I got to do an edit which was super a fantastic job.

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>> Thank you. It was so that was a great >> I'm going to sneak behind you to avoid the cables over there if I might. So yeah. >> Yeah. >> Or swap places. >> But I mean it worked.

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>> It worked. I was so sure. I told Tammy it's going to go to somebody in some Minneapolis suburb who's been hiding an undocumented. >> But this is an unusual. >> They must have read it and said, "What an unusual story. A library with no

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running law." >> I think that's what it was. >> I don't know what you looked at, but >> there. >> Okay, great. You ready? >> Oh, no. I need the agenda. on me and I I

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didn't have I Yes. Where is it? You just said it. But you just I sent it at 4:30 yesterday. Yeah. >> There it is. minutes. I >> I printed them out. I forgot to read

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them. Or did I read them? >> Oh, yes, I did. I can tell you those. That's right. >> Okay. I was not at the meeting last time, so I can't really >> So, has everybody else read them? I read

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them >> minutes that I'll pull them up right now. Do you need me to Oh, you have it. >> There they are. >> That's the agenda, but I can >> minutes. I can see if you just want to look at >> Oh, yeah. >> You want to look at

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They looked good to me. >> Why didn't I look at these? Cuz I >> You might have gotten it to your wrong email. >> Yeah, that's probably what happened. Oh, probably cuz I I started the wrong chain and Mel replied to it. >> Sorry about that.

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>> Okay. >> That's why I thought I had the wrong one in, but I didn't. Yeah, you >> said update our thingy. >> We're losing our secretary, so I guess we'll just do it ourselves. >> This looks fine. That's what I thought.

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>> All right, I'm going to go with it looks fine because I can't read that fast. Okay. So, I'll make a motion to accept the minutes from um March 30th as written. Wait one second. Is that your turn?

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>> Okay. So, I will just say um we have a quorum for the meeting and I think we have a quorum of attendees of the last meeting because there were five people three. So, I'm going to just be the best we can and say that we can't actually take this vote even though people can

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make it. So Michelle is >> Yep. Yes. >> And Elizabeth is >> a Yes. >> And Pam is a >> Okay. So that's that. So we consider that. Thank you. And um

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Mary, this is just a moment for anything you want us to hear. >> Oh, that's right. Okay. Yeah. So um this is a trustee meeting. Okay. All right. So, um, so I'm working on the final grant report, um, which is due at the

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end of this week. And, um, so I have some fun facts to share. >> Um, since we opened, our circulation has increased by 75%. Um, so, um, so it's, you know, like I

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notice that there's a lot more stuff going out and a lot more stuff coming in, but it's nice to actually look at the data. And so, like, I don't have the numbers off the top of my head, but but so circulation is around since we opened, circulation is like 10,500

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since we opened here. And in the same time period last year, it was around 6,000. So, um, so that's pretty exciting. We've given out 79 library cards since we opened here. Um, and last year during the same time period, we

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gave out 21 library cards. So, that's like four times as many. Um, and then >> did you say 75% or >> Yeah, circulation has increased 75%. Because then I give them, >> right? and um and but it was it's like

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10,000 compared to 6,000 and then 79 library cards compared to 21 library cards. So, >> and so who's getting these library cards? Is it mostly kids? >> No, it's not mostly kids. It's some kids, but it's adults who just haven't

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had library cards. Um >> Yeah. And then we're seeing people who've been active library who live in town and have been active library users. They're picking up their holds here. I

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never saw them in the old building. Um they get them somewhere else. >> They would get them in Ammerst. And um and so and it's not necessarily that this is closer. I mean we're 4/10en of a mile away from the other building. I think it's just a lot of people thought

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the old library was charming and beautiful and it is, but it was also dark and cramped, you know, and I think it feels more comfortable to some for some people to come here. Um, and also if you were standing in the old library

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and somebody else came in, they were right on top of you, right? Um, so, so we're seeing that. We're seeing people find things like people will children will say, "Was all this stuff crammed

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into the old library?" and and it was, you know, >> and I don't know how, you know, >> it was a tight, >> you know, and um and so people are so

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it's the same stuff, but people are finding new stuff that they didn't see before because it was, you know, cuz the because the browsing ability was so poor. So, Even dark in this dark.

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>> Yeah. >> I really thought when you moved all these books that there was going to be tons of space. >> I did. I did too. >> Right. Yes. >> But you had so much space. >> Yes. And there is a lot of room for growth in the children's room, which is

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great because there is no such thing as enough children's books. So you're going to agree with me. >> Absolutely. New things come out all the time. The rest of us are going to So, good thing I have Michelle therapy. >> And you know, and there's room for ro for growth in the teens room. And there

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is room for growth in the adult room. And then there are still a lot of DVDs here, but we are DVDs are not getting the use that they used to get. And I >> I don't think they're going to come back. I think we're going to continue to move in the direction of streaming and

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that'll be easier for people. And um and it's harder to buy DVDs. They're not putting everything. First of all, there's more stuff being made because we've got all of these internet television stations and they all make content and people watch all of the

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different content, but it doesn't necessarily get put on DVD. So, and even the the feature films that get released in movie theaters, you know, sometimes for a day, those don't necessarily ever get made on DVD. So, um or they might

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get made on DVD, but like five years after >> all the hype about it. Um so, so we've got room for growth in the adult room, too. Um so, so that's, you know, that's really good. Um and um and then we've

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got flexible spaces that people are using um in all kinds of different ways and people are thrilled to be here. So that's um really exciting and fun. So um and the the final grant report is due on

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Thursday. I'm working on it. Um it's a lot. Um and so that's what I will be doing this week. Um >> which grant is this? >> The grant. The construction grant. Oh, direct grant. Oh, use it on like a >> Right. Yeah. So, I'm I'm also

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administering the MVP grant that Becky had applied for >> and I >> What's the MVP? >> Municipal vulnerability program and that paid for the solar panels. Um, >> and we explored a backup

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>> battery storage, but that didn't end up working. Um, and um, so I've been I got that grant cuz Becky left and then there was a interim town administrator. Um, and we have gotten all of the money from that which is good. That was two

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different rounds of paperwork. Um, and then um, and then I had to rewrite that contract I think four times. Um, and uh, and then I have to do a case study which I'll do before the end of May. Um, but that's the last piece that MVP.

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>> Yeah, that's for the MVP. But the big the construction grant um I will at least have the financial piece of it done for um for Thursday and there's still >> a lot of moving parts, but they want it because

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>> there's we need to know if they need to give us there's still some money that they could give us and right now I don't know that we need it. Um but that's why they if if they're going to give us that money, they need to know what they need to report by that Thursday. >> The whole thing is due on Thursday.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. So, um so anyway, so I'm working on that. >> Can I ask a couple questions? Um one is >> are have you thought since you've already done the work and you are can give a price are you going to give that

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report at town meeting? >> Oh yes. It's just important. >> Yeah, I'll and I'll do more. So I you know I usually give a report at town meeting about circulation and all the like a bunch of different statistics and

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um and I will so when we get closer to town oh town meeting is the week after next. Um yeah um so I'll do I will know how many programs we've had um how many people came to the programs. It's it's

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harder to compare that to last year because I don't keep the statistics like those statistics in the same way as you know because there isn't software but still it's it's impressive what our program statistics and then I'll I'll update the circulation statistics

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because it'll be four months at that point and then um and then the library card numbers and um yes I'll give that information I'm I'm planning to give that information at town meeting. Yeah, >> that's really great. >> Yes. >> I also I mean It's it's

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obviously there were concerns about like you know were people really going to use a new building um did are digital assets undermining the need for physical um building and circulation of items and

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like you know no no but so I think it is really good to say and I am thinking about whether we might want to ask for a follow-up story. Uhhuh. from like the newspaper. >> Not yet. Like give yourself a little more time. But right, you know, just

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because >> I I think that one of the benefits of the small library pilot project is showing that it can work for counsel and the better job we do getting that word out, the more we help the MBLC that like

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whenever we do like a public facing piece, I feel like that should be part of the strategy for us and gratitude. >> Yes. So, sorry. >> I like that. I like that obvious. That's what it is. >> I like that. Maybe like six months in or maybe maybe a year in a oneyear

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anniversary. Like I I will tell you we're going to have a one-y year birthday party, right? Um because why would we not? Exactly. And um and um and so I think that could be, you know, a

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nice piece that we could invite the press to. And um and if they don't come, we could, you know, send a press release. Um yes, >> the only other thing I'm thinking is that the federal budget zeros out the museum and library fund again.

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>> Um which would be a reason not to wait for a year, but to try to inject it, at least give our champions on the hill some great local heartwarming story with an award-winning Liberian, >> right? Yes. Yes. I'm I'm Yes. I'm all in after the grant reports out.

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>> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Okay. >> Um, so that was a lot for me. Anybody else have questions for me or gratitude? >> Okay. Just want to make room. It's really hard to participate in meeting

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the end taking notes. >> It really is my mind. >> Right. So, um, community meeting room, >> right? So, were you you weren't here last time. So, um, so, so our town

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council, um, I', I sent everybody an email with, and you've got that email. Um, so she encourages us to have insurance and both the school and the town hall require insurance when the school is by outside

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groups if the school's being used for sort of non community, non-government type uses. Um so um so and she advised us to require insurance. Um and and so

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for businesses that is a a reasonable thing. Um most businesses have insurance and can get um s you know day use policies um done under these circumstances. for individuals,

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it's um it's going to be burdensome. Um and um I started out by calling the company that I get my homeowners insurance from >> and they do there's some stuff that is that can be covered under a homeowner's policy and some stuff not. But they said

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that um you know you can get you can get an like a rider from your homeowner's policy. And if you don't have one, there are individual policies, event policies that they can write. Um, and um, and then I did some internet

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research and there are companies on the internet that people get, you know, insurance and I think people also get insurance from the internet and don't use a local agency anymore. So, um, so, so it's possible. I saw insurance quoted

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between $175 and $350. They ask questions like are you going to have food? Are you going to have an entertainer? And all of those things contribute to the pricing. Um so so

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insurance requiring insurance will be cost prohibitive for individuals. Um, I went to our town insurer because Elizabeth had a question um about could could we as the library

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provide additional insurance so that individuals wouldn't have to and um and their answer was in um that you know they didn't answer the question directly but they just said if you're renting out the room for non

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you know government or non non town purposes is we don't cover you. Um so and that was, you know, very clear and um and and then Donna was very clear

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that we could potentially be creating a costly liability for the town. >> Excuse me, Donna. The town lawyer. >> Donna. Yeah. The town council that >> and it's C O U N S E L.

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I think I can never keep those. >> Council C O U N S E L E L >> S E L. Yes. >> Oh, yes. >> Yes. Doesn't look like >> I know it's strange. >> It's a little discouraging birthday party thing.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. Or it costs a lot of money and then you got to have some insurance writer, >> right? It is discouraging. Yeah, it is. Um now it's discouraging. Um, I will say that I think you are the trustees of the

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library who administer the library and you could um so in one email exchange I had with Donna, she said you could require 500,000 instead of a million um dollars in coverage. I don't know that that's

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going to make a difference. It didn't make a difference when I was doing my >> as far as um >> 175 is a lot if you don't have a lot of money, >> right? So, I called the Pelum Library to see what they do and they do require

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people to get that a million dollar insurance if they have an event that's after hours. If it's during library hours, they wave it. And so they said the vast majority of their birthday parties are during library hours, which I know that wasn't what we wanted to do, >> right?

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>> And they also said that um because you have to get the insurance, they don't charge any fee for the room. >> You probably already knew that. >> I didn't. Yeah, that was those were good questions to ask. I mean, the town of

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Ammerst does not um so so the town owns in Ammerst, the town owns the North Ammerst branch and the Mson Library in South Ammerst. And then the the Jones Library is not owned by the town. Um and then the town of

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Ammerst also has the Bangs Center. They don't they don't charge insurance. They don't require insurance to use any of those places. Um they may use a different insurer. they um >> do a different calculation, >> right?

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>> The town has a lot more ability to raise revenue, >> right, >> quickly if they need to, >> right? >> Yeah. The difference, >> right? They have a tax base, a commercial tax base that we don't, >> right? >> So, >> right, >> that's probably part of the calculation

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is >> what's there, you know, it's not just the risk, but exposure to the risk. >> Right. Right. Um, and and so I hadn't considered that like um

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so I think having a birthday party or a um or a shower or something like that while the library was open could really impact library services. Um uh and um and I think that any

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programming that happens in the meeting room while the library open really needs to be open to the general public, you know, like and so somebody might not want somebody walking into their private party. Um but but I could see that being Well, I still think that wouldn't meet

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the insurance requirements, you know. Um >> it's just an interesting model. >> It is an interesting model. Yeah. And they just changed it to make people get insurance because in the past if people wanted to have an event in the evening they had to have a library staff member stay >> and so this is the switch now you can

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get a key >> right you have to have insurance to >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Oh it's sad that we've come to that place in our society. Isn't it? That's really sad. >> Yeah. And that's what Donna said that in her email that I think I you know I um

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>> I know Indivisible Western Indivisible really wants to do postcards here. >> All right. So that I think is different though because >> I I do postcards so I will be >> Yes. Okay. So that I think is different because that could happen while the

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library was open. Yeah, it would. Right. Okay. That could happen while the library is open because it wouldn't be you know potentially disruptive. insurance like what what are we talking about here now? We talked about all the other >> scenario. So I think that um so so I was

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I've been thinking about this and I think about um so this is this question came up when we were talking about renting the facility to outside groups to use the facility for private purposes

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outside of library hours. Right. And so something like Indivisible using or another community group that the um the artists who do the studio tour, right? >> Um they're not a

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they're not a town group, but they're a group of artists that live in town and they they plan a studio tour, right? um like those things happening while the library is open and that anybody could

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if Indivisible was in there or if the Shootsberry Republican Party wanted to meet in there um or you know or like that you know while the library was open and anybody could

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>> participate and they're not um you May they maybe have snacks, but they're not like they don't have a clown performing. For some reason, performers jacked up the price. Um, yeah. Um, interesting.

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>> And um, so um, so those things those things seem fine. It's um, it's really like the the private entities renting the room for private purposes. >> So it would really that's what the

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criteria really would be. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. >> I mean, it seems like we're talking about just nuance to the policy. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Where we need a differentiation of purpose

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>> and whether the primary purpose is entertainment >> or arts and education, arts, education, advocacy. >> Right. >> Right. I'm thinking right. I'm thinking about it that way. like if the activity would reasonably fall under some sort of

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501c >> right >> part of the tax code like the art or would if they were you know if they were structured as a nonprofit or invisible you know or the Republican party obviously >> then that's fine but like if there would

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be no >> sort of federal tax designation available for you if you apply for it because birthday parties don't count for that >> then I mean like this is how my brain work. That's maybe not the way to describe it to people, >> but it's actually kind of a clear line,

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>> right? Which is the other thing you need is I think you don't want people saying, "Well, but they got to and now we don't." >> Right. Well, it's public use versus private use. That's a good way to think. >> So, um so the the a birthday party or or

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a bridal shower is a private event, right? um a business renting the room to to teach people how to carve pumpkins. >> But now you've got a purpose, not just a public versus private, but you've got a

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decision about again entertainment >> versus educa. And I think that matter because that's what the insurance cares about. parents cares about if they're a clown or magician or someone who might decide that sparklers in the library are a great idea, which is exactly why the clearance is so much more expensive.

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>> Right. Right. Yes. >> So, I think maybe that's the work we need to do. >> So, do we need to tweak the um the policy we already approved? >> Well, to make to analyze this and then I I mean I don't know.

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>> So, >> I haven't looked at it since we approved it. So, I sent you the insurance requirement. >> Um, >> yes. >> Uh, let's see. So, so the insurance requirement says individuals or organizations renting the library's

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meeting room for private events such as meetings, classes, parties, or receptions >> um are responsible for damage to the building, its grounds, and its content >> for the conduct and and for the conduct of their guests. And then um

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>> that's not the same distinction that I just made at all. No, >> any external >> but there's a difference is there isn't there between what was recommended and what's required, >> right? >> Town council is not actually able to require us, right? >> We don't need to do anything, right,

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>> that we don't decide on really. We don't have to require any insurance, but we can since that's recommended. >> Yeah, thank you. That's some stress there. >> It looks like the Zoom crashed. Uh I'll just see if I can start it again. Okay. >> But you know, I think it makes sense. I

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mean, you just never know what's going to happen. The other potential loophole is whether there are a cadre of potential volunteer chefs. I think that that would put so much

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pressure on the libraries. You know, this is another side, but I really want to make sure we talk about the this whole um you know, legal thing with volunteers. What do you call it? The I can't think of it. We all had to go through it because we're public. We were public school employees. What's the the

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what is it? It's >> you talking about >> the ethics training? >> No, no, not the ethics training. Like your Corey Corey. >> I never got an answer. I asked Rita, she said, "Ask Haley." She wrote it. I'm like, I've never got an answer about what does this mean as far as our

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volunteers? Does everybody have to like remember when they were maybe it was was maybe it was Pioneer that every single parent that came in the school if they were going to be on a field trip or volunteer had to be Corey. >> Well, and that's true at the school, >> but I got I didn't get an answer from

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anybody about that and I kept about it. >> Yeah, my read of it is that that's not true. Um, not everybody has to. Just want to clarify because she didn't answer my question and Rita Rita said ask Haley. She wrote it. >> Did you ask Haley? >> I asked her in an email once but she

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didn't answer. >> Your question is if with the new volunteer policy if everyone has to be quied or not. >> Yes. Yeah. Because it says volunteers in the policy and I'm like oh boy you've got a lot of volunteers now. >> I don't have you don't. >> No no I don't have a lot more volunteers

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than I have before. Um yeah. Um but um I um so there's >> I didn't mean to make this. >> Yeah. No, that's okay. I mean that's a different that's a different topic. >> I also want to make some point so clear, >> right? That's a different topic and and um and uh and it's part of why I don't

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have more volunteers because it's more paperwork um to have volunteers now. Um, I'll just ask you to clarify. >> My read of it, it didn't it didn't require Corey's um because I don't have any volunteers working alone with people. Um, so um,

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>> well, schools wouldn't generally let a volunteer go someplace with a kid alone, but that's just what Pioneer did. I don't know. >> Right. No, here if you volunteer at the school, you have to be Corey checked, >> but it's it's different. The school is >> the custodian of the of the children.

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here. We're not um so but volunteers do have to sign a hand is all for the language. That's all. >> You can do that. That's great. >> Talked about it. We just want clarification. >> Yep. Okay. Good. So anyway, this is a

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different thing. So, so we can um we can change that language um to you know so to something that um let's see meetings, classes, parties

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or receptions. Well, so it's renting and we've already decided that we're not like charging people like Indivisible for using um >> or the artist group um you know um

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>> you solve the problem. It's really only for people who would rent. >> Right. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean talking to Jean Meister who's in charge of the postcard things. She really is looking forward, as I said, we're be talking about it. I can let you know soon. But anyway, um to

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have it open so people say, "Oh, what are you doing?" And so they can learn about Right. Yes. how they can participate. >> Right. And anybody would be welcome to go in. >> Absolutely. as opposed to if somebody's running a private class on how to,

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you know, sew something and only the people who paid for the class are allowed to go in. That feels very different. >> Maybe we add the language that you just said before. If if um there's a meeting or a group that's meeting here, it's

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open to the public, such as nonprofit groups or >> I think that's already in the policy. >> And what we would need to do is include an insurance clause in the rental agreements. >> Right. Right. >> Right.

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>> And what do we think about that? Like we're bummed, right? But >> I'm Yes, we're bummed. I'm thinking about um I'm thinking about what Pelum does. I think their setup is different. You know, their meeting room

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is separate. It's off to the side. So, it's really, >> you know, um >> it's off to the side and they can lock a door so that no one can go into the library area, >> which we can't really do, right? >> No. >> Yeah. Walk the front door. I've had

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meetings in there. It's totally different. Yeah. >> Right. um and um and or people from the library can't get to the private party kind of thing. It just that setup feels very different. Um it's I did think about that. I thought

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about like if we required a staff person if we required them to pay for a staff person to be there. >> But I just wonder how much that would be on the I feel like already you have a hard time getting subs and stuff maybe. No, I don't have a hard time getting

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subs. We don't um like does a sub want to come in Saturday from 4 to 6 for some kid's birthday party? Right. That's you know, right? Yeah. You know, um and then and then it would it would end up falling on me,

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>> right? And and it's Yeah. um that out and um and it's >> and that's what happened in Pelum is that none of the staff could ever do the events so they wouldn't have the events and that's why they turned to the insurance. >> Right. >> Yes. >> It's really good to hear that. >> Right.

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>> Yes. Yeah. And it's and then um you know and then I think like a lot of libraries don't don't offer the room for private events like that like birthday parties and

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bridal showers. Um, and we just sort of live in a rural area and I just I thought it would be a really nice thing and I didn't think it would be I was thinking it would happen like once a month, you know, I didn't think it

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would happen all the time because I was thinking it would only be outside of library hours. So really like very early Sunday morning or Saturday afternoons were the kind of the two windows for that to happen and I didn't think it

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would end up happening all the time. >> All right. But who's going to cover it? That's the thing. >> H >> but who's going to cover it? >> Oh, right. No, no, no. I mean, it's not It wasn't the staff thing. It was like the party thing. I thought it could be a nice thing that would be available to

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the community. Um, and it still is like so if somebody has homeowners insurance, I don't think it's going to cost them $175. >> It costs these people who do it at the Pelum Library about $100. >> Okay. So, I could find out where Jodie where

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those people get insurance. >> Yeah, Jod did it once and she got her own insurance $100. So, I can ask her that because that's because I didn't find anything that was $100, but I didn't ask how much is it if I just do it with my homeowner's insurance. I did. I asked >> What's going to be? She did it on the

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internet. >> Oh, really? Not related to her, right? >> All right. Okay. I can ask her. Um I can ask her that. And then >> nice to include a link. Here's the best value that we've found. You might also check. >> I don't think we can do that, but I can

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say that on the side. Yeah, we could have a preferred vendor that >> No, we can't. I mean, like not without doing a homemade process probably, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. We can't we can't recommend >> businesses supposed to do. >> Yeah. But I but I can say so and so use

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this business, you know, like just >> word of mouth. Yeah. Um Yeah. Um >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Can we revisit then what so what are we thinking about if people want to have private entities, private parties? What do we I don't I haven't looked at the policy since we approved it in February,

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so I don't remember. >> Well, just I think if if you're you know part we just we need to insert a clause in the rental there's a specific rental subsection of the policy >> and it says you're required to carry >> Yeah. No, I get that part. I just want

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what are you thinking about the times that it would be available? Are you going to let people come when there's no one here or >> Yeah, that would be when they could have private parties like that. That's what it says. >> I haven't looked at it since we Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. That's what it says. I

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mean, I haven't read it this week either, but um and then we would just add this insurance clause to the rental section. Um and then we're good to go. Um and it would be, you know, and then we the the parties are limited in size

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and we've named that. Um and um and then we say no drugs or alcohol or cigarette smoking and you know all of those things. We say that they have to >> you know adhere to our policies. Um, and then I think as far as businesses go, I

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think um I think it's very reasonable to to require businesses to get insurance and many of them already have, >> right? Absolutely. And there's a difference like so say if somebody wanted to rent the meeting room to teach yoga and they were charging people to

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come. >> So if we have a yoga class, our class is covered by the town's insurance because it's a library program. It's a library educational enri en enriching program. >> If somebody else is offering a yoga class, they need to provide their own insurance, right?

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>> You know, cuz it doesn't fall under us. So, that seems very reasonable. >> Yeah, I think that's >> Yeah. And that's, you know, that's covered under this. >> Okay. >> The only other thought I have is because it's so expensive to get insurance, should we still charge such a high fee

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for a rental? Do you really think it's such a high fee? >> I didn't. Was it $300? >> Oh, no. Oh, no. It was like $35 an hour with a minimum three hours. >> 50. So, it's like $150 probably.

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>> Yes. At at the most. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't know what like space rental costs are like around here, but you know, even if you were talking about renting a room for 250 bucks for 3 hours, that's still seems like a pretty good >> Well, that seems that seems better than

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I thought. I thought it was three hours and it would be $300. So, >> yeah. No, no, no. It's It's more like $35 an hour. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It was a pretty low amount of money. I

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>> do you want us to just draft a clause right now? The clause right now? >> I mean, so I sent you >> a clause. This is it, right? >> So, uh, yes. Yeah. Um, and maybe I can

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put it up on the screen. Um, I'll pull it up on this computer. She's been too good emails. I got to I mean, I looked at the draft. I seem to have covered all the places >> and it's been reviewed by Donna. >> Yeah, it looked fine to me. Good.

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$35 an hour. >> Okay. >> Oh, I found out finally. >> Okay. >> I once rented the Mullen Center rink so my daughter could have an ice skating party. I don't know how much that was >> right now. That was $150. I doubt that

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it was then because Yeah, I wouldn't have paid that. No way. >> He still does it every year. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's a whole group of kids, too. This was like one little group, maybe 20 kids at most. So, can I make a motion from the chair or did

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someone else like to make a motion that we include the language as sent from town council into the rental clause of the meeting room policy? >> Okay, I'll second that.

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>> I'm going to pull up the meeting room policy. >> Um, >> okay. You made a motion to what? Say that again so I can type it out. >> Excertibility insurance language >> sent by town councel.

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That's how I feel like not count cell. >> Oh that yeah that helps. Okay. >> Um >> insert the liability clause >> the insurance requirement. Yeah, I met the insurance requirement >> from town council.

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>> Hold on. I keep >> let me find under the liability maybe. >> So, it's not the insurance clause. This is the insurance. >> No, it's the it's the language. >> I want to find

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>> insurance liability requirement. Yeah. from language from town council. Yeah. Do we have we we have the form too, but it's I don't see the form. >> Well, the form's not on here. The form is an online >> Okay.

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>> form. Um let me find where this should go >> because I thought that's where some of them the costs were articulated. >> Okay. Um >> town council. Yeah. >> Okay. Maybe um private let's see um

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maybe it should be under the private social functions. Um well it's private social functions. >> Social or business functions. >> Maybe we need to add a a thing. >> Can you go down just a little bit? Yeah, Marian, because there's another

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potential place for it to be. >> Okay. I believe we don't like get to the it's the rental schedule fee rule. >> Okay. >> It's down here. Well, back up. Can you back up? I feel

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like it's it's belongs with the liability and a whole harmless account. Oh, yeah. same frame and it probably would be number 10 >> and then it would say you know >> okay so number would

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>> all right okay so it would be number 10 and then violations and loss would be number 11 >> okay um okay >> procedures document this is yeah >> meeting room policies and procedures

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>> yes document Yeah. >> Okay. >> And so this would be mean this you could call this liability insurance requirement for a head or marriott if you wanted. >> It's liability and dam damage. So just why don't we leave it just insurance?

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Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Okay. So, we didn't do all in favor of the >> insurance requirement number. >> All right. And then, um, >> and then we're going to have violations

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and loss of privilege be 11. And I'll go in and fix the formatting, you know, >> after the meeting or tomorrow. Um, okay. Okay. Okay. I think that's where it belongs is after that the insurance >> that's too.

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>> Yes. Okay. Okay. And then I'll fix the formatting and make violations. >> It has to go there because >> Yes. >> It's incorporated in the violation of privileges. >> Okay. Yes. Okay. >> Cool. Yes. So, we didn't do the roll call vote on the Not yet. >> Okay.

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>> When we So, then um So, then I'm going to change the date once you've voted that this is adopted by the library trustees. >> Put amended. Okay. >> Instead of changing the approved amend historical record. >> Okay. Amended.

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Um Okay. Um what is today's date? April >> 27th. Okay, that up top too. >> Assuming we do, but we haven't actually yet. Can you let us know when you're ready to record the vote, Matt? >> Okay. Um, so I'll take a vote. Did Did

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you say I'm sorry. Did you miss what we did? >> No, you did. >> Yeah. Okay. So, this is a the motion is to approve the uh insertion of this language at that point in the policy.

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I feel ex extremely hesitant about doing it, but I will go with the group. >> We'll talk about your hesitation. >> My hesitation is just that I think that our goal should be accessibility. And I think this shuts people out who even can

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pay the fee because it's such a hurdle to get an insurance policy. >> You know, I'm bummed too, believe me. >> Yeah, I understand. we need to do it and I think it's good to follow Pelum but I just feel like so many people have

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expressed their interest in having a party here and so it it just feels like >> I know >> over policing >> I was bummed when I saw this too feels like >> yeah see that's >> that's why last time we asked for more information because we were all kind of bummed >> you're not in the birthday party

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>> party circle so yeah >> we never We had like Oh, we know we had birthday parties when there was really little up here. We always went to Ammerst or something and it's it is a B. It's nice to be able to have something here. >> We went to the quality in and rented the pool there. I think it was like $25 or

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something. I know. So cheap. And >> I know >> you know there was nobody else there but us. The parents were responsible around water. >> Yeah. I know. In South Deerfield because Aaron went to Deerfield Elementary that people rented a red roof. I don't know if they had a >> lifeguard. We Yeah, we we rented

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right that yeah we we rented the rev group for a birthday party there was no lifeguard right um and um and but they have different >> it's yes >> you know they have different things you

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know like we we are a town the town's insure ensures the town for for town business you know it doesn't ensure the town for private parties Yeah. Um, >> I get it. I get it. Just disappoint.

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I think I think I I hear you. And I'm just like, really? We're a little kid's birthday party. You got to treat it like, you know, >> right? And if I were in the birthday party set, I would be asking myself, how could we as

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a group of people look at reducing the cost by pulling the risk and say like, you really want to do your birthday parties here? Then work together to find an insurance solution that spreads the cost. >> I don't know that there is such an

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answer, but I would ask Do you know what I mean? >> You're saying the parents should team up? >> Might they might ask? It's like, you know, it's insurance. So if if everyone treats it as a single thing, it's like

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any other in they have to, you know, level the cost to what an anticipated level of risk. But if you have a known group of people, right, who are choosing to act together and some they have an accordance or something amongst themselves, you might be able to get a

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better deal. >> I don't know. I'd ask. >> I'd find an insurance agent and ask personally if I really had my heart set on it, you know. >> It is a bummer, but we are a town into these.

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>> All right, so we have one. Yes. You say, >> "Oh, yes." >> So that's Elizabeth. Yes. >> Michelle, yes. >> Kate, yes. >> So Elizabeth, you're saying yes. You're just expressing your >> You can say no. It's okay.

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>> I think I'll say no. >> Yeah. Good. Let me ask. >> And then the only other thing that I may ask since we do we we tend to be a fairly unanimous body and and I I don't

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think we want a group think forward. I would just say this is where we are now, but we are barely at a quorum and we should reopen the vote. >> Absolutely. >> Like next time when we get anybody here. >> Yeah. And I'm certainly happy to change

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my vote after more discussion, but I just feel strongly now that like in terms of representing people with >> well families, they would want this to be >> not necessarily uh they would want it to be a a easy process.

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I mean, how do you feel about what I just proposed that when we have a couple when we like we're getting maybe we wait until we have new membership on the board and reopen it then and to see >> the only other person running is doesn't

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have young kids either, >> you know. But anyway, but we but we're missing two people tonight. So, >> I mean I you know I totally get it. I'm totally bummed if I mean I told you I went to go to Ammerst all the time >> because there wasn't anywhere else up here and I wasn't going to have birthday party at the AC so

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I get it but >> we Yeah, you can think about it and see if that >> but if we delay it another month that means it delays the whole >> Yeah. I also don't think we should delay it but even with my no you can go forward. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I'm just saying keep the keep the spirit of query alive. We set a policy that

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covers us and >> and then see how how the community responds like see if you know um like see if we um >> get zero birthdays in a year. >> Get you know zero birthdays in a year or

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and and any complaints. >> Don't get complaints for sure. You need to hear those >> and then we listen to them and then we you know and then we um you know go on from there. Um, so

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yeah. >> Cool. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, what else do we have left to do? >> Um, we're almost done, I think. >> Okay. So, can we just So, we agree that

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the motion passed and Okay. All righty. And then I'll post this and then Okay. All righty. >> Okay. And then as far as I know, we have only one more item, which I hope will be pretty quick. Um,

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uh, so small release from expendable trust for Marian to go to the American Library Association ALA annual conference. >> Right. So, so the, so so, so I guess

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we'll put in the minutes that I was nominated for the Lemony Snickicket award for noble librarians who have faced adversity with dignity or something like that. It's a long it's a has a long name. Um, and I

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won and the award will be presented at the American Library Association annual conference. The award doesn't so fast. >> Okay. >> All righty. So, >> was nominated won the lemony stick prize.

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>> There you go. Chicago like 350 bucks. >> 315 >> and the title is in New York. >> So, that's the conference cost. >> That's what the conference costs. Yes. >> That's the registration, right?$15.

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>> Yes. $315. Um, it's I mean the conference is $630 and then they but they gave me half price. >> Um, yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And then I have So it's in Chicago, >> right? So then

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maybe we could also consider covering your flight or hotel >> or hotel or because I think in general that would be kind of costs that are covered by >> Right. Um so so that's up to you. I

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don't have a flight yet. I thought I had enough frequent flyer miles to cover one, but I don't. Um and um and then the hotel is um about $950 um my cost for the hotel. I'm sharing a

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I'm sharing an Airbnb with somebody because it's cheaper and it's closer to the venue. Um and it's about $950. I um you could discuss that. I'm not asking for that. Um I would not say no

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and then I would make sure that it was okay with the town. If if you if you discussed that and you decided to say you would give me up to $1,200 for travel fees, >> exactly what I >> Right. Um then I would I would check

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with the I know covering the conference fee is perfectly fine. Yeah. Um and then um so I would say, you know, I would just check with the town and make sure that spending on travel from the expendable trust was an eligible thing.

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I I would I would just make sure that that I ask the question. >> Okay. >> All right. I'm gonna do another motion from the chair just for >> Can I just ask one more question before we do that? >> I'm sorry. >> I just tell tell us how much is left in the expendable trust. I have no idea. >> Oh, it's like $27,000. >> Okay. We're going to put some toward

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this new building. It sounds like we haven't had to do that. So, okay. >> Right. Well, so the the principal went to the building. >> Yeah, I know. I still Yes. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, can I just do this? Um, so I

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the motion that trustees release $1,200 for travel reimbursement. That's the mechanism, right? You get >> um so that Maryanne

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can attend the 2026 ALA annual conference and then you can spend it how you want whatever you like I don't matter if it goes on hotel or flight or whatever

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ground transport okay >> it seems really reasonable to this is a very it's very big deal it's a really big feeling >> it's a business expense I mean the library would pay for their >> certainly Certainly certainly like bigger libraries pay for their employees

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to go to these conferences. >> All yes public school and the public education system though that has gone away because it's not public funds. It's a private trust. So >> right second that motion.

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>> All right. We're going to do a little roll call vote here with Michelle. Uh yes. Elizabeth. >> Yes. am. Yes. Okay. >> Yes. >> And then the same for the conference fee. A separate motion for the conference fee. Or do you want to

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think that that was a total? >> Oh, okay. >> Is that still okay or no? >> Yeah, that's close. I mean, so so the hotel is 900. It's like 950. >> We get 1300 and we're good. >> Okay.

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>> Okay. That's fine. Okay. That's fine. >> That's fine. without objection travel reimbursement some very >> okay so so travel and the conference fee okay I just want to make sure that that is covered >> and you'll yes okay

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>> I don't know I feel like if my inspired you that you had won a >> for this >> when are those coming out in the paper Penny Penny and Sam are working on a press release you know >> well those two have to stop fighting

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over it and over every word and then um well they're they're I think I mean I don't know I know they're doing that and then um and then they'll send it to Scott Msbach um and then I don't

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know I haven't seen the ALA post it on social media they they put their release on their website last week but it was library week so I think that it may have gotten >> um miss yeah um plus do it closer to the date of the They might. I Yeah, I don't

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know. So, um, and I'm not going to worry about any of that, but then So, but I'll make sure that the MBLL sees it. MBLC sees it because they have a whole way of sharing >> u news for

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if they haven't already seen this. So, >> yeah, I know. >> Yes. Yeah. Oh, they're going to be >> the little library and the librarian that could Yeah. But it's really it's bigger than me like this. And I think

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that's why I got the award because it's a it's a little town that could, you know, and and I think like when Joe Cmerford was just speaking, she was saying she was talking about so she's trying to develop a program for building

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municipal buildings like the library construction program. and she's talking about the inequity between big cities in Eastern Mass and the and rural towns and how the the state grant programs don't work the same for our communities

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because we don't have the numbers and everything's based on population density. And the MBLC recognized that they saw that small towns weren't able to participate and they changed their program so that small towns can participate and there there are small

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towns. So they've created based on their experience working with us this whole small it's a different it's the same grant program but they have a higher reimbursement rate for small towns and they provide a they provide funding for

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a consultant who helps the town write the building program and do the whole planning process and that's daunting for small towns >> and I and Joe was talking you know and Joe was talking about like just having the capacity to work through

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these grant programs and I like this grant reporting software that I'm working on now is daunting and the MVP grant process is daunting and small towns don't necessarily have the capacity to do that. So I think we and

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like Lemony Stickett said in a time when things are being torn apart, we actually built something despite forces working against us. And I think that's worth celebrating at ALA. >> Yes. >> So I'm willing to go.

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>> Yes. >> And um and say that to anyone who listen. I don't think I'm not expected to give a speech. So, >> well, when I when we were working on the grant proposal, I mean, I think that was one of the actually seeing you as an

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organizer of the community force >> was one of the crucial things that I at least really wanted to bring out. >> Yes. >> You know, and as a way of mobilizing civic energy >> and um so yeah, I I think that's right.

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I think you're exactly right and what's being valued and see. >> Yes. Yes. you know that um you know and yes like I was the face of it but I wasn't alone in it and I think it's and

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I think they're recognizing that that there has to be a catalyst you know um and that was me for you know it was a little messy some of the time but it was you know but it's and it's

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still remarkable library giving day we made $21,000. >> That's great. >> We didn't even ask for that much, you know, but people want >> this library to thrive. >> So, it's amazing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it really is.

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>> Is that our last item? >> I It is our last item. I'm just turn the now so we could definitely um adjourn the meeting, >> but I would just love to I wish Mel could be here. We do have another meeting with Mel, right? >> Okay. So, is the meeting adjourned?

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>> Yeah, we should try to Yeah, we need to set for next meeting. >> All righty. >> My computer died. >> This one? Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So, we would be talking about May.

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>> Uh 18th. Would that be our thing? >> Works for me. The 18th of May. That works for me. >> Yeah, I can do that.

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>> Well, hope that it works for um our other trustees and but I'm we'll try to remember and if I don't, Michelle, please remind me to just do another quorum check on that,

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>> okay, >> with them just in case. That's it's a good week because the following week is Memorial Day, right? That that plans early, a little early this year. >> Okay. >> All right. So, now is the meeting adjourned? >> Yes. You know, so we have another

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meeting with Mel before they or two before they step down. They don't step down until July. >> I think >> I think that's changed. >> I think that's changed. Or there was I'm pretty sure that that this would have been Mel's last meeting.

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>> Yeah, that's what I thought, too. And I meant to bring that. >> Okay. >> All right. >> All right. I'll turn off the recording.