WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=sHeYn0SqmK4

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: sHeYn0SqmK4):
- 00:00:00: Library Board Meeting Opening, Roll Call, Communications
- 00:02:24: Approval of March Minutes, Director's Report Discussion
- 00:05:11: Approval of March Minutes & Statistics Discussion
- 00:07:12: Old Business: Electricity & Fuel Line Budget Issues
- 00:09:48: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Discussion: 10% Cut
- 00:15:16: Municipal Appropriation Requirement and Waiver Process
- 00:20:23: State Aid Accounts, Programming Funds, Donations Discussion
- 00:26:42: Tax Increases, Budget Concerns, Certification Impacts
- 00:31:08: State Aid Funding, MBLC Role, Legislative Process
- 00:35:13: State Decisions, Budget Cuts, Staffing and Surveys
- 00:41:30: Information Materials, Wish List and Staff Association Dues
- 00:45:17: Summer Schedule, Programs, Restroom Issues, Channel 15
- 00:48:37: Channel 15 Program Recording Concerns: Presenters Rights
- 00:52:52: Channel 15 Filming Public Spaces; Policy Discussions
- 00:57:07: Policies: Library of Things, Hotspot Checkouts
- 00:59:18: Discussion on Policy Regarding Libraries that are Descertified
- 01:13:42: Survey Results, Position Cut, Children's Section
- 01:15:59: Director Departure, Survey Insights, Christian Fiction


Part: 1

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This is a recording of the South Public Library Board of Trustees. It is April 14th at 7 o'clock p.m. and we will do a roll call. So, um it looks like everybody's here in person tonight. I've got Lynn Blair, >> Andrea Bugby,

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>> Michael McMahon, >> Tracy Mesar, Tammy Sakon, Kathy Fishbach. Thank you. There's no public comments in person or on Zoom. um communications for the department headed

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reporting around uh programs and activities report and library usage report we will cover in the statistics but our other notes from this round were um the popular programs in March we had the tiny food explorers

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um the UFO program at the town hall was very well attended we had about 60 people. >> You just made a high of extra for me. That's perfect. Um we had the wildlife on wheels with Forest Park come and they brought five animals. Uh and the baby play groups and K pal continue to be

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popular. This month we're featuring a stop thebleleed class. We did the first of two hands-on CPR classes on Monday morning. Sounds like we had about 13 people, so that was >> was >> very good. Um, last night was our first revolutionary event with Alex McKenzie

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from the Springfield Armory on the Continental Arsenal. We had 23 people, so that was really well attended for a nice night. Next week, we will having Jesse Green talk about chainsaw sculpture. And then at the final Wednesday of the month, we will have Professor Margaret Bruschack of the

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University of Pennsylvania to discuss the indigenous presence in the Connecticut River Valley. And that one was funded by the cultural council. and we are preparing for summer reading program. The kickoff is going to be June 24th. We are trying something new this year and we're going to be doing it on a

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weekday evening, seeing if that makes a difference. We will have a mini zoo. Mulicious is bringing their ice cream truck. We'll have glitter tattoos and Vinnie the Bubble Guy will be performing. And then I have minutes for everyone.

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Thank you. >> You're welcome. But I'm glad you got ahead of us. So, I just suggested a few changes in the minutes. Very well done, Kathy. We thank you for taking them. Um, >> in the director's report, we will just

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switch um to say there was a slight increase in circulation in Libby use and a um decrease in the hoopla use. And I think that was all that I had noted unless somebody else said something too.

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>> That must be it. >> Oh, yeah. If there's if there's extras. Oh, there's there's usually one that's only one-sided because that's the copy that I scan into the That's the one I got. There you go. There we go. So, >> will we have any corrections or anything

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to amend? >> You said under the director's report that should be March, not February. >> Uh, no. Um, no, the February statistics were fine. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, we're just changing it to say in the second line down, there's a slight increase in circulation in the use.

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Okay. >> And the Hoopla use is uh decrease. This just got swapped. No big deal. >> Okay. Yep. But I have your document. I can make those changes if they're approved. You don't need to go back and redo anything and send it to me. I have

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it. Are there any corrections or updates or we did a bold >> looks good to me. >> Okay. All those in favor of approving the March minutes say I. Michael I.

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>> Tracy I. And we are. gap I go >> Andrea I >> and then we have the statistics for March I was going to say April but March

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so bad statistics as well so as if you may remember from last year March 2025 was a very odd March the circulation was 631 one for whatever reason. Um it was just really high that month. I didn't

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think there was an astronomically different number of programs or anything, but um the the statistics for this this current March, the 5,562 is more of what we would expect to see. Last year's March was just a strange anomaly for some unpredictable reason.

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So that's why the the circulation numbers look a little bit off. Um but otherwise we had a good month. Um an increase in reference questions. Um slight increase in computer usage and

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yeah and and Libby does Libby usage continues to increase. Hoopla is still down. Um but that's again just probably because we have um you know the caps on our monthly spending just so we're not overspending more than we can budget for. And then as far as programs go, um we

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had a good amount of programs for each age group. Um I did mention in the uh department head report which ones were pretty well attended. Um and yeah, every everything seems to be continuing well.

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The dramatic play area has been very fun for the kids. Molly did um a post office for them and then she just recently changed it to like a construction zone appropriate for spring. So, >> still a lot of new parts. That's great.

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>> Yeah, absolutely. Any questions or comments? Then I will continue to um the old business. Just a brief update. electricity line. As you know, we had to go to the finance committee and then the select board to approve an increase in our um electricity line because we've

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been hit with some unexpectedly large bills. Those were all approved. We should hopefully be good through the end of the fiscal year. And then tagging along to the new business, we did have to go back again for our fuel line because again, we were hit with some unexpectedly large bills. And so we

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asked for um 2,200 for the fuel line to hopefully carry us through for the end of the fiscal year. Um I used the numbers last year for each of the the last few months of the fiscal year to try to predict what this end of the year would look like. Adding on a adding of,

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you know, a certain amount to try to buffer the increases. Yes. What is the fuel? Is it like propane or what? What is what did they use for fuel here? I think it's oil. >> It's oil. >> No, I think natural.

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>> Is it natural gas? It could be natural gas. >> Gas, right? >> Yeah. So, then it's Yep. natural gas. Um, but either way, as with everything, prices have been going up. So, we have had to um account for that,

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unfortunately. been watching channel 22 and channel 40 this winter. They've been telling us our average temperatures like January, February, etc. have been 10 or 15 degrees colder than >> normal. And if you look at your own fuel

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bills, it's been more than typical. >> What how much did we get for electricity just to >> It was 12. They added 12,500. >> Thank you. Yep. And the fuel was 3,200.

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>> Okay. Thank you. >> And we're hoping that that will be enough through the end of the fiscal year, but if it's not, then we'll deal with it when we get to it. Um because unfortunately, it's so hard to predict these numbers, especially right now that we take our best guess and try to be

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conservative about it. But you know, and then um the next thing I had on here was what everyone is waiting for is the fiscal year 2027 budget discussion. So

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I am going to get rid of this one because I sent you an updated version. These will reflect the most recent numbers that came through this afternoon. So, what's happening is that um

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the select board and finance committee had a joint meeting and they're asking all departments across the board to do a 10% cut. Keep in mind the cut is um with the way our budget is is there's two sections. There's like the salaries and then there's the operations. Um the 10%

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cut is going to come from the operations. So salaries are not being touched. Um so what I did was and this is just a working draft and I'll happily clarify anything that's confusing. Um it makes sense in my head but may not be

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absolutely apparent. Um so each of these are each of the lines in our um operations budget. So, I have the current fiscal year 2026 line um and then the 10% cut for fiscal

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year 2027. So, I went through um I was talking with the town accountant today. The um maintenance numbers are fixed because the maintenance department they determine what is needed for that. So, the two at the very top um the

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maintenance is 3,276. the maintenance contracts will be for 14,724 which is not what he asked for. Um it's a bit reduced than what he asked for. Um but again we really can't touch those

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just because the building's getting older and we've as seen with like the issues with the septic and everything this year. Um, computer line support is the majority of that line goes to our CW Mars membership

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and then there's a little bit left over that we use for like our um computer security software and you know odds and ends for computer things. Um, so I would I and this the notes in the final column

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are just my thinking of what we can and can't cut and it's absolutely open for debate for whatever you guys would think is appropriate. This is just my thoughts. Um the electricity we left at 33,000

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because obviously you know we can't go back down to I think it was the number the 34,500 was after we got the increase. It was like at 22,000 to begin with I think which obviously we can't cut electricity

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fuel. Um unfortunately I didn't know about the big increases in fuel until after the whole budget submission process. So that I left at 8,000 because that's what we originally had at the start of this current fiscal year. Um we

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can always go back and ask for more as the year goes on if we need it. And then telephone obviously we can't cut our telephone. Um so the the only line that I can confidently say we don't need is the boundary line and unfortunately it's the

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smallest line for 125 that can be absorbed elsewhere. Um, and then it it just comes down to unfortunately I'm looking at what else we can cut. Um, the dues are all of like the library staff's memberships to like

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the American Library Association, the Massachusetts Library Association, we could potentially pay from state aid. um conference and travel. We can potentially pay from state aid if somebody wants to go to um a conference

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and minor equipment. That is for just like any any slightly larger piece of equipment, you know, we've paid like for our new laminator or things that are just a little bit higher than the normal, you know, >> tape dispenser or something like that. Um,

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>> just buy more masking tape to hold things together. >> Um, these supplies I reduced that by a thousand. Uh, because I think that line could take a small cut. Um, >> toner cartridges and that kind of stuff >> and that kind of anything, the book

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covers, the stickers, anything. We could probably trim a little bit off of that and still be okay. Um, and then as much as I would hate to do it, we could cut 5,500 and move all of our program

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funding to state aid. >> Wow. >> Um, and then unfortunately we would still need to cut more. So the rest of it would need to come out of the infill materials line. Um,

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>> that that's impacted by the 19%. >> It is correct. Um so the number the accountant gave me today the bottom line of what we are trying to reach is 153,98 that is what they want for

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our bottom line for the operations. So um I I I'm still I'm I'm waiting on a call back from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. They I think are overwhelmed because a lot of people are in the same boat. So, they're not

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getting back to people as quickly as they normally do, which is understandable. Um, I do have some questions for them. Mainly my concern is um when we are calculating the municipal appropriation requirement, um it doesn't

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and from what I have seen and the numbers that I have run, things came in a little bit later this afternoon and I didn't have the chance to confidently sit down and run through everything. But what I can say tenatively is it does not look like we would meet our municipal appropriation requirement for next year.

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So we would need to go through the entire waiver process in order to remain certified. So um the waiver process basically involves a lot of documentation to prove that um

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you know there is a financial hardship in the town um that it is not that it is a fair cut and that one department isn't being targeted more than others that it's across the board. It's the select board or the admin, not you per se, that

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would need to provide that doc to provide data from DPW, the police department budget. Did they see a 10% cut fire department? Did they see a 10% cut? >> Yep. >> Is that true? >> Yes. So, yes. So, some of some of it

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would obviously come from myself and the chair of the board. Some of it would need to come directly from the town administrator, town accountant. Um >> do they know that? >> I'm not sure. Yeah. No, but yeah, the the accountant does know you know um and

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they the town administrator did ask um whether we would need to go for a waiver. So they are aware of you know what would happen when we don't meet that requirement. >> So um obviously this would affect us for

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you know future calculations of the municipal appropriation requirement. Um, when I was reading online, because the waiver is new to me, um, we can only apply for it for a consecutive five years. Um, I need to work with, um, the MBLC state

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aid specialist because I'm not sure when we're calculating the municipal appropriation requirement if we should use our original appropriated budget or if we can use the budget with the increased electricity and fuel lines. I just you have to go back.

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>> I need I need to clarify. Yeah. >> But is the 185 is what we're currently spending. >> That is our that is the current. Yes. >> And we've got to get rid of 153,000 of expenditure. >> No, that's no. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

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>> The 153 is the retirement. >> What it is is what it needs to be at. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure I understand. >> Yep. Yep. >> Good question. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, that's essentially what our bottom line needs to be at. Um,

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there is a waiver that we can apply for that I also need more information about. Um, we are open more hours than we are required to be for the size of our town. So, that could work in our favor. Um there's a stipulation

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with the the state aid that um if we are open a number of hours that's comparable to a larger library we could potentially reduce our requirement u become 17

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>> it would become from the way I looked at their numbers it would become 16%. So we could potentially reduce our mand our required expenditures for theformational materials and still meet that requirement.

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But when I did the preliminary numbers again I just need to clarify a few things. Um >> but wouldn't that also if you reduce the number of hours the library is open? >> Oh no no no we wouldn't we wouldn't touch the hours. Um it's because we're open more than we are required to be for the state.

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>> We're getting bonus points. >> Yeah. So we So if we're open more hours, we could potentially spend less on materials. >> So if we're open um we're open 44 hours a week. So that to me when I was looking at their spreadsheet is kind of the um

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equivalent of what the populations for towns of 10,000 to 14,999 are at and they're only required to spend 16% instead of 19%. So hopefully we could go through the waiver to allow

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us to be able to spend the 16%. But I still don't think if it may not be enough. Um I'm I'm hoping I need to talk with them more about what we can do to try to

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balance out the info materials line. Um the good news is is we do have a fair amount um of state aid saved um between our three state aid accounts

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my spreadsheet between our three state aid accounts I had religious so you can bank state aid You don't have It's not use it or lose it. >> It's not use it or lose it. So, um, between our three state aid accounts,

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one has 23,000 in change, one has 22,000 in change, and the other one has 23,000 and change. Keep in mind those are the um numbers from the end of um March. So, obviously, you know, we've used some of that for program.

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>> Yes. Yeah. It's it's accumulated for a number of years. Um, and so we have that, but that in my opinion that doesn't mean we want to go in and just start burning through that like like absolute crazy because what happens is if we get rid of

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all our programming funds. Um, you know, we our staff were talking and we we're going to need more for programming funds because presenters are obviously charging more. This is their livelihood. You know, they need to keep up with things, too. So, a large chunk of one of those is probably going to be programs

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for next year. Um, >> can we get donations for programs or something or >> Oh, yeah. I mean, we also have the gift account. So, anytime somebody makes a donation or whatnot, we it would go to our gift account and we can use that for, you know, some people have stipulations like they say, "Oh, this goes to the summer reading program or I

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want this to go to children's services." Some people just send in a general donation. So, yeah. So that's that's kind of what we're looking at right now. Um I do not believe we will meet the MAR with the numbers. Um

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we won't meet the 19% requirement obviously. Um >> now if we don't get that what happens I guess that's >> yeah then then we would need to go through the waiver process. From my understanding we could still remain certified with the waiver as long as our waivers

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>> Yeah. the waiver just has to be approved, >> right? >> And I don't know if it was through or not, but somebody was saying that there's only a limited number of waivers they can give out. And I'm like, >> in an emergency, let's say >> there's a severe recession. Yeah. >> 12 or 15 years ago,

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>> they gave out like a hundred waivers in one year. Normally, it's three or four waivers in a year >> because there were so many libraries. >> But how do you say it's an emergency when you have 4.3% cash? That's why all the numbers have to

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go to Boston. Boston looks at the numbers and they have told towns in the past. No, the library took a 15% cut and the police department took a 1% cut and DPW or some other department took a 1 or

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2%. That's not proportional. It's got to be if everybody's taking 10% then everybody's got to do it not one or two departments because it be like some towns in the have cut libraries and

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senior center and they said everybody else is fat and happy and that's where the problem started. They said, "No, wait a minute. You're hitting a particular part of the community and living leaving everyone else

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scot-free." >> And that's the state. So the state can say you have to do this in an equitable. >> In other words, like the 19% 17% etc. that the one is quoting that's in mass general law. >> So it's not the

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>> actual law. It's not somebody's theory for this year. Let's make it x%. >> Okay. And I'm really technical in the weeds. Um I know that okay, there's all this stuff that goes on and then at the town meeting is when

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we approve the budget, right? >> Okay. You don't need the waiver before then. I mean, they're not official until the town meeting. >> They're not the Yeah, the town meeting is the official approval. um when I was

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looking at the calendar because I was starting to panic thinking, "Oh my god, I'm gone." um you know, obviously for the end of this fiscal year and the start of the next, it looks like in the calendar the paperwork and everything for the waiver is more of something

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that's handled in the fall. Um so there >> for whatever reason. So >> the town approves >> So the town's the town's going to approve the budget at the town meeting and that's going to be what it is. >> And that's the paperwork that the

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library and the town are sending to Boston. >> Yeah. Okay. And we will be approved. >> The the the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners are individuals that are on this board of like a board of directors. They approve towns at their October meeting, their November

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meeting, and okay, >> maybe some into January, but you have to apply for the waiver in like August or September. So, it's in there more than enough time then to get it and analyze it. >> Okay.

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>> And then it sounds like we would it sounds like they do call some people for actual meetings in Boston. So, we may have to go to Boston for >> Yay. to, you know, present the case and but also the town administrator, I believe, and the I I don't know if they'd call in

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the accountant, too. >> They they call three or four town. >> Yeah. Yeah. That would need to go to Boston as well. >> So, thank you. >> Y the only other question I have is >> Yes. >> How much of a bud? We can't really do

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any cuts in order to be not descertified, right? or we'd have to go for the special process. >> We have to go through if we if our waiver got approved, we would remain certified. Um but we can only do that waiver process for five consecutive

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years. And then I mean and then once you know once you throw off one year with the municipal appropriation requirement, the formula could get wonky for subsequent years. >> Our taxes went up significantly. They did a lot.

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$9,000 in real estate tax, >> you know, >> that's real money. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, so even um I would say even though we do have healthy state aid accounts currently um you know if we

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were to take programs out of that other things this is just um kind of a preliminary explanation of what we spend on our state aid accounts out of our state aid accounts um each year. So the state aid pays for library aware which

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is our email service. Um, so if if you guys sign up for our email communications, that is all paid through state aid. Um, our summer reading software is paid through state aid. Our um, events calendar is paid through state aid. Um, and then we had discussed

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the budget for state aid a while ago. Um, and so we had budgeted, you know, about 5,000 to 7,000 for computers per year. Last year was a big year. we had to replace, I believe, four machines. This year, I believe we could get away with replacing only two. Um, so

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we could save a little bit in that aspect. >> But the the other piece of of the computer piece, because we went through this, I'm not sure if you were here as director or not. >> Every six or seven years, you've got to replace the server. >> Yeah. >> And it's not just the server itself, the

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hardware. It's a couple of thousand in software. It's x number of dollars to a wall-ally computer to wire all this stuff up. And so all of a sudden the server becomes eight or$10,000. There's no line item in the town budget

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to pay for that that has to come out of state aid. >> So yeah, and we're even um CW Mars is replacing a piece of equipment that's going to cost us a little over $1,000 that obviously we need to replace. But um and then for programs, so

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currently that is what we use. Um currently for this fiscal year, we have 5,500 in our budget. We divided that by the three adult teen children's and then um each department gets another 4,000 and change from the state aid. So each department had $6,000 for programs this

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year. >> So >> and that goes quick. what you're really talking about. If a program costs $400 or $500, we're talking about four or five programs for adults during the entire year. Four or five programs

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for teenagers, children, etc. So, it's not unlimited money. Yeah. >> And an issue that came up earlier this year, which some of you are aware of, maybe all of you, the library has been asking the friends

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for more money to fund summer reading, to fund different programs during the year. The friends don't have enough volunteers to run a book sale. They have the basket at Christmas and a few other things, but they're not making the two

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or 3,000 or whatever it might be from a book sale. They're not making the money that they used to make down in town hall renting spaces to people. because they don't they don't have the volunteers. Most of the volunteers of

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the friends are in their 60s and above. They're not in their 20s or 30s. So, they can't do the physical work. So, the revenue isn't available from the friends because they don't have it to fund a lot of other programs for the

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library. I mean, they're doing what they can and the library is doing what they can, but >> money is not unlimited. >> So, certainly. So if we need to bump up our programming budget for next year, you know, we may not have as much from the friends to rely on, we could very well, you know, go through a large

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portion of one of those state aid accounts just in programs, right, just for one year. Um >> that that's why if you talk to people from other libraries around the state or you talk to the MDLC staff in Boston,

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they tend to tell you don't take the state aid money to run your regular business because here in Southwick the state aid is used to buy computers. >> It's used to buy furniture. any that our

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budget doesn't include furniture, >> you know, all the unusual stuff that town doesn't pay for. >> So, >> okay. What is state aid? Where does that come from? >> That money comes from us. Yeah. >> That money comes from us remaining certified. So, if we're certified and

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meet all of the open hours and expenditure requirements, um, then we receive two payments a year. Well, I guess >> in other words, the this the MBLC is a state agency. They go to the legislature every year just like

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everybody else that gets state money and they're given x number of millions of dollars. Some of it for computer equipment, books on, you know, on the internet used to be

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books on tape or whatever. and they get few million dollars for what they call local aid to libraries which the state divies up based on the population of the town that they do out. >> Okay. Okay. So,

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>> so the amount varies from year to year. It does depending on how much >> the state legislature gives them. >> Yeah. And it's and it's it's never I mean it's never been in my experience that they haven't had any to give out but you know the MBLC would tell you

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that it is a grant and it's not guaranteed. God forbid something happens at a higher level in the state and then we don't have that >> go back 12 >> changes every year goes up at least in the past couple years it generally goes up a little bit. Um, >> but there were some lean. Yeah, absolutely.

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>> When the libraries were told, >> case of South Lake, you're getting $10,000. Now, the way they do it is they give you half the money in December or January and then depending on how the state budget is going, you may get the other

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half in May or you may not. One year we had a governor who in January said the revenue coming into the state from sales tax, income tax, etc. was going way down because of a recession. So in January,

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he issued what they call 9C cuts, which meant if you got the check already, you can cash it, which you're not going to get any more checks through June 30th. >> Okay? >> So a library may hope. Well, the 10,000, we got five. There'll be another five

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coming. It's dependent if the money is there. >> Every month you can read in the Springfield Republicans what the revenue was for the state the previous month >> and there's a whole article well we got

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so much from sales tax and all of a sudden corporate tax we got more we got less than we planned on and income tax we get a lot in April and we get a lot in June. people making estimated payments, but some months it's up, some

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months it's down. And if the money is not there, the governor says, "Okay, 9C, if you got the money, you're safe. If you didn't, the check's not coming." >> Okay? the state's not I mean they're facing the same problems that

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>> they're trying to pay for Medicaid and they're trying to pay for employee for state employees medical insurance and those premiums are jumping 10 or 20%. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So um you know

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long story short um obviously I'll keep I think the accountant wanted something by next week. Um, so I will keep playing around with numbers unless there's any um big objections for kind of cutting some of these things and moving them to

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be funded by state aid. Um, you know, I think I unfortunately, you know, we can't touch maintenance. We can't touch any of the utilities. um we need to operate how >> I mean I know you don't know for sure but how long

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>> would it possibly be for the state or whoever is in charge to make a determination of okay you are open more hours and what your population town should be we'll move 19 down to 16 or whatever number you said >> yeah that that I need to follow up with

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them I don't know if that's kind of part of what the waiver paper was for the MAR that we would need to do in the Um, so it could potentially be, you know, I I think it's a separate waiver for the 16 versus 19%. Um, so I'm not

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sure on the time >> I said we flat out refuse to do it. >> What could they do to us, right? No, just say the trustees. >> Oh, yeah. We don't get anything. >> 10% is a lot. >> Yeah, it is. It's

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>> there's just insanity. >> That's and like I said, all our taxes went up and there somebody is getting something somewhere then >> because there's just no way that this budget can be that far off. >> Do you know plus five what you have and

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minus five never been 10 as far as I can. There was on Facebook Dei who Joe Deei who is finance chairman said he went through everything line by line to lay

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it out for the selectman cuz I always thought the finance was it but no one has to go through the selectman makes sense and then they just combined all kinds of things and came up with a flat 10% %.

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So, it's like I want to talk to Joe and say, "Show me." You don't get more more information cuz >> Well, no. Obviously, you need to talk to the select men cuz they're the ones who were >> Well, if Joe's feeding them the data,

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start there and then, yes, talk to the selectmen and say, "So, how come you just did this?" And I'm still pissed about the fire with those fancy. Oh, we have to have gentle alarms to wake up the firemen.

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Baloney. Yes, I get irritated over stupid recliners in the senior center. >> Oh, I missed those. >> Six new recliners in the senior center with a new TV and so that they can watch movies.

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>> Well, that's the new movie theater. >> Yeah. Okay. How we're supposed to be cutting and there whatever. Shut my mouth. I'm not going to >> When I watch the local news, Channel 40

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or Channel 22 and they're talking about a fire or a crime scene in Springfield, the police department is still using Crown Victoria's. Southway got rid of them years ago and they were paying 25,000 a piece for

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Crown Victorious. The SUVs they've got now are 35 or $40,000 a piece. I just wanted to say um that your um your attitude, your demeanor, your forward thinking right now, having all

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of this just dropped in your lap like up to minute hours ago. >> Yeah. >> Being pregnant. >> Yep. That's why I'm just I am I'm I'm wanting to enjoy my last part of this and not get stressed out. So that is what my intent is. you know, there's

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there's only so much we can control and if it's across the board, then it's across the board. Um, >> I think the nice part is is >> if there's any nice part of it is that the 10% they are leaving it up to the departments to figure out what they want to do with that, you know, so we can we

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can do what we're doing now and go through the budget and we can figure it out for ourselves what can get moved around and and what can't. Um so we are given a little bit of freedom in that aspect. Um you know it's not a happy

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thing but you know >> pick your own torture. >> Yeah >> we we won't come in and designated it. You decide on your own. >> Well it is kind of a sign of the times. >> It is a it is a sign of the times unfortunately. Um, but I think, you

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know, as far as like our our surveys show, um, we are valued and and this is a great time for people to to advocate for us and that's, you know, what what our friends do and our trustees do and

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to to spread the word of like that. >> Do we have the survey results? >> Yep, they're they're included. >> Okay. >> Yep. Um, so yeah, I mean, unless there's any big objections to any of the changes that I suggested, I'm going to continue playing

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with the numbers over the next few days, have something to them by next week, and then at least by then we will know, and I will hopefully have a chance to meet with somebody from the MBLC about the waiver process to fill me in more about that, what we need to do for that. Um,

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>> and then just a small clarification. So, you have to cut 10% or they want to see a budget with 10% cut and then they'll make decisions from there. >> We have to cut 10%. >> Definitely. Oh my gosh. Okay. >> Unless something changes. I mean, things

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have been changing very quickly. So, unless something changes, then that's what they're asking for. That's what I need to get to them. >> Okay. >> Um, next week. >> Okay. and and yeah, and unfortunately the the line that goes directly to the patrons, which

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is the info materials, is the one that's just going to have to take the biggest hit. Um, and we will just balance that out with our state aid, but also being very conservative with the state aid. And then yes, while we have healthy accounts, we don't want to we're not

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going hog wild and you know, we need to save it because if there's ever an issue with furniturees, computers, servers, things pop up unannounced. I on the um the state aid budget thing I sent you, there's like a wish list at the bottom

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of things that we want to that we want to work on. Obviously, you know, our laptops for programs and such are getting old. We want to replace those. Um, you know, our our screen in here, I don't know how old it is. It's been here at least since I've been here, but it

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would be nice to have a bigger one for presentations. And I was hoping to use state aid for that because, you know, if you have a hard time seeing and it's a busy program and you're in the back, you can't always see that. um you know so obviously there's there's things that

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need replacing and I mean we they're not immediate but they're wishless things. So, I think state aid is going to be taken up by a lot of I don't I I it really hurts me to cut the dues out of the budget because our our library staff want to be part of

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these organizations. And so, we want to make sure that that continues through the state aid conference and travel. I'll be honest, we don't always use all of it because sometimes it's very difficult, you know, for a smaller library to have people go to. You know you have

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>> coverage here. >> Yeah. You have 300 budgeted for conference and travel. That's one big conference a year. You know >> like would like the travel also be like I was talking to um a trustee from was it is it Sherto?

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>> Sheriff Sheriff the shirtlift grant. >> Yeah. And they sometimes once in a while want somebody to go and talk about Wouldn't that be part of the travel like when >> Yeah. Like if you're if you're traveling to a meeting or something. Yeah. >> You're getting money for that obviously.

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We're but they require you to do it. I mean so yes, you need some of that travel >> in cases like that. >> Absolutely. Um and then to to lose all of the program budgets out of our town budget is sad because you know I I

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sometimes if you lose things you never get them back. So, and if we lose that and if there's ever an issue with state aid or, you know, with the rising costs of programs, maybe we can't do as many and then we have to make the hard decisions and our patrons have come to

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expect a certain level of programs and things like that. >> Just if the program budget is zero, >> now you're in real tough shape. >> Yeah. >> And always seem to be wanting more programs, different interests and different hobbies and times and age groups and >> Yep.

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>> Yep. So, >> the surveys really reflected that. People clearly want and love the programs. >> They always want more programs. They want longer hours. Sunday afternoon, Saturday afternoon,

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>> whatever. >> But then they'll never come on a Saturday afternoon. Yeah. >> But yeah, so so to kind of wrap that up, that's what we're looking at right now. I will continue to work with the numbers and

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we're meeting again in a few short weeks. So hopefully I will have just kind of an updated representation of what we're what we're looking at. >> Well, thank you Anna's indeed. >> No extra work that you were anticipating

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kind of last minute. Yeah, that's why I'm trying to do as much as I can to make sure that um you know Heather's left left in a good spot because there >> I think that baby's going to be so good at math. >> No, I might um try to breeze through some of

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this other stuff. Um we discussed this budget, the 2026 summer schedule. So, our last Saturday open would be Saturday, June 27th. Thankfully, this year motocross is happening in July from what

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I understand, so it won't interfere with any of our hours. So, our last Saturday open will be June 27th. And then Labor Day is actually late, so we would be closed September 5th and our first Saturday open would be September 12th. Um, because we always open the Saturday

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after Labor Day. So, it's a little bit wonky of a summer schedule. Um, summer reading kickoff, I mentioned June 24th, the summer reading program. Um, children's and teens programs are continuing as normal. The adult summer reading program, just to make things

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easier for Heather, is going to be very bare bones. Um, every time you read a book, fill out a raffle ticket. We'll have a raffle at the end of the summer. Instead of trying to have her remember to do something every week like I did, >> we'll just do a big one at the end. Um the restroom issues. We have had issues

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with uh patrons making a mess in mostly the men's restroom. There has been um excrement wiped on the walls. There was one day that the toilet paper in the men's stall was completely soaked. Um you know, somebody's been leaving

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puddles on the ground. Um so we've had to take the bathroom keys, move them behind the desk. We like to have them in the past where people could just grab and go. Um, but now they're back behind the desk because unfortunately we're we're trying to figure out if this is a

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single patron that's making the mess or if it's just a series of unfortunate incidents. Um, yeah, we have we have not figured it out yet just because it's happening in the after school hours and there's so many there's so much foot traffic. So to have

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to try to go in there between every patron is almost impossible. Um so we're hoping that by having them behind the desk we have a better idea of who's coming and going and if you know we can try to pinpoint it from there. Um but our poor

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maintenance department has been real troopers about everything going on in there. Um we have been asked by channel 15. They're really trying to um promote the programs that we do. So, they want

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to record them and have them available probably on their website and Facebook for people to um view again later. And I don't I wanted to bring this to the board because I don't know if this needs to be a policy or

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>> that also might need approval by your presenter. >> Yeah. And How would that work? I mean, so there's a interesting program, but oh, I can just watch it

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>> and that just kind of cuts down on our numbers. And if it's a friends where you need to >> register it, >> and I'm I'm on my phone because I'm referring back to the email discussion we had. I'm not ignoring everybody. Um, so yeah, I did have a few questions.

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There's a few important things that we need to figure out. Um, obviously one this is presenters livelihood. So if things are recorded and then people can just watch them, does that make them less likely to be hired by other libraries >> or less likely, as Kathy mentioned, to

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attend our own programs and just watch it afterwards? Um, what happens if audience members don't want to be recorded? You know, as we know with First Amendment audience, this is a public building and people can come in and film. Um, so then there's the question of, you know,

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technically we're a public building. They can come in and film what they want. Um, but what if there's a program that, you know, there's people attending? What if it's minors? Um, if it's a teen program, sometimes the teens, they're here after school without parents. You know, we have a photography

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waiver that we have people sign. I rarely take pictures of people for programs just because the waiver is so cumbersome. I just take picture if it's a craft program, I'll take a picture of the craft, something like that. No people involved. Um, you know, >> yeah, I would have concerns on that myself because like my daughter-in-law

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absolutely will not allow her kids to be filmed >> because >> she's, you know, has a son-in-law who's a police officer and they're like, that's what gets them in trouble. They, you know, it's been a big issue and one

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of the things they say is don't let your kids be photographed. >> Yep. >> So, is this something they're requiring or they're >> No, no, this is just something that would be nice to to do, you know? So, while we want to kind of support that community involvement and whatnot, it

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did bring up a bunch of questions. And then if like if a presenter doesn't want their programs recorded, >> right, >> will they choose not to work with us? Um >> I I I think that would be the biggest stumbling. >> Yeah. Yeah. So >> because I don't think you can require a

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presenter to have >> there's there's a certain amount of like the fear >> for people to watch for free. >> So I guess you can ask >> the programmers and if they say no. >> Yeah. >> Then we just have to tell channel 15 no

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you know. Yeah. >> Could do it that way. could do, you know, like individual, you know, like it'd be nice for maybe like the 250, you know, 250th >> like so that you could watch something like that on the TV if they wouldn't

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mind presenting it because that would be something that >> if you didn't get a chance to see it, but yet it's still doing a lot with the history of >> I think if it's like something town related like that historical because I know they show like the temper readades

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and town sponsored events, but I think again your presenters that's their career, right? >> Yes. Yeah. And my concern was that well now we need to go through and I have people booked up through November. So there's a whole slate of people we need to ask

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>> at least for the adult section, not to mention the children's. What why why don't we just suggest it's if other groups or whatever are having programs, go try it and we'll take a recess for

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the next six to nine months to see how that works out because you've got the the presenters and you know right now there's too many pro too many problems and underst staffing at the library to do some of this stuff. Yeah, that's a

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good way to put it. That we're understaffil that we can't really at this point we're underst staff. Maybe we should start like you, you know, pushing back a little and saying we are underst staff. We're so busy trying to accommodate everybody. We're being a bunch of

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codependents where we just want to make everybody happy where we need to start taking care of ourselves a little too. >> Yeah. And maybe if we start saying that we're short and we can't do these things, it will start getting out in the community a little more too

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>> to to play the devil's advocate. They do just come in. They would just come in with a camera and stand there and film. So there's not much that's required of us other than just checking in in advance with the presenters. Um my concern is where it comes into

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like the public space and people's right to film and then we're saying no to somebody's right to film. you know, perhaps this is maybe just a discussion that we bring back. We bring back our concerns to channel 15 and just discuss

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it from there. And then maybe there needs to be some type of townwide policy if they want to do this at the town hall. >> Is so tight for money, then they shouldn't have the money available to be expanding channel 50.

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You know, it's like like wait a minute. I mean, it's good to have a good website so that things are out there, especially like where they could put the programs out there so that we, you know, where you can go for it, >> you know, but you know, I mean, cuz

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Russell used to do that kind of stuff and it was wonderful. I loved it as a community. We would film stuff and, you know, you'd be able to watch it like the parades or something if you missed it. >> Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. So maybe maybe it's just something that I can bring back bring our concern

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concerns and then maybe we need to have this discussion as more of like because I'm sure it's not just our department, >> right? >> Maybe there's just something we need to have across the board that >> that clarifies um you know and then >> and then we can go from there if that

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sounds fair enough. And then if we need to draft a policy, we'll we'll draft a policy of some type. But >> more information needed. Yeah, probably more information needed. We we want to participate and we want to, you know, actively collaborate, but >> you know, it's it it could also deter

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people from coming. You know, there's certain programs, >> Emory Cafe, where people may not, right? >> You know, it's >> it's more of a p I mean, obviously you're in a public building, but it's more of a private thing. You know, if you're there to learn about Alzheimer's

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or dementia and you're being recorded as an audience member, then you know, yeah, it could get tricky. Okay, I will do that. >> I don't want any of my crafts on film. >> You're so funny.

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>> Um, New Town website, if you've seen it, we are aware of the hiccups. Um, I I have not been given access to edit it yet. So, unfortunately, anytime I notice something's a miss, I have to pass it along. Um, so, you know, patrons

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have been mentioning there's broken links, things aren't updated. >> I just noticed it today. It's the same software that some other communities have been using, >> but some of the features of the old website, I don't know where they are. I'll have to spend some time to figure

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out. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, unfortunately, like all of our we had all of we had our bigger events on the community calendar on the old website. None of that got transferred over and I I don't have access to edit anything. I'm hoping to get access to edit things before I

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leave. Um otherwise, you know, because I I had everything written down beautifully with instructions and screenshots for Heather on how to edit everything on the old website and now that's all obsolete. Um because I had I maybe I've been out of the loop but I didn't knew there know there was a new

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website coming. So >> maybe >> I only found out when I was trying to get library stuff because I >> did you get the the this link is broken. >> Yes. I was like on my favorites bar like I use it all the time. >> To register for >> Say it again >> to register for a program. >> Yeah. I was trying to register for a

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program and I couldn't. It was >> like people have been having trouble registering for programs. It's it is it hasn't been fun. Um, >> so hopefully we'll get access soon and then we can we can fix what needs to be fixed. But >> I didn't even know it was coming at all.

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>> And and I just I went in I went in for the calendar which I do like every Sunday afternoon >> and then check anyway and it's like >> what is different? >> Where is everything?

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>> We don't know. >> So >> it's it's getting better. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. So, so that's the story with that. I just wanted to mention it in case you hear anything. Um, >> and then a few brief policies to look at. These

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will go pretty quickly. Um, >> yeah, maybe >> we'll we'll start with the easy ones. This is just a copy of our um Library of Things checkout policy, our hotspot policy. So, um, one of our

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circulation staff mentioned that they had seen other libraries doing this. We have people fill out this lengthy form every time they borrow something from our library of things. Just making a pile is great. Um, but what we've seen other libraries doing is that they have

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people fill it out once a year. Um, and then we can make a note on their card that the waiver has been completed. And then so we know until the end of the year that everything is good because I'm ending up with like a ton of these which is great. Our library of things stuff is going. But there's so much paperwork

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back and forth. >> I love that. Do the year. >> There we go. Um so the final page is just of the potential addition um that we'll note it on their card. It'll be good till the end of the current calendar year and then the subsequent

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year they'll be asked to fill it again. So we did this both for the hotspot policy because that that one the hotspots are slightly different because we have to you know make sure that people aren't downloading like illegal materials on our hotspot but and then

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just the general um item lending agreement. So both of those would be they fill it out once a year good for till the end of the calendar year start fresh the next year >> if it works for the library. It's a good

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thing. Okay. So, if everyone approves that change, >> I Tracy a motion >> to accept the changes on the uh blending. >> Seconds. >> Beautiful.

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>> Yes. >> Tracy, yes. >> Emmy, yes. >> Kathy, yes. >> Andrea, yes. >> Fabulous. And then this one is um given the current climate of everything going on. We had discussed this months ago um and nothing had ever come of it. We

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would just we just said we deal with it as it comes up, but it's probably in good practice to officially have something down on paper. um as recommended as I've been working with the MBLC if um Kate from the MBLC also sent this

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email along that I sent to everybody um basically explaining the need for the policy. >> I agree with that 100% which >> so this is the policy that I had originally presented with a few changes um in red.

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So in red there's different versions here depending on what the board wants to do. So in red would be that we would not s that we would not circulate to libraries that are descertified. Um the blue is to reflect if you wanted to do

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this on a potential case byase basis. Um so it really boils down to what the board wants to do. >> Our situation has changed. We're looking at this from the other side.

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It is ironic. >> Do it case by case. That's my opinion. I know everybody else. That's what I'll vote. That's what I I want to vote. >> Yep. Yes. So, with the case by case basis, um I said that if a library becomes descertified, um the board of

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trustees would need to conduct a meeting to discuss and determine allowing borrowing privileges. Um so, we wouldn't begin we wouldn't continue borrowing them until the board has met to discuss whether we want to do this or not. Um, there's been other libraries that have been talking on the email list.

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I've gotten a few phone calls from other libraries basically asking, you know, what would you do? And I said, well, we don't really have an official policy now. We need to have one. So, >> why are they calling and asking? Are they >> they're facing facing descertification?

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Many towns are. Yeah. So on the flip side, certification is a really important tool for arguing your budget. Um, and if other towns, you know, or if we or other towns or

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everybody's just circulate to anybody, then we lose out on that, you know, how important it is to remain certified. Um, if you know what I'm saying. >> I really liked the way she said she laid it out. It was like it made so much sense.

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>> Yeah, that's that's why I was talking with her because she she knows she deals with this on the daily like she's very good about maybe explaining it a little better than I have. >> She's got input from all around.

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>> Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Um so and and from from my experience in my discussions with other libraries um a majority of them do not circulate to towns that are descertified because then essentially you know if Westfield were to become descertified

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then we would be and they were to come here then we would be subsidizing Westfield's library. >> But again this presents all arguments. A case-byase basis is fine. not to circulate is fine. It's whatever the board wants to do. As long as I have

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guidance on what to do when something happens, then I'm happy with that. I just need to know, you know, how to act appropriately given, you know, >> if it's a casebycase basis, couldn't that end up being a problem? Somebody

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saying, "Well, you're letting them do it. Why not us?" potentially. >> But let's say Westfield and Granville, we may look and say, "Well, there's only 1,400 people in Granville

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and they've got almost no money, we'll let them borrow." Or we say no. But if we say yes, we'll let them borrow. But Westfield, you should be able to find the money. >> I I'm I'm not saying that. >> I I don't know that we could make that

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call for other towns. It's almost like across the board, >> but the thing is is they're part of our region. >> So like they're part of our regional school system. So I mean all of a sudden >> that's true. >> If you're not letting Talin or Granville, they get descertified now.

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They're hilltowns. I mean like I said, I lived in Russell and I I know what small town budgets are. They don't have any commercial stuff. >> Right. what you said about being in the

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regional school system that might uh might be but other than that I think across the board is the way to go and I know small towns and and all this and that it's doesn't

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mean they can't come in and use the stuff they just can't take it out >> yeah certainly anybody can come in and use a computer or attend a program or anything And then at least for now, you know, they can still have access to anything through like the Boston Public

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Library. Um whether whether that changes because of budgets or anything, I don't know. But >> town is dertified, can they access and get books on Libby and all these other systems or they >> they could get if it's through like the Boston library, they could um

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but yeah, and it >> they still say case to case. Like I said, if you have Granville or you have Talin, you know, you're you're kind of affecting this the kids in your school system, you know, and I'm sorry, but as a kid, sometimes you

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need a book. I mean, you must see kids high school or whatever that has to grab a book from here that they need it for school. >> That's just >> again, that's maybe for the regional school district. May, you know, can't

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just I mean a I don't know I that's why I say go case by case but I mean I vote I'll vote against it but you guys have majorities so I mean >> well we we can think about this we don't need to >> we should draft something tonight >> I would recommend having something in

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place because of the phone calls I've been getting it so >> but it but it doesn't mean that it can't be changed >> were they giving any indication of what they're thinking of >> for their policy so that would affect >> you Yeah. >> Yeah. From my understanding, most of the

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people that I've spoken to do not um because I put I also put when I was originally doing this, I put out a query on to other libraries and most do not circulate to to descertify towns. There's some that do. There are some that charge and that I that I don't agree with. Um,

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>> Graanby, Connecticut was doing that with Massachusetts residents at one time >> and I think we we charged their residence, but we only like this needs to stop. This is silly. This is this is silly. >> Well, if they're calling, are they thinking of changing?

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>> No, they they were trying to figure they were trying to streng strengthen their case for their budget because they're facing um descertification, right? Reduced staffing, reduced hours. So they're trying to streng strengthen their their reasoning for their budget

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being restored because, you know, they want to be able to go back to their town and say, "Okay, you wouldn't be able to go here, here, here, or here. So this is why, you know, remaining certified is important. >> They wouldn't be able to use CW Mars either."

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>> Well, that that in itself is different. if the library can still pay for CW Mars and remain a member of CW Mars. Um, from my understanding, >> okay, >> that they just wouldn't be able they wouldn't be able to borrow.

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>> Maybe I want to clarify that to be 100% sure, but they wouldn't be able to borrow. they could have their card but they couldn't use it at other libraries because there's an option in the CWM system you know like Andrea's card will say Southwick you know um there's an

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option in the dropown menu to say like descertified so I'm thinking from my understanding and I'm hoping it's correct um but that if the library can pay to remain a member of CW Mars then

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they can have access to like the catalog and everything that comes along with that. Um, but they wouldn't be able to like inter library >> desperate for money. They probably can't afford the CW Mars. >> That is that could be true as well. Yeah. Um, yeah, I would from my from my

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understanding it would be that they couldn't receive like interl loan or things like that. Um, but that's something I'll I'll probably ask CW Mars just to because I' I'm already asking them in preparation for things that need to get done this summer. You know, I don't I from my

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understanding certified is through the MBLC and that is itself separate from CWMRS. >> The schools still have a library, right? >> Does it does? >> So

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I love your passion and I'm not Yeah. So I mean so the schools the kids would still have their school library as a resource. I'm I just wanted to bring that >> they have a librarian or is it an empty room with the lights turned on?

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>> No, they have books but has a librarian. >> Not as big. It's not as >> But the but the school library can borrow books from our library and make it available. Right. >> No, not really. >> Okay.

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>> Okay. That's why I'm saying I think we should do it face to base and we can we have the right to do that. And and and she very specifically said we have the right to

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do case to case. There's nothing that can stop us from doing that. We have the right to say yes. We have the right to say no. Or we have the right to say maybe. And I'm I'm happy to enforce whatever the board decides, you know,

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>> or or we could put in a a thing saying that we'll do like the region, the Southwood Regional School System region or whatever. We could put something like that into the policy if you wanted to do something like that. I just think it's

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not fair to the kids going to the school if for some reason they're >> possible. I mean, we could, you know, we could we could edit it to say that it's on a um to reflect a case byase basis. Um and then we could just add something

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that says that towns in the South Taland Regional School District, if descertified, we will continue to say in in a nicely worded way. This is it's it's late in my brain isn't making a sentence fully, but but in a nicer way, you know,

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>> that makes sense to me. >> I like that. >> I know what you guys are saying, but I just >> our school systems, our school system, we take them on. So, >> well, that's what we're saying now is to put the regional school system. They

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could they're allowed even if they're third of >> public. Thank you. But Russell is out. >> I know. >> I'm just saying in general >> far across the >> Have to truck up there and check out the library.

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>> It's tiny one room. >> So just to muddy the water. I I like and respect the thinking of supporting the towns in the school system, but if we maybe it should be vague on a case-toase basis knowing, yeah, we'll support the

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towns. If we put it in our policy, then those towns, >> you know, someone >> exactly. >> So maybe we shouldn't be so specific. back to what she said that that you can't you don't have that card to go to

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your town to for your budget >> right just a thought >> I mean the grand library is tiny >> I know >> and it's got very limited hours >> but it's good >> so that's why I assume those people come

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down here they do So, so as presented, it is the blue section. It is therefore the policy of the South Public Library Board of Trustees to determine borrowing privileges for descertified libraries on a case-byase

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basis. The library becomes disertified. So that go on a case-toase basis and like you said it can always be amended. >> Oh yeah. Polic the policies can be amended and changed as as needed

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>> as and leave it as you say no until we meet >> until the board meets >> until we meet. cuz she she said, you know, I was like, "Well, we meet once a month." And she said, "Well, it's always possible to schedule like an emergency meeting and just >> cuz like over the summer." >> Yeah. And then just do something just

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for that. And because we would want to obviously provide an answer as soon as possible. I'll go with that. Right. And it also leaves the door open for if we get detertified. >> Yeah. They should, too.

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>> Yep. Yep. Yep. So, I would like to make a motion that we accept the the the blue section here um to extend um borrowing privileges to descertified libraries on a case-toase basis.

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>> I second it. >> Michael, yes. >> Tracy, yes. Tammy, yes. >> Kathy, yes. Andrea, yes. Beautiful. >> And then last but not least, our survey results.

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So these are just a copy for anyone who wishes to if you haven't read them already to just see our survey results and the comments therein. >> I'm gonna give something >> the water department they had no good

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comments. They um even the the negative ones didn't they but we love our library. It's just you know they have only one or two things and did everybody get one of the files

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>> I think and especially I hear around everybody loves the children's section. >> Yes. And well, I haven't been in the Westfield children's section for a long time, but this one is always active. >> There's kids coming in and out all the

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time. >> And a lot of parents and grandparents. Yeah. So, things we need to work on. Um, things that people would like to see more of. um helpful to know about when

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people want to attend a children or children's programs and any type of programs. Um >> I think it's >> um yeah and then and that's where we go from there. Unfortunately with all the budget cuts and everything, the position

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we were asking for is obviously not going to happen. Um, so for the evening programs, I mean, it's when our budget is kind of up in the air, we may not be able to do as many as we have in the past and

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>> and that that's okay. And I think if people ask, we need to say it's due to the budget. >> Yeah, I agree. >> You know, we >> our budget was cut. >> Our budget was cut. Or even if it isn't, we didn't we don't have the staffing. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You know, the more you get that out, the more

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>> Absolutely. Yeah. So, that that was that. Um, if there's any comments or anything about >> I have one comment. You're doing a fabulous job. >> Yes. Thank you. Yes. >> And and we want I don't know. I probably won't be here, but I wish the best for

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you and the new baby. You better bring pictures so we can all see the little baby. >> Oh, yes. When when is your when are when do you expect to be leaving? Um, I am going to stay till the last possible minute so we can make the best of the time afterwards. >> Is it May or

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>> late May? Early June. Yeah. Yeah. >> Excellent timing for babies. Yeah. You get >> not so good time for timing for a bunch of stuff though. That's all right. We're in it. We're here. >> At three months or >> Yeah. End of May.

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>> Two months. Beginning of No, I did afterwards. >> Oh, afterwards 12 weeks. >> Okay. Yeah. So >> yeah, that's perfect. >> Yep. >> Perfect weather time. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Did you get any takehome from like any overall theme reading this?

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>> Yeah, like reading the surveys was anything new, any new insight like >> Well, you know, there there were some people there were a few comments looking for like Christian fiction and things like that. So, I did try to expand some of that. Um >> there are a lot of gardeners.

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>> Well, there's a lot of gardeners. Yes. I love the the seeds. I I'm going to go grab some now. I love the seeds. >> There you go. They're popular. >> Okay, I'm kind of biased, I guess. But I think that there's a lot of

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mainstream fiction that goes in the Christian stuff. Yeah. >> It's just maybe they're not looking at it the right way. >> Yeah. Christian fiction can be a wide range of things, you know. That's what I

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was trying. >> And there's some other things that it's where where I go, "Oh, clearly somebody somebody doesn't know that this exists." So maybe that's something we need to work on, too. But >> well, I remember about three years ago. How long have you been here? >> Oh, six years.

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>> Six years ago. It was probably about three years ago. I was really into this gardening phase. And you guys, I'm good. I don't know who's ordering these books, but they have all kinds of cool stuff.

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>> Oh, yeah. >> Whoever orders I assume that's you with input. >> I do the adult stuff. Yep. >> Nice. >> Yeah. So, we've got some good things to go on for programs for >> So, pretext. Lynn got hired and then

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COVID hit like not long ago. >> We started in August and all of a sudden the library closed in March. >> That's right. >> We did all right. >> Flexibility made it through that make it through this. >> Developed a couple of new programs

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than I thought I was going to. >> So our next meeting is officially because of the town election. We are meeting a week before. So it will be May 5th. And I'm hoping to have more budget information for you by then. Um,

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>> holy mac, bro. >> I know. >> Yeah, I hear it. >> I wish I parked closer. Um, yeah. So, May 5th and then at the May 5th meeting, the board can determine what they want to do for meetings during the summer and then we can go from there.

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>> Okay. So, I didn't hear a motion to adjurnn. >> Give me a big motion to adjurnn. >> Tracy seconds it. Pathy Andrea >> Hammy I Tracy I >> All right I know we have work in the