Thank you all for being here this evening. And this is Val Bane from the Westport, Westport Cable Access Community TV. >> Um she's joining us this evening to video our meeting that perhap and it will be
shared on the YouTube channel on the town west town of Westport site. And I'd also like we have uh two guests this evening as well. We have Liz and Jake Mcwigan.
And you know Jake is a selectsman and his wife Liz is coming along to learn all about the friends at Westport Library. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Glad to have you. >> We could just go around very quickly and introduce ourselves.
>> Sure. I'm Lisa Chan. I'm Jenny Elias, the secretary. >> Sue Branco. Laura Bennett. I'm a trustee for the library. Mara Aler, vice president. >> Mary Teresa Hicks. So, Sylvia
Glasi, I'm the treasurer. Suz Craig, and I occasionally write for the newsletter. >> Okay, great. Um, so let's get started. I'll call the meeting officially to
order. Um, we would like to vote this evening to accept Bill Bosall as a new board member of the Friends and Bill is also joining a newsletter committee as well and he's going to help us with a
quarterly newsletter. >> I make a motion that we um in motate Bill for becoming a member of the board. >> I second it. >> All in favor? >> Hooray.
No scepter >> tomorrow. >> We'll see how you work out. Get one. >> So, the secretar's report. Um, can would someone like to make a motion to
>> motion to approve the month the secretary's report for January 8th? >> Okay. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you, Jenny. Yeah. >> Thank you, sir.
>> And next we have the treasures report. Denise Art is our treasurer. And I have um our balance. Do you want me to go ahead? Okay. >> No, go ahead. >> Yeah, go ahead. Okay. Our balance at the moment in our account is 80,000.
$80,450.37. Um much of this >> may have some other funds to put in there as well. >> And you have Okay, great. Um much of this we've we've had our membership drive in the fall um where we sent send
out a letter to all of our members, current members of Fowl to see if they would like to renew for the next year for 2026. And but we we're receiving some very u lovely donations. Um people are
increasing their membership amount and we have some new members that have come on board. So um but we do we will have plans for some of this money this year as we move along. So um does
anyone have any questions on the financial reports? And the one thing I might mention is um you'll you may have noticed that there was a kind of an unusual thing there. We had a double charge from the new printer for Malid Printing um last month because what they
had done is instead of when we picked up the newsletters, instead of charging us for the newsletters, they paid us for the newsletters. >> So why was that? Um they had somebody new that was working with the de and we have a debit card so we were using the debit card. Oh so she didn't know how to
use the machine. So instead of bill she did it as a return. So >> wonderful. So >> long may she wave. >> So that's why there's those two charges there that we're paying for those newsletters >> late.
>> Okay. So thank you Denise. Um, would you like to speak to the New England Aquarium Pass? >> Um, yeah, sure. The new We did get the New England Aquarium Pass for the summer. It was too late for us to get it for this these few months here, but we
have a summer pass that's going to be like I think it's 50% off. >> Wow. >> Four tickets. >> And um, we should be getting those soon. And that's really >> by summer. >> That'll be great for the summer. >> June.
>> Yes. soon. Yeah. Yep. So, we did that. >> That's great. We could all go look at fish. >> I want I do want to go actually. I want to go up there and go to the aquarium. So, I hope to go. >> Okay. Thank you.
And next we have all the tech membership report. >> Oh, we have to accept my report though, please. >> Oh, we have to accept it. Thank you. Yes. I move we accept the treasur's report. >> Second. >> I
>> Okay. So, um I'm going to just to save paper. I'm just passing around one copy and since there's less of us here, that won't be too much of a problem. Um so as far as the membership um
membership campaign for 2026 so that goes from October 1st 2025 to present day um we our donations are up by 6%. Um our supporters are up by 100% and our
recurring plans are up by 100%. So we're seeing gains in all those areas. The amount raised, however, is less than last year at this time only because last year we had a $10,000 donation. Um, and
so that created a big flip. But if we take out that that donation, which I mentioned to you guys last time, we're actually um we're actually ahead of last year. So that's an outlier that So I'm
gonna pass that around which way to go first. Okay. And then also I wanted you guys to see that from January 1st to today, January year to
date. Um again we are ahead of last year. Um we've got more recurring plans. We've got eight new supporters which is another big increase. So, our number of
um donations has also increased. Um that and the last one I'm passing around is the number of one-time donations versus recurring plans. So about um
what's going on? That's so in 2025 we had um 18% of our donations were recurring planned. In 2026 so far year to date um the same time frame from last
year we have 25%. So that's going up. So all the things we were hoping would happen um still most donations are by um check um so even though people are using the site and and more people
are getting online it's still um well you know out of balance it's still a lot of paychecks >> but that's what we we knew was happening so so all is good we're ahead of the game from last year aside from the
outlier. >> So the money's the >> you want the total. >> Well, how are we? Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay, so let's see. Um so the amount raised for the 2026 membership drive um
to this point is $16,543. Um last year at this that same time period it was 24,000. So minus 10. So that means 14,000. So we're um ahead by 2,000. >> That's great. >> Yeah.
>> Um >> and but the numbers of members renewing and um hanging in new and are are numbers of membership up or >> there the total membership is about the
same. So some people drop off. So last year during that same time period we had 201 membership donations. This year it's 209. So
some people haven't renewed yet. >> Okay. >> You know, but we're we're not losing. We're you know >> we're doing okay. >> Yeah, we're doing okay. >> So did they get a membership reminder already? Um, you know, we used to do one
in March. Did they Did we get No, we haven't done that yet. So, yeah, usually we sent a email reminder >> to the people that >> um hadn't renewed by, you know, March >> and then the ones that don't have email,
I would actually send another membership envelope. >> We can we can do that if you want, Sue. I'll work with you on that. Does the March um fall out does that include the summer people? >> Includes everybody that hasn't renewed. >> Uhhuh.
>> Yeah. That has email >> that we have email for. >> Yep. Everybody. It's just one letter that goes out to everybody. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We can do that. >> Yeah. I mean, >> it is a good reminder for serving people.
>> That's a good idea. It's any I this is just in related to membership. I wonder in the news now is the library that might be closing on the Cape. >> I see heard
>> and part of it I think it's weird. They did a big addition and they had the money for that and now they're $7 million in debt. And so they're they're trying to come up with either shut down
for uh hours or uh change how they do things to save money, but 7 million's a chunk of change. So they're also going to try to float a bylaw to override the 2 and a half% >> to see if they can get money it said
from trash collection or something to help support >> the Atwood library. So if you're interested in the news about the library, but it would be very they showed a news story of this beautiful
library with their new edition and so many of the books are displayed flat out. So it's it's like walking into a giant emporium of books. It's very enticing. >> Um >> what town is it?
>> It's Marbor which is a fairly welloff. Oh, I'm then I'm got I think it's Marvel. Um, for some reason I'm thinking it was on the cake, but it's it's crazy that this has happened to them and they're they're in danger of
>> being shut down if they can't come up with a lot of money to keep it going. So, um, it'll be something to watch or I don't know if they if the Library Association of Massachusetts gets involved in trying to help libraries
float their boat when when they are running into trouble and they talked a little about being able to make the funding to stay part of the inner library loan in the article. Right, brother. >> So that we've got our members coming
back is >> is a real >> good thing in this time. >> So thanks for tracking that. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, that's a great report. >> Okay.
Uh, next on the agenda, MNER is going to uh share some information about the watershed river day. >> Okay. >> As you probably know, there's a different executive director at the wershed and apparently June 20th is the
day for River Day. However, >> the trustees has just voted on it to close the library that particular weekend because of Junth so that the staff will have a long weekend. So basically that makes it really difficult for us to even think about um participating this year like we have in
the past. >> So I think at this point that whole issue is kind of rude to be honest. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry after many years of it now. >> Okay. Thank you Marina. Okay. the
president's report um for we have two well actually three programs lined up for of this year so far and and they're all um celebrating the 250th anniversary
of the of the United States. Um, we're Jill Sanford is returning in May to present her art free for your mind program and she's going to do two different uh presentations and you have them on your agenda. Um,
and I first of all want to thank Nicole because she she wrote a cultural council grant >> for Jill Sanford and and that was great. How that works is we pay we pay these for these programs upfront and then we
submit our paperwork to the cultural council and then if we're chosen um as one of their as receiving a grant they refund our money up front. So, um, anyway, so Saturday, May 16th from 2 to
3, she's going to do a program sharing a PowerPoint presentation on early American art, on our early artists. And and then on May 30th from two at 2 o'clock, she'll be doing a program on
revolutionary images, uh, paintings from the revolutionary period. Um she does a lovely presentation as many of us know and those of us who are not artists or feel inclined that we know a lot about
artists in America. Um this is a wonderful program for us to learn more and she shares information about how an artist goes about doing a painting and it's really for artists and non-arts alike. So, it's really a nice
presentation and she will visit with us for a few minutes after the program on both of these Saturdays. So, we'll get that advertising advertised. And then, um, in August, we're going to have a revolution of her
own with Deborah Deborah Samson. And this is with a a a organization called History at Play out of Austin. And Judith um if I can pronounce her name correctly, Calora
is the um actress who's going to portray Deborah Samson who was the only woman to fight in the Revolutionary War. She dressed up as a man and fought and um she actually was born in Sharon, Massachusetts.
And so I know that um it will be a lovely presentation in August. And >> do you have a date yet, Sue? >> Yeah, we do. Thursday, August 6th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. >> And this program will um cost $921.
So, um, at this time, can we take a vote to, um, provide the funding for this program? She usually charges $1,000, but she gives libraries a discount. And, um,
so, and because we're nonprofit, as she puts it, so, um, would someone like to >> I'll make a motion to, um, fund the what's her name? Uh Judith >> the Judith >> calora
>> K A L A O R A. I make a motion to uh provide $921 to fund the Judith Calora Calora Calora's right >> program a called
>> a revolution >> a revolution of her own Deborah Samson with history at plays >> Judith >> oh Judith okay >> she second any discussion All in favor?
>> I >> I Okay, great. Thank you very much. And we've we're making a deposit already. They asked for half of it up front and then we pay a balance on the day of the program. So, okay. So, that's what we
have so far. >> Uh there's I know there's that website, the town website for the market 250 celebration thing. And so we get to put our information for our programs on that site. Do you know do they articulate
with like a site for greater New Bedford Fall River or do they is there another site >> that so that it reaches other people outside of our area? >> There I think there is a statewide site. Yes. >> So it' be nice if we put it on there.
>> We can put it on there. And um I'm glad you mentioned that, Denise, because um the town website or the town listing is really very very nice. They've got quite a few things on there so far and they
have a monthly calendar to show you when events are taking place. But yeah, so I can go to the statewide site because it would draw in other people maybe. >> Yeah. >> From area towns. So, um, when I do the
PR for the program and even the the Jill Sanford one, I can go on to the Westport site and put um our information there, our PR >> if you want if you'd like to do that. >> Well, yeah, I would add >> I mean, I don't mind doing that because
you'll do the other Yeah. >> PR. So, >> all right. Well, we can talk about it. >> Okay. We'll talk about that. But yes, so I do have the art for your mind on the town site >> and and then I haven't done the the May
pro the August program yet. So >> yeah, thanks Denise too. Yeah, it might be nice to mention when we make our flyers and if we make a poster to really, you know, get into the whole Celebrate America 250 thing and, you know, we
could even make something up that has both of them on it or something. >> Yeah, we could do that. Do a large poster. >> Will we or the library promote this these on on social >> media? Yeah. Yeah. And do do we have a
do we have a hashtag to uh >> we can we can we should absolutely or coordinate with Westport with the Westport 250. >> Yeah. >> Effort because that's that's how we're going to get people outside the
>> Lori Lynn can help with that. >> Yeah. It would be it would be a good opportunity for the newsletter like to do especially because we have time for the August one uh to do a Q&A >> with uh with with Judith
>> even you know we do an email Q&A. >> Oh yeah. That's a good idea. >> Very good. She has also sent um as well as a contract um she has sent a lot of their peer
information for us to use. >> Have you looked at it yet? >> So, have you looked at it yet? >> A little bit. >> A little bit. Yeah. Um I had sent you the stuff that she had sent us before because she had been trying to get us to book this program for the last couple years. And I don't know if you noticed,
I pulled it up and sent it to you before she sent it to you. >> So I >> She's tenacious. >> She is. >> So um I know the problem has been in the past that some of her stuff is kind of a little busy.
>> Yeah. >> So we'll have to look at it and see if we need to streamline it a little bit. >> Okay. Now they're very thorough and um they actually send wording for what they want us to use
>> for our PR, >> right? >> What we put in the papers or however we do it. So, yeah. >> Yeah. Press release. >> Yeah. So, okay. Thank you. Um,
let's see. So, next we have the book sale subcommittee report. We um we've had two meetings since um our January meeting. We had one at the end of January and then we had one last week. And
you brought along >> I brought the wish list. >> I brought it to the mystery book club and a couple of people were interested and did sign up. Some people have to check the dates that they're going to be free which is understandable. There are a few actually it's really filling up
quite well. Um, there are a few weeks that need like one or two more people, mostly one. And I'll pass it around just in case somebody has wants to add or change something because of their schedules. But, um, the first week of course is April 6th through the 11th as
post April 1st because of the way the calendar falls. And, uh, I think we're doing pretty good. I'm going to bring it to the book club um which meets tomorrow morning. Pass it around at that time also and see if anybody is interested in signing up and being a part of the book
sale. We'll do that tomorrow. >> And I'll also bring up uh the whole topic of the pod and book boxes and uh see if we can find somebody that might be able to come in. I'll kind of present it as um if they can give us a week at a time and it might just be for a day, a
couple of days because the boxes could just, you know, a few boxes can add up and it'd be worth their time to come in at that point and put in the pot as opposed to coming in every single day. >> Right. Right. >> So, we're looking for somebody who can lift up those boxes that can get heavy at times. grand grandsons that if
anybody has able-bodied people, anybody um it would be greatly appreciated if you know of anybody to uh help us out because that does get kind of it's it's physical. It's very physical after a while. It's very heavy. And um I'm going to talk about that a
little bit, but I'll just also mention that um MNA and Maryanne and I met to um come up with a we have the book categories list for volunteers sorting
books and we've added a couple new categories to that. Changed things a little bit with their with your input, with Maryanne's input. And then we updated the um book sorting um directions. So that's what Maryannne sends those two
items out to about a week before to the two volunteers volunteering that next week. So So that we've done that which is great. Um, so what has happened is that
our um John Maderas, our maintenance man, is no longer able to uh bring the boxes of books out to the pod and and he physically he's just not able to do it anymore and that's perfectly
understandable. He has helped us out for several years. So he would use a hand truck and as we're sorting books in the back in his room actually which he lets us share with him um as books are ready boxes are ready to go
out into the pod um he uses a hand truck and brings them out and for us. So he's no longer able to do that. So, um, we've tal our subcommittee has talked a little bit about how we should handle this now. And
I, um, I've been looking at, um, what MNA is saying as well that we need to reach out to the community to see how we can get some volunteers to do this. Now, our book sortters are many of
our older patrons as we know. Um, and so, um, I've one person I've reached out to is let me get my other notes here. um
is Anorie Pekum who's um a fire firefighter in town because she works with the Westport Explorers, the younger um group of I think 14 to 18 year olds or thereabouts of men and women in town
who are learning all about fire services. Okay. >> And they're working with with the fire department. So my thought was and that if we had a few of those youngsters that go to the middle high school that maybe
they could come over here at 2:00 when school comes gets out for a few minutes and they could help us put these boxes in the pod. Um and she's gotten back to me and she says she thinks we can work something out. She has just a few of I
guess of the fire explorers that actually go to the school next door. Um but um so I'm waiting to hear back from her again. I emailed her and I left her a message and I told her what I think I'm looking for. we haven't done it like
this before and we're trying to figure out um how we can accomplish this because even if we had a couple of students that could come maybe they they chose a week or two this spring while they're still in school
>> um you know and checking in a couple days a week because we never know how many books are coming in I should I'll give you a little more background we start collecting donations April 1st through September 5th this year and people bring in their donations and
leave them here on the foyer in a bin. And um and then our volunteers come in along with us and we sort the books and we have boxes in our back room that are labeled by categories. Gardening, landscaping, cookbooks, fiction, a a TOD
authors and many different categories. And we sort them and put the books in these boxes. When these boxes get pretty full or look like they'll fill another box, um we we fill those boxes,
stick a label on them, cooking cookbooks, and then they're ready to go out in the pod. Um we rent a pod. We've done that for a few quite a few years now that sits in the back parking lot and that's arriving on August 6th. and
we'll keep that till um September 7th, I think. And so that's all all good to go. Um so um so I've been thinking about also so that anyways, we talked in our
subcommittee how we should reach out to people in the community because I was thinking of that too. If you have children or grandchildren who are looking for something to do and could volunteer and help us, um, that would be
great. Um, so we're trying to spread the word. We talked about putting making a flyer. I could put it on the bulletin board. That was a really good suggestion. Um and I and we're reaching out to our groups that meet here at the library,
the book clubs and um and you as well. Um so the other part of this is um that transporting these boxes out to the pot. It's not far to go. You just go out the
front door and around the back to backyard. usually using a hand truck, we put like three boxes on there at a time and which was a lot of physical work for John to do. Um, so I've been researching
a little bit um to see how how we could do this with volunteers so that nobody really gets hurt. That's the other thing. Um, so I have um I was looking at other kinds of h of hand trucks that
would hold more boxes and such. So, what I would like to try I've come up with on the idea. I'll pass this around. This is a wagon in my basement that my husband and I don't really use. And um we can
put we can stack six three three boxes in a row with a second row. We can put six boxes safely on this wagon. And I thought if this wagon sat in the back room where we sort, you know, when we've
always sorted books, we fill the boxes, label them, they go on the floor. We have all these books on the floor in the back room and we're back there trying to carry lift pick these boxes up and and get them out to the pod. This wagon,
it's an aluminum wagon is turn it around. >> Turn it around and show it. >> Oh, you want to show it? >> Well, in my lovely basement. Okay. >> Okay. And um this is just an idea, but I
thought for this year because when we start looking at purchasing something that maybe how many more years are we going to use it? And I know we've had that conversation, but so this could sit
in the back room. In other words, we could wheel it in there and it could sit in front of those metal shelves and we'll fill them in the boxes sitting on the wagon. I like that. >> I think wheels are better than heels. >> Yeah, that's right. >> Have big big wheels, too. And that's
>> really important. >> So, I think our helpers, our volunteers could handle this. You'd get six boxes out to the pod. >> So, what you could do, >> do you pull it? >> Oh, yeah. It has a handle half around. Yeah.
>> Even three. Even three at a crack. >> I'm sorry. >> Even three at a crack. Just put three in so you're not loading something too heavy. Yeah, you could start with three. >> Handle it. That's pretty sturdy. It's
your back that you have to be careful of. >> We could do a try run. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, we can. Yeah, we can do that. >> Even if somebody wanted to just say, "Okay, three is my limits." But >> yeah, they could just take the three and then Yeah. >> So, it's all open.
It does have it does have a short rim around the outside of the wagon. >> Um >> we have to be careful. >> Yes. >> I think we should try it. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I mean I I give it a whirl. Um >> speaking as the ergonomic person in the
room, >> are there any steps or curbs that that you have to go over to get from here to there? >> Yeah. That would be >> just a slight through the front door here. Is there a slight bump? >> There's a bump.
>> There's a bump. But then you take a left and go down the handicap sidewalk and you go right into the driveway >> out to the pod. >> But the biggest thing we have to coordinate is opening the doors to the pod because those are heavy heavy doors
and they do not open easily. >> Yeah, we have a plan for that. >> Okay. We have Oh, yes. So the doors are no one's ever going to open that pod. I can't open it and shut it and lock it myself. >> We've had Dan Dan's going to do that
opener of the pod >> and Bonnie has agreed that Dan can help open the pod on the days when we need it. >> And I can call him in the morning and say, "Dan, can you open the pod today?" And then at the end of the day, we'll close it. >> Okay? Because it's it's very difficult
to work and I can't do it myself. And uh so anyway, >> yeah, let's bring it in and let's let's load some boxes and let's try it out. >> I mean, that's the only way to know for sure. >> And can you hook bungee bungee cords on to keep the
>> keep the box or spiders? >> They're they're spiders. They're like bungee spiders. uh for for wagons. >> Yeah, >> because that would >> they don't wobble too much though because they're so heavy. >> Yeah. >> Well, that's that's there's two sides
there. They don't wobble. But if they shift but if if if they shift and and falls on the volunteer who's pulling it, >> that's a problem. >> Then then then we got a problem. But if you if you can budge them down so
they're secure, it's not going to it's not going to add more than like two minutes to >> not even okay no that would work too. Yeah. And um you know un you know I just I just don't know what else to do. I have spent
time researching this and I just um not sure how to do this. >> But um the other thing the good news is boxes. We have boxes coming from leaves of beer boxes. >> I talked to them too and they said they
didn't talk to you and >> yeah, >> so we can work with them as much as they can and hop on to Harry's and >> we might not need to do that yet. Maybe Johnny, I'm not sure. We can um I'm
getting I've already had had three three deliveries of boxes. please will um text me. Kurt who runs the liquor department and he's texted me and says, "I got boxes for you." So, I go right down and
get them. So, I have about 30 boxes already. >> So, I think if this continues with leaves, then >> it will stop in July. >> In July, yeah, they they want to hang on to them. >> Oh, for people that are
>> And so then I used I get around, but it's it gets a little tougher. So, uh >> Okay. >> So, I I'd like to put the word out. Anyone who's around any liquor stores,
if they would like to help, uh if they have any beer boxes that they will part with, >> just take one or two, whatever you can fit in your vehicles. And um they um they don't like to give them away a lot
of times. They want you to take wine boxes. >> The gas station now has a liquor license. >> Yeah. >> And so that's >> the mobile gas station. >> That's a new source. They may want to get rid of their boxes. I'd be happy to ask them. >> Some places they don't sell a lot of
beer. Some places do. >> Gas station might. And then we found that people don't drink that much beer until it gets warmer >> in the weather. So, um, so it's it's like feast or famine. So, uh,
>> it's and then do check the boxes. Sometimes you want to make sure you shake them out before you put them in your car. >> They've been in the back of a liquor store and sometimes they might have little visitors. We'll get there.
>> So, okay. >> So, that's And once the pod arrives, we can put empty boxes in the pod, too. Yeah. >> For a while because it will be empty. And uh >> so I have some in the kitchen under the sink. We have permission to put them
there. And I've made some room in the back room for a few boxes at a time. So >> yeah, we've lost our coat rack section >> Yeah. So um so we can once we have
um once the books start coming in, we'll do a dry run. We'll do a dry run with the cart with a wagon. Okay. And see and >> I I have a question. What does the Quaker church do with their boxes after their sale? Oh, >> do they hold on to it or do they
>> Oh, or share. >> I don't know. >> I mean, they may hang on to their boxes because they have they have a lot of places, >> storage places to store them. >> I mean, that's that's the idea is to hang on to them, you know, because they're sturdy boxes, but
>> they have space. >> Yeah, >> they have a whole shed. >> It's really They have a beautiful shed. Yeah, they do. >> Yeah. So, um, so what are So, let's see. Um, see what my other notes are here.
U Maryann's going to make us um some visuals of books. One of the questions that came up that people ask, I'm not sure if we keep this or will we throw it away or do we give it to the Bay State Books? So,
she she said she has some old books at home that are falling apart that she'll take photos of and bring them in and we'll we'll place them in the back room >> maybe with a little label so people can see that. >> Um
and uh so good. Okay. Um Mer, can you think of anything else? Um >> I think you pretty much covered all the things. Yeah. So, if I hear back when I hear back from an Ann Marie Pekum,
um hopefully we can try to start organizing something. Yeah. Um and uh so, okay, let's see. So, and Dan even said DNR circulation head
of circulation said he'll help in September with being in the pod to unload the box. He'll do that again. >> And maybe with Paul, Paul Cabraw, a volunteer. I'll talk to him and see if he's okay with that.
>> Um, and I will touch base with Nicole mentioned her husband Brian, I think it's Brian. Um, they're a younger couple. >> Brian always helps unload the pod in September. She said he'd be around to
help if we need to move books. >> Dave will be >> Yeah, my husband will can help here and there, too. >> Yeah, >> the husband's >> So, we'll we'll figure it out. We will. And we'll see how the books come in and that will be that. Okay. And let's see.
So, I have the the library director's report here and Bonnie's off this week, most of the week. Um, she has um she's planning to have the kids
clothing swap again in April. And the month of April last year, she people brought in donations of children's clothes from infants up through, I don't know, young elementary age maybe, and
she filled the foyer with all these clothes that that people could come in and help themselves to. So, um I think the clothing swap is uh
going to be >> April 4th, she said. >> Did I? Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. Well, anyway, she um I think I gave that to Mary Teresa for the newsletter if she has it. >> I have >> I should have it here, but I
>> It's um I think it's April 1st through the 8th. when people can drop them off and then April 20th to the 26th >> they can shop the >> something like that those dates
>> and um and just for people who want to just get need some children's clothing. So she's going planning to do that again and I'll pass this down to Denise. Um she has >> Thanks to get reimbured
>> some receipts. What is it for? >> Um craft supplies >> for >> for um she's doing she's purchased some kits for spring uh spring bug craft kits. >> Yep.
>> And craft kits for spring summer crafts. And um also they've started you've probably seen but the sea catalog the see the ex program is going along and um
this is a a cute little bookmark they made and we sponsor this for the library. You can come and grab some seeds for planting whatever and um this is what it's all about and we get some
nice PR from that. So, it's just craft supplies for $10816 and a seed exchange supplies for $49.57. >> So, we have we need to >> Yeah. >> Go ahead and approve that. >> I'm sorry. >> We need to approve that.
>> Approve that. Okay. Um so, would someone like to make a motion to um approve these expenditures >> for the seed exchange >> bill? Okay. >> Second. >> And craft supplies. Okay. Any discussion?
And I'll bring that pass that down to Denise. Thank you. All in favor? >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Let's see. So, yes, the library um just so we know,
the library is going to close on um Good Friday weekend, Easter weekend. They're closing on a Saturday. So, they'll be closed f Good Friday, April 3rd, and Saturday the 4th. Okay.
And then, um, in June, they'll be closed for Friday, June 19th. Junth, which happens to be on June 19th this year, and uh, let's see. And then they'll be
closed on Saturday, June 20th. So we get and Mary Trice has added that to the newsletter which is great. So thanks. Okay. And for other business um um Denise had Thank you. Denise had gone
to the trustees meeting this past Monday and the trustees Laura could working on planting some trees out here >> right for hopefully the summertime. to have a dedication ceremony for the six
benches that were donated. We need to get them >> uh I won't say refinished, but >> restored, >> oiled, >> pretty them up. >> Yes. >> And we were also talking about a plaque
to honor Joseph for all his landscaping work. uh plaques are very expensive. So, we may have to come up with a plan B, but we do want to have his name out there for all the work he's done in planning.
>> So, we were talking about that we're going to um they came to us and said, "Do you want to put a tree there for Carol?" >> I thought that would be really a nice >> thing to have. >> And um we get to pick the tree we want
is what I'm told. And I personally think Carol would have loved a shade tree back there. >> So I looked through, you know, what shade trees might be best in terms of maintenance and avoiding pests and stuff like that. And the two the two winners
are the red maple um and the um honeyloust. So everybody kind of knows what a red maple looks like, you know, but you may not know what a honey locust looks like. So I'm going to send this over to you so you can see if if anyone
goes to the backyard, those trees in the back in the back of the backyard restaurant, those are all honeyloust and um they're a really neat shade tree because they're filtered shade,
>> you know, so it's not like real dense shade and it has a very large canopy. So, I'm going to just uh send this picture around so you can see what the honeyloust looks like. Beautiful. I'll walk around with it. That might be
the easiest thing. >> So, it turns gold >> in the fall. And um so, you know, we get to decide what kind of tree we want. Um and I'd like to get >> good. They're both good. >> And I'd like to get a tough
>> the largest tree we can. >> Um these are both pretty fast growing trees. Um, but I would like to be able to get the loudest one we possibly can that they can put in there. >> Well, if there are honey locusts already in there, maybe the the red maple would
be >> No, there are no We don't have honey locust backyard restaurant. >> Oh, the backyard. >> I didn't know I you know, I was eating out there and I'm like, what are these trees back here? >> And it turned out they were honey locus. >> Lovely tree.
>> The color is so nice. Yeah, that's so different. >> It's different. The foliage is different. You know, a maple tree just doesn't spread like that really. >> This has a bigger canopy and I like that that people can really, you know, for the fall
>> and it's not such dense shade, you know, it's just filled in shade, which I think is lovely, too. So, but you guys get to vote. I'm not gonna try to influence you anymore. I love red maples, too. I do. >> So, we should do a vote for the red
maple and have a vote for the honey locus. >> Okay. Anyone in favor of having the red maple tree in honor of Carol? You mean like a Japanese maple or >> I'd say um it's actually there's not
it's not a Japanese maple. It's a regular red maple tree. New England. >> She was blonde. We really need a honey. >> That's a good >> Yeah. >> So >> So everybody wants the honey locus.
>> All right. Great. I'll let them know. Okay. >> Thank you. >> I don't know how much it's going to be yet, but I will. We'll be Well, what we'll do is we'll I have no idea how much it's going to be, so we'll send out an email to everybody to get to vote on
it for the amount of it. Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And I also wanted to mention about Paulie Douly. >> Oh, yes. >> Yeah. So, just so you guys know, Paulie's last meeting after 28 years of being a
library trustee, uninterrupted, mind you, will be April >> April will be her last >> 13th. Yes. >> April 13th, >> which is a Monday. That's her last meeting. So, um you know, we did the we
have the article that's going in the newsletter, you know, about her tenure. >> Is there any other business or anything else that someone would like to bring up this evening? No. I mean the only other thing I have
question about is um you know we had all those ideas for the children's programs you know and we don't have any children's programs >> scheduled this year >> I liked it the ones that Nicole suggested there was um
>> I wrote them down at the minute there was a musical there was a math thing or something there was a planetarium virtual planetarium >> they were all You're all great. So, I guess the thing is, you know, we need to
get together with Bonnie and see, >> right? See what she's thinking. >> I don't think she knows yet. I've kind of I've mentioned it to her, but I think it's just with everything going on. >> Well, she's finishing up her degree. >> Yes. And also she at the meeting talked
about that she's trying to set the groundwork to hire a part-time person to do um programming and the >> the programs for the preschoolers and stuff like that. >> Yeah. So >> it's a youth services a she gave the
title and it's for ages like >> 0 to 12 and it's for 5 to 10 hours per week. >> Yeah. So, she included it in her budget, >> right, >> that she'll be asking for a town meeting,
>> but everything else is basically level funded. She's figuring out the funding for this >> just in case we don't get whatever she needs from the town. >> She's a very busy busy director. >> She is. So, you know, we'll ultimately
have to decide, do we want to run do we want to run something, you know, just ourselves? >> Ourselves. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, well, we'll need that for the summer newsletter, >> right? >> Yeah. >> We need to talk about it in the next meeting.
>> Yeah. Both and decide. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I can check with her to see what what she might be thinking. Sure. >> Okay. Maybe we should get back with Nicole and find out what, you know, what these programs she mentioned are entail
or >> Oh, no. She gave us detailed information. >> Is there information on it? >> And they're all great. All of them. >> They all sound hard to choose. Actually, >> I have that too. Okay. I think I have that. Um, that reminded me maybe Mary Teresa.
>> Um, do you would you still like to pursue the uh New Beford Symphony? >> I can. if you are interested. I assumed because we were doing these two adult programs and then we were going to do a children's that maybe we'd put it off till next year, but I can I can
>> No, a lot of people wanted it. >> Okay. I mean, we sent out, you know, >> an email, you know, inquiry to our members and Oh, well, >> Deborah S, whatever. >> Number one, >> that one was like number one. >> Yeah.
>> But I have to say the symphony was probably number two. >> Oh, great. >> And then right behind that was the murder mystery night. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And the others were a little a few people. And I think, you know, given that we have the funds, I mean, we could
do the quartet. >> Okay. >> We could I think we could do the quartet if you >> um I think bring that. But >> if we're going to do it, do it. >> Go big or go home. >> Okay. >> Bring the orchestra.
>> All right. So, it'll be just a matter of timing and of course with them and what their schedule is and >> Okay. So, right now we have the two in May and then in August. So, I was kind of staying away from July, thinking there'll be a big to
>> um here in town. Well, the Fourth of July parade and >> I don't know what else. But >> the horse drive riding up the street. >> Oh, I don't know if that's gonna happen, Jenny.
>> But anyways, we'll see. Yeah. Um So, any other business? Um, anything else we want to ask or think about or we we thank our guests tonight for joining us?
>> Very nice. And we thank Val too. >> Do you guys have any questions for us? >> No, I have some input. I'm not part of the committee, so we'll talk. >> Thank you. >> But we welcome people to come. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we do. Thank you for coming.
>> That is true. Yeah. and B. Thank you very much. Okay. Would someone make a motion to adjurnn? >> I move that we >> second. Second. All in favor? Hi. >> Hi.