Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. At Paulie's suggestion, we're
going to skip item two, postpone it to the main meeting when our new board member will be [Applause] here. All right. March 10th meeting. Motion to approve. Motion
second. Any discussion? All in favor? uh date of next meeting 12. Does that work for everyone? Sure. Well, theoretically today that work. Yeah. That morning it
might not any correspondence. Okay. Get to your So, first off, Josh is going to be second. Sorry. Motion accepted. Okay,
second discussion. Okay. Um Josh is going to be leaving us at the end of the month. He is going back to town hall starting on the 28th. So um we are on the agenda tonight at the select board hearing to have both the principal clerk
position and the uh library aid position that was Melissa's posted. So hopefully that should go through and we will move on with that. So, did you have a question? No. Okay. I'm picturing Josh. Oh, okay. Um, so
we're going to be um May is going to be a very interesting month here, but Amy and I have figured out a schedule that should work and we will just go with that and see what happens. But, um, let's see. I contacted Diamond about
the shed to see if they would be interested in working with us on it cuz that would save us quite a bit of money cuz it is that is a very lot more expensive project. I had anticipated that was actually a member of Fowler brought that up when I was too. So I'm just waiting to hear
back from them. Do you follow up with them or do you do you hound them or just I was giving them a little time because I know there's MCCAST testing right now and everything. So it's kind of a busy year at the school. I mean a busy time at the school. We can get on December schedule. That would be fantastic. Yeah. Do they have um vocational ed at
Westport High? No. No. New Bedford does. Yeah. Dirt follower does too. New Bedford helped with those humanity houses on Sodom Road. You Bedford um folks said that they didn't work in Westport. It's only if you can send your kids
there. They come into the community. I may be the one. So, that's what that's as interesting cuz they did either the plumbing or the electrical. It could be a new thing. I don't know. Yeah, that's what I was organization. They do compression. They
do. Oh, that could be two other programs. Oh, I didn't know that. Okay. All right. I can look into that, too, then. Um, what else is there? Our new book drop has been built in the desk, so that is finished and we're using it and it came out really great. Um the bubbler
in the hallway was retrofitted. So it has a um bottle filler on the top of it now instead of just having the gross mouth piece that's there. So um so I was able to buy just the top piece and it saved a lot of money as opposed to replacing the entire thing. So that's great. Um so that's done and people are
using it and everyone likes it. Is that is that um it's not bottled water. It's water to put in your bottle. Well, this um the top part has a filter on it which is nice because the bottler itself doesn't. So, but we were able to keep the older one we had. Um, we have three metal picnic tables that we bought that
Fowl um paid for that we haven't gotten them put together yet, but that is on the list cuz it's rained every day almost since I bought them. Yes. Yeah, they're in um John and Dan had taken, you know, them out of the boxes and started to put them together, but they ran out of time and then it's rained almost every day since. Are they going
to be secured anyway or No, but they weigh so much that I'm really It's basically the same one that we have for the um the employees except they're square instead of rectangle. But I'm not really worried about them going in. You have a layout of where you're going to put them. You're going to wait till the trees. Um for now, cuz we want them out
for everyone to be able to use. They're just going to go down near the benches in that kind of valley area. And then once the um walkway and everything is put in, we'll find, you know, we'll figure out exactly where they'll fit. But for now, I want people to be able to use them since the weather's getting nicer.
And uh we have the first grade class coming in at the end of April. We have five first grade classes coming in to get their cards, which is going to push us over 5,000 people, which I'm so excited about. So, my goal is half of the town having an active library card. So, we are getting there. We're getting closer. Can we back up to buildings and
grounds for a second? Oh, yeah, sure. Um I see that you did the maintenance on the accordion door. Oh, yeah. Sorry. I don't know how it works with the town, but when I work for the school department, they insurance company required those to be inspected every year. Okay. And little kids weren't allowed to push them because when they push them, they kind of get offkilter.
An adult pushes them in the middle. Yeah. I don't know if it was supposed to be done every year or not. I don't think they have been. I mean, we I don't know if it's a requirement. I don't know. We'll find out. Yeah. I'm not sure about that. Um because it's mostly adults doing programs here. I don't know if that would be a requirement, but I can
check into it. Okay. But it is much nicer. They used it on Saturday and Dan said it was so much easier to get it open. So that's good. Um and then oh this year the second grade has also requested to come visit us. So that will be the second week in May. So we're going to do like a story and a craft.
Very nice. What time of day do they come up? Uh mornings usually. Walk. Yeah. Nice. So we're going to do like a Monday, Thursday morning when we're not open cuz then it's a little you know they don't have to be super quiet. And then um I think Tuesday morning. Do they all get
library cards when they come? The first graders? Well, the second graders, most of them should have them from last year still. So, they'll bring them and pick out books while they're here, but it'll just be kind of a visit with the second graders, which should be fun. Uh, which one? Oh, the Yes, sorry. Um, the stroke
awareness month event. Um Sue and I had met with Lisa about that and we were hoping to have a table with flyers and things on it if anyone um it's in May which is the nightmare schedule month so I'm not really going to be able to leave um to go over to the school to do that
but if anyone is willing to volunteer to watch the table for a couple of hours that would be fantast it's 9 to5 but we thought maybe you could like a couple hours there was enough people and some people from Fowl would also do you want to get a signup
sheet Uh, sure. And then another. And that's May 3rd, I believe, is the date. Is it May 3rd? I think it's May 3rd. Saturday, May 24th. Oh, I'm sorry. That is a typo. I'm pretty sure it's May 3rd. Yeah. No, I think I was just looking at
something else when I put that in. I'm sorry about that. So, you think it's the fifth? I think it's the third. I'm pretty sure it's the third Saturday. So that is going to be um well our meeting's on the 12th. So Saturday would be the It is the
third. Okay. I'm pretty sure it's the third. Sorry about that. And that's supposed to be a really big event. They're planning on a lot of people. So did anyone go to the egg hunt at the high school? Old high school yesterday? Cuz I did. It was crazy. It was so crowded. Oh, I thought they were having
it at the camp. So they were, but the weather they it was the week before last initially. They postponed it to this week, this past weekend, just as bad, if not worse. So they just had it indoors. Um it was just mayhem. But if you like
that, it was fun. The little guy I was with had fun. That's all that matters. But it was They love that. Oh my god. Just running around in circles. You know, we did it at the carousel one year. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. an egg
hunt. So they didn't hide any eggs because it's just a big open space. So they had little bags which was very it was very well done. Sometimes they color coordinate that if you're this age you can get this color. Yeah. Yeah. They were initially they were going to plan to have the kids go out in their age
group. But again that the rain washed all the plans away apparently. It was fun. But I they they drew that much of a crowd for that. Although I don't know if stroke awareness is a a draw like Easter. Is this the first one
they're doing? Yeah. Bonnie, could I mention? Yeah, absolutely. Oh, okay. So, for stroke awareness day, we were thinking say if you want wanted to to help with a 2-hour block, so say 9 to 11, 11 to 1, 1 to 3.
Um, you know, you could do it, two of you together or maybe one of you with one of the friends. We could be together on the table. I was thinking a table in the hallway where um people would be passing by frequently
and we could talk to them about the library. Yeah. And because they were asking us, Lisa was Lisa was asking us if we wanted to do a 20 minute presentation, but I Oh, that's long. Yeah, that's a lot to talk about. That's a lot to talk about and I' I'd rather
know. And I didn't get any response from my board on that other than one person thought it was better to be out in the hallway or wherever oneonone is nicer. We have our newsletters and we have bookmarks for the book sales this
year. Yeah. And we can talk to people or whatever and do library card applications, right? You can send them right over. We will be open that day. Um, our parking lot is not going to be open that day. They are planning on using our parking lot um for They're
having a truck and I That's right. I've been told it's going to be around our parking lot. So, um they are having um Oh, go ahead. No, it's a they're going to have a shuttle from the um it's Stroke Buddies, which I think
works with the CLA. I think they're the COA is kind of sponsoring it, but it's a lot of fun. Now, they may have they may have your table set up. Mhm. Yeah. They may select where it will be, right? Yeah. So, um do I think we need to cut
back to them, get back to a good idea. Sign up. We could say we'd like to be if possible in a real general area where people are coming into the school or whatever. Probably inside. Would you put a signup sheet up front? Mhm. We could
sign up. Okay. Mhm. Which sometimes two hours I think is a good time. Yeah. And an email to people who might be interested. Mhm. So you're looking to have two people. Mhm. For two hours. So you need 16 new people. Yeah. But but that would be the friends as well. So
eight from Well, it could be maybe get a little more friends and Yeah. then your board depending if you're available. But if you want to sign up for a time then um once Bonnie has your sign up. So, I'll go back to the friends and we'll fill in Oh, sure. We'll fill in the
blanks. We can do that. Thanks. Okay. I'll email you when I can do it. Okay. Go home and see what's going on first. But yeah, I'll do it. Yeah. I think it's a good opportunity to talk about our programming, what we're doing over here. And there are some we Bonnie and I
talked about like Bev who does the homebound delivery service and the use of ebooks and I was thinking do we still have those handheld magnifiers? We do. Yeah. You know, we're thinking of things to
help visually and handicap to people as well. I use one of those at home sometimes. Yeah, they're great. Yeah. I actually have a question on Sure. because we're elected and volunteering at a they're coming from a city. That's an issue. I
don't know if it's a town issue that um you're kind of in the forefront where another elected official might not be able to be. I don't know. That's just something that I know was talked about as I said on a city scope, not on a It's no big deal. Not political or for
profit. Right. Right. No, it should be okay. Okay. It just it just popped in my head. Let's call it advocacy. Okay. Good work. Right. Why bother Jim Hartnet with yet another
question? True, right? Better to ask for forgiveness. Actually, the entire thing um because it came up at Alisa because she has been volunteering here for years. Was she would she still be able to do that? And as far as I can tell, the answer is yes. because it's not um going to you know
there's no conflict of interest. She shells books for us. I mean so I think it's sort of the same thing as long as you're not you know promoting anything political or you know just talking about the library conflict of interest course again. I got an email from the state.
Yeah we did again. No you did yours. I did my They're sending them out automatically like through the computer program now. So, I think everybody's getting them at different times. Yeah, I got one. I actually wanted to Thank you for bringing that in to ask this. I want to
open it. I don't know. Yeah. Oh, wow. It takes a while. I don't think you can fail it, though. No, so you can key back and and I'll tell you what the answer is. I'm sure of it, but it's been updated. So they have
a section specific to nonprofit boards like library boards. So it's a little jazzier than the older one. I didn't think it was jazzy. I need to get out more. Okay. So I think that's it for the director's
report. Mo motion to accept. We did that. We did that. We did that. Okay. Assistant directors. Can we vote? All in favor? I I. Assistant director's report. Motion to accept. Motion to accept.
Second. Okay. Um so with our um new book drop, we did a video for it and we gained like 60 new followers and it did amazingly well. So that was great. And people loved our book drop. We're using like crazy now. So they saw on Tik Tok and Instagram, Facebook. Um and then
Baker and Taylor has been going great. They're giving us um books before the release date, so we have pre-orders ready to go on the shelves or to people when they come in. So, it's been great. Okay. All right. All in favor? I
All right. Friends update. I have to plead guilty for this one. I mean, I was there in body, but a family member is having really serious health issues, and I left a little early, so I'm going to have to rely on someone else who was
there to give the report. Me? Would you? I didn't take any notes or anything. Or Bonnie or Sue? Well, Sue was here. She had a lot of a quick rundown of what you talked about at the meeting. Sure. We discussed them. Sure.
I noticed you have in the back of your um handout, you do have some nice updates on the IMLS issue and we do have that under new business. I don't know if you want to wait. You want discussion and that's up to you. There was a
discussion of it during the meeting. There was a discussion. The thing that stuck with me most of the meeting was looking for boxes. We had a long shot about boxes. That was probably the the brunt of the meeting. These are beer boxes that we we um we
can always use more, but we like for we're started April 1st to collect donations for the book sales this year. And we we pack the boxes. Um we use the beer boxes cuz they get plenty heavy enough for all of us older folks
particularly to carry and they have the handles. We've got quite a few though so far. um which is great. But if you're ever out and about and you want to if if you're in a spot where you want to ask if they have any extra beer boxes, sure
you can bring them in and put them in the hallway in the matten room in the hallway into the matten room on top of the um coat racks or underneath on the coat racks as well. But we're in good shape at the moment. Yeah, we had a discussion on um places if you someone
with a truck can go to lease market. They have a shed in the back that they fill with boxes. Yeah. And if they if you ask them nicely Okay. they'll they have to have someone who is free to go out back to Okay. But they'll load up
they'll put a It is a pretty sturdy box. Yeah. And yeah, the liquor boxes. The liquor boxes. Jenny Elias has been doing lees and she seems to have a schedule with them. She goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. And the one of
the young guys, one of the tall young guys that works in that liquor department know she's coming, but I'll mention that to her. I don't I didn't know she went around the back that. But I know that if someone's moving and looking for boxes, that's you can go there and they will accommodate you.
Okay. Very nice. So thought you don't have to drink all the beer to get. And what's nice about those, we pack up the leftover books in September and in those boxes and then they go to the Bay State books. They'll come and pick them
up and usually by then the boxes are starting to fall apart. So we really don't want to hang on to them for another year. So yeah, but yes, we did had a big discussion cuz some I've been to some places and they just aren't
interested in helping us and that's fine. So, but we're we're good for now. But yeah, if you happen to be somewhere, sure, we we welcome them because we go through the end of August doing this and um so, okay, so yeah, that was part of
our meeting. And um let's see what else we talked about. Um was I had given you a chart I think you gave to the group about the different responsibilities of friends and trustees,
the different roles we play in the community. So I don't know if that was discussed cuz I honestly the box talk went to 8:15. It was a box meeting cuz that was kind of what we were interested in was whether or not Yes. We were going
to collaborate for the for the book sale for the responsibilities and the information that Laura brought last month. Well, I because we ran out of time and you know, we really do need to let the library staff go home. Um,
the discussion took quite a while. I thought I'll put it on the our May meeting agenda because we really did run out of time and I had but I did give everybody a copy. I thought that was really very good what Connecticut has done and how we can co coordinate with
the library director with the friends with your board the trustees. So, so we will we'll take a look at that. I did you still have a copy of that? I have a little yes to do that. I don't know where mine is. Okay. We just we talked about programs and this past Saturday we
had the art for your mind program which it was very very nice. we only had about 25 to 30 people. But, you know, when I thought about it afterwards, you know, some of our programs are geared towards specific themes, topics, and so we had
some new people in the library, right? And you do get that and new people coming in and saying, "Oh, when are you going to have your next program?" Or, "Maybe I should look around the library." Because there was support people, but they haven't really come to the library. and uh but it was a really
lovely program and um we're going to be reimbursed by the Westport Cultural Council. So this was a Helen Ellis grant and so it might be something we'll try again in the future but it was well received by the people who attended and
that matters. So, and then we um Oonni shared with us her program, summer programs coming up um in August and your circus program. Yeah, it's called Circus Minimus and it's one
person. It's the oneman circus in a suitcase. So, he has all his stuff in a trunk and he brings it out and there's like a little um cardboard tent thing. It's very cute. So, it's just like Mary Poppins sort of. Um, and he plays different characters and it's, you know, kind of a oneman show. So that's I think
it's August 6th. Sixth. Sixth. Yes. At one o'clock. At one o'clock. Yeah. No, I'm sorry. What is it called again? Circus Minimus. M I N I M U S. Minimus. Minimus. Minimus. And when is it? August 6th. It's a Wednesday afternoon. Friends
will sponsor that. And on and on Saturday, August 16th, the uh South Coast's famous Tojet Band is going to come and perform. Also, um sponsored by
Fowl. So, you've got two time What time is that? Uh 1:00 on a Saturday. And that's great. We're hoping Well, it's been raining the last two years, which we went in the meeting room, but that's okay. We they really
manage fine and you know hopefully we can be outside cuz we get a lot of little ones and they can run around and whatever they do. So and when is that? August 8th 16th. August 16th. Saturday the 16th at 1 and that was circus the
circus program was Wednesday August 6th at 1. And that will be in the mountain. Yes, that one will be inside either way. Yes. Okay. might have to plan around if they're doing work out there. I don't know when they're going to start or Yeah, I'm not sure. Yeah, I thought that was still
going to be in the spring when I booked it. So, we'll work it around. We'll figure it out. Okay. And we also, of course, um we I have bookmarks for everybody and you can take more than one. We have more, but we
just made our bookmarks for the two summer book sales this year. So, my 2024 is getting worn out. I don't think I like the way you say good instead of just used books. Good used
books. Yes, we always um I probably some of you do most most of you have a spring newsletter. Yes. Yeah. Good. Good. Oh, by the way, I sent that to Bakos Bank. just give them a copy of they liked it. It was very nice newsletter and to show
some of the programs that we do because they asked the question and we gave them some pictures. They were always thinking I don't want that mind to go idle. No, you're doing a good job. Thank you. So, we've had almost full signups for
sorting books right now through August, which is great. Um, we have two volunteers a week who sort book books and then if we get a big donation, sometimes a family will pull up and open up their back of their car because
they're cleaning out a family home, parents' home or whatever, and they have lots of books. So, where do you sort the books? Where do we store them? Sort them. Oh, sort them in John's room. Okay. Yeah, I'd be glad to show anybody. All the boxes on the shelves and stuff.
The boxes. Those are sorting banana boxes and they're all labeled by category. And then you put your sort your books and put them in those boxes. Once each box is full, then you take a beer box or whatever, and you fill that
and put a label on it, you know, fiction, authors A through D, children's, whatever it might be. And then John will bring them out to the pod for us. And we have labels around the inside of the pod. because it it really
helps us when we come to emptying the pod in September. And um so he puts them in their categories and then would you do a show and tell after the meeting for whoever wants to stay? Yeah. And go in the back. Yeah, I'd love to. You want to
see? Okay. Sure. I'd be really glad to. Yeah. And you know, our maintenance people have always been very um happy to have us work back there and we try to keep it really tidy so that John can get to his stuff. And uh so
yeah, so it works works really well. And so we have our summer fiction paperback sale for two weeks and we're going to do it right in the foyer. set up one of the big old heavy wooden tables and because we had last summer when I accepted that
huge donation and I'm still on the board though which is something we had a lot of boxes of books come in and um we're going to put our oversized fiction paperbacks on the table and see how many
we can sell the last two weeks of July and for $2 each. And then we're going to use um well one or two maybe one the current free mass market paperback rack. We'll use that for really nice smaller
mass market paperbacks that we'll charge $1 for and we'll see how that goes. And it actually might help us for September because it frees up room in in the man room for all our categories to fit
everything in there. and the foyer. Last summer, we did the cookbook sale. And I'll tell you, people would stop, they would chitchat, they would visit, you'd run into your friend, they're all looking, oh, look at this cookbook. I mean, it it was a nice little social place. I mean, it might get once in a
while a little crowded, but but we'll see how it goes. And it what it does it frees up the man room for your other programs during July because we would take over the southside. And so we'll see how it goes. We try something. And
then September is our weekl long sale. Um member preview night on Friday, September 5th. And we'll go from Saturday to Saturday, September 6 through September 13th.
So um so that we have talked about at the meeting. Thank you. Sure. I think that's um well we just talked about well we did vote to fund Bonnie's two circus program as well and um we that was
mostly Was that mostly it? I think so. I think that was basically it. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. No, thanks a lot. And um Okay. Okay. You don't safety committee updates? Um, I think the only thing we have on
the safety committee is the doors. That's also kind of part of the ADA walkway. Um, I sent out a note to everybody kind of update on the when things were going to get done. I just wanted everybody to know about it because I had to extend
the time for the man people. They wanted it. They asked me when it was going to be done. I said, "But July 1st, that's not going to happen." So I said to August. So they set it for September and they really just want to be able to close the project out. Mhm. So do we
have a date for the doors? I know it got pushed. No, not yet. I'll I'll email them today to find out. That's all I got on that. You want me just to combine the two things together? The walkway is uh he said it might cost
a little bit more money for the concrete, but the labors the same. If concrete goes up, it'll go up a little bit, but I think we have that covered. We'll have some money left over in that project, I believe, cuz the first price on the doors was a lot more expensive than the second price. And we talked about the water line.
We're going to figure out a way to run the water line outside instead of up to the ceiling just for concerns that it freezes or something. Um, Joseph doesn't Well, I don't know what Joseph wants to do. He didn't want to do anything until he knew exactly where the walkway was going, but now I
guess he's asked where the trees are going to go. He asked Bonnie for a layout for the trees. I don't really have a layout. I have a sketch, but I can't tell you it's 5t from here or 10 ft from here. I can't read whatever the architect did. He he did it in architect language.
And we won't know till they start the excavation. Mhm. Yeah. And I think he's just sort of concerned that something will happen to them. But I think we're we could bring them up here and sit him. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that. Oh, yeah. I think that's a good We could sit him right behind the building. That would be That would be an option. You have to
understand this is going to take you years. He's been chomping at the bit, you know, and he's stuck with it. He's really amazing. Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be beautiful when it's done.
Mhm. Um, he had a vision. He wants to see it. He likes to get things done quickly. I think that's all I have. Could we have I mean down the road when it's close to being finished playing a
little publicity. Oh, yeah. You know, like a dedication. We're going to have a dedication. At least we had said we would someday that they may because I have the people that I called the people who donated benches. Yeah. Yeah.
No. In communicado. Mhm. Has anybody looked at the benches lately? Do they need to be redone or I haven't been out there recently from far away. Unfortunately, those are going to be a maintenance item. Mhm. Every so often they're going to have to be resealed.
You could ask Diamond if they would like to do that again. Also, they did it last year. They did it last year. Would you think? Yeah. I didn't remember. Well, I think Laura and I tried. We did. We all tried, didn't we? H So, but they did a nice job. They took
them all out. They topped them over. They did their thing and put them back. Yeah. Yeah. And they like being out here. Mhm. Okay. That's it for me. [Applause] Okay. and personnel director's review June 9th,
right? I don't remember, but okay. I I don't think I wrote it down, but I will be here. So, and I'll send the form out to Ali and Paulie and Bonnie before let's say at least a couple weeks before.
I have a question on personnel. Did we have a job description meeting or something for someone to work on job descriptions? did it all. Bonnie Bonnie is preparing. Oh, okay. So, it's not ready. No, a lot of other stuff came up and I think we
decided to wait on that for a little bit. I was just curious. I think we pushed it to June, didn't we? Was it okay? Yeah. That meeting in June that we're going to have about that thing you're going to do. And that's about it. That's what I have.
revisit hotspot policy. Um, I just want to bring it up again. Our current policy is our hotspots only go out to residents, which is great, but then we don't always have a lot of use for them for the residents. Um, you know, summer obviously they go out a lot more. We
usually have like one or two circulating at a time, but we also have the COA has um they pay for three more that they then borrow when they need them, but if not, they are let um we let them other people use them. I would personally like to open it up to non-residents at least.
Maybe some of them we keep some for. So um that was my I did put the policy that you had all come up with before, but we have is it we have eight of them? I think so. Yeah, eight or nine, I believe. And not all of them circulate. Can you
explain how a hotspot works? What exactly the person who wants to use it has to do? Yes. Um, as long as you can get a cell phone signal, you turn it on and you attach, you put in the password and you can get your laptop or cell phone to have a Wi-Fi signal. So, it's like having Wi-Fi just in someone's
house or Mhm. that doesn't happen. Yeah. Exactly. So, like in summer, we have a lot of people who use them. So that the non-resident is likely yes, but in the summer it becomes out because they are only here temporarily technically as the way the policy is written they can't borrow them. So we saw not a lot of
people using them. I'm you know we could keep some as just for Westport patrons and maybe have some that circulated. I don't have any people using them. You have to remember this is something new. So until we've tried it, you don't know. So, I
would say whatever you and Amy think okay works. Have you had non-residents inquire? Yes. A lot. A lot. Are they summer people or just um both. We have people from other communities whose hotspots get used like Fall River has some and they get they're usually on
hold for other people. So, um they will say, you know, an area librarian and there is a time period, isn't there? You only get them for a week and then they are not you can't renew them and you can't take them out like twice in a row. You have to like wait a week and then you can come back again so that
everybody gets a chance. I just think for since we're paying for them anyway, it's better than having should do it and just monitor. It's not an issue then you just do it. We could keep the ones that the three that are paid for by the COA as just for Westport residents. So are you going to rewrite this? Yes, we would have to
Yeah, I would have to rewrite the policy and have everyone just approve it at the next meeting. Okay. Yeah. If everybody agrees, I can do that. Okay. Okay. That was easy. Thank you. So, remember the hotspot that was returned to the Dropbox and then went
missing? Yes. Did that ever show up? It did. It did. Yes. Mhm. It showed up. So, then we had an extra actually cuz it got replaced already. Oh, there you go. Huh. That's funny. Yeah. Did they really return it? George, somebody handed it to
George. I never got the whole story when he was still here. But yes, it does appear. So that was good. Okay, the next item is the executive order signed by President Trump in
March basically gutting the institute of museum and library services which specifically in terms of Massachusetts libraries, 13 of the 23 staff members of the board of library commissioners get
their salaries funded partially through the IMLS. It helps to fund statewide research databases, the Commonwealth catalog, which is wonderful, where you can borrow items from across the state, summer reading programs, the statewide
ebook program, which is not Hoopla or Libby. It could eventually affect Libby, but the one that they're specifically talking about in all of the press releases they put out is not Libby. But that could change. That could Yes,
it could eventually affect because Libya is through the um the network. We all chip into that and it depends on what happens to our state funding because the state um aid section is run by employees who are paid for through the um IMLS.
Yeah. So, um, somebody from Bdon Library had put together a really nice, um, like quick fact sheet that I gave everybody. Um, and there was two of them that we put together. And there's also bookmarks that Ray had made on the counter that have Oh, Laura has one that have QR
codes that bring you to ALA and every library and all of the resources. Yeah. So, I was wondering, I viewed a webinar. it was live actually on Friday from the ALA about what
libraries can do to advocate for restoring funding. And um I know the friends were going to they did discuss it at the meeting as well, the friends board. And some of the
suggested actions were call or email Congress and that would include our local, you know, like Mike as well as Bill Keading. Because his the effects filter down to the states and what did the states do to
make up the shortfall? So, it's going to be tough. You've made a call to um Keing's office, right? Yeah, I got a person. I did too, but it didn't feel like it mattered. I mean, that's maybe personal. I was just kind of like, okay, like, okay, I'll let him know. Bye. I'm like, well, you didn't even answer my
name. You didn't even ask me what you're going to let him know. I thought part two of that was we could invite him to come to the library and get a tour and see what we do. Well, I think Don, you put out an email that said what ex what what fun I think it
was. What fun do we get? Is there any number I don't what would we lose if it did that's what we kind of look at we can go through that that I sent everybody if you like of what we get from state funding do you want to go through that now sure
okay yes um I have one question on that what do you just example for FY24 and FY25 where it adds up current balance is 56 that's previous year you don't have to use it the whole thing every year. So,
it's been building up. Yeah. But where does that 56 come from? That's previous years. That's what we have left from previous years. 24 and 25 together. The Yeah, cuz we spent some of it. There was some leftover from previous years and then we've gotten them in and then we
spent some of it. So, that's currently what the balance is. Is it 56? Yes, because we have spent some of it. Um, so the state aid, the first two numbers on the worksheet or whatever you want to call it that I gave you, that's the total amount we got each year for
FY24 and FY25. So it's $34,000 and $38,000. When is that distributed? Um, it's distributed twice. So we get the first part usually around January, December, January, and then we just got, I believe it was the last week in March that we got the second. So we have all of our state aid for this year. State.
Yes. Um, so we have we got the second payment. I they do half and half. It's split up into three different grants that we get which are broken down next. So the library incentive grant is the main one. Everyone gets that based on
population. So we have the two last um grants we've gotten for FY24 and 25 that were the library incentive grant. Um they don't put really restrictions on what you can do with them. They are to better the library, you know, programming, whatever you need. people use it for staffing sometimes. We've
done that in the past. Um so the current balance is what we have based on because we don't have to use it every year. Um we don't use the whole amount every year usually. So your balance is greater than the two years. Yes. Because there was some left over. So we've gotten more.
We've used some. We've gotten another grant. We've used some. It It's kind of like a cushion. Yeah. Basically, you have to use up the older stuff first. No. No. No. Okay. You can um George like to not use it really and save it for emergencies. They prefer you don't do
that because they like to be able to say what you've done with your state aid money. Do you need it? Exactly. That's that's always my question. What do you need? Yeah. And the thing is if you don't spend it, does that mean you don't need it? Exactly. Right. And that's a real question. That's that
that's Yes, it is a very real question. I would say you should probably use most of it every year. A little bit. Maybe carry a little bit. not a significant amount. So, um, for example, I put what we have used, um, the library incentive grant. We've used it to pay for Hoopla,
which, um, is on track to go use about 8,000 over $8,000 this year. Hoopla has just blown up. Everyone is using it, which is great because, you know, things are getting books are getting more expensive and audio books are very expensive. So, um, it's something we definitely want to keep providing for
everybody. Did we increase that amount? We did. Yes. Cuz it was three or something. We went to five. Yeah. No, I think I I think right after I started, we had talked again cuz before George left at the end of the fiscal year, he had cut it down a little bit and people were upset. Did not go over well. Well, because they
couldn't put books aside. Yes. And there was a cap on there's um each like file you're borrowing costs a certain amount of money. So, it could be a lot of them were like $2.99. So, there was a cap on it where you couldn't get some. So there was like some of the really like A Court of
Thorns and Roses is this huge series and all of a sudden they disappear from Hoopla. We had very many people upset about that. So from this library is Hoopla. Okay. Yes. Um cuz Hoopla is something each library does separately. Not everybody has it. Libby is the one that we all share together. Okay. And
that's not here. Um no that's part of our sales assessment which I will get to next that we also use stating aid for. Um so Hoopla is something I definitely don't want to cut again. We got very bad feedback from that. Um, so that's something I I have used state aid for.
Um, our ancestry.com subscription that we have here in the library is paid for through that. Isn't that a problem right now? Ancestry is not in bankruptcy and you're supposed 23 in May. Oh, that's right. Yeah. Cuz if you use it, they say
erase all of your information because it will be whoever buys it will have your information now. If you've ever used I've never used that stuff, but me. I haven't either. Yeah. Um, we also we have the water quality testing that they do through the school and that's um pricey. So, I've been using stadium to
pay for that al for some of that also. I would like to dig into that sometime. It's I don't think it's distributed fairly. I don't I the amount of water we use compared to the school compared to the schools. Well, they do pay a lot more than we do. I don't know what the actual formula is. I would like to see how they do it. If we do it based on
maybe gallons used, I think that would be fair. Yeah. I'm not sure how they do that, but that's the expense we never had before. Yeah, that's new construction. That's a new thing. And that is right. That's a bit of money. I have I have to leave. I have an appointment at 1:00. Okay. But Valerie
has everything I need. Okay. Um and the other big thing we pay for through the state aid the library incentive grant is the sales network assessment, which is how much we pay to be a part of the sales network every year. It's last year was about 17 it was a little over $17,000. We get $11,000 through the town
budget for it and then anything that's left over we pay with the state aid. So that's kind of Does that ever change? It changes every year. It goes up a little. Oh no, the town it's been 11,000 for a while. Yeah. Um it has gone up. You know they are up to 11,000 but it doesn't pay
for the whole amount and you know if we're not part of the sales network that's a disaster. So that's a very important thing that we use state aid money for. Uh the municipal equalization grants is supposed to help compensate for the disparities and how much each um
town gets or each library gets from their town. So we get um the balance of that is 24 and 25. We got those. Um there's the total and then we've um I've been using that. I did some hoopla. We also did some HVAC repair and things like that out of that money. What's the
total for library incentive grant that you have balance of? Is that the 56 library incentive? Yes. Currently we have 56,000 and then municipal the municipal we have 30 almost 30 almost 40,000 in that
account. Okay. And then the last one is the small one which is non-resident circulation offset which they give money based on how many patrons are using your library who are actually from another community. And the balance of that one is the 37. Yes. Yeah. That's just a tiny one. So like we bought new barcodes, we
had to order those. So we pay for little things like that. So you pretty much it's up to you to decide how you move on. Exactly. Yeah. So that is basically how we have been using the state funding a lot of digital services and being part of my my main
reason for asking that is how would that affect if we get so the other is federal funding right so your state funding until funding is where we get like that's how I can show you bills of what we've used you know the federal funding go to the state the state first and then the state distributes it the people who
are in charge of giving us our state funding are paid for by the IMLS Yes. All of the people who run there's I think is it two or three people who are in the state aid office who answer all our questions, help us fill out all of the paperwork we need. Um that's where
the IRS report comes in and the financial report that I have to do every year and that is all uh they are either all or partially funded through the IMLS. So if there's no one there to give us our state funding, you know, it or exactly it has to be dispersed by
someone and that is paid for. It can't be done by AI. So, we're not like we don't get a check from IMLS, you know, it's not that type like we do from the state, but we don't get our state funding unless But does the state funding come from the federal government or no? I don't believe
so. It mostly comes from the state. That's through the state budget. Yeah. So, what does the federal government supply? Nothing. The IMLS budget. But their the IMLS budget gets filtered out to the
states to the state li and they decide where they want the money to go. So it's going it was going through a programming um they had a manga program for library prisons prison libraries which I thought was super interesting. Um there's the there's a statewide ebook catalog that
it goes to currently. Um there is on that paper I gave you there was four things that they've already cut and then it depends on everything is funded through the end of June and after that we don't know what's happen what you sent on the um Annapolis library was
very interesting. Mhm. And not it still seems like some of the federal money filters to the state and then the state filters it down. It does to a certain extent. Yes. So, it's kind of watery how how it's hard to say how important the IMLS is because I can't give you a list of things I purchased
with that money like you can with state aid. But state aid doesn't get dispersed without IMLS basically. But the website you sent us, every library fund uh every library with information about saving the IMLS has specifics, how it gets
filtered down to the states. Oh, it does. Yeah. There's also the e-ate program which um we don't use but Oh, you don't? It's and No, we pay for it. But use that, right? Yeah. It gives discounted um internet access which is important for a lot of small libraries. Well, we go through sales for that. We
do. Um the rate has to be filtered because it's through the government and it's the child protection act, the internet child protection act. And um we had chosen not to have filtered internet at the library. But if it's a choice between no information or filtered information, obviously a lot of people
it's, you know, that's very important. So that's something that is funded through the government because you get special rates from e- rates are for special schools and local. Yeah. If you decide to go through that program, but we just went through sales. So it's hard to say exactly what's going
to happen. We're kind of in a wait and see mode at this point unfortunately. Um but we're good through June and we personally here do have um you know grants and donations and things. Now the town's budget has to be approved at the meeting. Okay. But that's already
basically been approved. It's just got to go before the voters. Um yes. I as far as I know the finance committee has put it through. Yeah. And Jim had approved it already. So we'll just see if it actually um if there's any issues. Do you want anything from us like
letters to the editor supporting the budget ahead of town meeting? Cuz I was reading I it may have been on every library or another website how to calculate the return on investment. I did that. Thank you for bringing that up.
I was actually on the MBLC website um looking up state aid stuff and they linked to the main state library has a little calculator you can use and you put in your circulation statistics, programming numbers, um all these things that I had from the iris report. So for every $1 we get from the town, we have
$6.68 in services provided, which I thought that's pretty good. I thought that's a lot. Yeah. So, I'd be happy or unless someone else wants to write a letter to the editor of the Westport Shorelines and maybe even the
Boston Globe, why not about the return on investment in Westport and what a bargain the library is for the patrons. So, I could use and there was actually two um two of the fields I couldn't actually fill out because I didn't have that information. So, that was just based on the information I did have.
But, I thought that was a pretty Yeah, if you can pass it on to me, I'll send a letter out. Sure. I can send you like the because you could actually it's set up so people can see how much the library they can put in how many times they visited the library and how many programs they've gone to and how much the library has given them. So I thought
that was an interesting thing. It's so funny how everything is data driven. Everything if you can put a number to it then it has value, right? It's kind of my big concern with some of this is if we lose some of this where do we gain what do we how do we pay for it?
M that's the problem. So then what do we lose? Yeah. And I I noticed on here I think it's on some of the uh the uh not the trust what you call them the grants or trust the uh the thing we charge money to grants.
What is it this the trust funds? Trust funds. We use the trust funds for some of our expenses for the buildings as well. Yes. A lot of our building repair. Yeah. because you know we we use the HBAC system. I don't know how much we charge
to that account versus this account versus that account because we spread it out. You can do that. Some of it is the um the grants are some of them are unrestricted so we can do anything we want with it. Yeah. How many accounts if I don't know if I can ask this question but do you like toggle between there's
the this like the state fund the M there's the state aid so there's the three of those there's the gift account and then there's the general fund expenses through the and then there's the and then we have a lot of smaller grants that were um or trust funds that we were given which are just for
materials specific and then there's fowl which and yeah that goes into the gift account so I count it as if it um if it's something foul That's not that many. That's not that many to kind of oversee, right? I mean, not I don't mean like there's a long list, but a lot of
them are only for specific things. So, it's not like, you know, every month. One is unrestricted. And then there was one that was quite restricted. Yeah. A lot of the book um the ones that are for materials are for certain things. The recent one we got from Anderson that's not restricted to
it. That just went into the gift account. So, that's Yeah, there's no restrictions put on that. So, So basically, yeah, until we find out, you know, until this all gets resolved, we don't really know what's going to happen next. But you're very positive.
In my mind, it's not quite as positive, but Shelse, we control what we can control. That's it, right? Yeah, we'll continue doing the best we can for the people here in town. So, that's great. That's all we
can do. Okay. Old business shed project. Uh, we're still waiting to hear from Diamond and then as soon as I hear from them, I will let you know and we can move forward. Excellent choice. I think that's the best way to go, especially
with we don't know what's going to happen with funding to spend that much on the shed just gave me hives. So, I'd rather um see if we can, you know, do it cheaper. Worst thing to do would be wipe out your account. More funding. We're going to need that cushion. Well, it will be great to have, you know, I'm
super excited to get the shed. It's going to be awesome to have more storage space. It's, you know, that's a big paycheck. So, that at the earliest would be summer, fall. Uh, most likely at this point. Yeah. At this point. Yeah. Okay. Um, now I've worked with Diamond before
on a couple other projects and they're very they were very good. We did really well with them and um, okay, I found out there's a an agency called Mass Grant Watch. They list all the grants that are
available in the state. So, I'm going to like look into it. I know it's $200 to join it, but I know somebody who's in it, so I'm going to turn it look over their shoulders. Yeah. a coast grant application update. Uh have
nothing waiting on them. Like I said, I did send them the newsletter, their most recent newsletter, even though their name is on it, but I don't know if they get it or who it gives them one as well. Okay. Because I don't know who it goes to. Well, I that's a good question. Um the
person I sent it to, they don't say that. Yeah. Okay. They should I is pretty big. I would Yeah. And it might go to a different location in Westport. That's true. When Denise sends it This one goes to their corporate
office. So that might Who did it go to? Do you know Carol? No. Yeah. Okay. Anything else? Motion to adjourn. We make a motion. Second. All in favor?
I. So, this is Michael's bookstore. It's year round. Oh, I can't tell you. We started it five or six years ago and we always I don't know why we didn't do it sooner and but it's it's a wonderful
year round fundraiser. All of the adult books, hard coverver, paperback, are $2 and the children's books are 25. Nice. So, you can find some real bargains in there. And we'll go back here and I'll show you
um stand on the edge. And here is our wonderful space. We actually have improved the lighting back here. Um, and these are all Michaels. These are all books we have had
throughout the year. Um, and then when we need to refill the bookstore out there, we usually come right here and look for books to put out there. So now that um, and we're very lucky to have the these shelves over there here for
our fowl stuff because as we all know, our space is what it is. Now, who is Michael? Michael Hhabib who has been on the friends board since that began I think or right after it began in the mid 80s they formed the
library formed a friend of the westport library and he was a gentleman at the meeting last week. Yes. He's the only the only guy but he doesn't mind. So, what I do, our volunteers come in and well, actually,
they they look in I should have done this first, but there's a bin right out there and um where you bring in your donations and just pop them in the bin or if they're in boxes, you and you don't want your bo need your boxes, just put the boxes right on the floor by the
bin. Okay? And then our volunteers come in and um so we start sorting and They bring the books back here and we look they we have all these
boxes that are numbered one through the high 20s. And um and so if you have a DVD that someone brought in today, you'd pop it in the audio visual box. And they're all categories. We have the book categories
for this year. And there are actually um actually 28 of them cuz we skipped a number that we got rid of, but they're by adult fiction um oversized paperbacks, cookbook, and all the way along. And so you can fill
the boxes from either side of of this shelving. And um and that's basically what we do, all the different non-fiction categories. Um, we don't want to take business books or dated
health books. I mean, there's, you know, history is wonderful. We get a lot of history, but a dated non-fiction book is really not suitable. And people do bring in books and and that that we really aren't able to use. And when we receive
something that maybe isn't appropriate or is falling apart or a book that's moldy or such, they go in these bins over here. And here we have a bin that's almost full. And
um these are bins we used during CO and we put wheels on the bottom of them because uh uh Laur would remember to um we didn't check in books right away. Remember we're supposed to hang out you
return stuff and you'd have to we had to put them in the mountain room and hang on to them. So any of our that we're not able to use and you know there's sometimes stuff like this and um and these go in the back parking lot we have
the Bay State um bin and we our maintenance man brings these out and puts them in the bin and when the bin's full in the back parking lot I call Bay State Books and they come and they distribute used books to
organizations and other nonprofits and wherever the need is. And um we're grateful for that because I mean sometimes we should throw books away like this one I think should go in the Do they recycle them a after or or they
do they recycle them recycle the paper if um you know they can't use the actual book so process. Yeah. And so that's what we do. We fill up these boxes and there are some instructions for our
volunteers here. Just some helpful hints. And over here we have um these two paperback boxes. Box for the carousel paperback rack and the foyer. This one and this one down here.
So these these are books that will go right now as freebies out to the carousel and which is really popular. People love coming. Yeah, I've gotten some from there. I haven't read them yet, but and this summer. So we hang on
to a lot of books that we might not, you know, necessarily use for the book sale. And I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh, here I look at these boxes right here. And these were filled today since I think since we opened. Um so these are
the psychology books and these is fiction oversized the fiction paperback oversized um cookbooks. I get a lot of cookbooks cookbooks. And what do I have
here? I have oh audio visual DVDs and music CDs. So, when John comes in tomorrow and he'll probably bring we might we're open later tonight. We might get some more donations and he'll bring these out to the pod and put them in
there. Then we store them till September. September and they all get moved back, right? And they all get moved back. Yeah. It is a it's kind of um it's a cycle, but you kind of go forward and backward to go forward again a little. Yeah. Yeah. But it works.
and and we find we have to to to we need to collect them for for well April through August because um we need to have a good volume to make it worthwhile to have the book sales and and of course
it's a you know a good fundraiser for the library which is probably really more important than ever now but um it's allowed us to to provide a lot of um books for the collection. I mean
almost every book you open now that you check out from the library has file stamp book plate in it and um our programs some of provides some of those and we've been able to do some
reupholstering some chairs here. Yeah, they look great. Don't they look great? It just, you know, perks it up a little bit cuz that's stuff we never would even think about doing. We had chairs that were here for quite a while.
Well, that's great. And uh so yeah, and so that's basically um that's what we do. So yeah, thank you. You're welcome. It's a lot of work in a very little space.
Yeah, very chilly.