3.11.2026 Board of Library Trustees

Ronald Kaplane here.

And Rocket Sperling here.

Sharon Quinn here.

Fran Racklin here.

James Gibney here.

Tim Long uh he's absent. Eddie Gimont here.

Melissa Panchley is absent. And Paula Cullen here.

And I'm Felicia Desires. This is Kayla King uh director and assistant director.

Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.

Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether they are perceived or unpersceived by those present and that they are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

Okay. The minutes of the previous meeting, did everybody get them?

Yes.

Yes.

Do we have any corrections or omissions?

No. I will take a motion to accept.

So move.

Second.

I second it. All in favor?

Any opposed?

Move on the statistics overview. Kayla.

Yes. Okay. So, I have the um reports for January and February. Um so, give you a minute. Flip those. Our circulation of materials dipped only slightly in January and February as we dealt with bitter cold and snowstorms that resulted in us being closed for several days.

Despite February being a short month and the four days of closure, our children's materials actually circulated more than in January due to February school vacation week. Um we had a lineup of fun kids programs that brought families into the library. Of course, our bookmobile circulation stats took a hit as the bookmobile was unable to go out much with the amount of snow we received.

While we saw a slight increase in questions in January, we of course received less inquiries in February as we were open less.

While um if you flip the page, while people couldn't physically make it to the library, our digital resources were well utilized as people hunkered down at home with 230 plays on our streaming service Canopy and 739 uses of our Gail research databases in the short month of February.

Um again, not unexpected, but while January was a typical month for internet usage, February took a dip as people were not able to visit the library.

On the next page, that trend is observed in our reference services as well.

You'll notice here a couple of new categories. Our reference staff have been tracking scanner, fax, and headphone use for a while. So, I decided it made sense to pass that information on to you all as those are some of our more popular services in that department.

Uh we added more items to the collection in January than we have since the summer. Growth of our collections is something we are continuing to encourage our departments to focus on.

The trend continues as we move along with January being a healthy month for library card signups. Uh kind of moving on to the next page as well. Uh followed by a down tick in February.

Uh library usage of our meeting rooms looks a little higher as I've started to count the nagel of meeting room programs. We've been offering more and more programs in the space from teen drawing club to our ESL group and a new band book club. So, I wanted to start reflecting that and the usage of our space in the statistics.

Um, as mentioned, while people had a hard time getting to the library, the bookmobile had an even more challenging time going out. We are hoping this warm weather continues and that things will be back to normal for the bookmobile.

Despite the cold and snow and missing out on several days worth of programming, we managed to offer a lot for our community. I have personally learned a lesson about scaling back in the winter months. We saw we saw 879 people at our 39 programs in July and only 481 at our 40 programs in January.

People just want to stay home when it's cold and dark. So, I'll keep that in mind as I book events going forward. Uh, thanks for listening to my stats recap of the last two months. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

The youth program, the teen program, what is happening with that?

Um, the teen programs are going well. So Joe has been running a few recurring programs. He's got, as you know, the photography group for teens and adults.

He's got um we didn't meet this past.

They couldn't meet because of snow. Um he's got the drawing group that happens twice a month. Uh we have our first uh Magic the Gathering group that's going on tonight. Richard, our new staff member, is running that. That's for teens and adults as well.

Comics.

Yeah, the comic club. And then am I missing one? So we've got a few recurring programs. Some of them just for teens, some for teens and adults.

Are you getting participants or Yeah. Oh, and the game night. The game nights our most popular for teens. So, we have I think he had 13 last month if I remember off hand. Um he's been steadily getting about a dozen people for that and then maybe a handful like four more like four or five for the other programs. Um but yeah, it's been going pretty well I'd say.

Good. Does anybody have any questions for Kayla? The the ancestry is that just remotely or I mean in library or is it in library use only? Yep.

Any other questions? I'm sure that Kayla will take any phone calls if you anytime if you want to peruse these on your own and then have any questions.

Okay, we're ready to move on to the library administrator.

Okay, so I'm not going to spend too much time on our programs. We've had quite a lot of new programs. Positive selft talk workshop, a historical fiction book club that we have ongoing. ESL conversation group that's been really great for people who are trying to uh work through different conversation um from foreign language. We get mixed bag of individuals coming from different uh

different languages. But we noticed that the group grows a little bit more each time especially based on who's coming.

Um so we had Pamela means presents black, brown, and beige. We did not get very high attendance for this program.

However, um I think that a probably is due to like Yale said, the weather. Um and then the young adults programs, we kind of touched on those just now. We had a bunch of ch children's programs.

uh meet Peppermint the polar bear polar bear animal scavenger hunt and then a couple of different trustees mobile adventures programs frozen fun hands on ice and actually the bookmobile is going to be partnering with them on quite a lot of programs um in the summer and in the spring which they've been a really great partnership for us that kind of brings like education of nature and uh

the ecosystem around Fall River and and also um she's able to integrate it with some crafts and different things like that. So, so they've been they've been working quite closely. We've had Frosty Faces face painting at the library, which is always popular. Uh, and the bookmobile did make quite a few stops, although of course they were kind of homebound for the uh for the snowstorm.

So, they found some work here. Uh, so February was a big month of accomplishments for the adult circulation team. So, I felt this month it's really important to highlight some of what they've been working on in regards to displays. Olivia created a Valentine's themed display and continued to replenish her general new fiction and non-fiction browsing display in the lobby. Uh, hi.

Right there, Missy.

Okay.

Um, sorry.

Uh so due to popularity increased circulation of these items, uh Richard, our new employee, created a themed display highlighting mythological and literary figures associated with love entitled Gods of Love, which was interesting. I heard that it got some new readers involved, people that we didn't normally um check out books before. They were kind of interested in the new topic. Joanna, our other new

employee, curated a display featuring romance titles written by black authors.

During this curation, Joanna noticed a collection gap within the category. So, ordering for next month will reflect this. The staff have been working really hard to find gaps in the collection and tried to make our collection as wellrounded as possible, making sure that we're able to represent everyone.

Jeff worked in collection development, obtaining several long overdue DVD titles, strengthening our audiovisisual collection. Gail evaluated and weeded the lobby, allowing her to process new shelf ready materials. Amy and Emily from the bookmobile helped the CIRC team absorb the manga into the AV room, finding ways to get a whole lot accomplished as the bookmobile's traveling services were unsafe due to

the inclement weather. So, in February, a discussion began regarding the structure of our positions in the LA1 and the LA2. In LA2, uh, a new member of the staff raised an inquiry of the notable differences and distinctions between the positions, the rates of pay, and the specialized job duties, and whether or not the positions at the current time contribute in equal value um, and breadth of specialized work and

professional services to aid in the building's operations to be considered both under the LA1 designation. So in viewing the positions of LA1 and LA2 from my own perspective and spending time in each of the departments as a library floater becoming promoted in each one of the roles while being here and then as director I do understand the roles have different modalities even among those within the same

classification. However, I find the varied specialized training and the responsibilities of each are quite equal in value. uh the intrinsic contributions are largely the same and I do find no reason that the positions should not be equal by designation. Therefore, I plan to support the staff and their attempts to create this balance in the library structure by proposing this for the

coming fiscal year if it's within the means of city finance.

Uh so that would mean that what's the difference in pay between the LA1 and LA2?

I do know that the highest paid LA2 is still paid less than the lowest paid LA1. So staff who have been here for 15 20 30 years um are getting paid less than brand new staff who are getting hired as LA1's. I don't I think it's um I think it's 23 18 to 23 is the range for LA2 something like that and then 24 to I don't remember the high end for

I'd have to get the the specific numbers on that mostly because I need them after the the last contract um percentages were added they haven't come out with the the schedule for that yet um so what about the educational background before they would have there was a difference between LA 2 LA1 would be a bachelor's degree and LA2 was associate so what's what's going to happen now?

So, most of the time um the bachelor's is actually required for research, obituary, genealogology, those kinds of things. However, what we're finding is that the LA2s in the amount of tasks and the other specialized items that they're responsible for and then also the capacity of the books, those kinds of things, uh that they actually oversee, it balances out. So for the reference

staff, they have less overall tasks in general um but their tasks require more specialized reference work and then the staff in the lower level um of the building in the circulation area oversee about 70% of the overall collection uh they maintain those collections those kinds of things. Uh actually we have the staff member who had asked some of these questions. Richard he asked if he could

come and talk during citizens input and I think that would be a really good idea if everyone's aminable to it. Um I mean anyone can talk at citizens input.

Yeah.

It's a public meeting right? So he doesn't need our permission.

Yeah. So um I think that that would be really great to have him kind of from his perspective as an L2. Um but working in each of those departments uh all of our LE2s actually cover in reference as well. And so they're kind of responsible for working at that level or at that responsibility um for for different reasons. I think that the bachelors in that area is mostly required for the

research capacity that we expect when they're doing more uh in-depth research that they kind of go and do and they receive requests for. So um so so I find that they balance um one has more of an educational requirement, the other oversees a larger scope of the building.

You know what would be interesting? I think if we all had a schedule of pays of how much each category makes and the requirements.

Yeah, I can get that.

Can you get that for us?

Yeah.

Would everybody be interested in that?

I think it'd be very helpful too.

So, um for us to know about that.

Do you mean the specific individuals themselves or No. No. Okay. The categories.

Okay. Because there's different there's the categories and then there's steps within those categories. if we could know all about that.

Yes. Okay. All right. Sure.

Okay.

Yeah.

Are we agreed on that that we and I I guess I was just thinking if Richard wanted to speak in citizens input, it might if this is something that goes forward to the city council in the budget, that might be where he might want to speak at citizens input to help the city council understand why he feels that those, you know, should be equal because they're ultimately the ones that

are going to make the decision on. So, I think um one thing that that might be notable is that there's um there's approximately like $490,000 that is budgeted in our budget that needs to be integrated into our budget in a more functional way. And so, it wouldn't overall make a large increase to our overall budget, but it would be used towards staffing versus um retirement contributions, which it's

being counted for now. uh it's allocated as that in our budget line. Um but it would be more of use to the staff, I suppose. But but the budget kind of would stay the same. Yes.

Overall, according to the mayor, we're rich. The the the city is rich.

Oh, yeah.

What was this last night? Yesterday Paul and I and Felicia were there last night.

Yeah.

All right. Good. All right. Perfect.

Um, so lastly, we would like to share that uh we will now be able to provide space to our staff to work in for collection storage by being able to once again utilize the old cataloging and art room that's been utilized by the nonprofit friends organization. In December, we notified the friends they'd only be permitted access to the space until we require it, meeting room for storage and upcoming construction, and

having more library staff on site. So because the library is thriving and we require full use of our space for additional collections and departments we're integrating um we've kind of decided to we asked the friends if they would be eminable to kind of move the books outside of the room. They felt it would be better to find their own property um or a philanthropist to kind of hold the the books elsewhere. Um and so

where are they going to find the place?

That's ridiculous. Is this the book sale room that you move the book?

All those books out there.

Getting a lot of flack about that.

Yeah.

What? The book store?

Yeah.

Yes.

Move it out.

So, it's not necessarily move the bookstore out. It's just we need to move some of our stuff in there and the books that What stuff do you have to move in there?

Well, during construction, all of the reference materials.

So, that would be temporary.

No. So, we need to move staff in there.

We need cataloging space. So, we for a long time we were low. Who's utilizing the reference office?

Reference room.

And how many how many how often are they in there every day?

And how many desks are there that you can't fit another desk for other staff members to go in there?

So there's two, three desks, but the thing is is it's also a special collections area. And so it's not really meant to be utilized in that way where the reference staff are using the special collections area as an area to do other business in. So can't can't they move down here? Uh the bookstore. So there's a couple of different No, not the book.

The bookstore should remain where it is.

Yeah, the bookstore is a I think that's a fixture of this library.

So I think that there's a couple different things that I'd like to touch on here. Um, one of the things that I was going to bring up is, uh, we've received frequent complaints from the patrons and the staff about interactions with the friends members in the bookstore and on the property. So, it has become Could you give us specifics and names of this? Cuz Mary Agnes, I spoke to her

and she told me that she asked you, let me know who they are, the volunteers that she would she would speak to them.

He wants the date and the, you know, of the the date of the incident and the person who's involved. You can't just say, "Oh, so many people are complaining." When you go find out from the staff, they're not complaining. So, where's the issue?

I think that I'm misunderstanding your question. So, so Mary Agnes, when I've discussed with Mary Agnes, she knows about the complaints. I've told her when they She still does not know because you did not share her who they were. what the complaints are and who the people were involved.

We did we we shared the complaints several times at two different meetings with in a private meeting to try to resolve the communication in a less um contentious way. Um and then after that in an open meeting because of what it created. Um, and so I I do wish if you could if you would like to go to the meeting and then you can experience that for yourself, but secondhand isn't

really fair to we we provided that information. Uh, we provided the information of specific individuals to Mary the names and everything.

I've given her names before. Uh, I don't have names of every specific in unfortunately I just spoke with her today. she had called me about this incident because a city councelor has brought it to our attention yesterday.

So I spoke to Linda today and she said that she understands the change um and she did not know what was going on at the library. So I think that that might have a but your but your president of the friends still does not have the specifics of what took place and who was involved.

She does that they during the meeting one of the members as somebody is not being truthful to us. I agree.

Are you saying that the volunteers in the book sale room there have been incidents where they've been rude or something to that effect?

It was an instance where someone made someone so uncomfortable they felt harassed sexually. They they made an intimate comment to someone.

So, was this written up by you?

It's in the staff log, the incident report.

Yes, we we handle that as though it was a patron incident because these are not my staff. So I think maybe where some of the disconnect is is maybe that with some of the incidents you were able to provide more specific details and then maybe with other incidents it kind of came down secondhand later and you said I know this happened but in this instance I don't know exactly who it was

but sometimes we do have a name of the volunteer involved and other times it might be uh we found out about it like through a staff member reporting this happened last week and we don't know exactly who or what shift if So, couldn't you go back and look and see who was scheduled at that time and then figure out who it was that you So, we don't have the information about the volunteers.

Mary Agnes has that, but I I think that's where maybe she said you were not able to provide her with the date and the time and so that she could speak to the volunteer.

So, we were in the meeting and some of these issues were coming up. One individual actually said that was me.

Um, some of the concern though is even once we recognize who the volunteer is, what happened, there's no recognition of it actually being a problem. Uh, we were told we were too sensitive, that our patrons are too sensitive, that administration is too sensitive. I was told that the board would I mean that the that that the friends members would slap the mayor around um during a meeting. The

level of professionalism is just not it's not there. And so friend I was gonna say friend can you shed any light on this?

President correct.

Have you heard anything?

Were you president of the friends in the past?

In the past.

Okay. With Lead.

Have you heard any of this?

I just heard about it then friends meeting. That was the first time I've heard of it.

So in the past you never had incidents where people said someone harassed me.

Not that I I was aware of. I mean, so there are often eight years, but this is something that you can just like a staff member that you speak to them in privacy to find out what's going on. Just as if a staff did this, we'd have to take them aside and find out what the situation is. You don't just close a bookstore because well, you did this, so forget, let's close this bookstore. So, I mean,

that's ridiculous.

That would be ridiculous. I agree.

That's not why. But you should there should be other ways to find I think that we want to come back to the bookstore itself which find places and I think so we I want to I just want so everyone has accurate information. We did not close the bookstore. We asked if the staff would be able to revert back to the way that they handled it before where we oversaw the sales of those books.

Right. So they're going to give a more more work back to the staff. You're going backwards. So, it's a lot of work for the staff to receive all of these complaints and that's what we're receiving and and so so we can ask the staff to about the complaints and and all of them are going to you are free to ask the staff whatever.

This is becoming really contentious and I'm uncomfortable. I'm really feeling that my husband shouldn't have dropped me off here on my way home from Vermont.

We're just sorry. It just it's not the diet trap I'm used to at these meetings in the bookstore.

No, it should be discussed. I know. But it just seems a little too contentious for my bookstore would what would happen to the bookstore had offered to the friends at the at the last meeting was that we would try to retain the books here and as they were before they would be sold and then we would just put the funds into a pouch for the friends and that's what used to happen. We used to just

hand over the money uh Richard used to just come and pick it up mostly because it was in the lobby. um the books were there and we didn't have to have volunteer staff that cannot be overseen or managed.

So would the books all be moved to the lobby? Everything that's upstairs.

So there would be there would be books that would be in the lobby. We we had asked if that would be an eminable solution if we could find another location for the books in house.

They told us they did not want to do that. So that's they wanted to stay where they are.

No, they wanted to move out of the building if they if it was they don't want to move out of the building. You're telling them that they don't no longer have their bookstore.

They don't have the money to get a storefront for a book. They're they're providing a service for this library.

Making making the money for the library to support this library. And I think they're being, you know, sort of like mistreated to say we no longer need you and we no longer need the bookstore.

We could find other ways and other locations for the things that you're looking for and not touch the bookstore.

That's what I'm thinking. That Perhaps you could use what you're needing the book the bookstore for. Maybe a small area down here in back or there's other things that I really haven't had the chance to get to. Um just just so you know, books that are donated to the library location for the community, they're attended intended to be added into the collection to directly benefit the residents of the city at no

cost. So these are items that are donated to us. The items that we get rid of need to be liquidated by ordinance as surplus items. So, we're supposed to obtain permission to get rid of these items. And if we're being donated them, it really is awful to sell it back to our residents as items that we're discarding from our collections. And so, it really should be provided for free to the residents. And I would need to

obtain permission for that.

Wait, wait. What do I That's what happened in the Let me say this.

I I'm getting really upset here. The bookstore is a major asset of this library.

And to come to a meeting and hear for the very first time that we're going from ground zero to moving it out is unacceptable to me and is something that we should absolutely be involved in. I I myself use that bookstore very frequently and I know many other people that do um books, you know, we're talking about Hold on a second please.

Um I I I mean I I'm just shocked.

So I think I think that the way that this has been translated is probably some of the reason why it seems so negative. Um, so this is a nonprofit.

It's a nonprofit organization that we allowed to borrow our space.

They they don't really pay anything to be there, do any of that stuff.

Nor should they. The money they make goes to the library. 45 years.

I I'm I am absolutely shocked. You know, we talk about Is this is this a fed comply?

I'm sorry.

Is this a better not be? No. That's what I'm asking.

What does that mean? I'm sorry.

I don't mean I think here is that they wanted to stay a couple accomplished.

Is it already done?

Wait, wait, wait. Let's Sorry.

That's all right.

I have a question.

Yes.

When we first started the bookstore, which was when Nancy Feld was president, we were given that room and we were told that was the bookstore that we could have.

And all the books that we had were donated and we made a lot of money. And over the years, eight years when I was president with Leanne, we bought the bookcases.

All those bookcases we bought of our money from the bookstore and we never had a problem until I mean until we needed the space back until we needed the space.

Well, you might be able to find other you though in fairness.

Yeah. You're you're you're coming out of the blue to say a we need the space, which I question, and B, the bookstore is going. I mean, I I mean, that's so would remain there. They just wouldn't have to be paid for by the residents.

Why not?

Because they shouldn't be paid for after we're discarding them.

A lot of people donate books, too.

Yeah. Not to the book collection for the book. Even even the the ones that that that come from our collection, there's no reason why we can't charge for them.

They were only a dollar, aren't they? A quarterback paperback.

There's no reason why we can't charge for most of our stuff is donated.

It's mostly the kids books with David when he So, what I will say is in in that idea, they have suggested that if we had to charge for these books that they would be that those funds would come back to the library. They do not go external to a nonprofit organization.

They come back to the library.

Reason why they shouldn't because we can't sell off city property and then give those funds to a nonprofit.

I've never heard that.

What about all the books that were donated to us from outside?

That's that's donated to you. That is donated and that's what we're selling. Most of the books we sell are donated.

Most of them are donated, not from the collection anyway. So, this is kind of part of of the concern though is that I mean we need to be able to work together collaboratively and we had several discussions um stating that communication was not going well. Um I I mean I'm not really sure. I think it for the betterment of the community, we are the board and we do not want the the

books start to close and I think we as a board have the I think that's the consensus to say no unless there's somebody to change that feels differently. Is there anybody that feels differently about this?

I do just want you all to understand that the nonprofit organization is not the city of Fall River. That's not overseen by the board or the city. It's it was permissible because it was beneficial to us and it still is very they do so many programs they do they donate so much money to the library.

They've been in operation for 54 years information.

So now it now they're not beneficial anymore.

So the thing is every meeting that we go it is highly contentious and it is well we don't have to give you any money anymore for programs because you have the money for passports. It's incredibly unprofessional.

Who who's saying that? the friends numbers.

But how were you in in reacting with them?

You were you just did we presented everything so nicely to them professionally? Yes. I mean I'm And sometimes we do get told no. You know well I mean I don't usually go there reason why the they can't tell you no.

Felicia you run this library without Yes. You run the library.

We oversee what you do. But I'm telling you, whoever and whomever and whatever takes place in this library must be approved by you.

So it's not that's it's going outside of the purview of that. If we're if we're saying we need to provide permission to access to a room, they're overstepping.

They're coming into the room without permission.

I I think that's something that should have come to this board first. Felicia, anything you want? I mean, you're talking about a major issue here and an asset that enhances this library as it's an institution.

Exactly. I mean, we'll work with you if need be and support you. For instance, if there's something that happens there, it comes under your purview. You have every right to investigate that. go to the if there's any sexual harassment should be reported to the police department and let them determine what should or should not happen. And if somebody from the friends of the public library is trying to tell you what can

or cannot be done, not so you're the librarian.

So how would you resolve that? I if they said you are too sensitive, we don't find any of this acceptable and we bring them before the board and as a mandate I think unless somebody disagrees with me, bring him before the board and we'll straighten them out because Felicia, no one has a right other than us as a group, not as individuals.

Anyone has a right to tell you anything about this library or any aspect of it.

And if there's any sexual harassment, I'm disappointed to find out we have reported that to the police department and had a full investigation as to what's happening. Fran, are you aware of any of these kinds of things?

Uh, just when the meeting, no, I had no I had no idea what was going on in those friends meeting.

There was meetings in uh in December. We had a an individual meeting with Mary Agnes and the vice president to try to sort it out in a way where they would kindly talk to the members and ask them to just be a bit more professional with staff. Remember our policies and also remember to be courteous because a lot of these things were coming down on our staff. Members were patrons are complaining saying the staff member

upstairs is doing this. Um, there was a a friends member in the parking lot that was screaming at another patron about having a reserved parking space. That was a that was a reported concern.

Well, that we can't deal with anything in the parking lot.

We can't get into that.

Misunderstanding, but the other stuff I don't know anything about.

So, just because they're admitted doesn't mean that we're at an understanding. That's that's really it's detrimental to our relationship with the public. when the public is coming in and they're telling us that we're having these poor experiences in your library and it's happening over and over again.

One of our new staff members referred to the friends as volatile. This is a brand new staff member. Let's find out who they are.

Two, excuse me, we're talking about two issues. One is uh the activities of the staff of the bookstore. The second is the physical plant of the bookstore. So I think we should take care of one issue at a time and I think the first one is the the permanency of the bookstore in the library.

So I cannot supply the books to the friends anymore because that's illegal.

So all these years we've been doing it.

Yeah.

Do you have anyone telling you from the police department?

Yes. No, not from the police department.

Everything needs to be more accounted for now with they're doing audits. We need to look at all of our accounts. To be quite frank, some of this money was being funneled out illegally before. So, I understand this hasn't happened years.

When you say, what are you talking about? Tell you're going to say something illegal. What are you talking about?

Let's say for instance, the passports.

This was done by Leanne knowing that Government Center knew nothing about this. She told me so herself.

Who's this again?

Leanne. Our previous administrator.

Okay.

Told me that they do not know that the funds are going there.

That's okay. Let's continue.

Okay. So, with that, some of the staff have been Who's video?

They've actually been um they've been thinking that they can spend funds funds from the friends freely um because they used to receive petty cash payments.

Well, they can.

Do you know where that came from?

And if you need to bring them here for us to tell them or you to tell them whatever.

So, our funding our funding was intermingled. And what I've come into is how can it be intermingled?

It can be.

How? Then tell us because Leanne was the treasurer of one of the groups. Then she wrote Nancy Fel as um as the other treasure when she was not even on the board. So things were been fi things have been filed incorrectly. I'm trying to untangle a very complicated situation and it's seeming like a lot of changes. I know.

But it does take a lot of changes to untangle what has been done. And I know everyone's confused, but if you have a question, please like, please ask me.

But it is it is getting a little tense.

Yeah, rightfully so. I mean, I I I cannot and I believe Ron feels this way.

I cannot believe we're coming out of the blue and just just like they're saying, "Let's close the bookstore." No, let's move the bookstore. No, you're talking about a third issue now, which is the use of uh the library books for income for the bookstore. That's a third issue.

I think the first issue is the permanency. The second issue is the staff of the bookstore and the third issue is the use of the funds. When we added all these issues together, it seemed that the best solution to benefit our staff in an area that we do need is by asking the friends if they would allow us to move the books outside of the room.

But where?

No.

Basically, we would we would keep them anywhere that we could.

They're not happy with it.

I I know, but it's not their building.

But Felicia, anything major like that, right? This community is the community.

And the community likes that bookstore.

Loves it. Not likes it. loves it. And here you go. Here you are. I I'm not just speaking for myself. I know I'm speaking for hundreds of people.

They use that bookstore as is. It has been a great asset to this library.

Enjoy it more if they could get those titles for free.

No. Yeah, of course they would. God bless they would. But that's not what that's not what it's about.

But we're not we are not getting any income. The friends are getting income.

Time out.

They're using it.

All of them programs that you request any money all the programs that we request. They deny most of the programs that we request. Wait a minute. Not all of them. Why was it that they What which type of crop? There was one program that was had in insurance or something. Do you remember anything about that?

Are you Did you are you coming to the meetings?

No, I'm Well, I'm just asking you. It was there something a a me one program that they were not um they didn't think it was going to be beneficial to the community to have a particular program depending on what the programs were.

If there was a program that they said no they might have said that it wasn't beneficial.

Well Fran says how many programs have they denied?

Quite a few out of when we bring we used to bring a lot of programs. Now, we don't really we're not able to bring programs outside of just children's programs because that's really that shouldn't be the case.

I can give one example. So, Felicia, again, I don't go to the friends meetings. I was at the last two because the one before that I was sitting in for Felicia and then the next one I was there because it was kind of a continuation of what had happened at the previous meeting. Um, but Felicia had conveyed to me that the friends expressed interest in having medical talks as a program. Um, so I found

somebody who did a talk on the US healthcare system and I believe the fee was 150 or 200. It wasn't, you know, an outrageous fee and so she presented that program idea to them and they voted it down. Um, that's just one example, but it was something I booked not because I thought this is a super fun topic for myself, um, but because, you know, one, we try to have well-rounded different

types of programs and two because they explicitly said we want something medical related. So that's kind of disheartening to me when I put the time and effort to find a program that they think will be a topic of interest and then they say no, you can't have the funds for that.

I am seeing a consensus here that the board here wants to keep the bookstore where it is.

How do we do we override you?

Is that I hate to do it because we've never done that before. No, I haven't either.

But I think I'm just shock I'm in shock here. I think this is one case that we need to take a vote and then I'm not sure what the vote would be. We need to keep the bookstore where it is as it is and find another space for what you're needing the bookstore for.

We have construction in two weeks. What would you like us to use our space? How big is your job? I'm sorry. I'm a I don't know.

It's a very small room. Um it's okay. So, we could use this back.

Well, this is where we have our We'd have to stop our events.

I'm just I'm trying to come at it, you know, calmly and just, you know, do what's best for everyone.

I just I feel like I'm probably less involved than most of you guys, but I feel like we probably want to keep the bookstore where it is.

That's the consensus here.

And so, I think we I think there's ways around it. I think people, you know, we're coming at things to try to make it the way we want it, but in reality, I think we can keep it here and we can find places to put the stuff that needs to be stored somewhere else.

Can I ask a question? The two rooms, the room, the two rooms when you first come up the stairs, one was the administrator's room, the other was sort of a catch-all room.

When you come into the library, right?

Right. Uh Leanne was on one side and then the other side was sort of like well it's the administrator's office, right? But it wasn't used because Leanne and Kate were both to the left when you now I think you have Have you moved across the hall to the other one?

Who's in the other one? I mean, do you need all that space?

Yes.

I'm not sure. Uh what if we asked you to be creative and find a space for what you want the bookstore for? Let us take a vote here to say what the board feels.

How would that be? I think there's enough discussion of of that that issue and we can move on to some of the other issues. I am a little bit worried cuz what you're asking me to do is continue with the practice that we've been doing that that the mayor and I have both discussed and it's it's not supposed to be happening. So there's a couple don't do do not donate the books the library.

That's issue number two. We're talking about issue number one.

Yeah. We could just not give them the books anymore and they can just sell the ones that they get donated.

That's a problem. Exactly. There's a lot of people that donate books. I bring in boxes sometimes. People call me, "Do you have" and I say, "Yeah, I'll take a major that isn't because you you can even ask the public if they if they want, you know, gently used books to donate them to the uh Friends bookstore and they do that.

Not a problem."

Whereas we're not able to manage the staff. What would your suggestion be?

Yes, you are.

We are not.

No. No. Time out. Time out. Felicia. You are the administrator of this board of this building and whatever takes place here comes under you. Period.

And so if someone does not recognize the authority of administration, check them out.

Here we are.

No, wait. You want You got one or two members of it sounds like from the bookstore who are giving you or the public a hard time.

I think they're not the issue. I understand. This is not the the issue is whether we're going to keep the bookstore where it is or not.

For this first work on issue number two, I make a motion we keep the bookstore where it is as it is.

Can I have a second?

I second.

All in favor?

I I opposed.

It carries.

Okay. It's behooves you now unfortunately and we've never done this before to find a different space for what you were going to use the bookstore for.

Yes, please.

Whatever your suggestions are.

No, you're the creative exactly.

I mean, what behind there? I don't know what's behind there.

Are you using it just for to store things?

That there's storage back there.

No, no. What What do you wanted the the where what did you I wanted to give the our staff a a cataloging area. So actually the YA room seems to be underutilized a lot. There doesn't seem too much activities in both those areas.

So the YA material we are seeking space for. David is doing a massive weeding project right now for the YA material to fit down there. So it's not that it's massively utilized. We can't expand it because there isn't any more room. So that was another that was another benefit to us having extra space. Um the staff that we've taken on would be able to have cataloging areas. the bookmobile

would be able to have a cataloging area.

She's desperately in need of one. Um that collection is growing. Uh we needed there's two uh desks in the um you know you can have a catalog in while the administration is on duty. Whoever has to catalog use the second desk that's in her office.

That is not workflows compatible. That's not the same.

How about this room next door?

Didn't we use that for the u bookmobile?

the one where we used to meet.

That's where the bookmobile collections are cuz we bought the shelves.

We've also been using that for book clubs because we don't have any more room for events.

You get this space. No, this is maxed out to capacity almost every every month. She has a hard time fitting people in. We we are trying to offer things to the public, but we're we're coming up short because of the restrictions the restrictions on space.

Um and we keep growing. Our departments keep growing. You don't think it would be it would even be shorter if you closed the bookstore?

No, we just wanted outside of the room.

I'm missing something.

I am too.

Yeah, I I think so, too. We just wanted to move the books outside of the room so that room can have staff computers and be an area where staff can service.

I think that's a fixture. That is a institute. It's an institution.

Absolutely.

Voted on it anyway. So, that's a great point.

It's it's Yeah, I mean that is a fair point. It's it's it has a hard time being staffed. When it is staffed, it's staffed by individuals that are not required to have Corey checks or anything like this.

They make it a requirement.

I would suggest that Ron and Felicia and Mary Agnes or whoever she is get together and work these things.

Get together and work out those maybe have some conversations about maybe some issues.

Or could Mary Agnes come to one of our meetings? Seems necessary. Yeah, at this point.

Yeah, certainly at this point. Would you invite her to the next meeting?

Okay, absolutely. Yeah, I won't be here in April, but as are we Where are you going this time?

I'll be in Vegas, but good luck at that.

Are you glad I showed up?

Are we able to attend friends meetings as I don't know how that works?

Yeah, they open meetings.

Some of them, I believe. Well, aren't they public meetings? So, they all of our meetings are technically open to the public. So, I mean, you could attend. I'm just not sure the us if that's the usual.

I don't to be truthful. I do not know.

I think you're a very creative person and you've and I think you can create a different space than the booksto space.

Well, start working on it.

I I I trust your judgment. I think you will.

At least with the issues of the book source bookstore staff. I mean, is there any way you could I don't know the legalities with city issues, but make them sign some kind of forms and I acknowledge like I work in the bookstore that I'm under the library.

I absolutely think we'll have to and that's a great idea.

I think that that should be if Mary Agnes should be it doesn't matter.

I'm volunteer organization and I have to be cory check. I'm on the board of St.

Joseph's church and I'm a volunteer. I don't get paid. Yeah.

And we are mandated to have a curry check every two years.

Yeah. They should car checked and it doesn't matter. It's got nothing to do whether you're paid or not. Okay. I think the dealing with the staff if we have Mary Agnes here, we can have her take care of that uh and put it put it on to her. So that would take care of the harassment.

With the understanding though, Ron, it all does absolutely come under Felicia.

Absolutely.

Period. Absolutely.

Don't let anybody tell you otherwise, Felicia.

Well, I maybe you should meet with all the volunteers before they start working up there so you can give your them your expectations.

Oh, I mean the the volunteers. Yeah, cuz you should know who's in there.

Yeah, that's fair.

Yeah.

People aren't knocking down the door though to try to volunteer. I know that for a fact, right? They are.

It's hard to get. They're not.

Well, that's part of the problem. It feels like an underutilized space, I think, because a lot of times the doors closed and locked and nobody can use it.

Most of the people are on the on the um on the boarding down.

Kayla, one thing you can do when you send out your newsletter, you can say we need volunteers for the bookstore. Number one, you can say number two, we need donations of books for the bookstore. And if you could put that into the your your monthly report, I think not your monthly report, but your monthly newsletter to the to the public.

And the third thing, the third issue we need to to deal with is using the library books uh as a donation to the bookstore.

Yeah. So, we we won't be doing that anymore.

You won't?

No, we will not.

Okay. No, because it's illegal again.

Okay. So, I think that we have to go along with that unless I have another any discussion on Is that something that the city council could vote to give an exemption on or uh I don't know if that's like a state statue or so it's mass um mass it's under like mass property the way that we have to liquidate that needs to go through surplus um and so it has to be approved

at council all those kinds of things um so is that something new or because I mean we've been doing it for like 11 years no it's not new so if I'm sorry just if council approved it then could sell or there's no channel to ever normally it goes to auction.

Um, so I'm not 100% sure if they would have to put in a bid for auction, but that's normally what happens to those items is all the items are sold.

Who's raising the issue? Who's raising the answer to that more?

Who is raising this issue about all of a sudden the books can no longer be sold in the store from the library? Who's raising the issue?

So the first issue was the the passports. So that kind of rose the where the funds go and where city property is if we're allowed to just give it to another organization. Um the other the other I thought the book the the the passports came to the library the money. Well, now it does.

We we pay for all of the envelopes.

Everything else, right? I mean, expenses is one thing.

We would get the money in our account, the friends account to buy things or provide programs for the for the library from us and it it went to the city, right?

They I'm sorry, the they took the when when the passports changed, right? So therefore, the money went directly to the city. Well, no, no. The p the passport money now it used to go to the friends and then we'd ask them for approval on programs. Now it comes directly to the library where we just pay for our programs.

That's okay. That makes sense.

But it still comes to the library though.

Yeah. The library it works both. Yeah.

So we both you profit from it. That's good thing.

And whatever monies the friends make comes back to the library in one way, shape or other. It's just a matter of I think that it's a little bit um discouraging to staff cuz say for instance when we talk about some of the things that are denied. Um these are things that our staff is putting together statistics for and also they're they're studying you know what's happening in the building and the

popularity of a lot of our programs. And so when we put forward events that they want to have or that they're asking for, we often find that we're not really able to get those approved. And so it just leaves it to another group of individuals that isn't necessarily working in the building or they don't have the you know the the knowledge of what we do of the statistics and of you

know this is what the community needs and so it really makes it so that our programs are largely set by a group that is not a part of the library and that feels weird that also doesn't feel beneficial most of our pro if it's a we've denied programs I guar I know that. But it's for like a small like the price is high and it only fits a small amount of

people like 10 15 people are limited to the program. But for anything that is I mean we've never denied David anything for all his programs.

So that's what I mean.

And most of the programs as long as it benefits a lot of people we've approved it in the past. So, I mean, yes, we've denied a few programs because it wasn't costefficient because it would not supply the program to a lot of people.

It would only be in in the past small groups. It would be the same people would call and get on the to go to the program. So, anybody else could not get it. But basically any big program or any program that benefits a group a lot of people we we've always approved and we've always approved David whether he wants pencils or whatever. So I mean we we have noticed that um anything we

ask for for David will be approved uh and the other staff are not necessarily uh likely to be approved and that's been another concern. And I'm going to backtrack. About how many books a year come from the libraryies outdated collection to the bookstore? How many books are we talking about? 10, 20, 40, 50.

Oh, no. It would have to be hundreds. It would have to be hundreds. We read hundreds of books.

Hundreds?

Yes.

I think we should find out how we can get permission. I think Do you want me to talk to the mayor about that? I think that the mayor understood where I was coming from. I don't if you would like to talk to the mayor about that, you may, but I feel my suggestion was the one that I stand by.

Well, yeah, but this is going beyond that because we're trying to find a way like if we're being told it's illegal or whatever to so we want to talk to the mayor to find out if there's a legal process that we can go through to Yes.

It just wouldn't be my suggestion. I would suggest as they're being donated to the community in the first place once we put them in the collection I would suggest providing them to our residents for free as a hub.

Why not make the money when we can?

So do you mean having the money come back to the library that will be the it goes into the bookstore and let the bookstore have the money and decide how they want to use it. But let me make sure I understand. All monies raised by the bookstore come back.

Well, they can be come back to the library and they in turn approve the programs.

Oh, but it can only come to the library.

Right.

Right.

They can't approve something outside the library.

No.

What do you mean by outside the library?

They can't approve to to uh buy milkshakes.

Oh, no. Give the money to the children's museum.

Exactly.

No. No. It's library.

Okay. But it would Ron's idea is a good one.

Okay, let's move on to that. I I'll report back to you all next meeting about that.

Uh and the third thing was Oh, I guess that takes care of all three things.

Well, not the staff. We haven't talked about the staff issue. You're going to Yeah, we're going to Mary come and we're going to find out from her how they discipline and what but even separate from Mary Agnes coming which I support Felicia is the only one that runs this building and friends foundation whatever it's got to come through Felicia and if there's a problem come to us and we'll support you

Felicia is the first time we've ever ever gone against it.

I believe it was last month's report. I had mentioned it. I just didn't want I did. Okay. Thank you. Uh I did mention some of the concerns. We just we're still working through it with the friends. We decided to give it another go and it went really poorly. Um so so this is what we've we had but we only get and you know when we asked Mary Agnes she doesn't say that

you know. So that's where we're getting a little discrepancy going on of what you know. Would it make a difference if we voted and it says, you know, we recognize your authority to discipline volunteer staff here? Would that make any I don't necessarily think it requires a vote. I think maybe that just saying is enough, but um but yeah, I think I think we can try to figure out a solution moving forward. And my final

comment is going to be anything of an issue, sexual harassment, report automatically to the Fall River Police Department and let them handle it. It will keep everybody out of trouble.

Let's move on. I think we got a many things to discuss.

Let's go.

Okay. Is everybody content to move on from this? Yes.

Okay. Let's let's do it. Okay. The next thing is uh I guess unfinished business.

the building. The mayor talked yesterday how how he's beautifying the buildings in the city and the library is was one of the things he said they he was restoring construction is supposed to start in two weeks I'm told that's for the pointing yep good yeah I was just notified today two weeks we have um until construction so I definitely would appreciate those suggestions on on space where we're to

move the art collections now will that take care of everything related to the building that you're concerned about temporarily. Um, not the AC and the not the AC. No, but that's in the that's intended for the budget next year, the next school year budget.

But you're going to have leaks this year.

No, the leaks are going to be taken care of.

No, the condensation from the AC was dripping through.

Yeah. I mean, there's nothing that I think that we could do for that.

Why can't we get the city to take care of it? Well, you're talking less than four months for the fiscal year to begin. That whole next one July 1st.

July 1st. Yeah.

Right. Or the next one.

No, July 1st.

I think it might be the next one.

Wait a minute. Not the one coming up.

I don't believe so. Let me get Let me get more details on that because she said next fiscal year, but I That means July one.

Let me make sure it means that.

I'd be shocked if you're going to check on the H the Yes. Okay, let's move on.

What can So, you're satisfied, Felicia, with what's happening related to the building updates?

Um, if it's going to happen in two weeks yes.

What about the lifting of the carpeting?

Uh, that's not yet, but it is for this fiscal year, and which is why I'm thinking it might be this coming fiscal year. That's in this one. So is the building construction and so I have to assume that is not all happening before July. No. So I think that that might be But you're saying it's in the budget for the next fiscal year.

So that was state aid.

We had talked about state aid being utilized for that.

So that is technically budgeted for us.

Yes. It's just a matter of getting that done.

So that's for next year areas of the library for that as well.

Any other questions about the building?

The construction that's going to take place in two weeks. Is that what what is going to be done?

The repointing of the building. Um, so there's leaks happening where when the wind blows, rain is coming in and water is able to get in through the mortar because the last time they fixed it, um, Al said that they did it incorrectly. It was using a material kind of similar to pool noodles to fill the gaps and, um, and it it crackled, fell out. And so where you have the bricks laid, there's

spaces in between all of them.

So is that where in the reference room?

Is it the reference room?

Yeah. Um yeah, that back wall when you walk into the reference room, the entire back wall they are also doing. So where the parking lot is, they'll be working in that area. So our parking lot will be kind of tough to get in and out of um or impossible to park in uh which might be influencing our business. And then the Elm Street side. And then they also said that they have enough money where

they're going to treat other areas while they're up there.

So doing this all on the outside and then the inside will be plastered.

So everything in the reference room needs to move somewhere else.

When will that stop inside?

So I have not been invited to that uh kickoff meeting yet, but I anticipate that I'll find out then. Um I'm not sure if those things will happen at the same time. I can't imagine that they would. I think that they'd probably treat the outside and then come inside to do the plaster work after.

Well, yeah. They want to make sure that it's actually corrected before they touch the inside, right?

Yeah. I would I would assume.

And they would have to wait for a rainstorm and everything to test it out to make sure it is corrected before they even touch anything in the inside because then they would be defeating the purpose if they they go touch the inside without making sure that that's definitely corrected.

Any other questions for Felicia?

Okay, let's move on to new business.

Okay, election of a nominating committee. I think that's usually appointed and I appointed unfortunately but I'll take volunteers.

Two of us have been Missy and I have been doing the nomination.

I make a motion. These two but nomination is interesting.

Yeah, I won't be here next meeting if someone else wants to do it with Ann.

Otherwise, Ann and I will talk about Ann.

Yeah, you can talk about it and figure it out.

Yeah, I think last year it's No, really.

Did you do last?

Okay, I'll take a I'll take a uh a vote on that or a motion first of all.

Motion to name Ann and Missy to the nomination commission.

Fine. And what we do is you bring it up at the next meeting, right? We'll bring up the names at the next meeting.

Next meeting. Then from there what we do is vote in May. The following meeting we vote in May.

Yeah.

Yeah.

We got the and if anybody wants to add somebody to to their nomine to the to their nominations, you can do it at that time.

Okay. And could I just ask if anyone is interested in being the chair or the vice chair which presently is being filled by Ron and Jim.

I don't want to be vice chairman next year, Ron. In fact, I might end up leaving entirely. I'm getting to be an oldtimer.

Okay. So, if someone would be interested in being the vice chair, I don't know if you we'll have to talk to you about whether you're interested in staying on as chair.

I would be glad to for next year, but that is I'd like to I'd like to groom somebody else after that. This will be my last year as chairman. If I'm to be the vice chair.

Oh, okay. Thank you. Anyone else interested in is standing up and then you let me know if anybody's interested in being groomed and I will groom.

Okay. As long as they let us know, we'll let you know.

Okay.

Okay.

All right. Thank you. Thank you, Ron.

Okay.

We're done.

Okay. The library behavior policy.

Okay.

Did everybody get a copy of that?

Yes.

Okay.

Do we need to go down one by one? I think we No, I I have some I have some some Well done. I think No, I think anyone who I mean I read it hopefully ever read it and if you have things Yeah.

Okay. We encourage you the first page to enjoy covered beverages. I don't think they should be allowed any liquid or any food in the library.

They're they're allowed right now. I don't think they should be.

We I mean we have people who stay and work here for hours and hours. So to say you can't have a water bottle or they can maybe there could be a space down here uh where they could enjoy their food. I think it's dangerous.

She's tight for space now. Never mind.

One thing in this policy from the old one is saying, you know, not to have them near the equipment. That's a new rule. Um right now people will have them right next to the computer. If it spilled, it would break it. So that's kind of a a way to keep it friendly where people can have a beverage here, but it's not going to end.

Has it been a problem?

We haven't had any problems. It's just kind of a precautionary, hey, if you're going to have a drink.

No, it was good to add that, but other than that, no problem.

No, we just don't want people walking around with, you know, the the solo cups, the open.

You don't see the See, I don't when I'm here, I don't see many people walking around.

Usually once in a while or like a can.

Oh, you mean an open beverage? Sometimes they'll have a can, like a energy drink in a can, and it's like, "Hey, you can't have that here. Chug it and throw it in the can, you know."

Okay, then. So, I guess I'm outruled about that.

Okay. Number 23. Who determines if they're wearing a cologne that's it's offensive?

I mean, to some people it could be offensive. To others, they might like it. I have polite sense. So I think that's uh that's the concern is if it's incredibly noticeable. So we've had individuals who are spraying profusely stuff especially since we have an issue of um individuals treating this as though it might be an area to kind of um refreshen themselves. Um we have a lot of like people who spray axe body spray,

hairspray, different things like that and they actually set off the fire alarm. This is one of the concerns that we have um because it what it recognizes is a lack of oxygen. Not only that, but there's people who have had asthma, different children, things like that who um if there's something in the area, it can make it really hard um for for them to enjoy the space. Um so it really

would just be if it's a really really strong um scent, we would mention this to the patron. Um I think Oh, go ahead.

No, go ahead. I was going to say it's as if the odor is disruptive. So, another thing we were thinking about when we put this in here was, you know, we've had people with extreme body odor issues to the point where people are coming up, multiple people are coming up and complaining. We've had to open all the windows in the reference room. We like it's it's like nauseating completely

honest. It doesn't come up that often, but we have had these issues. And in the past when I brought this to previous administration and said like this is not a comfortable environment for people to exist or work in it was kind of like well we can't really do anything about it. So we kind of did want to make I mean I don't anticipate this rule being being enforced very often but it's kind

of a way that if some there is an issue like that we can say hey you know we need to ask you to leave until you can take care of this disruptive odor.

you smell to go.

It's also a way to say, you know, uh we're not strong. We're not sure if you're wearing like a really strong perfume, but others have mentioned instead of saying Yeah. So, it's a good way to kind of be able to talk to people in a way that's a little more kind.

I can identify I think for disciplinary you can't the staff could be very prejudice or against somebody have a have it in for somebody. I think that one of the two of you should be involved in any disciplinary action that uh that a staff brings to your attention like people not allowing back into the library for the amount of time that they should not be allowed.

Well, actually I'm I'm the ultimate say of that, but when in my absence Kayla would be able to kind of sign a no trespass. The only exception that we have in here is if there is an issue of violence. Um so if there is a concern where someone is an immediate threat uh and we are not on shift, we do not want the staff to have to wait. They can ask

them to leave for 24 hours and a police officer on shift can also ask them to leave for 24 hours. Um but that is part of this policy that um that we are the only authority that will kind of say that. And uh so they'll be asked to leave for 24 hours if the staff feel that's appropriate or it's becoming really uh of a volatile situation. Uh and then that will give me time to

review by the time that I actually arrive in the next morning, see that and then make that decision.

Do you think you would feel better about it if we put administrative in front of the word staff may ask a patron to leave 23 staff like me and Felicia?

The staff and coordination and coordination with administration.

Oh yeah. And another thing is are these rules posted anywhere? Should should not So the these are somewhat new. Um the old rules there's rules that are not matching our recent policy even. So I think that the signs need to be updated.

We were planning on doing that when we actually have our uh updated policy. It was suggested to us by some of the police officers actually on duty because they said that our historic rules were a little bit confusing. They don't really match what we're asking for. like we had no loitering signs um where we have events outside where we expect people should be able to sit and read. So it

doesn't it wasn't um making sense with our policy. So by their suggestion and also the staffs we just redid the entire thing. Um, so these will be posted and we have we have told the staff that we expect after this if this is approved they should have these in their departments and anytime they go to an individual just to kind of have a little bit of a break so that it doesn't seem

like they're being the bad guy.

Hi Richard.

Hello everyone.

Hey Richard, they're going to provide this to the person and say oh we're not sure if you knew this is actually against the policy rule number 17. So, uh, it'll be a little bit more of a buffer between the staff and the patient. So, so they don't feel like they're, you know, the bad guy or they're the reason that that they're being asked.

You know what? You should also have anybody getting a new library card should have a laminated copy of this to read over before they get their card.

Like new Yeah.

Yeah. We can we talked about that and thought it might be a little intimidating for people because it's such a long list and they might be like, "Oh my god, you guys actually have all these issues."

We did tell the staff at our staff meeting that if somebody is breaking one of these rules to please hand them a copy of this and say, "Hey, you know, and it kind of creates a little separation. It's not like I'm being a jerk and telling you you can't eat or sleep." It's actually, you know, hey, here's a copy of our rules. It it outlines here why you can't do that. Um,

but if you think it's better that everybody gets a copy, we could do that.

That was just kind of where we where we had left it with the staff. And we also asked that the police details be given a copy of it when um, you know, even if they've been here a million times, this is a new set of expectations. So, um, so everybody's on the same page.

So, everyone's on the same page.

Does anybody have any suggestions or any any things you want to bring up about this?

I don't think if I was given this I it would make me worry. I would just think you would be in thorough. I wouldn't actually think all this stuff was going on.

Okay.

Well, that one.

So, we can't be accused of being So, we can't be accused of being arbitrary, right? So, I think even because I wouldn't be like, oh, I would just be like, this is very standard. I would think for the most part it is probably 95% of the time it is.

Yeah.

Does anybody have any further suggestions? Do we need to take a vote on this rather than uh Yes.

Okay. Move acceptance of the new behavior policy.

Second.

Second.

Go ahead. You can do it. Second.

All in favor?

I.

Any opposed?

Pass. Okay. Any other new business?

Okay. Citizen output. Is that what Richard is going to talk to us about?

Hi, Richard.

Feel free to pull a chair over the camera's way.

That's okay. We're all righty. take a seat right next to your um if that's okay.

All righty. Hello everyone. Good to see you all again. I'm Richard. Um I'm one of the LA2s. Uh my fellow LA2s are Jeff, Olivia, Joanna. Um we also have David Milwin. He is in the children's and we have Amy who is in the bookmobile. Um I'm here to present and ask for the support of a proposal. Um, I'd like to pass this all out. So, if you wanna take one and move it along.

I know.

I told somebody at 4:50.

Thank you. I was going to walk, but I was walking meetings.

Oh, yeah. That's right.

I'm going to watch my friend get, right?

This is gonna be a long time.

Is this gonna take a long time?

I don't think so.

All righty. Um, so on behalf of the betterment of the Fall River Public Library and the Fall River community as a whole, we would like to request that all library assistant twos be changed and consolidated into the library assistant one position. Um, I believe this change is not only equitable but reflects on the meaningful work that the Fall River staff contributes. uh to the community through their library work. Um

the library is an invaluable resource for the city which provides its residents with an everexpanding catalog of materials and services. As a library grows, changes and adapts, so too do the rule roles within the library. The scope of the library assistant 2 has now um grown past its original inception and those within the role provide as much care, specialty and diligence as their colleagues. Over time, the

responsibility of the library assistant 2 position has evolved to mirror those of the library assistant one position, performing the same core functions essential to daily library operations.

Um, so between the departments, um, the library assistant 2 employees help oversee and grow a collection of over 130,000 different materials. Not only includes books, but also a audio visual audio visual materials as well. one of the library assist in two um positions.

Jeff, he oversees all of the DVDs and library and um the audio visual materials. Um along with the traditional items, we offer miscellaneous uh stuff.

So like the robotics kits, um the switches, also museum passes, we have to learn all this stuff and um you know circulate that. We also get the materials, books, and DVDs from the other sales libraries, uh, over 70 of them. Um, we handle the library card registrations. One of our, um, library assistant twos, Olivia, she translates for our Portuguese speaking patrons. Um, we help with children programming. We

run multiple clubs. Um, we're t typically also the first point of contact for the fall re residents experiencing homelessness and substance abuse.

Um, we serve these marginalized persons by providing informationational access to shelters, food banks, u medical assistance, thus enabling them to have a pathway towards recovery. Services provided by the library assistance too do not end within its walls. The travel in the library, also known as the bookmobile, is driven by a library assistant too. Um, often through varying and inclement weather conditions. Uh,

this service enables the Fall River Library to bring its res its services to communities like the elderly homes and libraryless schools. Um, so it really shows that the important responsibilities encompass and build community with and without and without the walls. Um so it is clear that the library assistant 2 position is vital to the functioning of the Fall River Public Library. Uh this choice would show

support towards their work which some of them have been doing for over 30 years thus bringing higher morale and retention. It also helps keep up with the higher cost of living allowing for employees to give their full focus to their work. In the same way the Fall River and the library unify the community, this change would help unify the employees of the library, building a stronger and happier work environment.

Um, and we deeply appreciate your consideration towards this needed change.

Sorry, I know that was a a long one. Um, give us a nutshell of what you're saying.

Yeah. No, I can. I think that the work that the library assistant 2 um people do in their role is the same scope with the within the library assistant ones.

We are part of the backbone of the library. We provide a lot of different services and specialties. They have their own as well, but it both contributes equally to the betterment of the community and the library. Um we would like to consolidate the library 2 and library ones into just all library ones because of the pay.

Yes. That that would be um how big is the difference in pay?

So the difference in pay if you have been here for a while like Moin um I actually don't have the exact numbers. I don't know if Felicia you have them on hand.

No we had we had asked for earlier.

How about a ballpark figure? No.

So I I think it's either 22 or 23 at the high end. the the new employees are making 18 an hour.

So $5 an hour.

So yeah, maybe about $5 an hour.

An hour.

So you would like us to to make a vote on this and to present this to the city council? Is that it?

I think that the support because if I if I um if I propose my budget with some of those changes suggested, I think that the support just since you since you can, you know, make suggestions for the city budget. Um I think that that would be that would be good.

Do we have any discussion about this?

Well, you need I think we have to No, I don't think we can vote on it today.

When is your budget due or is it due early?

At the end of the month because don't you have to post new business?

a few days in advance.

So, I just didn't think there was going to be a vote because um well, a vote of what? I'm sorry. Can you of support for this?

Um we can get a cons we can get a consensus.

I think Felicia said she was going to get us uh all the information that we need with the, you know, the difference in pay for the next meeting.

So, the only thing is I will have to have a budget in.

That's right. So I I think that if you're in But doesn't that change even like you know with the union that your titles are going to be changing and library assistant ones you know they require your bachelor's degree that's no longer going to I don't believe that really comes into play for a few reasons. There are library assistant ones who don't have a degree and there's those in the library

assistant too myself included that do have a degree. I just don't think it's really necessary within the rules.

Yeah. So, how many people did you say would be moving from?

It would be six.

Six. Okay. Thank you.

How do you feel about it?

I feel I feel in support. Um, and how does the board feel?

I want to do some quick math on my phone.

Get the feel like how do you feel? Well, I would just I would I would make uh what my plan would be is to make a budget that has the existing uh positions in it and then make a budget that has all of the positions at the library uh assistant one rate and then present them both to the finance team and say that we would really like um to do this. Our staff are supportive,

administration is supportive and if the board is aminable to it and they feel that that's what they are. Does anybody object to this?

With the the twos, for instance, would they um like whatever level you are, would they go if they go to a one, would they go at the same level?

It would all be at the entr level because they all get paid less.

Yeah. So, they would go back the lowest step.

Oh, so it wouldn't be a $5 difference then?

Oh, I think it might be for the lowest. Yes. But for the greatest, I believe it'd be a little less. A little less.

Yeah. I just did like $5 an hour or whatever for six people. 40 hours a week. I don't even know if everyone works 40 hours a week.

45 hours.

Oh my god. All right. But in like 52 weeks. So that was based on that which it sounds like it's less hours and not everyone would be five. And that was 62,400. Obviously not including payroll taxes and stuff. So it would be less than that. But that's you know in the ballpark of what we're talking about 5* 3 something you have to talk to the mayor about. Also, I would bring it to

the finance team and just ask it if it's within their abilities to do, which I'm hoping that this year it might be since we have to reintegrate some of those funds back into our budget. So, um, and we have the money or is the city provide?

I believe we should.

I believe the money should be available, but I'd have to from some resource we have from our own city budget that uh we just don't have access to uh $495,000 of that at the moment. And so we should have access to that in the next fiscal year. And so that frees up quite a bit of money that we can Okay.

Do I have the support of the board?

I support it.

Yes. Is there anybody who does not feel this way?

I think you have our support.

I really deeply appreciate that.

Well, we appreciate you coming in. We appreciate everything you're doing for us.

Happy to be of service.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Richard.

Thank you. Well, I appreciate that. Let you get back here.

Is that something you got to throw by the union or that's not a problem?

Uh, the city would handle uh that the union piece.

Yes, I believe so. They would make sure that all I can't imagine it would be um a negative thing because all I mean all it is is raising union member positions that they already have in the union higher. So, I would think they would see it as a positive thing, but they would resolve that.

Okay.

Okay. Do we have anything else to bring up? I think we're good.

Okay, I'll take a motion for adjournment.

I make a motion to adjurnn. Second.

Second.

Second.

All in favor? Sorry.