6.10.2026 Board of Library Trustees

Sharon Clint here.

Fran Racklin here.

Mr. Gibney here.

Tim Long here.

Eddie Heont who is absent today. Melissa Panchi is absent today and Paul Collin.

Felicia Maris library administrator and Kayla King assistant director. We are both here.

Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or they may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such a recording that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether they are perceived or unpersceived by those present and they are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

Okay, we're ready to go. The minutes everybody get a copy of the minutes.

Yes.

Okay, there revised copy of the minutes too.

Okay, I will take a motion then.

I I think we had voted last meeting to accept with the changes.

We Yes.

So I Yes. I'm talking about these minutes.

Yes.

Okay.

The new minutes.

Okay. The from the May meeting?

Yes.

Okay. Everybody read them?

Yes.

Okay. No corrections or omissions.

I'll take a motion to accept them as I second.

All in favor?

Any opposed? Let's move on. The statistics Kayla.

All right. Our May 2020 stat uh 2026 stats are looking great. Our circulation stats are looking pretty much as usual.

So, the number of adult print materials that circulated last month was the highest that it's been since I've been in this role in tracking our staff. The question circulation has been fielding has increased over the last couple of months. Of course, the warmer weather is bringing more people into the uh into the library. And I think another reason they're getting more questions is that

reference is closed. So, while the staff are still because of what I didn't hear reference being closed, um so the staff are um still available, but I think people don't have that designated floor to go to. Um and so the circulation desk ends up being more like a go-to spot, kind of catching a lot more questions than usual.

I've been looking forward to mentioning a couple of new stats in our digital resources on the next page. Um, so we introduced Palace, which is a new digital platform and aggregator for audio books and ebooks and launched that back in March. Um, so we're going to encourage the staff to promote the new resource when we have our staff meeting on Friday. So hopefully the staff look a little healthier as more people learn

about it and become comfortable using it. Um, we also have another new stat and digital resources with advantage archives which houses some of our digitized newspapers along with maps and directories. We realized that we didn't have a way to track usage of this resource. So I worked with our company representative to set up Google Analytics. Um, and we're pleased to discover that people are in fact using it.

Um, we unfortunately have seen a dip in the usage of our reference computers.

While we tried to provide a solution of laptops being made available in the fellow room during reference constructions, many are choosing to forgo the computers altogether rather than using the laptops. Also, I think from covering an um reference earlier today, I noticed part of that stat might be because they have to manually sign in and maybe not every single person's doing that, whereas before it was

tracked automatically when they signed in with their It's not a tremendous step. No, no, it's just, you know, it's a dip. Um, some reference services are unavailable like the scanner and microfilms. Other services like faxing and passports remain well utilized. The headphone stat is way down because the staff are deacto providing headphones with the laptops.

So, that stat is now only tracking people borrowing them for use outside of the computer area.

Um, on the next page, uh, over the last couple of months, we've added a good amount of non non-print materials as patrons can't seem to get enough of our expanding library of things, and DVDs and video games remain popular as well.

The library continues to gain many new members each month, which is exciting to see. The meeting room, Nagel room, and study rooms also continue to be constantly in use. Emily had a nice, well-rounded May with a mixture of visib, farmers market, schools, and senior centers. that status. Uh, and then moving on to the next page. Um, with the program stats, you'll notice a lot of outreach done by our main branch

staff as well. Um, as Mr. Melo was able to provide many school visits during this month. Um, we also of course have many exciting programs here at the library which were attended by hundreds of residents. Again, as always, it's a lot to digest. So, if you have any questions, let me know.

But it's excellent. It's amazing how much work you've done on this. Thank you.

It's always It's kind of fun to go through and see. I always like certain things I'm like, "Wow, we signed up that many people like month over month." It just You must have a very organized mind.

I I think so. I think that's one of my strong, you know, we were just talking about how many creative people we have here. Like I'm not great at like the artistic kind of stuff. I can't, you know, paint or draw to save my life. But um my brain works in a different way. So I can state what we need.

I have a question to ask you with AI.

Don't you find that there are less questions and terms for reference?

Um people are using that rather than I don't know if that's part of the you haven't seen a change at all.

I know I know in the reference but I don't know if that's so much the space or AI. I mean, well, I'll be interested to see when reference goes back to their normal location if the if the questions that they're getting had goes back to normal.

Um, I mean, it certainly could be, although AI is wrong a lot. I've had it.

You know, when you Google things and the first thing that pops up is AI, often times it's incorrect information. So, to everything too.

Yeah, you have to be cautious. I hope people aren't using that, but I'm sure they are.

It's still a good thing, too. if you put the right information in that that you aren't in the right background.

They switch the search engine to AI so everything you type in I say that the library and the reference department has a more accurate response than AI does.

Yeah. They know where to I wonder if they use it at all in in answering their questions.

Oh, I hope they're not. I hope they're I I hope they're double-checking their sources if if people are reaching out to us for for answers that are I'm sure they will accurate. Yeah, I mean we don't have to say where they're getting it from.

Yeah, I I hope they're double checking.

I I I'm going to assume that they are. I don't think they using AI for that.

Okay, we're ready to move on. If anybody has any questions for Kayla, I'm sure she is open for you to call her at any time. There's a lot to digest here and after you digest it, you might have some questions.

Okay. The report of the library administrator.

Okay. So, let's see. So, starting off May, I just wanted to update you. After I was asked to follow up the last board meeting regarding our meeting room policy, public access to the group meetings, I did send out that email uh to the trustees. So the attachments are included in the meeting materials today just in case anyone did not get to take a look at those. Um and so it did

confirm that the meetings booked in the library inclusive of the nonprofit partners are open and accessible to the public. So I just wanted to provide an update since I was that was well done research. Thank you.

You're welcome um at this meeting. Can I just ask a question? Like I know that the uh the policy that you know years ago when the meeting room was made available to the public um we didn't look at the um the friends or the foundation being an outside group per se because when they were established it was established with the director at the time. So they they always follow the policy of the library because the

director is always at those meetings. So it's always um you know there's always um a transparency with the the library and we don't have to worry about them not following the policy because they were created and or established with the director. So I always look at it that it was the outside groups using the meeting room and that they would have to follow the policies and and their friends did

you know just like in your you know your policy that says sponsor um no they follow the policy that they don't have you don't hold them to it like to say that they have to have the open um meeting um open meeting laws because they're nonprofit so they don't they don't have to have a an open meeting as a nonprofit organization.

They don't have to have they don't follow us.

So, um our our library staff when they offer programming and when they have items really limited. The only thing that's limited is staff trainings. Um we treat all of our programs open to the public. So, we do honestly I think that it keeps it pretty fair and equitable to keep all the groups the same. And of course, you know, there's nothing happening in those closed door meetings where it really is required to be

private. Um, and so we just again we try to keep everyone to the same standards, the same policies. Um, and I think that that what I had sent out was more guidelines also from the Mass Board of Library Commissioners. Uh, that that kind of stuff. So that kind of dictates how these rooms are used. Um, and if we're going to use the rooms for public space, which of course they are because

it's a public library, then that's what dictates that. So that's why I said the three separate um references.

No, I I just said the reason why those policies were put in place was because of the outside. I mean if the friends want to open their meetings to the public, that's fine. But if they don't they don't have to when they were first established. That's why the policy wasn't put in place.

But this says they have to.

Yeah. is if they well it it talks it says about sponsoring those who if you are co-sponsor that you don't have to you don't have to meet all the conditions of the policy and it may not be required to I think that would be like yeah and I think that that's kind of pertaining to some of those other things that there's not higher guidelines that oversee so so if you know like the

Massachusetts library standards have a guideline on that that's not one of those where I would make an exception cuz that doesn't feel like my place to overview those standards, those library standards.

I think you've covered it.

Okay, keep going.

Um, so on May 28th, I did sit before council for deliberations on our proposed budget. Uh, so just a note on the budget. If you view the proposed numbers, it does appear a little different than last year since the library is no longer listing approximately 500,000 of retirement contributions within our library operating expense lines.

Excuse me. Why is that?

So, I will explain that. I did attach though um a couple pages. So, I attached the policy which is folded up so you can kind of skip ahead if you wish. Um and there should be the budget in there for you to refer to.

if everyone sees that. Sorry, I'll give you a second here.

Yeah, I see.

Okay, so I've highlighted where the retirement is. So, this isn't really changing anything in our actual library budgeting. So, our actual operational funding for the library has actually increased by $32,641 since last year. So, those are our operating expenses. So, that's the the number that we actually use for our operational expenses. So buying books, like doing uh different services in the

library and these retirement contributions were listed on our budget historically. And what that was doing, it was actually amplifying our state requirement numbers. And so when I was doing my reporting, there was questions about, you know, uh this amount of money and whether this was paid from the library fund specifically, as in I'm paying this as an operational expense, and it isn't. um that's more a city

expense for the employees that are on board. So those funds are moved. They're just not in my budget. They're not showing up in my budget. And so it makes our requirements instead of $2 million, it makes it more in line with what you see here, which is what we're actually spending. So they really want to see what our operational expenses are. They don't want to see what the city has to

pay for our employees. that they consider a city, you know, a city um expense. So, it's just a matter of representation. So, those funds are still in the city budget. They're just moved to the department that actually, you know, uses those funds to pay out those benefits. Whereas, I think when it looks when you look at our budget and you see those funds additional, it it really appears that that's what it takes

to operate our services, those kinds of things. So in this way they're able to actually pull out our services. Um so what this is all based on and why this change matters is there's um m it's a municipal appropriation requirement that's set by the state. And so the state tells us that we have to spend a certain amount of money. And so when I submit that if we're meant to meet $2 million that $500,000

cannot be listed on that number. It has been historically. And so the state has adjusted that number for us to actually show what our expenses are. So it both makes it a more reasonable way for us to keep up with our expenses because we are less at risk to be descertified because what the alternative would have been is the city coming up with $500,000 this year to actually add that to operational

expenses in the library where that was not last year. case. I know that sounds a little bit complicated. Um but so and also that $500,000 when we were having discussions with this um discussions about this with the state, the state had kind of suggested this would be a very hard requirement for the city to meet like this unexpected because this was due to past historic reporting. uh it wasn't really

something that the chief financial officer currently or I were able to kind of this was something that was not expected let me just say um this year so so instead of adding $500,000 to our operational expenses whereas we don't actually need that in our operational expenses where I could say we probably could use it is our salaries um say like the staff salaries even the negoti negotiations those kinds of

things in this budget that I've prepared. That's not really possible for me to have absorbed any of that $500,000 and just kind of give our staff a pay raise because that's all based on union increases, those kinds of things. So, it really wouldn't have made sense to try to hold the city to try to amplify our operational expenses by 500,000. Um, and so they've readjusted our M in order

to keep us certified and also so that we don't have half a million dollars that we need to come up with this year that I know that was a long-winded response, but that was that was a complicated topic.

I understand it.

So, you know, the retirement contributions, they should have they should put that in in a different area in the budget, the city budget instead of putting it in the library budget. So that's that's what she's done now. So that is moving forward. That's what she'll do every year.

Even though it was there you were it wasn't coming out.

Right.

When you say she who you Emily Ar. So she's the the chief financial officer. So um so I had to work with her on this just to make sure that we were able to stay certified.

Isn't wouldn't the salaries and wages of the employees also be the serious?

So that's what it takes operationally though to fund like our staff on site.

It's just it's a little bit different with a retirement because there's a retirement fund for these things. It's it's just a different department that would pay out those expenses, that kind of thing.

Good question.

Yeah. Um they're responsible for like the actual hourly pay and they're responsible for the contributions. I mean you're a city employee, not a library employee. You work for the library which is a city employee. So yeah, but each each uh department gets their own budget. So the library would get the budget for the people that are working here every department but not the retirement. So it all ties

into the benefits of the city employee.

Yeah. The retirement but you know to pay that out from the budget you lose a lot of your money from the library which is good. That's why they don't it shouldn't be in there.

So it's never been happening but it's always been this.

Yeah.

So yeah. So the expenses are needed just not in the way that it appeared in in this year's reporting. So there's just no sense in continuing to list it on there like that. It also gives you all a better idea of what we're spending um you know like the bills that we are actually kind of responsible for and paying. So I think that it looks a little bit different.

My only other question is on the natural gas line.

Oh that was mine.

Why is the 2026 projection like 15,000 short?

So there was a discrepancy of that one.

Um the chief financial officer had explained that was kind of due to overpayments in the past that kind of caught up. Uh but that has been adjusted and so that doesn't look that way anymore. It's because of where she did the actual the time of the year that she did the actual capture of this information. It it captured it before that was kind of uh corrupted. And so that's actually a mistake. I believe off

the top of my head I do think it's around 25,000.

Are you saying that 2027? Because that was my question why there was such a discrepancy.

Oh, the Yes. So the 2026 projected do you mean the projected towards the proposed?

Correct.

So the projected is awful low. That was actually a question I had gotten at council and so that was due to that discrepancy. So when I checked we're actually around 25,000 at the moment.

Um so we're we're close to in line with with where we actually Yeah, it was just based on an adjustment of something needing to move lines.

That's okay. Move on.

Um, all right. So, no, no more questions of the budget. Just that's all I have.

Okay.

I got a question for you. If you don't use some of it, can it go into something else?

So, so we have used Yeah, we pretty much have to use everything by the end of the fiscal year mostly because we have that state aid requirement. So, when you say can it go into something else, what do you mean by that?

No. In other words, if electricity is a little bit less for this year, can you use it for buying more books?

Yes, you can.

Yes. And in fact, I would probably have to because we do need to meet that spending requirement. So, yeah. So, if you don't spend it, they'll probably lower the budget. I'm thinking Yeah. And actually, with the state requirements, it increases every year.

Uh, so they use the average of the last few years. Um, and then they add 2%. So, we're always expected to to increase a little bit.

Good. Okay. I do have one more question.

The dues and memberships. What What are you talking about? Are you talking about the friends dues or what?

No. No. So that's actually that's for staff dues and memberships. So that is um Mass Massachusetts uh library association.

So they pay they pay a fee to belong.

Yes. So we pay an institutional fee and then the section heads will get a membership with that. Um, and so that whole expense, the 1,500 is to pay for our institutional membership. And with that, we would get discounted rates to the the conference and things like that, trainings, those kinds of things. You're welcome.

Um, okay. So, I think I think we're ready to move on. So, in circulation, just talking a little bit about accomplishments. Uh, in circulation, Kyle has been working hard to train her employees in cataloging with many new items to be processed. I don't know if any of you play instruments, but we have this new omni chord. It's very, very interesting. Even if you've never played an instrument before, I would give it a

try because it's very, very interesting.

Uh, it's very easy to use. Um, but so she's revised our printable calendar and our promotional formatting to better highlight museum passes, digital services, and other adult services.

We've had an incredible amount of displays and passive programming offered by this department last month, including Kyle's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month display. Joanna curated a mental health awareness display. She created custom Pride 2026 library buttons to support our Pride Month programming.

Olivia maintained our gardening display to support seasonal engagement in our new releases. And reference librarian Dundo contributed a sports card collection display to the lobby piece.

Kyla also collaborated with Follower's Department of Health and Human Services to promote and collect donations for a regional community baby shower initiative. This was really cool. This included Swansea, Somerset, and Secon. I think that's a really interesting thing that we've done. Uh I think it's really great for new mothers. Uh so, and also Richard is now expanding to offer a new

Magic the Gathering summer draft event to boost long-term interest in his club and Jeff process many new and donated DVDs to our collection. uh in the reference department. They've been taken out of their area, but they're still working very hard. So, Connor and David have been working on boxing and shipping newspapers for microfilming as a preservation initiative, which we've had

a lot of interest in. Betsy is working on obituary indexes and lip guides. And all reference staff have taken a universal class webinar to be more familiar with a resource that we offer.

And Diana has continued to offer her writers group and sci-fi book club as well. this month. Uh in children's Mr.

Melo of course has been doing a great number of outreaches and in-house class visits like Kayla had mentioned and Madison Soy of the children's room has worked diligently on the children's summer reading booklet which was incredibly welldesigned and detailed.

They are not out to print yet but I do urge everyone to grab one as soon as they go out to print. We're waiting on one final detail and we have a very packed summer and we're so excited about our upcoming programs including an upcoming circus tomorrow. So, if anyone wants to come, that'll be really cool.

It's inside and I'll play next week. I'm gonna plug that too if I may. We have these people do all these things in house or on their own time.

So, that's an interesting question. So, they should be doing it in house. Um, we tell them and remind them all inhouse.

So, the programming is all happening here. I do feel that some people are doing are taking some liberties and maybe doing some work at home for these things. that's how much they care about the programming. Uh we have a lot of designers, a lot of illustrators working on a lot of the promotional material, which is incredible. Um I feel like we have a whole graphic design firm here at

the library. So I think that's honestly a gift uh to us because it's it's a talent all in itself. Um so a lot of people are doing they're doing more than I think just just here, but they're only they're only asked to do it here. And I often have to remind them, you know, slow down. Remember to take breaks. Um, we need time for rest, you know, for like creativity and and we don't expect

you to be engaged all of the time. So, are they recognized?

I hope so. Well, I think that this is part of it. I think that sharing some of the some of the stuff that they're doing with the board is, you know, like a So, when we see them, we should all give them a tap on the shoulder.

Exactly.

And when you say Richard, what Richard are you talking about?

Um, so this is Richard Sarath. He's in the circulation department.

Okay.

Yeah, many of these staff are new. Um I mean new and staff who have been here long term. They're all doing amazing things. So I hope I can keep them all here.

So So yeah, we want to um I definitely want to encourage what they're doing cuz cuz it's really great.

I saw the monster book drop that David for the Joe designed. Um Oh no, Joe did the graphic for I saw the booklet, too. Yeah, he did all the drafts for the booklet.

Yeah. And then um Madison and Melo together made the actual drop off.

Does anybody have any questions for Felicia?

Okay. I don't think we have to have a motion to accept that. Okay. Unfinished business. The building.

The building. So, the building I don't have any huge updates about the building. Mostly because they're still working. Um I mean they've put the flashing back on. I don't know if you've seen it back there, but almost all of the bricks are back up, which is good cuz we're in this phase where we're starting to put everything together. Um, so they're doing humidity testing for the inside of

the reference room just to make sure everything's sealed up properly. Um, everything's tight, no leaks, all that kind of stuff. So, we like that they're double-checking everything. Um, and then they're going to start to do that interior work. So, although the outside is, you know, wrapping up or it's starting to look a little bit more wrapped up, we're not all the way through yet. We're still doing the in

the inside work. And so, uh, they're going to be starting that hopefully very soon.

Did they give you an idea when they would finish the inside?

So, I believe that this was set out to maybe the end of August, but I do I'm trying to give a little bit of leeway because they've been doing this first part so fast and then there's always the case where sometimes you start to open things up and then the flashing. I'm not sure if having to add the flashing might have pushed back the schedule. Um, I do have a

It definitely did. Yeah, I do have a construction meeting coming up soon. I think tomorrow. Um, and so I should get an update on that, but I've never seen them I've never seen people work so quickly. And when I say I thought there was 20 people up there, there's about six. Um, I didn't realize there's only six people at a time, and they've pulled it apart and put it back together in an

incredible amount of time. And I'm I'm pretty happy with how it's going.

And it was an interesting article in the paper I brought it. I'm sure most of you saw it.

Yes.

Um about the That was a nice article.

Very nice.

Oh, was it front page, too?

Yes, it was front page.

Great version. We thought online, but Well, my friend gave it to me and if you open it Yeah.

It was a very nice article.

Yeah, it was a good article.

I have one concern.

Yes.

The air conditioning. the air conditioner because they're going to do all these repairs and make the inside so nice, but if the air conditioner starts to leak with condensation, we're going to be back to square one.

I know. I know. I have mentioned it. I'm consistently mentioning it at every construction meeting. Now, this isn't the construction team that's responsible for this, but I am mentioning it to city operations. Uh I have it on his radar.

So, my understanding from what the air conditioning techs have told us is that it's because of the condensation in the walls, it's not insulated. So, the tough part about that is when I asked the text, "What can we do about this?" They say, "Well, usually you have to rip open the walls." So, that's a complicated thing. Um, the creative solution that I kind of got as maybe this could work is

uh I a program called Mass Safe. Um, and apparently they can kind of snake a device up into the wall and then expand insulation in the wall. Now, again, I'm not, this isn't my background, so I don't know that that would be a perfect solution, but I I've offered that to Al as an idea, as maybe a suggestion of a route that we could go cuz we don't, we of course don't want to rip open the

walls. Um, but I think that might have complications too that I probably can't speak to. So, but I'm reminding about it.

Okay. Okay. Is there any other role business and we're ready to move on to new business?

Okay. The poly.

So, the polo foundation, you know, I'd love to see a copy of, you know, from time to time the statement of poly foundation.

I can bring that to our next meeting if you'd like.

That won't be till September.

Is that okay or Yeah. Okay. Statement of and that would probably reflect um anything that occurs with views changes.

So, so um the two the two requests that we have today is for Kyla Cabraw and for Diana Faulner, the same individuals that have been going for their masters in library science, just two courses they're taking in the summer. So, uh first we have Kyla Cabraw. She is our section head in adult services and she is looking to take article arrangement and description and her tuition cost is 2,300.

Where is she going to go?

She is going Give me one second.

She's online.

Too much information in my head. LSU.

LSU.

She's in Rouge. LSU online.

Yeah. So, this is an online program.

That's how she's done all hers.

They're all online now. I did my program at Urri and it was still online. So, did you ever have to go down there for graduation?

Probably.

Now, do we pay half? Is that how it goes?

15%. Yes.

I make a motion we accept this these two requests.

Could I just ask one quick? So, so her 2317 we pay half of that.

Yes. So, it would actually be 1,158.50.

Okay. And should we vote on each one separately?

Okay. Let's take a vote on Kyla.

I make a motion that we accept Kyla's request for reimbursement.

I have a second.

Second.

All in favor?

Any opposed?

And the fully that's what it was set up for. So she's she's come before.

Where is she going to go?

Diana. So Diana's already she's been attending. Um so she's taking collection development and give me one second. I remember. Yes. University of Alabama.

Can you explain what's collection development?

So collection development library.

Yeah. So uh collection development is like our material collections. So when you're ordering books, those kinds of things for your department.

I move uh accept this request.

So let me make sure I'm reading this correctly.

700.

Yes. So hers will be $720 of a reimbursement because her full tuition is the $1,440.

Okay. I'll take a motion.

I make a motion that we accept this.

Second.

Second.

All in favor?

I.

Any oppose?

Good. Can I just have a question about the the Foley uh fund? Is that the I mean, is that only being used just for the education?

Yes.

I don't I didn't think I thought it was you could do other things with it, too.

We've just used it for education.

So, currently right now, um we have the policy for educational assistance set up. I don't believe I didn't see any restrictions when I when I'm looking through the paperwork on that fund, but this is all I've ever seen it used for.

So, I haven't ever used it for other things.

You could use it for other things because Alma Foley when she donated, she wanted it to be for the library. I mean, to use for the education that's fine, but it was for the library as well for different things that the library would need. And the reason why they're using it for that was because there was no state aid and the state aid was used to pay for uh the uh tuition reimbursements

and because the state aid was been stopped or at the time that we had to pay back to the city, we no longer have that money. So that's why you couldn't pay money in the position.

Well, I don't think we've gotten any requests to use the money and denied it.

I mean, I think that it'll be open to whatever. It just seems to be that it's for education, right? Yeah, I think that it wasn't it wasn't just me because that's what I'm telling you that Alma Fi she left it for the library.

No, no, I'm saying the trend right now is that people are requesting for education, but I don't think that we've been presented with a request.

It was both of the sisters, wasn't it?

Cuz Bernardet was my first grade teacher.

She was your teacher?

She was.

She's my son's teacher, too. Well, all three of my kids.

Yes. My first grade teacher.

Both of them.

Well, I knew she'd like the library. She wanted the when she told I mean I got to meet her I you know helped with her quite a bit that her donation was to be for the library. I don't know how how happy she would have been with this opinion of people.

No I know so I mean I know there's no stipulation but you know in indirectly affects the library.

I think it directly affects the library.

I was at council and I know that they were asking some questions about, you know, the city and what they have for educational um support and different things to help people get their education. And I honestly waiting for my turn to go up. I felt really lucky to think that we have um the ability to fund that and I think it also retains individuals. I myself used that fund.

Um, and so there's there's a relationship that I think comes with that where you feel supported by your employer and then also, you know, you want to give back.

Is there I wish he had paid for half of mine. I went for my is a wonderful thing.

Is it also uh do you have any stipulation on after they finish their degree how long they will stay with us at the library or do they just know? Is there any?

There's no stipulation.

Well, there should be there should be a stipulation. You're paying for their education for them to work here. So, they should be Well, we talked about this before and they they used to have it years ago. There was a stipulation that, you know, you still had had to work at least a year or two.

I think this is another issue.

Well, I mean, I just wanted to um answer that question. So, as a condition of accepting and receiving educational assistance, the employee agrees to remain in the employee of the library for no less than a period of time equal to the semester during which aid was received or to reimburse the library on the same basis. So if they terminate employment prior to completion of that um they wave any entitlement to the

educational assistance. So there is a there's actually a policy for the education but a semester what's that two month 3 months well it depends on the school I guess a semester could be 3 months it could be four months I think it depends how long they're actually going. Um, but I don't know that I I don't know that this has ever come up where someone has used the fund and then left, which I'm hoping that's a

good thing because maybe that means that the morale is high.

But Kayla seems to love it here.

Yeah. Kyla. But Kayla, too. Did you use I did. Yeah. So, I mean, and Leanne used quite a bit of it in the past.

And then she retired. How dare she?

Yeah. But I I think it's a good thing.

40 years ago.

Okay, we're ready to move on.

Yeah.

Okay.

The Lego.

Oh, the Legos. Okay. So, the Lego library event donor auction. Um, so we're going to be having an event. Uh, I'll let Ron, do you want to take the Okay.

the reading on it.

When I spoke to David, he was thinking of having Lego month there for the month of September. All my Legos will come out of the basement. Thank goodness. in here and then at the end of the month we're going to auction them off and the funds rather than go to the friends or rather than go to the foundation to the foundation they will go to the library in general.

So what so just to their funds to use whatever for the library to use as they see fit.

It's less complicated and uh I think so they can be used for uh salaries or anything like that.

So I would say library we I don't believe we can I don't know the exact answer on that but I do not feel like it would be able to be used on salaries that I don't want you to quote me on that but I don't think that would ever be possible. I think if the funds were donated to the library firstly you could um you could say how you would like them to be used.

If you would like them to go to the children's room, if you would like them to go um to something specific, a specific department or to the library in general, um it could be designated if that was your wish. Um I would rather that you designated it as you see fit in how you see the library could most use this money.

I don't know the proper answer to the salary question, but I would never think that that would I don't think that any donations they're not they wouldn't go to the salary. No, no. If there isn't a restriction against that, we'll put a restriction on that. Even you you say you don't want to use the friends or the foundation, but that's that's the easy way to do it, you know, where the money goes to the let's say

the friends or the foundation, except there's a problem with that.

No, cuz then the money could be used for what? There's a problem of money being auctioned off here and then going to another organization and there's a legal problem with it, isn't there?

There there is I know that we've talked about this before and you had said that you had reached out to the inspector general. So I I did reach out to the inspector general and they told me that because of local ordinance I'd have to go by what my procurement officer is saying and that's kind of circles back around to the same concern that we have.

It's an idea had okayed it but it's just new people that come on and they have to go through the whole thing again you know of if you're talking about the books but this is something different. It's not ours.

So if it was So it's upcoming.

Oh god. No.

So they have the money. Could it be just designated like to the children's department or Yes.

What? In that way David could have more programs or materials.

But are you leaving it open for them to decide what to I don't care. Whatever they would just use this money for.

This is what I would go along with.

whatever you can tell me and then I'll tell the friends in the foundation could run the auction for you and then no one can say anything about it.

Yeah. But it's done here in the library.

That's the difference.

So I think if we did if we did the exhibition of the Legos and there was donations collected, there's two things that could happen. The Legos could be donated to the library and then there could be an auction of that. But I think what would probably be even more simple is if the auction happened and then the funds were then donated. That's to the library and then you can explicitly say for this intention. Um I

mean even when when individuals make their individual donations, they write on the check what department they want it to go to and we do track that within our donations. And so Mr. Melo would have the ability to to kind of decide what he'd want to do with that as the head of that department. Um I know he's talked about some ideas since he he was thinking about this. He had mentioned um

a vendor that he's talking to about these books called Wonder Books. And so they're audio books that you can charge at home. They read the they read the books to the kids. So that was one of his ideas. He also was looking to install the software that he found. So, it's a computer for children's. It's a children's learning computer. So, versus a regular Microsoft computer. It's a very specific uh computer that has

learning modules on it. So, he was kind of interested in that. And then he's also doing something he had wanted me to mention to you. I forgot the exact name.

I hope I don't mess it up, but it's a Halloween haunted journey through the library in Halloween.

He wants to do it even bigger this year.

Hold on. The kids loved it. I will say that that was the Danners that run ran that the last year.

So, one last year.

Yes.

I think they volunteered.

Do we do we need to take a vote on this?

So, that would be perfect to have David the funds go to David for the program more for the materials that he wants.

But could the library do an auction?

Why not?

Because the the library doesn't sell things.

Yeah, but now we are.

So, I don't think you could do that without going to to city council. So I think you have to going to have to go through the city council to do auction to sell something. That's why it's easy to go into the foundation.

I believe if it's from what I understand, I believe if the items were donated to us and then I auctioned them, then that would be me holding the auction and I believe that would have to go in front of council. But I believe if the auction is just being held and then the funds generated by that auction are donated to the library, I would just accept it at council with all the rest

of my donations that I normally have to.

Whatever makes it easiest, do it.

Okay, let's not be labor this. It's uh you can discourage donations.

Yeah, by by by belaboring this.

Whatever you see fit is fine with me.

Okay.

I don't think we even need a vote on this.

Okay. Okay.

Any more discussion about that?

Any another new business?

Your board summer recess schedule you wanted to talk about?

Yes, the summer recess.

Okay. We usually do not meet in July and August.

Correct.

Which would be fine with me unless there was an emergency and then Felicia would call a meeting uh and we would all have to come.

Sometimes we could do a phone if we had a question something I could I could absolutely reach out if there was anything that comes up unexpected. We'll just be trucking through construction and putting the building back together. So, it'll be nice to to focus on that. I'll take a motion to Yes.

to uh not have a meeting in the months of July and August.

I second it.

I didn't make the motion. I need a motion. You make the motion, Fran.

I make a motion to have recess for July and August. It reconvenes.

And I second it.

Wait, wait.

She second it.

Oh, okay.

Everybody want All in favor?

Second. Recess. All those in favor?

I.

Any oppose?

I'm going to go to the pink.

Okay. Can you shut us off now?