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Home My WebLink About2024-05-13 Board of Library Trustees Packet Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be dis cussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 1 2018-07-16 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Library Trustees Date: 2024-05-13 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: Community Room Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Agenda: Purpose: General Business Meeting Called By: Patrick Egan, Chair Notices and agendas are to be posted 48 hours in advance of the meetings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Legal Holidays. Please keep in mind the Town Clerk’s hours of operation and make necessary arrangements to be sure your posting is made in an adequate amount of time. A listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting must be on the agenda. All Meeting Postings must be submitted in typed format; handwritten notices will not be accepted. Topics of Discussion: This meeting will be held in-person in the Conference Room at the Reading Public Library and remotely on Zoom. It will also be available streamed live through RCTV Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86117297460 Meeting ID: 861 1729 7460 One tap mobile +13017158592,,86117297460# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,86117297460# US Dial by your location +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Meeting ID: 861 1729 7460 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keny6p5GTY The Trustees also accept public comments through email: rpltrustee@noblenet.org Town of Reading Meeting Posting with Agenda This Agenda has been prepared in advance and represents a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be dis cussed at the meeting. However the agenda does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. Page | 2 I. Call to Order II. Public Comment III. RMLD EV Charger Update IV. Pride Statement V. Ad Hoc Library Landscape Committee Update VI. State of the Collection Report VII. REVIEW: Local History Room Policy VIII. VOTE: Celebration Trust Committee Appointee IX. Financial Report X. Director's Report XI. Approval of April 8, 2024, Meeting Minutes XII. Future Agenda Items a. June i. Summer Programming Update ii. Community DEI Assessment Update iii. VOTE: Local History Room Policy iv. VOTE: Election of Officers v. VOTE: FY25 Trustee Meeting Dates vi. VOTE: CY25 Holiday Schedule b. Other Statement Solidarity and Support for Our Pride Community Board of Library Trustees Our public library serves all in our community, fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and belonging. Our Library is proud to provide a welcoming, safe, supportive and celebratory space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, both as patrons and as part of our staff. We recognize the diversity of this community and strive to meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of our LGBTQ+ patrons. Adopted: May 13, 2024 History Room Use Policy HISTORY ROOM USE AND ACCESS POLICY Purpose The Reading Public Library’s History Room is available to all researchers. This policy is to ensures the preservation and longevity of the materials and applies equally to all persons. This room is open by appointment to all researchers and is not available to the public as a meeting space. Scope This policy covers the space and all materials housed in the Library’s History Room. This non-circulating e collection includes Town Annual Reports, RMHS Yearbooks, Resident Lists, historical vital records, public documents, and other items deemed to be historically significant, or pertinent to the Town of Reading and its residents. Due to the delicate and fragile nature of many of the materials in the History Room, the History Room will remain locked at all times. Researchers may make appointments to access the space and open-shelf collections. Library employees will retrieveItems from in secure storage upon require a special request and are retrieved by a library employee.. Library employees are responsible for monitoring the light, humidity, and temperature requirements of the room. Access to some items may not be available if an item is deemed too delicate for physical handling and view. RPL will Every effort will be made to provide access to a digital copy if available. Patrons who engage in behavior that could cause damage to materials may be denied access. Conditions for Accessing Materials All users of the History Room users must present a NOBLE library card or valid state or federal photo ID sign in at the Research and Readers Advisory Desk prior to use and need to provide proof of identification with a valid state or federal photo ID, or a valid library card from the NOBLE library system. Patrons may make advance or same -day appointments to access materials in the History Room. Appointments may be made online, by calling the library, or done in-person. The librarian will sign in the user and provide them with a copy of this policy before retrieving materials or granting access to the Local History Room. Please note:All materials in the History Room must be handled with care. History Room Use Policy 1. All materials in the History Room must be handled with careItems in this collection do not circulate. 2. Paper and pencils, a small purse or wallet, and mobile devices, such as a phone or laptop computer are permitted in the History Room. 3.2. Pens are not permitted. 4. The library can provide pencils and paper upon request. 5.3. Materials may not be leaned on, written on, folded, traced, or handled in any way likely to damage them. 6.4. Food, drink, and chewing gum are prohibited. 7.5. Patrons may not adjust shades, furniture, or environmental controls 8. Briefcases, backpacks, and other bags are not permitted. 9. Wifi is available 10.6. Items from secure storage must be requested a minimum of 45 minutes before the library closes. Noise Level The History Room is a quiet workspace. Cell phone conversations are not permitted. Photography Use of a flash is prohibited. Non-flash photography is allowed, so long as the item will not sustain damage in the process of handling, arranging, and photographing (See also: Copyright). Reproduction and Photocopying Patrons may request photocopies, digital images, and other reproductions of materials (See also: Copyright). Library staff will fulfill Rrequests are considered on a case-by- case basis and library staff will determine whether an depending on the item condition.is too delicate to photocopy.. Patrons can complete a Reproduction of Material form; and all related fees are due at the time of the request. A growing number of items from our collection have been digitized and digital surrogates can be freely accessed via the library’s website (www.readingpl.org) on the Local History and Genealogy page. Copyright It is the responsibility of the All userspatron to must understand, and comply and obtain all permissions in compliance with with relevant copyright law. The patron shall Users may request and obtain permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, sell, or display Reading Public Library materials owned by the Reading Public Library by filling out the Permission to Use Materials form. The patron shallUsers must obtain other History Room Use Policy appropriate permission from the copyright owner if the Reading Public Library does not own the copyright. Confidentiality of Research Information about patron’s research in the History Room, including their topics and the materials used, is kept strictly confidential. Adopted: August 9, 2021 Amended: February 14, 2022 Amended: June 10, 2024 History Room Use Policy HISTORY ROOM USE AND ACCESS POLICY Purpose The Reading Public Library’s History Room is available to all researchers. This policy ensures the preservation and longevity of the materials and applies equally to all persons. This room is open by appointment to all researchers and is not available to the public as a meeting space. Scope This policy covers the space and all materials housed in the Library’s History Room. This non-circulating collection includes Town Annual Reports, RMHS Yearbooks, Resident Lists, historical vital records, public documents, and other items deemed to be historically significant, or pertinent to the Town of Reading and its residents. Due to the delicate and fragile nature of many of the materials, the History Room will remain locked at all times. Researchers may make appointments to access the space and open-shelf collections. Library employees will retrieve from secure storage upon request. Access to some items may not be available if an item is deemed too delicate for physical handling and view. RPL will provide access to a digital copy if available. Patrons who engage in behavior that could cause damage to materials may be denied access. Conditions for Accessing Materials All History Room users must present a NOBLE library card or valid state or federal photo ID at the Research and Readers Advisory Desk The librarian will sign in the user and provide them with a copy of this policy before retrieving materials or granting access to the Local History Room. Please note: 1. All materials in the History Room must be handled with care. 2. Pens are not permitted. 3. Materials may not be leaned on, written on, folded, traced, or handled in any way likely to damage them. 4. Food, drink, and chewing gum are prohibited. 5. Patrons may not adjust shades, furniture, or environmental controls History Room Use Policy 6. Items from secure storage must be requested a minimum of 45 minutes before the library closes. Noise Level The History Room is a quiet workspace. Photography Use of a flash is prohibited. Non-flash photography is allowed, so long as the item will not sustain damage in the process of handling, arranging, and photographing (See also: Copyright). Reproduction and Photocopying Patrons may request photocopies, digital images, and other reproductions of materials. Library staff will fulfill requests on a case-by-case basis depending on the item condition. Patrons can complete a Reproduction of Material form; and all related fees are due at the time of the request. Copyright All users must understand, and obtain all permissions in compliance with copyright law. Users may request permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, sell, or display materials owned by the Reading Public Library by filling out the Permission to Use Materials form. Adopted: August 9, 2021 Amended: February 14, 2022 Amended: June 10, 2024 As of April 30 (83%) Trustee Budget Summary SUMMARY Orginal $$ Rev/Adj Expended Encumbered Balance % Used Municipal Salaries 1,698,150$ ‐$ 1,325,312$ ‐$ 372,838$ 78% Municipal Expenses 133,200$ ‐$ 117,280$ 2,875$ 13,046$ 90% Municipal Materials 273,675$ ‐$ 220,248$ ‐$ 53,427$ 80% Fines & Fees 12,791$ 7,854$ 2,929$ 3,530$ 14,186$ N/A State Aid 88,662$ 59,007$ 58,213$ 9,250$ 80,206$ N/A Gifts 329,119$ 4,006$ 45,699$ 116,374$ 171,052$ N/A Trusts (Expendable Funds) 99,103$ 7,172$ ‐$ ‐$ 106,275$ N/A TOTALS 2,634,700$ 78,039$ 1,769,680$ 132,029$ 811,030$ Municipal Appropriation Orginal $$ Rev/Adj Expended Encumbered Balance % Used Salaries ‐ Library Administration $446,950 355,077$ ‐$ 91,873$ 79.44% Salaries ‐ Leave Buyback* $0 3,385$ ‐$ (3,385)$ Salaries ‐ Collection Services $536,300 429,865$ ‐$ 106,435$ 80.15% Salaries ‐ Public Services $714,900 536,985$ ‐$ 177,915$ 75.11% Expenses ‐ General Library Maint Contract Supp $22,000 22,673$ ‐$ (673)$ 103.06% Professional Development $14,000 16,353$ ‐$ (2,353)$ 116.81% Library Programs $4,000 2,398$ ‐$ 1,602$ 59.94% Software/ Licenses $69,200 60,762$ 2,875$ 5,564$ 91.96% Library Supplies $8,500 7,087$ ‐$ 1,413$ 83.37% Office Supplies $4,500 2,150$ ‐$ 2,350$ 47.78% Technology $11,000 5,858$ ‐$ 5,142$ 53.25% Materials $273,675 220,248$ ‐$ 53,427$ 80.48% Books 85,783$ ‐$ Audio 4,795$ ‐$ Video 2,559$ ‐$ Periodicals 25,804$ ‐$ Electronic Resources 36,787$ ‐$ Databases 16,150$ ‐$ Other Materials 8,720$ ‐$ Overdrive (eBooks / eAudiobooks) 39,651$ ‐$ TOTALS 2,105,025$ ‐$ 1,753,417$ 2,875$ 439,311$ 83.43% Fines and Fees Orginal $$Rev/Adj Expended Encumbered Balance Revenue 12,791$ 7,854 ‐$ ‐$ 20,645$ Materials ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ Supplies 2,929$ 3,530$ (6,459)$ TOTALS 12,791$ 7,854$ 2,929$ 3,530$ 14,186$ State Aid Orginal $$Rev/Adj Expended Encumbered Balance Revenue $88,662 58,497$ ‐$ ‐$ $147,159 Expenses Office Supplies $158 $158 ‐$ ‐$ Professional Development ‐$ ‐$ Materials 1,074$ ‐$ ($1,074) Library Other $41,866 9,250$ ($51,116) Library Equipment $352 $15,115 ($14,763) TOTALS $88,662 $59,007 $58,213 $9,250 $80,206 Page 1 As of April 30 (83%) Trustee Budget Summary Gifts & Donations Orginal $$ Adj/Income Expended Encumbered Balance Revenue $44,770 3,047$ ‐$ 15,218$ 32,599$ Professional Development ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ Recreational ‐$ ‐$ 1,373$ ‐$ (1,373)$ Programs & Services Adults $29,522 ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ 29,522$ Programs & Services Teens $24,265 ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ 24,265$ Programs & Services OESJ $2,050 ‐$ 450$ ‐$ 1,600$ Programs & Services Childrens $88,755 500$ 14,470$ 48,156$ 26,629$ Programs & Services‐ Local History $500 ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ 500$ Studio $30,298 ‐$ ‐$ ‐$ 30,298$ RPL Foundation $74,356 ‐$ 20,706$ 53,000$ 650$ Other Gifts (Combined) $7,759 ‐$ 8,700$ ‐$ (941)$ Materials $26,844 459$ ‐$ ‐$ 27,303$ TOTALS 329,119$ 4,006$ 45,699$ 116,374$ 171,052$ Trusts Orginal $$ Adj/Income Expended Encumbered Balance Appleton / Mansfield 5,599$ 806$ ‐$ ‐$ 6,405$ Edward Appleton 40,145$ 2,191$ ‐$ ‐$ 42,337$ R/M Babcock 2,477$ 295$ ‐$ ‐$ 2,772$ Stephen Foster 7,526$ 948$ ‐$ ‐$ 8,474$ Charles Torrey 1,019$ 98$ ‐$ ‐$ 1,117$ Donald Tuttle 909$ 68$ ‐$ ‐$ 977$ Elaine & George Long 35,244$ 1,953$ ‐$ ‐$ 37,197$ Barbara Hewitt 4,943$ 674$ ‐$ ‐$ 5,617$ James Rawstron 1,240$ 139$ ‐$ ‐$ 1,379$ TOTALS 99,103$ 7,172$ 106,275$ Name Non‐Expend Purpose 11,000$ 5,000$ 3,598$ 12,000$ 1,000$ 500$ 5,000$ 8,952$ 1,613$ TOTALS 48,663$ Elaine & George Long "Books or Equipment" Barbara Hewitt "Books" James Rawstron "Books on tape& furniture to house books on tape" (AUDIOBOOKS) Stephen Foster "Books … to be inscribed 'Stephen Foster Fund'" (BOOKS) Charles Torrey "Books on non‐fictional subjects" (NONFICTION BOOKS) Donald Tuttle "Books" R/M Babcock "Books on literary subjects and self‐government" (BOOKS) Appleton / Mansfield "…for the purchase of books other than those listed as fiction" (NONFICTION BOOKS) Edward Appleton "Purchase of books, paintings, engravings, works of art or other suitable useful furnishings for said library. Page 2 1 | P a g e May 13, 2024 Board of Library Trustees Meeting . IX. FINANCIAL REPORT a) FY25 Budget Town Meeting approved the FY25 budget on Monday, April 29. There were no questions or discussions regarding the Library budget of $2,181,150 (L91 and L92), a 3.6% increase over FY24. Below is the “FY25 Spending Scorecard” included with the Annual Budget Process. The RPL makes up 1.5% of the total budget ($141,338,332) and 6% of the municipal budget (excludes Schools, Shared Costs, and Enterprise Funds) budget ($3 5,387,889). 2 | P a g e b) April Gifts: DONOR AMOUNT PURPOSE Various Cash Donations $64 General Total $64.00 X. DIRECTOR’S REPORT a) April Snapshot * - The exterior pickup lockers are awaiting repairs Usage April 2024 March 2024 April 2023 Circulation 27,842 30,498 27,637 Locker Use N/A N/A* 49 Meeting Rooms Rentals 24 21 16 Museum Passes 206 168 182 New Library Cards 112 134 77 Overdrive 5,131 5,250 4,102 Programs 81 94 58 Reference Questions 2,224 1,915 1,819 Visitors 15,416 15,798 12,905 Volunteer Hours 14.5 10 22.5 b) Services, Programs, and Collections i) COMING UP Animal Extravaganza (Saturday, May 11 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) RPL is celebrating humans and their furry, feathered, and four-legged friends! There will be live animal demonstrations, crafts, a special Story Walk, and a pet food donation drive. ii) Random Acts of Art had its first public installation with fish sticks, rainbow wraps, and bird watchers installed on Main Street by CVS. The art pieces were made by kids during the April school break. iii) Genealogy Tidbits: A patron found a number of artifacts from a historic trash pile along his stone wall. He attributed an arrowhead to the Merrimack tribe and was also interested in learning who lived on the property before him. Original owners of the house were from Canada and moved in around the early 1900s. Local History Rocks! iv) Intergenerational Paint Night was a success with an interesting mix of attendees. Pop Up Art School is a wonderful organization. Universal feedback was to have more events like this! v) Expanded Community Connections: RPL has successfully worked with Peter Sanborn Place to facilitate a new book group at their premises. Additionally, we have established a new deposit collection at Solstice House located at 59 Middlesex Ave and are in the process of tailoring a meditation series for the residents there. 3 | P a g e c) Horizons i) Library Speakers Consortium series starts June 3: New virtual programming through this service kicks off with “For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet” with Smithsonian Curator Matt Shindell. Stay tuned for more amazing speakers! ii) Juneteenth Freedom Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 15 iii) Summer Sizzlers is back on Friday, June 21: We are finalizing staff presenters and their reading recommendations for this popular annual event. iv) The RPL Book Club will be back next September as an all-nonfiction group. Spread the word! v) Trustee Dates: • June 10, 2024: General Business meeting • July 8, 2024: General Business meeting d) Personnel April Anniversaries • Elizabeth Weilbacher (1 year) • Cate Zannino (7 years) e) Professional Development Congrats to Andrea F. who will attend an ALA Law for Librarians intensive course in Chicago. The aim is for trainees to return to their home state able to consult on issues surrounding the First Amendment, CIPA, social media and the internet, privacy & confidentiality. Congrats to Elizabeth W. who applied for and was chosen for an MLS grant to take the FY25 ALA's course on Libraries and Aging 101: Educate, Engage and Empower Mature Adults. • An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Services for Libraries • Boston Women Claim the Vote: Uncovering Stories from the 1920 Women's Voter Registration • DEI Demystified • Dementia Friends Training • Fostering Growth - The Power of Youth + Community • How to Train Your Community on Libby • Leadership Strategies for Building Connection and Diffusing Difficult Situations • FOIA Basics with the Lucy Parsons Lab • MLS Crisis Prevention Institute Verbal Intervention Training • Spring Graphic Novels for Patrons of All Ages - Part One • Strengthen Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Practice Through Self-Paced Learning • Whole Person Librarianship: Fostering Empathy in Challenging Times Respectfully submitted, Amy Lannon, Director (she/her) May 9, 2024 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Page | 1 2016-09-22 LAG Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Library Trustees Date: 2024-04-08 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Public Library Location: Community Room Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue Session: Open Session Purpose: General Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Patrick Egan, Chair (remote); Monette Verrier, Vice-Chair; Andrew Grimes, Secretary; Cherrie Dubois; Andrew Gregory; Cappy Popp, Members - Not Present: Others Present: Amy Lannon, Director; Michelle Filleul, Assistant Director; Meaghan Clemente, Administrative Assistant; Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Andrew Grimes, Secretary Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order 7:01 pm. II. Public Comment No public comments were made in person or remotely. III. Review of Saturday, March 23, Incident Although Mr. Egan has already issued two public statements regarding the March 23rd bomb threat hoax incident, he again thanked the entire Library team for their leadership, professionalism, dedication, heart, courage, and training when handling the stressful events of the day. Mr. Egan recognized Ms. Filleul for going above and beyond in communicating with the authorities and Town Staff and carefully clearing the building with the bomb squad. Mr. Egan commended the staff for safely reopening the building at 1:00 pm and for the commitment and care of other staff who showed up on their day off, Sunday, and the days following the incident. Mr. Egan also praised the hard work of Director of Equity and Social Justice Albert Pless in planning the Rainbow Rally Storytime on the Town Common on April 2, 2024. The event was a direct community response to the March 23 incident, showing a clear universal message of belonging and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Despite somewhat rainy weather, there was a strong positive turnout. Page | 2 Ms. Dubois shared a thank you note from the staff with the Board. Ms. Verrier echoed Mr. Egan’s statement, expressing amazement at the Library staff’s professional response and gratitude for the support of public safety officers. Ms. Lannon noted that the incident remains under investigation. IV. VOTE: Internet Use Policy Ms. Lannon reviewed minor edits to the Internet Use Policy, as discussed in detail at the March meeting. Ms. Lannon clarified that Library property includes the parking lot and areas where Library Wi-Fi is accessible. Motion: To approve the changes to the Internet Use Policy as written. (Popp / Gregory) Vote: Approved 6-0 V. VOTE: Safe Child Policy Ms. Lannon noted that after the Board's discussion in March, she had further reviewed the Safe Child Policy with Public Services Division Head Andrea Fiorillo and Senior Children's Librarian Olivia McElwain. The "safe child" phrase has been eliminated from the title, as the Library does not guarantee safety. The renamed "Rights and Responsibilities Regarding Minors" policy is a better parallel to other policies, such as the “Patron Rights and Responsibilities” behavioral policy. Ms. Lannon noted that policy language has been revised to reflect age rather than grade level consistently. Mr. Popp and Ms. Dubois note some minor corrections. The Board discussed eliminating "Rights" from the policy title, as responsibilities are the primary focus. The Board also agreed that a sentence in the Purpose section regarding the restriction and revocation of Library privileges should be moved to the very end of the policy. The Board discussed issues with minors waiting for rides after the Library closed. The Board also suggested clarifying language that the Children's restroom is for the exclusive use of "those using the space," which is defined in the Appropriate Use of Youth Spaces section. Mr. Grimes suggested additional edits for stylistic consistency. Motion: To approve the title change and amendments to the Responsibilities Regarding Minors Policy, formerly known as the Safe Child Policy. (Dubois / Popp) Vote: Approved 6-0 VI. Financial Report Ms. Lannon recommends encumbering supplemental spending funding in FY24 for two major upcoming projects to be completed in FY25. This will help secure lower proposed pricing and reduced wait times. After unsatisfactory discussions with CivicPlus, the Library is looking for a new vendor to assist with updating the Library website. Ms. Filleul has suggested Communico, which specializes in libraries, which she learned about at the recent Computers in Libraries conference in Arlington, Virginia. The website design would be more basic and limited compared to the Library’s current WordPress platform and easier to manage. Communico can also host the website and provide compatible integrated mobile Page | 3 application software. Communico’s Attend and Reserve software allows for program registrations and meeting room reservations, similar to the current LibCal system. Bundling the website, mobile app, and scheduling software would not result in significant cost savings but would allow for ease of management and usage. Mr. Popp asked which Communico features are being considered. Ms. Filleul said the Library is only reviewing the previously mentioned modules. She noted two other modules for future consideration and additional costs. The Library is interested in the new Library of Things module showcased at the Public Library Association conference and a broadcast digital signage module option similar to the current BrightSign. Communico products are compatible with various library software such as Evergreen and Libby. Ms. Filleul estimated the transition would take three to six months, with a new website launching in the fall of 2024. The initial design costs $5,000 with ongoing site hosting, support, app integration and maintenance, and related software for $10,000 per year for three years. Ms. Lannon clarified that the domain name would remain the same and that Communico would provide more direct hosting support than the Library’s current vendor, Bluehost, which assumes a certain amount of technical knowledge for plugin management and other issues. Ms. Filleul mentioned that the Wilmington Public Library and other communities use Communico. Mr. Popp and Ms. Verrier suggested obtaining references and feedback from libraries that use specific Communico modules and have transitioned from WordPress websites to establish expectations for the project. Ms. Lannon and Ms. Filleul have been working closely with the Information Technology (I.T.) Department to obtain quotes for hybrid technology upgrades to the Community Room and Conference Room from three vendors. The Library has selected AVI-SPL. The current hybrid meeting setup for internal meetings is complicated and requires assistance from the I.T. Department. Outside organizations are increasingly requesting simple options for independently hosting hybrid meetings. The new system would be a plug-and-play solution that accommodates Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings set up and conducted from a central tablet panel affixed to the wall. Cameras would be permanently mounted to the wall, and speakers and microphones would be integrated into the ceiling. Ms. Filleul noted that usable equipment from the Community Room will be repurposed in the Conference Room. AVI-SPL installed meeting room technology during the Library's renovation project almost nine years ago, before video conferencing technology was fully developed or widely used. The I.T. Department is familiar with AVI-SPL and has worked with them on other projects at Town Hall, the police station, and the Pleasant Street Center. The proposed modular equipment can be easily updated and replaced in the future. The I.T. Department feels most comfortable with this vendor and quote. AVI-SPL is on the state bid list and will satisfy the project's prevailing wage requirements. Page | 4 Ms. Verrier asked about the disposition of the existing equipment. Ms. Filleul explained that some Community Room equipment will be reused in the Conference Room, while any obsolete or broken items will be thrown away. Ms. Lannon reviewed gifts received in March. Mr. Popp inquired about the status of the exterior pickup lockers. Ms. Lannon noted that the lockers have been out of service since November due to repair difficulties and supply shortages in updating the hardware and software. Library staff have created a detailed timeline documenting technical problems and repairs. A credit on the annual maintenance bill is expected. The lockers are currently awaiting a replacement screen. The Library is investigating custom-manufactured options to reduce the glare on the screen while maintaining accessibility for users of different heights. VII. Director’s Report An exhibit on loan from the National Library of Medicine is on display in the Studio. It explores the history of physiognomy and its influence on contemporary artificial intelligence and computer science technologies. Local History Librarian Jocelyn Gould has reached out to the 10 Million Names Project with 15 pages of names and historical information regarding enslaved people in the United States. Library staff are actively working with Solstice House at 59 Middlesex Ave regarding a wish list of programs, materials, and resources and have generated some great suggestions that will benefit the community. A successful Gun Safety discussion focusing on laws and safety generated a positive response and will be held again, perhaps even in collaboration with the schools. A new “Kids Can: Dollars and $sense series” has been added in response to several requests for Children’s financial literacy programming. Ms. Lannon recognized Library Technician Lisa Eng's 20 years of dedicated service to the Library, which has included valuable assistance with Chinese translations for collection and with the Reading Public Health Department. Former Substitute Library Associate Lucy Lee has taken on the part-time Library Associate position in Borrower Services as of April 1. Lucy is working on their Master's of Library Science degree and a Master's of Children's Literature from Simmons University. Informational Dementia Friends training sessions for Library staff have begun, with the goal of having 100% participation from service desk staff. Planning for a 2024 Staff Development Day tentatively scheduled for an October Friday is underway. Ms. Lannon summarized various other professional development opportunities that Library staff have recently participated in. VIII. Approval of March 11, 2024, Meeting Minutes Ms. Lannon noted that the presentation slides from Public Services Division Head Andrea Fiorillo’s spring programming update and Director of Equity and Social Justice Albert Pless’ DEI Assessment Update will also be included in the minutes. Motion: To approve the minutes from the March 11, 2024, Board of Library Trustees meeting as written. Page | 5 (Popp / Dubois) Vote: Approved 6-0 IX. Future Agenda Items The Board will discuss reorganization and elect officers in June. X. Executive Session Motion: To enter executive session at 8:01 pm in accordance with G.L. c. 30A, § 21 for the purpose of discussing the deployment of security personnel or devices, or strategies with respect thereto and not to return to regular session. (Egan / Popp) Vote: Approved 6-0 Adjournment 8:43 pm Motion: To Adjourn at 8:43 pm (Grimes / Popp) Vote: Approved 6-0 Respectfully Submitted, Andrew Grimes, Secretary