HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-12 Board of Library Trustees Minutes6R♦a�
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Library Trustees
Date: 2025-11-12
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: General Meeting
Time: 7:00 PM
TOECEIVELJ
CLERK
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2025 DEC - 9 AM 8 0
Location: Community Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Cappy Popp, Chair; Patrick Egan, Vice -Chair; Andrew Gregory; Andrew
Grimes, Secretary; Kell Bacon; Monette Verner
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Michelle Filleul, Assistant Director; Meaghan Clemente, Administrative
Assistant;
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Andrew Grimes, Secretary
Topics of Discussion:
I. Call to Order 7:00 p.m.
It. Public Comment
A member of the Community Preservation Act Study Committee approached Ms. Bacon
regarding the possibility of presenting to the Board for approximately 15 minutes at a
future meeting. The Committee is presenting to various boards around Town. Ms. Bacon
will follow up regarding availability for the Board's December or January meeting.
Ill. RMHS DECA Scholarship Program Charitable Collection Request
A Reading Memorial High School student is interested in hosting a table or stand at the
Library to raise money for the school's Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
scholarship program.
Ms. Clemente followed up several times to request more information about the program
and the collection, such as proposed dates, times, and locations within the Library, but
unfortunately never received a response. The Reading Education Foundation currently
has a Festival of Trees display in the Library lobby until Friday, December 5. A Toys for
Tots collection box is also currently located in the Library lobby until Friday, December
12. Due to limited space available in the Library lobby and the lack of additional
information, the Board doesn't need to vote on this collection request at this time. The
student mentioned connecting with other local businesses and community locations, so
they have hopefully secured an alternative collection site.
IV. Discussion and Vote: Updates to the Policy on Distribution, Posting, and
Collection of Materials
Motion: To approve the Policy on Distribution, Posting, and Collection of Materials as
presented.
(Egan /Grimes)
Vote: Approved 6-0
V. Review: Updates to the Gift Policy
The Board determined that a reference to the "Friends' is clear regarding the Friends of
the Reading Public Library section of the policy. Ms. Filleul clarified that the Library's
museum passes are now completely funded by the municipal budget and no longer
supported by the Friends. The Library is grateful for the Friends' support of Library
programs and services. The Board will formally vote on the Gift Policy updates in
December.
VI. Financial Report
The FY26 budget is on track. Ms. Lannon will present the draft Level 1 FY27 budget at
the December 8 Select Board meeting. The FY27 budget, including any changes or
recommendations discussed, will be presented to the Select Board on December 9.
Former Library staff member Mary Ellen Downey made a memorial donation in memory
of several patrons.
Ms. Clemente clarified that Software and Licenses expenditures include the high cost of
the Library's annual North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) membership, which
allows for automated library network services and resource sharing. The NOBLE
membership represents a considerable portion of the municipal Software and Licenses
budget and is typically renewed in August at the beginning of the fiscal year. Annual
renewals such as this occur regularly at certain points throughout the fiscal year. The
timing of some regular annual renewals may cause budget usage percentages to appear
higher, especially at the beginning of the fiscal year. Total fiscal -year expenditures
should come close to the budgeted amounts by July.
VII. Dlrectoes Report
Construction on the outdoor Library Terrace space began on Monday, November 12,
and will continue for approximately one month. The Library is grateful for the generous
support of the Reading Public Library Foundation and has already received positive
feedback from patrons. Ms. Filleul clarified that the Library Terrace project has not been
formally named, despite a typo on the project schedule.
The Library offers over 18 free and discounted passes to local and regional cultural
attractions. Although usage decreased during the COVID-19 lockdowns, it has steadily
risen over the past several years. The Battleship Cove museum pass was discontinued
due to low usage. RPL has added passes for Boston By Foot, Concord Museum,
Institute of Contemporary Art. Paddle Boston, and Plimoth Patuxet Museums.
RPL can now track interlibrary loans sent and received on a map, with more than 10
states represented so far.
Over 200 people attended the Connected Reading: A Resource Fair for Our Community
on Tuesday, October 28. The Office of Equity and the RPL hosted the Reading Mid -
Autumn Moon Festival in the Community Room on Saturday, October 25. Community
members of all ages enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment and cultural immersion
thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Library, Office of Equity and Social Justice,
rage 1 2
Reading Public Schools, Reading -North Reading Chamber of Commerce, and Must Eats
Travel. Public Health Nurse Liv Bartolomei administered 62 vaccines at flu clinics hosted
in the Library Health Nook. Librarians scheduled five one-on-one technology help
appointments in October. Creative staff incorporated a book fair event into recent sixth -
grade tours.
Head of Public Services Andrea Fiorillo has accepted the position of Branch Manager for
the O'Neill Branch of the Cambridge Public Library. A celebration of her 13-plus years of
service will be held next Wednesday, November 19, in the Library Community Room.
Ms. Fiorillo's last day will be Saturday, November 22. Substitute Librarian Ashley
Cristiano has been hired as a full-time Reference and Adult Services Librarian as of
Monday, November 10. Ms. Cristiano has experience with community outreach on the
book bike and providing coverage for all service desks.
Three staff members recently attended the 2025 New England Library Association
(NELA) Annual Conference in Newport, Rhode Island. Children's Librarian Megan White
presented on Jane Goodall's Roots, Shoots, and Leaves curriculum, including three
years of data on the kids' inspiring projects and photos from the Citizen Kids program.
Ms. Fiorillo presented sessions on "Intellectual Freedom throughout New England" and
"Free Speech, the Rights of Minors, and Law Enforcement in Public Libraries."
An October all -staff meeting focused on customer service skills. Ms. Fiorillo presented a
Law for Librarians update to all staff in November. Ms. Filleul highlighted various other
professional development opportunities that staff have recently engaged in.
Ms. Filleul clarified that data regarding OverDnve digital material lending from other
library networks is not yet available, so October circulation is actually slightly higher than
reported.
Vill. Approval of October 14, 2026, Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the minutes of the October 14, 2025, Trustee Meeting as written.
(Egan /Gregory)
Vote: Approved 5-0-1 with Ms. Vernier abstaining
IX. Future Agenda Items
Ms. Bacon will follow up with members of the Community Preservation Act Study
Committee on a presentation to the Board in December or January.
The Board will vote on the amended Gift Policy and review the Level 1 Draft FY27
budget at their December 8 meeting. Ms. Lannon will then present the budget to the
Select Board on December 9. The Board will also receive an update on the Library's
winter programming and a final report on the Rooted in Reading grant.
In January, Ms. Filleul will update the Board on community outreach and engagement,
and Ms. Lannon will do a mid -year check -in on the supplemental spending budget.
Adjournment 7:21 p.m.
Motion: To Adjourn (Grimes / Gregory)
Vote: Approved 6-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrew Grimes, Secretary
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