Board of Library Trustees

Meeting Minutes

Documentation

• Meeting Minutes for Approval – Feb. 3, 2026
• Professional Staff Reports
• Director’s Report
• Financial Report

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by P. Ivanovskis.

Public Comment

None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

After the Board reviewed the minutes, S. Halton made a motion to approve the April minutes as presented. P. Ivanovskis seconded.

Correspondence

None.

Friends’ Report

Katherine Howard provided a report from the Friends. The Friends spring book drive is
scheduled for March 21st and April 11th, both 10am-12pm. The spring book sale is scheduled for
May 14-16. The By-Laws Committee will be reconvening next week to discuss the by-laws
further. The Friends taxes are currently being worked on. At the last meeting, Kirstin Stone was
appointed member-at-large.

Professional Staff Reports

The nonfiction weeding project is being sped up, with Tim Golden and Suzanne Roberts
managing it. Weeded books are donated to Bay State Books, who pick up discards once a month.
Jennifir Huston and Emma Brelsford are gearing up for summer reading by seeking local prize
donations. The Children’s Department was very busy over February school vacation week and
hosted lots of programming. Children’s is also offering an incentive for patrons to attend their
Community Reads programs this month by entering the attendees in a drawing to win two passes
to the WNDR Museum Boston.

Financial Reports

L. O’Neill reported that spending is on track with 70% of the budget expended to date. Books
have been coming in quickly again, allowing that line item to be spent down. The Town finance
office had suggested decreasing the sub budget for FY26 and that line looks like it will fund the
duration of the year. The Board had some questions on the Bartholomew trust statement. L.
O’Neill will work with the Town to arrange for a Bartholomew rep to join a Board meeting and
explain the statement. The June meeting would be ideal so the presentation is to the new Board.

Director’s Report

Library Operations

None.

Programs & Services

The third year of the Seed Library has kicked off. Hosting the Tinker Tank
by appointment only has been going well. The Community Reads related adult programs filled
up within hours of registration opening, with the exception of the true crime podcast program.
The “bad art” program the Library recently hosted was well attended.

.

Personnel Updates

The sub positions were posted this evening and L. O’Neill is hoping to have
1-2 new subs hired by April.

P. Ivanovskis asked how L. O’Neill’s meeting with Rep. Michael Chaisson went. She reported
that it was a successful networking meeting. They discussed the value of libraries and the
expenses and budgeting aspects of running the library. Overall, Rep. Chaisson is very open to
supporting the library.

New Business

Director’s Annual Evaluation:

It’s time to start thinking about the Director’s annual evaluation so the current Board members
can provide input before the Board changes in May. S. Halton, as Clerk, will circulate the
evaluation form, which consists of a numerical scale rating for various aspects of the role and
allows for comments. S. Halton will average the numerical ratings and aggregate the feedback. P.
Ivanovskis will then send the evaluation to L. O’Neill with the opportunity to discuss the
evaluation and goals for the next year. All individual Board evaluations should be submitted by
April 3, 2026. Due to scheduling conflicts, the April Board meeting was rescheduled to April 7,
2026 at 7pm.

Old Business

2026 Community Reads Update:

J. Parlapiano has the menu worked out for the 2026 Community Reads, and will be using the
mezzanine kitchen. Check-in at the door will begin at 5:45pm. A. Clement will assist with checkin and J. Ooi and S. Halton will help with food. The author talk is filling quickly, with 49 of 80
spots already registered. The field trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is Thursday with
12 patrons and L. O’Neill traveling to the Museum in the Community Center van. The Museum
graciously donated all 13 tickets for the field trip. This month’s art exhibit in the Community
Room has empty frames like there are in the Museum and book.

FY27 Capital Improvement Plan Budget Update:

L. O’Neill’s request for $30,000 for a teen programming room was approved at the CIP meeting
last weekend. She hopes to have construction start in July so the room can be ready for the start
of school in the fall.

New Website Update:

L. O’Neill and Kathy Bell-Harney have attended three website demos, had four candidates total,
and made two recommendations for the Board to consider: Library Siteworks and Cyberoptik.
The Board looked at some of the websites each company has done for other libraries and, with
consideration to visual appeal, ADA compliance, and mobile friendliness, decided on Library
Siteworks. K. Penders made a motion to approve moving forward with Library Siteworks with
funding up to $20,000 from State Aid. S. Halton seconded and the motion passed 6-0-0.

L. O’Neill shared an info graphic for the AdCom meeting tomorrow as she’s had trouble with
presentations working in the past. It includes 2025 statistics and pictures from programming to
paint a picture of the invaluable work the Library does.

Adjournment

Respectfully submitted,

Sara Halton
Clerk