Board of Library Trustees

Meeting Minutes

Documentation

• Meeting Minutes for Approval – May 13, 2025
• Professional Staff Reports
• Director’s Report
• Financial Report
• Friends Report

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 P.M. by P. Ivanovskis.

Public Comment

None.

Donation from the Foxboro Jaycees

Correspondence

L. O’Neill reported that Emma Brelsford was awarded the Paul Harris Award from the Foxboro
Rotary Club for significant commitment to service to the community.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Motion made by K. Penders to accept the May meeting minutes with an amendment to state
“dues” instead of “fees” in the Friends section. A. Clement seconded, and the motion passed 4-0-
2, with J. Ooi and S. Halton abstaining due to their absence from the May meeting.

P. Ivanovskis nominated A. Clement to serve as Vice Chair. S. Halton seconded the nomination.

A. Clement nominated S. Halton to serve as Clerk. P. Ivanovskis seconded the nomination.

Friends’ Report

S. Collins reported that Founder’s Day was very successful, receiving donations of $173 and
selling $83 in books. The spring book sale raised a total of $5512. Tickets for Southwick Zoo are
selling well. The Board will meet with Bartholomew next week to discuss their investments.
Janice Rosado has volunteered as the Friends volunteer coordinator. The Teddy Bear Picnic is
scheduled for July 12, with the Friends selling books.

Professional Staff Reports

The staff is preparing to open the Tinker Tank. It has been advertised in the newsletter and on social media, and a website has been created.

Jennifir Huston let a Together with Pride program, with 28 attendees (90 signed up; recording is available).

Summer Reading Program updates:

-Children’s is using Beanstalk for kids to track the number of books or minutes read, and the first
100 kids to sign up will get a goodie bag. For every hour they read, they will get tickets to enter
into a drawing for prizes. For every 3 hours read, they can get a charm for their charm bracelet
they receive when they sign up. L. O’Neill read a list of programs which are planned for the
summer. 100 laminated Snowflake the Fox were made to share pictures of travel with kids for the summer.

-Teen: Last year Jennifir had 40 students; her goal is to have 50 students sign up. She plans to do
a Level Up Escape Room program and set up a summer reading section in the teen room. Prizes
are sponsored by Friends and other local organizations, and there are also several book prizes.

-Adult: Adults will have a bingo sheet for summer reading. Programs include Paint a Pint,
mosaic tea light holders, soap making workshop, and a Lizzie Borden talk. All programs are
sponsored by Friends, as well as gift cards for 5 winners.

Financial Reports

There are about $10,000 in funds available; $6500 is already accounted for with book/AV
invoices and orders. Sunday hours will be over budget by approximately $4500. A concern for
next year is the costs of Sunday hours will be increasing with the new union contract due to staff
being paid vs. comp time, so this overage could be more. There was a discussion of potential
future funding of bookmobile and of asking the Town for updated reports on where additional
funds are kept (Rockland, Bartholomew).

Director’s Report

Programs & Services

L. O’Neill emailed the chief of police to make them aware in case a
police presence is needed due to spam registrations for tomorrow’s 7pm author talk on queer
history. Half of the registrations have been spam registrations.

Personnel Updates

Reviews are almost completed. L. O’Neill has joined the board for SEMLA –
Southeastern Massachusetts Library Advocacy with a yearlong commitment.

New Business

2026 Community Reads author options:

L. O’Neill has reached out to Authors Unbound and
received a list of potential authors. L. O’Neill will start to think of potential program that could
be adapted and will present final options in September.

Professional Development Allocations:

This coming year will have several big conferences for
staff to attend. L. O’Neill would like to put a cap on spending for professional development to
allow for more staff members to attend. $2500 is in operating budget, which includes
membership fees, conferences, travel, and online trainings. The remainder comes out of state aid.
L. O’Neill proposed a cap for professional librarian staff of $850 per year; non-transferrable. This
total would include conferences, travel, online courses; all membership fees would be covered
and not part of a cap. Non-professional staff development would be on a case-by-case basis. K.
Penders proposed language for a new policy regarding attendance at conferences: “ability to
subsidize attendance and promote professional development is contingent on availability of
funding subject to the discretion of the Director.”

Old Business

The Tinker Tank kickoff/ribbon cutting is being held on June 17th at 6pm.
The Director’s review evaluation and comments have been sent to L. O’Neill. K. Penders and L.
O’Neill will meet in the upcoming weeks to discuss.

Adjournment

Respectfully submitted,

Sara Halton
Clerk