Friends February 4, 2026 Meeting

February Meeting Minutes

Call to Order

Sue Collins Called meeting at 7:04 p.m.

YA Librarian’s Report

Jennifir Huston

• January Programs sponsored by The Friends:
• Crafty Teens: Beaded Succulent: Attendees: 5
• Paint like Van Gogh with Dimple Shah: Attendees: 13
• February Programs:
• Teen Maker Workshop: Winter Edition: Attendees: 6
• Feb 7th Soul Speak Alchemy Box with Klassic Kreations
• Feb 12th Crafty Teens: Button Art
• Tinker Tank: January 7 appointments
• Teen Tech began January 10th with one person attending

Children’s Librarian Report

Emma Brelsford

• Large Indian population hosting a festival for Sun moving into Capricorn
• More Sunlight. Bought blank kites with Friends funds. Two Indian
• organizations with volunteers will help with Kite fighting.
• Doing a winter reading challenge based of MA Children Book list for 4-7th
  grades.
• Cozy Reading Basket: If read 5 or more they can vote on. Amazon tablet
  given by one of book sellers, cozy blankets as gifts. 20 kids signed. Bought
  reading prizes. 100 goodie bags items purchased.
• Feb 17th Scott Martell Magic
• Feb 18th Lipen tea light holder craft .Bought craft supplies for Criquet.

Approval of February Minutes

As there were no questions or changes, Betsy Lorusso requested a motion to accept the January 7th minutes.

Treasurer’s Report

Katherine Howard

• Executive Board to meet with Bartholomew in June.
• Keep targets low on revenue on the low side.
• Expenses Amazon new subscription with free shipping $9.99 for 1 yr.
• Explanation of all the subscriptions. Pg. 3.
• New line items Budgeted $6900
• Programing expenses
• Katherine Make motion to accept the 2026 budget Bernadette, Margi 2nd
• Budget Motion passed.
• Treasurers Report January
• Will Transfer $2200.00 Feb 6th
• Operation expenses
• W-9 is completed for town
• Filed new address with P.O. Box
• Constant Contact renewed
• Income Jan $2500 total. $2291.19 was membership Donations $31.00
• Expenses $5280.10 Programming $40000.000, and Items in $1280.00 on pg.2.
• Working with library for a new logo and will anticipate more expense for
  new printing.
• Libby said that it would be super helpful to have The Friends budget
  approved in November before the end of the year.

Katherine requests motion to accept January Treasurer’s Report. Mo made
Motion, Bernadette 2nd, Motion Passed.

Director’s Report

Libby O’Neill

Thank you to the Friends for sponsoring three programs in January

• Paint Night with Sandy – Attendees: 18
• Madhubani Natural Dyes with Water Lily Designs – Attendees 15
• The art workshops have been very popular!
• Puzzle competition was success. 8 teams had the same 500 piece puzzle
  and had 2hrs to finish. Friends sponsored the prize which was a coupon for
  a free book at any of the Boyden Book Shops! 4 coupons were distributed,
  one for each member of the winning team.
• Upcoming Friends Sponsored Programs:
• Alchemy Box Program on 2/7
• Pop Up Art School – mixed media art workshop: Snowy House Luminaria
• Thank you also to The Friends for sponsoring the 2026 Community Reads
  promotional materials. Magnets coming soon and will be handed out at the
  Circulation des to people reading The Art Thief.
  

Trustee Report

Jen Ooi

• The Legislative breakfast on 2/27 at Swansea Library will be attended by
• Paul Feeney, Kevin Penders and Paul Ivanovskis.
• The Trustees are excited about the Community Reads in March.
• New logo is underway, it will be brought to The Friends’ April Meeting.
• The Library budget has been approved by Paige, Town Manager.
• AD COMM meeting with Libby on March 11th.
• A new line item of $5000.00 for programing was added and will need to be
  voted on at Town Meeting on May 11th.
• Looking at vendors for new website. The website will be ADA compliant.
• Chosen vendor TBD and will be Voting in March for funding.
• Ad COMM meeting on March 11th.

Membership

Colleen McManus

• Nov – Dec membership: 33 new members
• A lot of new volunteers
• A list of all new members created

Newsletter

Bernadette Thie

• 400 Newsletters sent out in January
• Next Newsletter will be sent out in April

Book Shop

Margi Rossetti

• 1/28 Matt Donnelly took 12 items to sell. A recent donation contained many Vinyls which were given to Matt. Matt splits profits from his sales 50/50 with Friends. In 2025 income from Matt’s sales was $1100.00.
• Boxes of Leadership/Business books donated this week, all in great shape.
• Raffle bag is ready for next Book Sale. It contains 3 books, puzzle, Friends
  grocery bag and some smaller items.

Book Sale

Lesleyann Foster

• Book marks for the Save Dates for Book Drives are prepared, Lesleyann requests someone to edit. Ashley agrees to edit.
• Spring Book Drives: March 21th 10-12, April 11th 10-12.
• Janice has given list of volunteers to Lesleyann who shall send out on SIGNUPGENIUS.
• Working on getting the Book Drive signs made.
• Lesleyann will put out Book Drive dates on Social Media and will set out
  signs on the Book Drive weekends.
• Spring Book Sale dates: Set up on May 13th. Book Sale: May 14-16.

Old Business

By-Laws Committee: Sue Collins

• Libby super helpful to suggest Friends approve our budget before our
• November meeting to agree with the library’s budget that ends at the end of the year.
• Are the By-laws on the Boyden website?
• Katherine to chair the By-Laws Committee, Charles, Katherine, Sue, Kirsten
  Stone, and Maureen Ryan Wise will be committee members.
• Address changes have been completed to 2 Baker Street.

New Business

• Friends to donate $50 to the Southeastern Legislative Breakfast.
• Bartholomew meeting to be scheduled by Katherine with the new
  Executive Board.
• Zoo Passes to be discussed at March meeting.
  

Adjournment

Respectfully submitted by:

Betsy Lorusso
Secretary