Minutes

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Webster Free Public Library

Trustees Meeting

Thursday, June 23, 2021

          

The meeting began at 4:09 p.m.  Present were Cathryn Clark-Dawe, Director, Nancy Picthall-French, Chairperson, Marty Bender, Treasurer and Leslie Collins, Secretary.  The meeting took place in the Meeting Hall and was later moved to the Library.

The revised Secretary’s report for 5/27/2021 was reviewed and accepted.  Under Old Business, in the second paragraph, a last sentence was added:  She felt the books would be in quarantine for too long.  Under New Business, in the first paragraph, the word Audubon was replaced with Squam Lake Science Center.  Under Summaries of Duties, the seventh duty listed was expanded to include “in collaboration with the elementary school, a goal of the Library’s Ten Year Plan.” Under Summaries of Duties, the fifteenth duty listed, Cathryn asked to be deleted since the offer is no longer needed.  Cathryn has divided the cleaning services between Michael and herself.

The Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted.  The library will be receiving a check in July from the town.  The Book Group has decided to continue meeting by Zoom so there is a $14.99 fee per month, which Marty is deducting from the Computer, Copier, Equipment line in the budget. 

The Director’s report was reviewed and accepted.  Cathryn has applied for an ARPA grant.  She requested funds for a scanner and Playaway Launchpads.  The money for the grant will be dispersed on June 30.  If the grant money is not awarded to our library, Marty suggested revisiting the purchase.

 

Old Business 

          Marty will go to the bank and facilitate getting Cathryn a credit card.

            Marty shared the quote he received from NHCI Sign Shop for making the two library signs.   Each 24” x 24” sign will be $42.30 with the nonprofit discount.  Marty will contact Wendy for recommendations for sign placement and purchasing the poles for the signs.  Marty will contact Emmett to inquire about the length required for the poles.  Nancy volunteered to contact Stephanie Wheeler for recommendations on the placement of the sign near the school.

            Nancy reviewed the discussion she attended held on Wednesday, June 21 at 1 p.m. between Dana Hadley, Linda Clark and Leslie regarding the landscaping and building maintenance.  Dana is contacting Susie Roberts for recommendations.  Nancy will keep in touch with Dana.  Marty expressed two areas he would like to see improved, the area to the right of the cement steps and the area between the two ramps.  Dig Safe needs to be contacted and consulted.  If a Garden Club comes to fruition, a Beautification of the Library Committee can be pursued.

          Nancy shared the revised brochure.  The following additions and changes were made:  On the cover page, Wednesday hours were extended from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Under Museum Passes, Currier Museum, “Pass admits two adults and children ages 13-17 at half price admission.  Children age 12 or younger are free”, was substituted in for the first two lines.  An asterisk was added after Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum and NH State Parks.  On the Library Information page, third paragraph, “You may opt to renew you’re your books online if you sign up for that service.”  was changed to , “You may opt to renew your books online when you log in to your account.”  In the fifth paragraph, “in the online catalog” was added to the last sentence.  On the other side of the brochure, under the Magazine section, Oprah and Martha Steward were reported as the most popular magazines.  Under the Children section, “audio books” was added to the last line.  In the middle column, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten was changed to NH 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge.  In the third column, the first paragraph was deleted.

            Marty inquired how long the Chromebooks could be borrowed and Cathryn replied for two weeks.                           

 

New Business

          Registration for the summer Reading Program, Tails and Tales, will begin on Monday, June 28.  The program begins in July for five weeks.

Marty inquired when the free movies would be resuming.  The revised pamphlet states that movies are not shown during the months of July and August.  A target date of September was agreed on.  Marty will pick out a movie from Swank.

            Leslie gave Marty three receipts for reimbursement, the new doormat ($9.99), two bags of mulch ($8.00) and a can of teak oil for the bench ($12.99).  Leslie asked for clarification on where the Sealed Nonpublic Meeting Notes are kept.  Nancy volunteered to research it.  Cathryn suggested they be placed  in a binder separate from the binder with the regular meeting notes.  Leslie asked for permission to bring the bench home to remove the lichen before refinishing it with the teak oil.  Leslie will cut the dead wood out of the lilac and will attempt reshaping the bushes in front of the Town Hall.

The Zoom Meeting ended at 5:11 p.m.  The next meeting will be held in the Library on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 4:00.

           

Respectfully submitted,

Leslie Collins, Secretary

 

Summary of duties during July 2021:

*Marty will contact Wendy to get recommendations on where the library signs should be placed and where to purchase poles for the signs.  Marty will contact Emmett to inquire about the length required for the poles. 

*Marty will contact Dig Safe and secure a date from them to check the locations for two library signs.  Other areas that need checking include the area between the two ramps, the area to the left of the cement steps and the lawn in front of the flagpole.

*Marty will contact the bank and facilitate getting a Library credit card for Cathryn.

*Marty will pick out a movie from Swank for the September movie.

*Marty will write Leslie a check for reimbursement.

*Cathryn will consider collective, interactive ways for rewarding students for reading in collaboration with the elementary school.

*Cathryn will work on writing the history of the Library, if time allows.

*Cathryn and Nancy will invite the public to the next Trustees Meeting on the town website and the Library’s Facebook page.

*Leslie will monitor the need for Celebration Bags at the Food pantry. (Last contact was 6-24)

*Leslie will monitor the front gardens, shape the bushes and condition the bench with teak oil.

*Nancy will research where Sealed Nonpublic Meeting Notes are kept.

*Nancy will contact Stephanie Wheeler for recommendations on the placement of the library sign near the school.

*Nancy will be in contact with Dana about the landscaping and building maintenance.

*Nancy will welcome new residents to Webster and the Library with the welcome letter.