Minutes
Webster Free Public Library
Trustees Meeting
Livestreamed and Recorded
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The meeting began at 4:06 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 next to the library. The meeting was livestreamed and is available to watch from the Town’s website.
The Secretary’s report for 8/25/2021 was reviewed and accepted once the word “service” was changed to “assess” in the last paragraph under Old Business.
The Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted. Marty has some bills that have yet to be paid (Launchpads, Findaway). A donation of $500 was received from Christopher Dawe. Leslie will send a thank you.
The Director’s report was reviewed and accepted. Cathryn would like to scan a Webster Kindergarten cookbook, and because of the copyright laws, she is spending time on due diligence to obtain permission. She reviewed the actions she has taken on her 2022 goals. Project 1 has been completed and Projects 2 and 3 are in the process of being completed. She will be reaching out to inquire what the town has for a Disaster Plan.
Old Business
The library signs have arrived along with two ten-foot poles. The poles were placed on the stage and the signs were viewed after the meeting. Marty spoke to Emmett, and Emmett said he would get them in after Marty met with Dig Safe. Nancy will contact the Case Family and speak to them about the placement of one of the signs on their property.
Nancy asked how to proceed with the Garden Club. Her second query on Facebook indicated that people were interested in Zoom meetings at this time and that evenings were preferred. She asked Cathryn if our Zoom link could be used for the meetings and Cathryn agreed that it could be. Nancy will do a third query and ask if anyone is interested in hosting the Zoom meetings since the library is only interested in supporting the meetings, not running them. Nancy asked if we should have the Garden Club on one of the two nights the library was open, Monday or Wednesday, in anticipation of when the Garden Club may be held in person. Cathryn reminded us that Monday nights in the summertime are reserved for the Reading Program. There was agreement that the night does not matter currently since the meetings will be by Zoom and can be changed once it becomes safer to meet in person.
Movie Night started on September 17, 2021 @ 7 p.m. in the Meeting Hall next to the library. The first movie of the season was Casablanca. There was a total of eight participants, five of which were from Marty’s Movie Club from Ollie. Marty showed previews of upcoming movies. October’s movie will be The Shining in honor of Halloween. November’s movie will be The Good Traitor. He will have recommendations for December’s movie at the next meeting but is leaning toward It’s a Wonderful Life if it is allowed by Swank.
Nancy shared costs of a new Sandwich Board. She suggested getting a heavy clear plastic to cover the board protecting it from the weather and sand. Everyone agreed to purchase a new board totally $142.49 which includes a new set of letters.
Budget ideas for 2022 were readdressed. When Nancy inquired, Cathryn preferred three additional flexible hours. Marty stated that the number of hours was irrelevant because Cathryn was salaried. He suggested increasing her salary for the work she does in addition to a fair COLA increase. It was decided to discuss this further at the next meeting. Marty will email us a copy of the expenditures to date for the next meeting.
Cathryn noticed three needed corrections on the new brochure. Under Library Information, second paragraph, “Masks are required at this time” should be deleted. In the fifth paragraph, the word “our webpage” needs to be deleted and replaced with “the “What’s New?” section”. The following paragraph needs to be deleted: “Do you garden? We have free seeds available to patrons and we encourage patrons to bring in leftover seeds from their gardens.” This paragraph is located in between the free movie and Nature Backpack paragraphs.
New Business
Cathryn demonstrated how to use the new Launchpads. Cathryn will be working until 4:30 on Wednesdays until further notice.
Marty received an email from Russ inquiring if there are any Capital Improvements we are interested in pursuing. Marty will let him know that we agree not to pursue any Capital Improvements at this time. Marty also needs to speak with Dana regarding the Mainstay money in the 2021 budget. Nancy volunteered to go with him.
Marty requested permission to order two new speakers for the movies, and a unanimous decision was made in favor of the purchase. The volume on the donated ones we are currently using are no longer loud enough.
Leslie has planted bulbs and has transplanted some flowers from the ramp area to the front garden. The bushes have been trimmed a second time. She has delivered four Celebration bags to the Food Pantry. She has made three more Baby Bags.
The meeting ended at 5:19 p.m. The next meeting will be held in the Meeting Hall next to the Library on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Leslie Collins, Secretary
Summary of duties during October 2021:
*Marty will contact Dig Safe and secure a date from them to assess the two locations for the library signs.
*Marty will email Dana regarding Capital Improvements.
*Marty will pick out a movie for December so previews can be shown at the November (The Good Traitor) movie.
*Marty will order two new speakers for the movies.
*Marty will email us a copy of the library’s expenditures to date for the next meeting.
*Marty (and possibly Nancy) will meet with Dana to discuss the Mainstay money in the 2021 budget.
*Cathryn will continue to do due diligence for scanning the Webster Kindergarten Cookbook.
*Cathryn will inquire what the town has for a Disaster Plan.
*Cathryn will explore the cost of a NE Aquarium pass.
*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.
*Leslie will send Christopher Dawe a thank you for his donation.
*Leslie will monitor the front gardens.
*Leslie will provide individual snacks and mini bottles of water for movie night.
*Leslie will do the sign for The Shining and put it out in front of the library on October 5.
*Nancy will make a third query on Facebook to determine who may be interested in hosting a Zoom meeting for the Garden Club.
*Nancy will contact the Case family and speak to them about the placement of the library sign.
*Nancy will order a new Sandwich Board.
*Nancy will welcome new residents to Webster and the Library with the welcome letter.