Library Board of Trustees

Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting September 7, 2021, Meeting minutes In attendance: Sarah Ward, Cindy Lint, Maria Magana, Janice Burwash, Carol Doyle, Lettie Lance, Heidi Yeoman. Approval of Minutes of August meeting: Heidi moved, Lettie seconded, motion passed. Communications: ● Jennifer Bell has been awarded the NASA @ My Library Grant. (one of just 60 in the nation) This comes with training for staff, new technology, and the ability to offer STEAM programming to populations that are historically underrepresented in STEM career fields. ● Teen summer reading kits: 17”Dystopian Fiction” kits were picked up and 18 Anime Club “Hack your ramen” kits. ● Adult grab and go kits: 72” Make Your Own Terrarium” kits were distributed. ● Financial Report: on-track. Note: operating supplies budget is nearly spent, while office supplies sector is underspent. Total for supplies in general is still on track. Unfinished Business: ● Approval of bills: Cindy moved, Heidi seconded, motion passed. ● Approval of weeds, discards: Lettie moved, Maria seconded, motion passed. New Business: ● Possible change to policy regarding library weeds and discards was discussed with the following outcome: Carol moved to accept the discontinuation of board approval of weeds and discards (to speed up the disposal process), with the addition of having two staff members (Generally the Director and Assistant Director) approve the list of weeds and discards, AND the Board will still see the and review the list monthly, without having to approve it. Cindy seconded the motion, and the motion passed. ● For our information: Sarah will present a request to the city council to allow write off of long overdue fees/fines, to be in agreement with existing library policy. No board action necessary. ● New mask mandates have been implemented as of August 23. Only two incidents of resistance. ● The meeting rooms are now available as one large area with a limit of 75 total occupancy and compliance with masking policy.. Library operating hours are now back to pre-pandemic status. Monday, Friday and Saturday: 10 - 5, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10 - 8. ● 2022 Budget process: BPL is requesting an additional children’s librarian, but this may not be approved for next year. Book budget will remain stable for 2022. The city seems to be in a stable financial position going forward for next year.  ● The Library is exploring the possibility of extending library cards to preschool-aged children who live within BESD boundaries. This is being discussed with the city attorney, perhaps engaging in an interlocal agreement with United Way. More info to come. ● Lettie shared a question about BE student library cards that was posted in the online platform, Next Door, and asked about the possibility of the library posting information to Next Door. Sarah will look into doing this. Submitted by Cindy Lint Next meeting October 5, 6:00 PM