Russell Library Board of Trustees

Russell Library Company Annual Meeting Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82603176883?pwd=dDRpQmxweXVFalhOYnZFYUxWM0xCUT09 Meeting ID: 826 0317 6883 Passcode: 453044 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcicdIRFp6 I. Call to Order - 6:03 p.m by President Eamonn Wisneski II. Public Comment - There was no public comment by those present, and there were no relevant emails III. Approval of Minutes MOTION: It was moved (Andrew Becker) and seconded (Shanay Fulton) to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2022 Russell Library Company Meeting. The motion passed unanimously. IV. Welcome/Opening Remarks A. Eamonn Wisneski, President of the Board of Trustees - President Wisneski recognized the passing of former director Arthur Meyers who passed away in May. Many in the company can trace their involvement in the library back to Art’s methods of persuasion. He had a gift for figuring out what people should do before those people even know what they wanted to do or should do. He secured important funding for the library and other organizations in town. President Wisneski thanks him for everything he did for the library. B. Director Burkey also was fortunate enough to meet with Mr. Meyers on a few occasions and appreciated his welcoming and kind manner. She is grateful for the legacy he left behind at Russell Library and in the community. Trustee Samolis and Trustee Becker reiterated Mr. Meyers’ ability to advocate and persuade on behalf of the library. He was a gentle but powerful person and a dedicated spokesman for the library.. V. 2022-2023 Annual Highlights, and Aspirations for 2023-2024 A. Ramona Burkey, Library Director - The last few months have been very busy for the library. The Middletown Strong podcast has taken off. The podcast is completely based on Middletown stories. Recently they interviewed the grand marshals of the Pride parade and a storyteller who will be performing at the Juneteenth celebration. Library Speakers Consortium is an online-only product that brings in speakers to do author talks on Zoom live. The talks are recorded as well so they can be viewed at a later time.. They have had about 3,500 views. The Friends of the Library are critical supporters of the Library Speakers Consortium. The library is busier than ever with school being out. Russell has more than doubled the number of programs for children in just the last few weeks. There is at least one program every day for children, including Saturdays and evenings. There are routinely full registrations for children’s programs, so the library has responded by increasing offerings. A few months ago, the library started a blog featuring vignettes about the library called The Library Vault. Recently, one of the blog authors went on a ride-along with the Middletown Fire Department, and the Fire Department reposted the blog, helping the story go viral. Troop 72 Boy Scouts helped clean the downstairs offices following the flooding from late 2022. The flood forced a shift in office spaces, so now all offices will be in the same hallway in the basement. The library staff participated in Pridefest in early June. The staff did an interactive exhibit about books that have been challenged. Staff members also participated in a heart-health event in relation to Juneteenth programming. The staff plans to be at the Juneteenth Liberation Day Festival at Harbor Park next week. The library will be updating the lobby thanks to some grant money. The library hosted an equity event in the lobby in order to help staff recognize what the lobby would look and feel like if they were coming from a different perspective such as age, gender, and ableism. B. Aspirations for the upcoming months/year a. Future of facilities - Talking seriously about the plan for the future of our library facilities in Middletown, including looking at the feasibility of keeping the current site. There was an article in the Middletown Press yesterday (06.12.2023) outlining where the library is in the process. b. Lobby/Restroom updates to be ADA compliant, including circulation desk and improved ventilation in restrooms. c. ARPA funds to be used for collaborative programming with recreation, arts and culture, to help bring people back together and heal the heart, mind, and soul of the community. d. Continue rollout of staff performance evaluations - staff have asked for feedback on whether the work they are doing is contributing to the vision of the organization. e. Continue strengthening organizational culture - REDI work. Project REDI curriculum - got funding through the city to continue with consultant Linda Packard. The first half was the foundational piece to learn about the roots of white privilege. The next part is called Transforming Practice. f. Secrets of Russell Library will be back in October every Friday night after closing. The Eastern CT Paranormal Society came in and did an overnight analysis of the library and will be sharing a report of what they found that will be included in this year’s tours.  VI. Committee Updates A. Executive Committee: E. Wisneski - The committee notes that the library is in need of significant investments going forward, as seen with two major floods and unexpected costs associated with them. The Board of Trustees had a retreat to discuss related matters early in the year. B. Facilities Committee: E. Wisneski reported on behalf of S. Nelson - The committee is looking at what the next 150 years at the Russell Library might look like. Strategic Plan, Facilities Assessment, Vision Committee have all noted a need for a significant investment in our facilities. The committee is working in tandem with the Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Committee which is determining needs for both Russell Library and City Hall and what new and enhanced buildings may be able to provide to the residents of Middletown to be sure we are resilient and improved for the next 150 years. C. Finance Committee: A. Becker - The primary functions of the committee were to work with Ramona and her staff on the city and company budgets. The budgets were successfully prepared and approved by the board. The committee keeps an eye on the endowment and works with a money management fund out of Essex in order to adjust investments to minimize any drops in value. The committee is keeping a mind on facilities issues and how they may be funded. D. Governance Committee: C. Sanders - The committee is focused on library policies to govern interactions with administration, staff, and the public. The committee works collaboratively with the staff and administration to create and/or revise policies as needed. The policies then go to vote with the Board of Trustees. E. Strategic Planning Committee: S. Schulenburg - The Strategic Planning committee has been brainstorming ideas for remarks to engage with different constituencies and have developed a list of different stakeholders to help with talking points about how the library does and could continue to solve community problems. As we engage with the community and prepare to support the vision of a new facility, we are stressing that upgraded or new library facilities will “keep a good thing going.” The Russell Library Company will be an important support in this work. VII. Unfinished Business: None VIII. New Business A. MOTION: It was moved (Andy Becker) and seconded (Wendy Berlind) to accept the Executive Committee’s recommendation to elect Ann Percival, James Belin, and Cindy Harrison as members of the Russell Library Company. The motion passed unanimously. B. MOTION: It was moved (Andy Becker) and seconded (Joe Samolis) to accept the Executive Committee’s recommendation to elect two Company-appointed nominees to the Board of Trustees for the term of June 1, 2023 - May 31, 2026. The nominees are Ann Pervical and Cindy Harrison. Discussion - President Wisneski recognized Ann Percival. Ms. Percival shared that she became a resident of Middletown a year ago and signed up for her first library card at last year’s Pride parade. She felt drawn to be involved  with the company and board by the strong community presence she has felt from the Library in the last year at city events. President Wisneski shared that Cindy Harrison has been a long-time user of the library and a volunteer. She is a parent in town as well. The motion passed unanimously. IX. Adjournment - It was moved (Joe Samolis) and seconded (Sarah Schulenburg) to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Next Meeting: December 2023 (date TBA) Attendees: Ramona Burkey Eamonn Wisneski Kellin Atherton Shanay Fulton Wendy Berlind Sarah Schulenburg Jennifer Bourret Laurie Patt Ann Percival Deborah Shapiro Diane Rubacha Laura Taft Andrew Becker Cyndi Sanders Andrew White Pam Miller Joseph Samolis Gregory Harris Jennifer Hadley Judy Omphrey John F. Shaw Catherine Boone