Russell Library Strategic Planning Committee

Russell Library Strategic Planning Special Meeting Wednesday, May 25, 2023, 5:00pm via Zoom Present: Kellin Atherton, Ramona Burkey (Director), Jennifer Hadley (recorder), Sarah Schulenburg (Chair), Eamonn Wisneski 1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order by Chair Schulenburg at 5:02. 2. Public Comment – no public 3. Approval of Minutes – Trustee Hadley moved and Trustee Atherton seconded to approve the April 27, 2023 minutes. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Unfinished Business – a. Action items from Board retreat Chair Schulenburg has not yet shared the form with the Board to ask for input on additional stakeholders to consider. We should include existing boards and commissions. We can share information in the next Board meeting packet, which would also serve as a heads up for Board members to start thinking about this area. We can also mention our approach at the Company meeting and give some time for discussion. Chair Schulenburg will give Director Burkey access to the document so she can add it to the packet. We discussed going out to the community to gauge community perspective. Is the Pride parade too soon? It’s a good opportunity for “surfacing” thoughts, laying the groundwork, making sure the word is out there and priming the community. We could make a postcard or handout. Kellin offered to table at Cruise Night, perhaps reading books on cars. This year Russell Library doesn’t have a table because of staffing, but maybe next year. Talking with people at events is a good way to hear their opinions. At Pride, for example, people will be able to sign up for the mailing list via QR code or paper forms, get a library card, sometimes there are book giveaways. Would book banning come up? There may be a panel on the topic. The committee should continue to work on the brainstorming list. It is a work in progress. Trustee Atherton reported that he spoke with a member of Senator Murphy’s staff about supporting the library and the appropriation request process. Perhaps we could set up a visit and tour when Senator Murphy and other legistors will be in the district. Or it could be good to eventize a visit when we  have some definite plans on the building or around a current topic they could rally around such as fighting book banning. Senator Murphy’s prior visit was about economic development. Russell Library is certainly part of Middletown’s development, and a 21st century library would drive development even more — helping community members upskill and find jobs. Legislators are part of our audience and each has a signature issue/committee/cause. We should all take time to research our elected officials so that we can understand what is important to them. We will continue this action item under unfinished business at the next meeting. 5. New Business a. Discuss Strategic Planning report for company meeting Chair Schulenburg will be giving the committee report at the Company meeting and asked for input. Committee reports are generally brief and some of the information may be covered by Director Burkey. It was suggested preparing the Company for a call to action eventually by highlighting two or three things bullet points from our list, perhaps how the library wants to better serve teens, seniors, etc. The library is halfway through the current strategic plan and is looking at ways to engage with our stakeholders to plan for the future. It would be good to give a short intro about what the committee does, how it is supporting the library. Some content may need to change depending on what Director Burkey says in her report and questions. The Manchester 21st century library website is one example of planning for community engagement. 6. Adjournment - Trustee Atherton moved and Trustee Wisneski seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:47. Next regular meeting: Thursday, June 22, 2023, 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Hadley