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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-10-BOLT-min.docxTrustees of the Cary Memorial Library Executive Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 12:30 PM Cary Library — Genealogy Room Attendees: Joe Pato, Karen Thomashow, Sarah Carter, Jill Hai Staff: Koren Stembridge, Laura Bernheim, Cathie Ghorbani, Alissa Lauzon, Kate Leppanen, Susan Lusk Call to Order —12:30 PM Jill Hai, Trustee Chair Public Comment - None Secretary's Minutes — September 10, 2025, Executive Board Meeting. Motion to approve minutes as amended, J. Hai. Seconded by J. Pato. Unanimous. Administrative Updates — Director's update • Library has submitted a level service budget for FY27 with one Program Improvement Request for an additional Librarian in Youth Services (for services to teens). Town Manager is asking senior managers to make an initial round of cuts to our proposed FY27 budgets to close a budget gap of over $1M. • There is community concern about a preliminary proposal for an apartment complex at 16 Clarke St, directly abutting the library. K. Stembridge has spoken with appropriate Town colleagues about traffic/pedestrian safety concerns and will speak at other meetings as appropriate. • MASS Board of Library Commissioners has had its federal funding restored. This is good news for FY26, but the future of federal funds for libraries remains uncertain. • The Supreme Court refused to hear Little v. Llano County, a case regarding library collections as "government speech." This means the Fifth Circuit's decision will stand, significantly restricting the freedom to read in public libraries across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and paving the way for more states to follow. • The library will offer a free screening of The Librarians on 1/28/26 at the Venue. This film profiles several librarians on the frontlines of book challenges in Texas and other states. • The Foundation would like to establish a restricted endowment fund that they could transfer money into to begin saving for the next library capital campaign (the upper-level renovations/HVAC project anticipated around 2030). They are working on some language around the intent of the fund, and will present this to the Library Trustees to establish the fund. J. Hai mentioned that this new fund would operate like other funds that are restricted by donor intent. Lower -Level renovation project update/expected closures for post -project move • At this point, the timeline given by the Department of Public Facilities is holding, and we expect to begin moving back to the Lower Level mid/late January. The move is expected to take 2-3 weeks, with the library largely closed to the public. We will try to open on weekends for full use of the building, and will offer some evening holds pick-up hours during these weeks. If all goes well, there will be a ribbon - cutting on 2/11/26. • There are still some lingering issues that could impact the timeline. Flooring and power/data issues have been discovered and will need to be mitigated. • The Lexington Observer recently covered the project and Facilities Director Mike Cronin spoke of the various issues that had caused delays in this project. Trustees asked K. Stembridge to look at the work daily and continue to bring issues to Facilities. New Business — Collection Development Policy update — re. donations for materials The library has added language to the Collection Development Policy and the Materials Donations policies to be sure donors understand that donations in support of materials purchases do not extend to the purchase of specific titles. Fine for donors to stipulate subject matter, but library staff make final title -level selections based on our existing policies. Move to approve both policies as amended, J. Hai. Seconded by K. Thomashow. Unanimous. Amend Holiday Memo for 2026 — Patriots Day closure Motion to amend 2026 Holiday Closures to include Saturday, April 18, 2026, for the Town -wide Patriots Day events, J. Hai. Seconded by J. Pato. Unanimous. Continuing Business — Update LICA/Trustee proposal - Rabbi Karen Thomashow LICA will vote tomorrow on a proposal for how members of the "settled clergy" will be selected for service on the Library's Board of Trustees. A group of LICA members have worked with J. Hai, K. Stembridge, and Town Attorney Mina Makarious, and look forward to presenting their proposal to the Library Trustees early next year. J. Hai suggested that K. Stembridge work with M. Makarious to integrate suggested changes into the Trustee's bylaws. Announcements - none Adjournment — Motion to adjourn at 1:20 by J. Hai. Seconded by J. Pato. Unanimous.