HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Trustees 06/03/2021MANSFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Board of Trustees Meeting [virtual] June 3, 2021
Attendance: Nancy Breef-Pilz, Marianne Mackie, Jeri Hill, Jean Mallon, Leonard Epstein
and Director Catherine Coyne. Carrie Champagne acted as facilitator from Mansfield's MIS
Department. Nancy convened the meeting at 4:38 p.m. broadcasting on Mansfield Cable and
proceeded to read Gov. Baker's order suspending certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open
Meeting Law. Instructions for participating in real time and sending subsequent questions are on
the town's web site.
Secretary's report. The report for May was reviewed and unanimously approved.
Treasurer's report. The report for May was reviewed and unanimously approved.
Librarians reports. The librarians' reports were reviewed and highlights discussed. More
and more people coming into the library. The first in person story time since the pandemic was
held, this time outdoors taking advantage of good weather. Most adult programs will continue to be
virtual with in person programming increasing after the summer. Nancy speculated that there may
be reasons for continuing virtual programming from time to time, and possibly some hybrid
programs with some patrons participating in person and others virtually. Catherine thinks many
libraries will similarly be keeping that option for the future.
This is the last week the library will have ambassadors in the lobby. Hand sanitizers will
remain. The sign requiring masks will likely be changed to advise or require their use if a patron is
unvaccinated. Curbside service will likely be phased out since usage is now significantly reduced.
Quarantining books ended May 24.
The library has essentially returned to pre -pandemic operations (see New Business). A great
deal of staff work was required to accomplish this and Catherine reported on an "ice cream social"
party she organized for the employees prior to returning to normal operations.
Correspondence. None.
OLD BUSINESS
Library vacancies update. The library is now fully staffed except for one remaining
substitute position for which interviews scheduled. An additional page may be needed after the
summer and Catherine anticipates looking for a third or fourth year high school student. It is also
possible that an adult page may be added over the summer.
Director's annual review. Nancy is asking for board members' evaluation forms by the
middle of June after which she will synthesize them for finalization and discussion with Catherine.
NEW BUSINESS
Update on removing COVID restrictions. As noted above, the library's ambassadors
program is finishing this week. (Town Hall may continue their program a little while longer since
their ambassadors also frequently help with questions, directions, etc.) All the furniture is back;
plastic barriers have been removed and the library looks normal! All computers are now in use with
no capacity or time limits. Catherine reported the staff are all fine with the return to "normality."
Most have stopped using masks. Jean complimented the overall look of the library, noting the
happy staff working productively. Catherine noted there has not yet been a large influx of young
people but a few singles have started using the teen area.
Meeting room reopening. The board discussed whether to open the meeting room to
outside groups yet. The Town Manager has apparently expressed some concerns and Catherine will
be meeting with him to get a better understanding of his perspective. After discussion, the board
voted unanimously to delay allowing outside groups to use the room until after Labor Day and will
re -visit the question in September.
July-4'h and Labor Day 2021. The library will be closed Monday July 5, Saturday,
September 4, and Monday, September 6 (Labor Day). Catherine noted that some libraries are also
closing for the "Juneteenth" recognition but, after discussion, the board consensus was that a better
approach might be to plan appropriate commemoration within the library.
Trustees' meetings. Jean questioned the possibility of shifting the board's monthly
meetings to a different meeting day since Saturdays are so often conflicted. Marianne
recommended the second week of the month simply to have more complete reporting available later
in the month. After discussion it was unanimously voted to try scheduling meetings on the second
Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Accordingly, the next meetings, which will be in the
library, are now scheduled for September 8, October 13, November 10 and December 8. Catherine
will have Town web site changed to reflect the new regular time of the library's monthly board
meetings.
Next meeting. September 8, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Upon a unanimously approved motion,
the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
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