Karla Alfred (above photo), Chair, called the March 9, 2022, meeting of the Library Trustees to order at 7:03 PM.  Director Leslie McDonnell (photo below) provided a brief COVID update and recommended the mandatory face mask policy be replaced by a face mask advisory.  Trustees voted unanimously to support this recommendation and will continue to monitor local case numbers.

McDonnell provided the approximate timeline for the hiring of a new Library Director to replace her upon her retirement in June. 

• The advertisement for a new director has been published (beginning March 4) and will run for 3 weeks.
• A hiring committee will be formed and will be composed of 2 Library Trustees, 1 member of Friends of the Library, 2 Library patrons, the Town Administrator and Assistant Town Administrator. 
• Anticipated date of hire is prior to the May 25, 2022, Town Meeting.

McDonnell discussed possible grade/title changes of personnel with the Town Administrator that might affect the Library’s FY23 Budget as well as anticipated changes between the Library budget and the Facilities Director’s budget.  “No changes made will affect any library services,” said McDonnell.

McDonnell brought up the need to review and possibly make changes to the Library’s present Collection Development Policy.  She explained that purchased subscriptions such as Kanopy and Hoopla contain electronic material collections that she has not personally selected.  She intends to research and report to the Trustees next month of other libraries’ policies that consider the collection materials within subscriptions.

In other business, McDonnell reported that the hard drive of a public-use computer was removed. Chris Meo, Technology Director, has since added a padlock to each of the public computers.  As these were the public computers, no Town information was housed on them.

The MA Library Commission grant application is almost complete.  McDonnell is working with Jen Carlson to finish and submit this application by April 5.  It will support additional educational play equipment for the Children’s Library.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 PM.  The next meeting of the Trustees is April 6, 2022, at 7 PM.