July 10, 2023 Librarian’s report
Correspondence – Thank you letter received for help with a genealogy question. We have received many donations in memory of both Ken Carter and Fred Sweet.
Personnel – Our summer youth worker has started and will work through August 18. As she will not be able to work on Saturdays she will not be able to work for the Book Sale. Sexual harassment training was completed by all staff and volunteers.
2nd Quarter programs –Farm 2 Library has begun again and is going well. We are also getting regular deliveries from the Food Pantry / Food Angel. We had two rocket programs, a take away craft kit in April, Rachel Clothier presented a local history program, the Rainbow nursery came for a story and rocket launch, we had two programs for Pollinator Week – one for adults and one for children – the materials for these came from a grant through AdkAction. We also did garden plant giveaways thanks to Jane Kribs.
Upcoming programs – Summer Reading has begun and several have signed up. On site programs are all on Saturdays in July and August and include rocket building and launching, a silly sidewalk race, a board game day, and a wrap up at the end. There are also Tuesday night rocket launches – weather permitting. There is word of money becoming available through Saratoga County for Summer Reading, but there is not much information at this time. Michael has put in a request for & received solar eclipse glasses (1000) for use during the upcoming eclipses. We are encouraged to share / work with our local schools and we have already contacted the elementary school and they are interested in working with us.
SALS & Directors’ Council – Sara Dallas is offering to visit libraries during board meetings – shall I invite her to our October meeting? NYS passed their budget but with stagnant library funding. This ends up being a loss as costs have continued to rise with no new money to counter that. There was a discussion among librarians regarding human resources practices especially in smaller libraries. Most who have this out-source it for personnel materials, questions, and as needed services on a cost per use. The Directors’ Council set up an e-content committee to search for ways to have equity in paying for e-content and to ramp up the service to become more equitable with other systems in our area with whom we cooperate. The council voted on the recommended changes with all in favor. For us the costs for next year would only be $1.40 more than we paid this year. The charges are based on usage and population.
Joint Automation Council / computers –Our new computers are here and set up. JA has updated their User Account Policy in their ongoing efforts to keep the network secure. This emphasizes all users completing regular training. Additionally, dormant accounts will be disabled and libraries are encouraged to report any staff changes so that accounts can be closed. SALS and JA purchased cyber-liability insurance through Upstate and continue to encourage all libraries to do the same. They are available to help libraries through the process especially if they go with the same company.
Friends – The annual book sale will be on Saturday July 29. The tables and canopies are reserved. The tables owned by the library are stored at Lloyd’s house. As his health declines we will need to find another place to store them. I’m hopeful that we’ll get a better turn out of school kids to help carry books. We still can’t contact them directly, but I know a few of the parents and can ask them to remind kids to sign up and help out. We are not taking book donations during the summer, but will resume in the fall. Will any of you be available to help for part of the day?
Maintenance –The windows were washed and the rug cleaned in April.
Other – Sara Dallas sent a letter to the editor regarding first amendment rights and the right to read. I co-signed (along with many other SALS library directors.) The Post Star will begin limiting print editions of the paper this month and all deliveries with be through the mail rather than via a courier. There was an act of vandalism on the weekend of April 15-17 with a panel from a brand-new story walk being stolen. The sheriff’s office was notified and an incident report is here for the board to review. The CCS budget passed as did our proposition. Our Staples More credit account will be closed on 7/31/2023 as Citi Bank will no longer be doing business with Staples. We never used this credit card, instead using the original Staples credit card.
Meetings attended in first quarter of 2023 (most were virtual):
- 4/18 Central Library Committee mtg
- 4/19 webinar
- 4/21 directors council
- 5/2 webinar
- 5/9 Farm 2 Library zoom meeting
- 5/10 Elementary School community night (Michael)
- 5/15 SALS annual mtg
- 5/17 directors council
- 5/30 webinar
- 6/1 Rural Libraries Roundtable
- 6/16 Directors council
- 6/20 SYEP orientation