April 8, 2024 Librarian’s report
Correspondence – Sympathy cards, thank you from Comfort Food Community.
Personnel – Michael passed away in January. We have heard many kind words from people who miss him at the library and have also received $1,015 in memory of him. I’m hoping to use some of this to buy tackle boxes and stock them for our fishing rod program. Forrest Hartley has offered to help out with this. The personnel committee have been a big help in the job search process. We are close to offering the potion to one of our applicants and hope to have the position filled this month.
I have applied for a SYEP worker again this year. It appears there is new personnel at the County again this year. We are hoping for better luck this summer.
1st Quarter programs –We hosted the Rockwell Falls Library’s book club until they re-opened in early March. We have been able to have craft takeaway kits for January and February, but weren’t able to get one together for March due to time and energy being spent in other directions. We were able to hand out 900 of our solar safety glasses to CCS and the King School. Our Food Angel was generous the last two months.
Upcoming programs – We plan to have craft kits in April and May, then break during Summer Reading Program time. We handed out solar safety glasses starting April 1. Our eclipse watch was this afternoon. We had solar glasses, pinhole viewers, and a colander for safe viewing options and also live streamed NASA’s broadcast of the eclipse. On April 22 at 7pm we will have Rachel Clothier present Cultivating Corinth – A Local Agricultural History. We hope to be able to restart the Farm 2 Library program soon.
SALS & Directors’ Council –The NaloxBox from Saratoga County has been installed. Saratoga County will come and do a training for staff and any interested people; we will aim to do this in the Fall. SALS annual meeting is on Monday May 20 at Fort William Henry in Lake George. I’m assuming that attendees will get credit for trustee training for attending like last year. Reservations need to be in by May 3. As in past years each library will get one complimentary dinner for a trustee.
Joint Automation Council / computers – The Polaris system is getting an upgrade this month.
The Schenectady County Public Library has petitioned to drop out of the JA agreement. This is a very big deal and the ramifications are being studied by a committee. Our fees will not change for this year or next year because they have already been approved. For current information please visit SALS’ website. There is a link with information and a FAQ page under the About Us tab in the Joint Automation Project section.
Friends – The annual book sale will take place July 27.
Maintenance – Some of our electrical issues still need to be addressed. The elevator & shaft also should be looked at. The windows are set to be cleaned in late April. The rugs will be cleaned in early May. The outside entryway will be power washed in mid-May.
Other – The Annual Report was submitted on time and was accepted.
We received the fishing equipment from DEC in mid-January. We received the loanable Birding Backpack from the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society and it has circulated.
Ask the Lawyer question re: refunding money received from a school district tax levy.
A large portion of my time this quarter was spent working on the job search to fill Michael’s position. Thanks to Jane Kribs and Isabelle Cook we have been able to keep the children’s room looking good.
Meetings attended in 1st quarter of 2024 (virtual):
2/9 Library advocacy zoom with Senator Tedisco
2/29 SRP webinar
3/20 Directors Council