2024 January Librarian’s Report

Correspondence – Thank you card from Sara Dallas.

Personnel – Michael sent in his resignation due to poor health via email.  Our volunteer Jane has been coming in extra to help out.  Jen Cook’s daughter will be volunteering starting 1/9/24 as well.  We will need to hire a replacement for Michael’s position.  While we want to do this as quickly as possible, I don’t want to rush the process.  While it is never certain how long someone will stay in a job, we should do what we can to get the best fit for the position in hopes that person will stay long term.

4th Quarter programs –Farm 2 Library ended with great numbers, and the Food Angel program, while sporadic this time of year, continues to be popular.  People look for our monthly craft takeaway kits with anticipation.  Our reboot of Story Time was mostly a success with a few families showing up regularly and a good turnout at Hometown Holidays. Our ribbon cutting for the Wi-Fi shelter during Hometown Holidays was fun. 

Upcoming programs – We plan to have craft kits monthly until May, then break during Summer Reading Program time.  We have been adopted by the Luzerne Library’s book club – they have been meeting here and will continue to do that until the building opens in Luzerne.  We have signed up for the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge that will complement the Summer Reading Program.  We will be receiving stickers, cards, and other materials as part of this reading challenge.  We also received a late payment through SALS from Saratoga County for our 2023 Summer Reading Program.  This money ($283.88) is to be put toward our 2024 Summer Reading Program. Any other programming is on hold until we are fully staffed again.

SALS & Directors’ Council –The NaloxBox from Saratoga County arrived, it hasn’t been installed yet, but I’m hopeful that will be taken care of this week. Saratoga County will come and do a training for staff and any interested people.  We will probably aim to do this after the Annual Report has been finished.  SALS sent copies of the updated Trustee Handbook.

Joint Automation Council / computers

Friends – The annual book sale will take place July 27. 

Maintenance – Our electrical issues still need to be addressed.  The elevator shaft also could be looked at as things have settled and that is causing some issues. 

Other – The Tax Cap report was filed.  We can ask for $71,951 through the CCS budget proposition.

In October there was graffiti chalked on the side of the building facing the park. 

We will be receiving the fishing equipment from DEC within the next few months.  I’m currently looking for someone or some group to partner with us on this (I know nothing of fishing and Michael is no longer here) to help make sure the equipment stays in good shape and perhaps to help with tackle boxes and replacement supplies. 

We are getting a loanable Birding Backpack from the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society that should arrive in the first quarter of 2024. 

We received our shipment of eclipse glasses for the upcoming solar eclipse in April.  We need to partner with the School for programing on the eclipse and share the glasses with them.

I continue to weed books, and clean out and update files as time allows.

Meetings attended in 4th quarter of 2024 (virtual):

10/12               Rural Libraries Roundtable @ LKG