The budget for the last quarter of the fiscal year was a significant topic of concern. The departure of the children’s librarian prompted the board to consider reallocating staff to fill the resulting schedule gaps. Additionally, a longevity payment was made to a staff member who reached a five-year milestone. The library’s infrastructure saw improvements with the Department of Public Works replacing old septic pipes with new PVC ones, a move that the board was satisfied with. However, the potential removal of the energy line from the budget raised questions about the financial and operational impact on the library. The discussions ended with no clear resolution.

During the meeting, there was an in-depth conversation about a potential energy project. Concerns were raised about the impact on the library’s budget and how it would affect their ability to meet financial requirements. The idea of combining the library’s energy consumption with other municipal buildings as a cost-saving measure was also debated, though this raised further concerns about meeting specific requirements laid out for the library.

New business brought forth the proposal of installing a self-service kiosk at the library for town business transactions. While some members saw potential in the kiosk, others were skeptical, citing the prevalence of online payment options as a reason it might see little use. The discussion then turned to the possibility of engaging with the Massachusetts Education and Government Association (Mega) to assess safety hazards in town buildings. This could lead to grant opportunities for safety improvements. The committee was generally open to further discussing and gathering information on these proposals.

The meeting continued with the director’s report, which highlighted an increase in library circulation for both adult and children’s materials in March, despite the challenges posed by the departure of the children’s librarian and a broken public printer. Nine applicants had applied for the librarian position. The director also mentioned community engagement through PTO meetings and the distribution of solar eclipse glasses. Upcoming events such as mindful melodies sessions and an Earth Day movie showing were also part of the director’s report.

Operational issues were a focal point of the meeting, with the broken public printer demanding immediate attention. Options for purchasing a new printer through the town were explored, while an unusual smell in the break room prompted an investigation. The town administrator was involved in addressing these operational concerns.