Consultant Barbara Freriedman, who boasts 50 years of experience in library services, outlined her role in assisting the library with its strategic plan. She emphasized the importance of community input, asking trustees to write down their thoughts and questions to ensure comprehensive participation. The plan, which includes community engagement through focus groups, is set to be drafted by April 1 and submitted by May 14. Freriedman stressed that the strategic plan, while covering five years, will be accompanied by an annual action plan detailing specific goals for each year. A trustee raised concerns about integrating new board members into the planning process, but Freriedman reassured them that additional meetings could be arranged if necessary.

Freriedman detailed her methodology for gathering community input, highlighting the significance of including diverse demographics such as town employees, seniors, parents, teenagers, and college students. The focus groups, intended to foster open dialogue, will use a set of ten questions approved by the library director, staff, and trustees. The discussion underlined the need for specific, realistic objectives in the action plan, with a consensus that the plan should reflect measurable and actionable goals.

The library’s operational hours, specifically the potential to open on Sundays, emerged as a topic of discussion. A comparison with a nearby library in Irving, which opens on Sundays, revealed that while Sunday operations attract high foot traffic, the associated costs and resource requirements pose challenges for the Littleton Library. The board noted that the library had previously opened on Sundays with sponsorship funding, which later ceased, highlighting the need for sustainable financial support if Sunday operations were to resume.

The conversation also touched on the library’s action plan for fiscal year 2027, including a summer reading program and preparations for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The board discussed ways to enhance library services, such as the Library of Things, and considered tracking new library cardholders to gauge outreach effectiveness. Expanding operating hours, notably on Sundays, remained a recurrent topic, reflecting ongoing community interest.

The meeting also addressed the logistical aspects of organizing focus groups. The board aimed to ensure diverse representation. Suggestions included leveraging existing databases, reaching out to town officials, and distributing flyers and surveys in local stores and community newsletters. The use of digital tools, such as Google surveys, was proposed to streamline data collection.

The Friends of the Library group’s fundraising efforts were acknowledged, with $1,219 raised from book sales contributing to a cumulative total of $185,780. Insurance costs for events organized by the Friends group were discussed, with the group exploring options for general and volunteer liability insurance.

The digitization of Wilton High School yearbooks was celebrated as a notable achievement.

Concerns about the library director’s contract were raised, with discussions on aligning it with other town contracts. A director evaluation committee was proposed to review the director’s self-evaluation against established goals. The need for informed decisions regarding the library’s operations and community engagement strategies was emphasized.