The board’s discussion centered around improving library programs to appeal to a broader adult demographic, particularly those in their mid-30s to 50s who have children and work during the day. The board noted a disconnect with certain age groups and explored solutions such as scheduling programs at more convenient times or offering concurrent activities for children and adults. The idea of an adult winter reading program was proposed, which would allow for participation from home through an app that logs reading hours and facilitates prize submissions. This effort aims to accommodate busy lifestyles, aligning with current trends like “book talk” on social media, which influences reading preferences and library collections.

Concerns were raised regarding low attendance in specific programs, such as the knitting group, which had only ten participants. The possibility of scheduling different types of programs to accommodate various demographics was considered. Suggestions included offering more engaging programming and organizing joint activities that would allow parents and children to participate together, creating a community environment. The board recognized the need for innovative ideas and strategies to engage adults, including humorous suggestions like offering wine at events.

Funding and library advocacy were also topics. A statistic emerged during the meeting that only about 1.61% to 1.73% of the town’s budget is allocated to the library, slightly above the state average of 1.2%. This statistic prompted a discussion about the town’s perception of library funding and the need for the library board to unify its messaging as advocates. Emphasis was placed on understanding and communicating the library’s strengths to various audiences, including schools, seniors, and finance committees.

The board briefly recapped insights from a recent Massachusetts Library Trustee Association conference, which stressed the importance of building positive community relationships and reflecting on personal motivations for involvement in library services. There were suggestions to invite town leaders to library events to reinforce these relationships and support future funding requests. Members were also encouraged to monitor town meeting agendas to stay informed about potential challenges affecting the library.

In terms of operational updates, the library’s transition to a new event platform called Local Hop was discussed. The platform, chosen for its user-friendly interface and cost-effectiveness, is set to debut in early December. This change comes after the previous event platform vendor announced it was sunsetting its services, prompting the library to seek a refund for the annual subscription. The new system is expected to streamline event registrations and eliminate cumbersome handwritten documents.

Staffing changes were also addressed, with Andrea set to start as the new circulation librarian. Her previous experience with the library is expected to facilitate a smooth transition. The board discussed ongoing challenges with the library’s telephone system, particularly the wireless phones, which were described as inadequate. Alternatives are being explored to address these issues.

Additionally, there were discussions about the library’s participation in a holiday tree decoration at Town Hall, with plans for staff to handle decorations on December 13th.