Library Trustees
Richard Sugden Library
Trustees’ Report
October 3rd & November 14th Meetings
In Attendance:
Cheryl Donahue, Director
Katheryn Smith, Children’s Room
Mary Anne Slack, Chair
Alyson Russo, Trustee
Marie Norcia, Trustee (November 14th meeting only)
Peter Boria, Town of Spencer Util. Supt. (November 14th meeting only)
Meetings were called to order at 12:30 p.m.
Maryanne made a motion to approve minutes from September meeting. Cheryl seconded. Approved
Maryanne made a motion to approve minutes from October meeting. Marie seconded. Approved.
Maryanne made a motion to approve our inclement weather policy. Marie seconded. Approved.
Children’s Room:
*Community Connections held many programs with us in September and October.
*Drop-in activities continue in children’s dept.
*We gave away the Barbie raffle, the Eric Carle Museum Raffle and Yankee Candle Raffle prizes to the winners.
*We finished the community poster and it is hanging in the Children’s Dept.
*The Friends of the library donated $100 to the Worcester Animal Rescue League on behalf of the Children’s Dept. for summer reading. We passed our 800-book goal.
*We Read It newsletter goes out monthly.
*We gave away a light up ghost themed Grab and Go kit for October. There is a November Grab and Go kit available as well.
*Pumpernickel Puppets was held on October 7th and Bryson Lang with Juniper Farms Ice Cream Truck was held on October 14th (canceled due to rain).
*The Spencer Fire Dept. is providing 2 fire safely programs for the kids in October.
* Amy is continuing her Graphic Novel Book Club and will be starting a middle grade book club.
*Diane Johnson is running 1 crafting programs for teens in October.
*Katie led a watercolor leaf art program for teens in October.
*Katie will be running a four-week learning to knit program for teens and adults.
*Grant application deadline is October 17th and Katie will apply for several grants and writing support letters for performers to be part of our summer reading program in July and August 2024. Will know mid-January if we were approved for grants.
*Katie attended an in-person program in Marlborough called Understanding Teen Behavior on September 7th and a zoom council meeting for Community Connections on September 25th.
*She also represented the library at the Dept. Head meeting during Cheryl’s vacation on September 12th .
*Katie attended Youth Services Community Chat on October 12th and will attend Teen Summit On November 17th .
Director’s Report:
*Pause meditation program is held Tuesdays with Wendy O’Leary.
*”Coffee Chat” held Monday mornings with 12-20 attendants each week. Mary Baker Wood helped facilitate the conversation at several meetings.
*Denise delivered items to homes of patrons unable to visit the library and visited Lincoln Hill Manor on October 11th and November 15th.
*Trevor the Games Man programs for kids and adults was held at Powder Mill Park on September 16th.
*Adult writer’s group was held on September 18th and October 16th.
*Diane Johnson led a pinecone craft for adults on September 21st.
*An adult book discussion was held on September 26th and November 7th.
*A learn to knit series was held on September 20th and 27th.
*Story Walk (funded by Cultural Council), “The Earth Book””, was set up at the Spencer Fair. Free books were distributed to children.
*Story Walk “Red-eyed Tree Frog” was given to Wire Village School for their nature walk. Copies of the book (funded by Cultural Council) will be distributed to kindergartners.
*Cheryl attended CWMARS users’ council Zoom meeting on September 12th.
*Ed Lamoureux assisted in moving items from the historical museum under the guidance of Mary Baker-Wood on September 26th.
*New utilities/facilities supt., Peter Boria visited the library on September 25th.
*Col. Leanne Chabior shared stories about her time in Iraq as a wartime nurse on October 23rd.
*Wildlife rehabilitator, Maureen Heidtmann discussed the wonder of bats on October 26th.
*Denise attended NELA conference October 15-17.
*Cheryl volunteered at the Exchange Club’s financial literacy event at DPHS on October 13th.
*Cheryl attended community workshop at town hall on October 26th.
*Cheryl and Denise participated in CMLA trivia night on November 3rd in Sturbridge.
*Cheryl attended MLS annual meeting in Devens on November 6th.
*On November 9th Cheryl accompanied Mary Baker-Wood for her presentation on Elias Howe at Howe Village.
*Guardian deployed 7 new computers for staff.
*MPC readied HVAC system for winter heating.
*Aimee Jones resigned as of November 18th. New hire, Taylor Butler, trained on November 7th and 9th and will work her first shift on December 2nd.
Next Meeting is December 12th at 12:30.