Groton Municipal Television, CT Groton Library Board, 16 Dec 2020

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From YouTube: Groton Public Library Board 12/16/20

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Groton, Connecticut municipal meeting: Groton Public Library Board December 16, 2020. Click on the link below to view the agenda.

https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/groton/file/getfile/47370

A

We do show up. This is as great.

B

As I'm she'll leave, the house yeah.

A

Here I am great great nice tree marilyn.

A

Why don't we start in just a moment? What I would like to do is add an item to new business, sure called library board, reappointments, yeah, and um and do we want to talk about that email thing under new business? Just to know you guys absolutely, but we add that on.

B

C

I think I put on did I put under new business reappointment of board members there's.

B

A

C

Let me just double check and I liked it. I saw it that says new business, new business, it's number four, but it could be number one for whatever you know. It's.

A

There you have four items under your business. Yes, under.

C

New business, not all business.

A

At the very bottom, I'm just looking at the agenda is that.

C

A

C

At the bottom, it's under the activities you'll see it when we get to it. Oh.

A

So these so these papers, don't always match up with the agenda.

C

No, yours doesn't say it says: covet library, closure, curbside, pickup, website, survey and reappear.

B

Oh yeah, that's not on mine that I printed out it's something.

D

C

Won't be on the agenda, the agenda is just telling you that you know.

D

We go over statistics.

C

Oh okay, all the details are later on. Okay,.

B

Okay, yeah there it's.

C

Just the way, the um the system, um the whole packet, when okay.

A

Because number one was blank, I assume there wasn't any new business, it was just there, but.

C

Anyhow, that's the way the agenda there. It is like.

B

C

I got it, I got it.

B

C

Wordy for its own sake, all.

B

Right well because there just wasn't enough paper to print out exactly.

A

Right, rosemary, or is it good to start the meeting? I am ready. Okay, let me pull this order at 4 11. on the 16th, and thank you all for attending. I think you know we'll have to kind of my own opinion is that we should do a blend when we can go back into the buildings. um Maybe yes, virtual meetings blended into our schedule agreed, I see no public uh or would we get public comments like through chat because we are being um reported, live we're being shown, live correct? That is correct.

A

Yes, right, oh, who? How would that be handled? If someone was watching and had a comment, would you would you see, chat coming in jennifer.

C

Yes, I have chat available as well as if they wanted to uh say something you know after the fact and email me directly, I would bring it. I would put it on the public comments, uh submission.

E

C

E

Jen, I don't think chat is available to somebody unless they've logged in they can view, but they can't chat unless they're actually logged in.

C

At all, oh that's a good point, although hmm I gotta think about that one. So they wouldn't be a panelist yeah. I guess they'd have to be zoom, invited.

E

They'd have to come to zoom and you could you can arrange to mute everybody or whomever you wish to mute.

C

Right, that's a good point, matthew actually jennifer.

A

Could I ask you um put down on your your busy list, but just what? Yes missions are doing about public comments with online? There might be some between that. We should be um either statement on the website or something that that people want, but I would like to follow whatever the other boards are doing.

C

Of course makes.

A

C

I'll check on that.

A

Okay, so the next item communications- I do have one or two, but I'd like to put that under that reappointment: okay, new business, so any other communications, okay, here or not any uh we'll move to approval of the minutes. Would someone like to make a motion to approve the minutes of our november 18th meeting catherine in the second second, and that was barley?

A

Okay? Who was second uh okay, and thank you for having them in the packet for us um sunny additions, comments, suggestions, minutes.

A

Hearing none all those in favor of proving the minutes. Please say: aye, aye aye raise your hand, okay opposed. No, I'm not opposed okay. Thank you mary, as always for doing these great minutes. Yes, okay, and that moves over to statistics, which and director's report. So jennifer you've got the floor.

C

So I don't I'm I'm hoping um I did get the google my business information today and I sent you an an updated statistic. So if you didn't get it it's okay, I can read them off, um but because I got them today, I figured I'd, send them before the uh actual meeting.

E

I appreciate it right.

C

Thank you so um got that and of course I have the old ones, but the good news is google, my business, I think a lot. I I told you before, I think a lot of our activity when people are searching for us they're, not necessarily going to run pl automatically they're. Looking in google- and I know some people did comment when we did full closure- they were getting their information from this.

C

um So when you type into google and put grout in public library um the relevant searches on the right side, you usually see our place of business, groton, public library, and it gives some information and those are all analytical data that I receive every month, um but what's important about that is a lot of people key on that information.

C

Now the only caveat with that, because I did have a couple- people call and say there was either outdated information or that it wasn't updated with our our current closures.

B

C

The problem is, you have to submit this information to google and then google translate that translates that and changes that information. So it's not automatic, it's not something. I can do the only thing I can do is report, and then they make that change so right now it's at temporary closure status with a notation that says um you know that we are at you know it's temporary closure, however curbside is available, etc. So I just wanted to say that, because in case you get any, you know people asking um why that isn't changed. That's that's!

C

Basically what happens? There's a little! um You know tape red tape in that in that kind of situation, but our facebook we can do internally, we can do um you know our website now is quicker. Gmtv is almost immediate, pretty much so um I just wanted a line. We have so many places where we have to change the hours of operation.

C

So um in case you get any information or people asking about that. That's the google, my business! That's why.

B

C

But they are finding us um on there, so that's they're keying in on that and they are searching for us. So that's that is very good. um With most of our statistics, I think last time I said we're about at half and what I find interesting about the november stats is we've been closed. uh Quite often, we have veterans day thanksgiving and then our closure um after thanksgiving, so um you know, but I I would assume that some of those library visits were because of our the voting.

C

um You know one uh balances out the other, so uh that would be why we see half of that um any questions about some of the statistics.

F

Wondering about the materials added to collection- I think maybe we've talked about this before, but then yes, the numbers have really kind of dramatically declined over. You know the last five years, and I assume that's because of budget constraints is that is that the case and is that a concern to you or are? Are you able to compensate by doing interlibrary loan or.

C

We are, are you so you're talking about the materials added to the collection yeah, how it's gone down a bit? um Well, funny enough! um um It's not we're still getting um our budget really hasn't changed too much for our books. You know our materials print materials, but a couple things have changed. I know circulation over the last 10 years has declined nationally, but we're also seeing format changes.

C

What I mean by that is like, if you notice the the non-print items, especially for children, while we're adding them. If you look up top with the circulation statistics, you know we used to look at getting a lot of audio books and even dvds and frankly those those uh formats are in decline um because people are getting. You know, subscription services um for the dvd stuff and um even the audiobooks, not a lot of people.

C

Have you know cd players anymore, so they're looking at things like playaways or the ebooks or e-audio which, as you know, has gone up every year so right now? What we're doing right now in our budget is we're going to be adding more to our ebook collection not exclusively, but to you know, tailor that demand and maybe not as much purchasing a lot of those audio books. I mean we're still going to buy audio books, but not at the level. We were because we're seeing a decline in usage um because of the format changes.

C

So that's that's primarily what we're saying it's! It's not really due to any necessarily any budget uh declines with our book budget, um we're just uh balancing it differently or we're going to be balancing differently due to demand.

F

Would those ebooks show up under adult non-print then.

C

No, um if uh non-print, no, we actually don't have the materials is strictly the physical items. Oh.

F

C

Can certainly add um that is one thing, I'm hoping every with every new every new thing that you open uh another box of worms, you know comes up and specifically for this spreadsheet, um as we're noticing things are changing rapidly. I mean, even with the virtual programming, I told you, um that's bad statistics are skewed and then the materials added we never really um earmarked and ebook what we add, but now that we have a new person purchasing in that area and we're funneling more um of our funding. To that.

C

I think we should actually add that as uh um yeah.

B

C

Would be interesting.

B

C

Yeah, absolutely I'm glad you actually asked that question, because we should actually put that in.

A

So these would be the books that the groton public library purchased through um overdrive.

G

A

Okay, not not the overdrive subscription that not not the one that's shared with bibliomation.

C

Right right, so we pay a fee. We pay a flat fee um for uh the overdrive consortia that we've joined, and then we have a secondary fund source exclusively for grant in residence for ebooks, in the overdrive collection exclusively for grant and residents.

C

So if somebody calls us or emails us or says hey, you know what I really want this book, um this ebook, I'm a groton resident. I'd really like to see this in the e-book collection. We will then purchase it, but we also do it monthly, like we do our regular book collection, um we at monthly, we we purchase items that are hot bestsellers as well as things that you know we believe might go out so and, as you can see, it is going it's getting popular.

C

It is popular. I should say.

A

So what we're gonna definitely recap this. What we're seeing in that first span of circulation, statistics of e-books and magazine the overdrive uses is, is included in that. But what we're not seeing are the purchases that we make that the library makes are correct in that correct.

C

Land, okay, so absolutely okay, yeah and I I believe, the the reasoning for early on not doing that is because, with every purchase that we make, even though we make a purchase, it is still considered a lease, um even though we own it for such a time. So maybe that's why we didn't put in statistics before, whereas physical items are literally in the building, we bought them they're ours until they're. You know they've completely done their time, but it's still worth noting as a statistic. What we're adding, because we're paying for that. You know and.

F

E

C

Would be a valuable piece of information.

E

I'm wondering when we're looking at.

H

E

Is what is in demand? We have a supply and demand side. um Is it easily feasible? Anything is feasible if you throw enough at it, but is it easily feasible to turn the prism slightly, to say that hypothetically for adults, mysteries are most popular? Eighty percent go to mysteries and twenty percent go to biography and x percent go to this, and why percent go to that? Is anybody to get a sense of evolving taste by looking at what the demand is.

C

Definitely um I can tell you for two two separate things: we go by statistics uh looking at what our most popular items are with the physical books.

I

C

Can get a sense by running certain reports with overdrive our ebook system? It's really wonderful, because it's it's much like the google. My business analytics it'll tell you. It has so much wealth of information. Tell you how many items how many mysteries people are taking out? How many you know, let's just say, magazines or cookbooks or whatever it is. It gives a much um more in-depth, detailed picture um while we have to like pull extract a lot of this information, a little deeper with um the books.

C

But um yes to answer your question. Yes, we can get that information and we can balance the demand based on that, and I think we do with the overdrive we're really trying to be responsive to what people want. We get a lot of uh requests and unfortunately we can't buy everything, but we really do you know earmark.

C

We try to get as much as possible that people specifically want, because most of the stuff that they want is things that people are going to read anyway, um and I think it's good to hear from the community what they want. That's the whole point: we want the books checked out.

A

Ali did you want to say something: okay, no.

B

A

You literally oh.

B

A

Okay, thank you. Jennifer.

B

A

Other questions about the statistics.

D

It says programming hours aired on gmtv on that second sheet on the top of that little add-on sheet, and it seems that's gone down, um although you would think that with colvin they would be airing more programming is, is am I understanding that correctly.

C

Oh, you mean like 452 to like 396. 396.

D

I would have thought that the programming hours would have gone up with the new system and, with the um you know, everybody being homebound.

C

No, absolutely this is just saying that the number of hours that they've been aired- it's not actually people watching right- is that what you're asking right.

D

But it's still down, they they're airing fewer hours than they did five years ago. Less content.

A

Less competitive, fewer yeah.

C

Well, some of the content too, just just as an fyi a lot of the content that we're we're airing too, is um at least I can speak for the library um and, as you can see, from our programming, if you go up to the community services programs and attendance, you'll notice that the recording is zero, we're doing a lot of these things live whether it's through um our facebook or our instagram, we're not necessarily filming every single thing for people to then watch on gmtv or youtube we're using various methods.

C

um As for the programming hours, um there's also a couple less meetings this past month. I can tell you that, um because of all the closures, um but.

D

H

Probably I'd have to ask.

C

I'd have to ask sean get a little more um in depth. That is why it's gone down a bit, but I know it's what he's airing.

C

I can tell you one of the things it's it's two of our at your library programs have been canceled. um Just because of this. uh You know the covid situation, so that could be another contributor is things that were supposed to be filmed got canceled, but I could certainly, you know, find out more for you.

A

Could it be that some of what would have gone on tv is now being just shifted onto youtube, because.

H

A

Yep confused because you know yes, but those are views not hours.

C

That's right: that's right! The views are a little bit different, yeah um but actual recording. You know the recordings would be. um You know the meetings and whatnot we're not doing as much as the in-person uh taping. So we're doing you know the zooms and whatnot, but I can really checked on that. For you.

C

A

Question well, this zoom meeting will not go on gm tv.

C

No, it will, it will go on james well,.

A

C

I mean it will be on the youtube channel. It will be on the youtube channel.

A

But not on europe, not a program on gm tv, no.

C

Be on youtube video service.

A

C

A

D

A

Your suggestion that town meetings being held in zoom we'll be on youtube yeah, I'm not on channel 2 they're on youtube.

D

Why wouldn't they be on gmtv as they used to be.

C

I was going to say: let me let me check with sean to find out specifically what the programming hours aired. I feel like I'm missing something, and I don't want to speak out of turn until I I find that out from him.

A

Yeah no good question good question yeah. It is a good question right because some people they watch their tv. They may not be looking at youtube to get there. It.

C

Should go on all of them? I just uh you know I. I can certainly check on that for.

D

You I just thought that's a little strange considering that you know people are relying more on these four myths than they used to no.

C

Absolutely absolutely.

A

Okay, jennifer, you want to move on to your report.

C

Just look at that, so um the long-standing year-long infrastructure with the firewall has finally gone in. Although we're working out some tweaks and of course I bring this up every time because it's so important, our infrastructure, tech, wise, I can't stress enough- was completely at the end of life and clearly you need an infrastructure in order to run your business.

C

So we're going to be um upgrading a couple more uh pieces to this in the next within the next couple weeks.

C

I'm really excited because we're going to get be getting some wireless hubs for the outside of the building, so that will help enhance wireless capacity outside into the parking lot um further than what is now you know, like I told you, the wireless is just what has been horrendous and especially when people need wireless services, if they don't have it at home, and you know- and in this case we're closed, um they can use it outside, if necessary, so really excited about getting that in place and ready to go so- um and I wanted to relay that- um I made a mistake here.

C

It says gpl and bill memorial library, it's um oh, we welcomed uh mystic and no ink library. uh They're new director is christine bradley she's, a veteran director from norwalk public library and many other places, including we've been everywhere. The.

B

Original clc.

C

Right very exciting: we're happy to have her on board and um christine uh johnson from um originally.

C

She was the director of miss signo inc she's now at waterford, so really happy to have them on board and in fact it's funny because they just um converse with them the other day, and they are also experiencing some closures and going back to curbside services as well as well as bill memorial. So we're all pretty much in the same uh same vein, there with uh curbside but they're.

C

Welcome addition- and I told you last time our budget is in the beginning stages, but we are knee-deep and looking at everything and getting some um you know details ready in case. We have to be ready for anything that comes down the pipe for this this upcoming year.

C

We don't really have much information just yet about what we're looking at, but well we're going to have different scenarios for for 2022. So.

B

That will all have to be done by zoom too that'll be interesting.

C

B

A feeling we're not.

C

Going to be rushing through this like last time, because we we didn't know what was happening but.

B

C

B

More deliberations.

C

Yeah so, but uh hopefully we'll be ready for that, um and then I want to say some really good news, um kim valentine are one of our librarians she's, our liaison with her circle of friends and uh she and the circle friends applied for a grant um for a library bicycle and uh they were awarded by aarp. It was just I don't know if you, you saw the norwich bulls yet, but it was a very nice article and what it's going to do eventually is help us get out into the community a little more.

C

But um what really sold me is not only the the opportunity for outreach with the book lending, but also the possibility of um you know the technical uh aspect.

C

It could basically be a wireless hub on wheels, so we're pretty excited about having something um so versatile that you know it could be broken down to be put into a car if we needed to be further away than what we can actually bike. But um I think it'll be a wonderful addition, especially you know in the summer months. So I'm looking forward to to receiving that we're going to have um more information about that, but him and the circle friends want to actually purchase and have the bike on hand before we made.

C

You know some major major announcements about it, so we'll go.

E

For that soon, I'm.

C

Sorry who gets to ride it well believe it or not. I have many of the staff that are very excited about doing they're like can I go? Can I go um so we'll have it at a lot of our outreach events um and, of course you know properly, because it's it's pretty. uh It's going to be an interesting maneuverability with this, because um they're trying to figure out right now if they want the one on the front or on the back, the the where they place the books. There's an.

B

Obvious basket in front or back like the wicked witch of the west yeah.

C

Exactly exactly yeah we'll make kim wear a hat and everything you know.

B

Oh, my god, that's a that's great.

A

It's a great idea, I read the uh I clicked the link and read the article yeah I did too it felt like it could really hold a lot. It was like.

I

600 pounds yeah.

C

It's it's amazing. You know she.

B

Really didn't write it yeah.

C

She really did her homework. She. um She, she called a number of libraries that already have it just to see. Get some advice on you know: should it be on the front, should it be on the back maneuverability, because sometimes they said it could be a problem. Some of these bikes even have um motors on them.

B

Electric bikes.

C

B

I don't need that we do.

C

Have we were considered she considered that, but the the problem is with the motorized bike. Apparently, is you can't break it down? It has to be. You know, you can't break it down in any way, shape or form. So I said: hey, you know any event you're still going to ride it and get some exercise, though.

D

C

Good idea, great.

A

C

Listen yeah so that that's that's really great, but um pretty much covet and uh the budget etc is taking up over any any given day. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, so too many changes to call, but so any questions.

A

Okay, so all right, let me move over to new business, which is on the sheet yep. Sorry about that. So again, we'll kind of put that back in yours for these first few items.

C

Yeah just a couple of things just talking about how you know we we did discuss, we had the closure um and so modified right now, where we're at, as you know, now um we're at curbside and phones.

C

um But we are I'm hoping to add in next week uh adding in the options to do faxing, copying and printing um we're just ironing out some details on how we would uh do that. um You know because, unlike some other places, you know we have that front door and if we're using the vestibule for book, you know picking up your books best of your wise. We don't want to have too many people in the vestibule.

C

So um we've we think we've come up with a plan and we're hoping to um you know, offer those other services starting monday. So there will be a publicity piece going out most likely this weekend. Still we'll have that available um anything about covid uh closures or anything. Any questions concerns we're trying to get everything up up on our websites and stuff now but um or our media. I'm sorry, but uh sometimes it's last minute, so matthew.

E

Jim, maybe an item from next month's meeting, but with the great on monday that they're rolling out the vaccine.

E

In my humble opinion, it's not too early to start thinking about are doing public outreach once the pandemic is quasi under control. Particular thoughts of mine are outreached at farmers, markets, senior housing, children and youth locations. It's premature now, but maybe if you guys would give some thought to what you think we might or might not do. We could chat about it next month.

C

Are you talking say that again, vaccine distribution? Is that what you said no.

E

uh uh Interesting people in making use of the new library a lot of people still think of the library as it was, and we have a lot of things most libraries have a lot of things that are just very different than 10 15 20 years ago. So if, if we head out a little bicycle out at the farmers market on wednesday or tuesday, whatever day they meet, it's a chance to give a hub, it's a chance to answer questions. It's a chance to uh enroll people for library cards. It's just an idea.

E

I'm sure you guys have lots of other ideas that I'd never think of, but at some point it would be nice to chat about it before we get to the uh roll out of a post covered world.

A

Let's do that, I, I think what I hear you saying in some ways: it's not correct if I'm wrong, but kind of a fresh start with 2021 a fresh start kind of um you know, we don't know when exactly it'll be but to be ready to. You know um embrace the public back into the library yeah.

E

As long as fresh start doesn't imply that there's something wrong with what's going on, no.

A

No, no! No! No! No! No! No.

B

A

I think the last event that we had and boy we got that under the wire didn't we was that, like march 5th or something it was, uh it was like the week before we closed, we cried, we had um it was like grab and come grab.

C

Yes, we did the circle, friends sponsored that sandwiches.

C

Yes, they came in and it was like an open house and they weren't able to chat with any of us.

A

With town council, council, town council and rtm rtm, yes, rtm, and um I was amazed how many, uh how how well that went, I mean how how responsive the um people were to the invitation was great. Yes,.

E

My thinking comes from the fact that I still do chaplaincy, though I've retired and I go into a couple of nursing homes in the area and whether it's a nursing home or an independent living facility, there's a lot of social isolation in these places, to the extent that we can go in at even periodically not not with great frequency, but even from time to time.

E

We can increase our outreach, both in terms of our statistics but, more importantly, the human contact that we can help improve our communities quality of life. I think we are unique place to do that.

C

Yes, I mean we actually have really good rapport with a lot of our uh nursing facilities around rotten.

C

Specifically, um you know kim valentine the one who um she's our community uh outreach librarian and she has been doing one heck of a job you know connecting with everywhere from fear fairview to regency to the some of the rehab places, so, um whether it's doing programming or connecting with people or she's, also the one who's in charge of homebound deliveries, we just and then terry ziegler goes she's been calling all of her homebounds.

C

So I I think she does a really good job and now she's connecting with the senior center to ensure that we can help lend hands to the things that they're doing, because we do know that isolation piece is, you know a problem, so she's been over there assisting you know from the library standpoint, but assisting them as well as a town. You know whether it's helping them with you know food services or anything that she could do to to. You know get her face for the library involved, so we know more.

C

That's the whole point too. Is that point of contact having that contact? That knows all these people, so we can get into those facilities to then connect with the people that that live there. So, but yes, I agree with you, I think once covid has, you know hopefully migrated out. We can start, you know touting our services and they're going to be different services, we've added things and enhanced things, um even though we've been closed, um we're just we'd still want to help people.

C

It's unfortunate that this has come to pass because you know trying to think of all these ways. How we can help people without being in contact with them is is, is clearly a struggle for everyone right now. So, but um yes, we can certainly talk about that, be happy to okay, good.

C

Okay. The only other thing I wanted to mention before the reappointment. The website survey that I have listed here, one of the tasks that we have our staff doing right now is um a small. It's like a three-page uh website survey because we went live um with our new site, there's, obviously some tweaks that have to be made because you know we went from this very I don't say robust, but it had a lot of items on it and now we we scaled it back and there's not a lot of items on it.

C

So my task for staff was to review. Do this short survey, so we can look at it and see what we're missing? What's not working what we have to enhance, etc. That's just from the staff point of view. The next phase is I'm going to start I'd like to send it out to all of you and hopefully get it out to some other people in the community.

C

Just so we can see what people are looking at. You know we want feedback. So if we're missing something or something's, not obvious or even if you're, on a mobile device as opposed to a computer, if there's something glaringly wrong, we need to fix it or you know do something about that. So I will be sending it out once I you know, call all the information from staff, then the next phase, I'll I'll, be sending out to all of you. So if you would be kind enough to to do that, um that would be great.

C

I appreciate that.

G

So is it correct that you cannot directly go to the library website? You have to go through the town of groton website and then scroll down to find the library you.

C

Can go directly to um our our website is still active, the gruntingpl.org you can just type that in and that should bring you up to our site automatically, not the um not the town. First, it's our url.

G

I just tried it just now, but it still uh takes me back to the new town of groton. Sorry I'll check I'll check after the school. But that's.

D

C

Yeah, you know, and and of course I told you we're having, let me just see.

C

I typed in grotonpl.org, so you'll get the little logo. I don't know if you can see a little logo up top. This is on my mobile device, but it is. It took me right to grant in public.

B

C

But if you're having issues with that, let me know because it could be something else. Yeah.

B

I just tried it right: there.

C

It could be something else: okay, hence the reason why we're doing these surveys, because I need to know you know.

G

C

It's not coming up for for something you know for some odd reason, so yeah very important is.

A

The survey um is it: are you looking for not just items that you've had on the other website, but items that perhaps haven't been no.

C

So what it is is the first. Like two pages, I don't want to say it's very generic, but it's multiple choice with agree. Don't agree, you know on some questions and then at the very bottom there's a couple of questions to fill out and you can be as detailed as you want or as and one of the questions is there something we're forgetting or is there something you can't find or that's when you can say whatever you know, whatever feedback you'd like to to give us.

A

Would it be helpful to um even like give some links to libraries that, like east hampton's, is one that I think does a fantastic job on their website? Just even a link to that to a couple of libraries where you say, take a look at the see what they have that be so.

C

What we have for our website are um the whole. The town of groton has um purchased through a company, so they created all the pages. So at some point we are kind of um marked to what we can do on that on our own page. We can tweak things. We can change things, we're even considering using that page that you see right now as a static page and linking out to something else.

C

So if you are going to put something like um you know, a library that you really like what are some things you like about it, though, is it just the colors? Is it specifically, you can find the catalog, you know if you could be. Maybe you know a little detailed on what it is you like about it? That would probably be a little bit more helpful good.

C

That would be. That would be great.

A

And when should we look for that survey from you? Well.

C

um Friday was the deadline for all staff, so I'm gonna. I want to look through all of those first, so probably the week after so next week, sometime I'll be sending that out to all of you and be brutally honest too I'm telling I had one two staff members that gave me like a three-page three-page detailed information about what what we need to add or subtract or whatever. So I am asking for honest feedback. It's okay, not.

B

The other kind.

C

Yeah, exactly okay.

D

A

Right so reappointment of board members, I got an email from crystal alexander who's, um the assistant town clerk uh a while ago, a few days I guess two weeks ago or so ten days ago, and uh she said we had three board members whose terms are uh coming to conclusion and that hallie uh carl and matthew, and um so I sent communications to hallie and and carl and um but I questioned matthews yes back today about um that she's correct.

A

Even though, if you look on at the website, it says that it's he still has four years so anyway. First hallie, thank you very much for for agreeing to be reappointed. um The process used to be in the hands of the um the political committees.

B

A

They would always uh and part of that older process was that uh so the chair that the democratic committee or the public committee would would be the one to reappoint or to recommend reappointment, I say, recommend the appointment, um but they always brought in the chair of the library board to ask what do you think?

A

Okay, yes or no, so two years ago uh the process was revised and I think for for many of the committees and boards where it is the board chair who recommends reappointment, and so that puts it on my shoulders to ask the people whose terms are expiring whether they would like to be reappointed. So that's where we're at um I have. I have I'm going to kind of put you on the spot um carl. I left you a phone message.

H

Yes and I apologize the hubbub of of of everyday life, blew it out of my my head. I would be happy to to to be reappointed. Thank you.

A

Okay, thank you. There is.

H

A

Figure out what how to fill it out I'll, send you a draft and and matthew. Yours was a little more controversial because I said well, he just joined the board and the website says your term expires in 2023, but uh the email today said that the the person who you assume the vacancy for that vacancy term um was is to expire december 31st 2020.

G

E

I'm not sure if the reappointment is possible. I'd like it, if not.

A

I'm just like, please say yes, please say yes like with carl thank you, both gentlemen and um I'll, fill out the form as far as I can, but I might have to just send you a quick. I think they actually, the one thing that I don't have from with. You is what outside committees or examples of other access community activities, you're involved with hallie. I just knew. I know.

B

A

And um so well text me or email me, you know two or three and that they'll put that on. It's only.

D

E

A

Line on the form to put it in, but but thank you thank you. So that's great. I really appreciate it and um just kind of a follow-up to this kind of bizarre email. It seems to be getting a little more deeper where some of you received an email from me. Supposedly that wasn't me and now others view the same example palette just kind of wonder. If, if we're being a little um too, I don't know naive to have our email addresses and phone numbers on the town website.

B

Part of the town register uh that gets put out every year. It's access to absolutely everybody in the town. Yes,.

C

All the rtm members and council members boards and commissions, um but I could check um maria- I could check with it to see if they're, seeing an increase of fishing or that.

D

C

D

F

I wonder if another possibility is instead of having the email address so that when you look at the screen, you see the email address if, like the name is highlighted and you have to click on the name to get the email address so that a bot can't you know through the website and pick up. The email addresses just right.

B

F

So they'd be kind of um you know encrypted or they'd be there would be an alias for that. They.

A

F

Actually, click on.

A

Something yeah yeah that makes sense yeah right now they are um as as they you know, with names and numbers, and all that.

F

I I do think that you know, as public officials that we we need to have some sort of contact information in case somebody.

A

Wants to see, I totally agree, but I think that we really can't yeah there's been a problem and- and um I guess.

F

Another option would be to list the board members like as a pdf, so you you, wouldn't it actually wouldn't be on an html page. You'd have you'd, be you know encrypted into a pdf, so you'd see the pdf and then you'd get support the um phone numbers and email addresses, which is a little bit more cumbersome for people who want to get in touch with us. But right that same way, a bot, that's scrolling through the website, wouldn't be able to pick up.

C

Right and I that's how the register is too, it's in a you know, paper that kind of format. So that's probably yeah. You know it's not listed out as for as far.

B

C

It could be on the website, but I know the.

F

Results we listed on the website on an html page, or we listed, as you know, an actual web page. No.

C

When you yeah, when you click on at least the library portion there is, uh you know, judy had made a. I think it was under.

D

C

A

So you can click right on it, we're equal to the catalog and everything else right right, which I think that's that that's really um and thank you, but no yeah.

F

Yeah, we are we're right on the html page right.

A

I need to be deeper in and I'd like your suggestions, barb and.

C

I think that the pdf might be might be the way to go, but I will check in anyway just to ask about the phishing, because other people may have been experiencing that and well.

A

Also jeffrey, you said this: this is happening with a new website, so perhaps the older website had a little deeper security, perhaps or something.

C

Well, I do know with our website last time um you were in a pdf format. It wasn't where you could just click, so I mean.

F

C

Could certainly be an easy fix.

A

Well, I do believe this was associated with the library somehow, because that's the the only you know the only group yeah.

G

A

Right right, so I think we do need to get it corrected or or sure.

H

A

Be great yep, probably asap, okay! Well, you know your heart emailing.

C

A

You know use that email for your purchases, for your professional.

D

Work right, like whoa.

A

That's very true, yeah, don't it's more than just being on the board.

B

A

A you know: it's it's important that we get this yeah yeah secure as we can. Okay.

C

Oh, what I was I was going to say when I get the reappointments and everything's all said and done. We'll also uh fix all the the dates on either the you know where it says it on the on the website whether.

D

E

C

Be in a pdf format or whatever we'll get all that information updated.

A

All right, I think this this happened again now using halle. I think that really needs to be looked at, like asap.

C

Yeah all forward uh uh send an email to it as well as uh connect with the librarian who um yeah.

A

I deleted everything email I sent you all. I deleted everything. You know, okay, but you know barb. If you wanted to share what you had just to you know, perhaps that could be.

C

Oh yeah, if you want to, if you could forward that email, I won't open it.

D

C

D

A

C

At those things so.

A

Trace it down yeah block it and trace it, and I think I deleted.

D

A

D

A

And it might be in there.

F

I'll send it to to you jennifer.

C

Okay, that sounds good if it makes it past her fire yeah right, we'll see regardless.

I

I'll talk to it, do you have both of the emails barb.

F

No, I I only have, though I don't think I got the one that was supposedly from marie.

I

Okay, I can send that one on to jennifer yeah.

C

That would be great yeah.

I

The funny thing is: is that there's no links or anything in it? It's simply asking for a reply. So it's just trying to get trying to trying to verify that you're gonna that you're gonna respond.

D

Yeah they're not asking for any you did they they're asking for your help.

F

The one that I got that says it's from haley says would be glad to receive your response through email, because I'm presently in a meeting right right and I think that then, if you replied to it, they would pretend like they were hailey. But you could it says clearly on the email that it's it says: hayley keeler bj507605 at gmail.com.

F

So it's pretty. I mean I'm using outlook and it's it's obvious in outlook that it's not haley.

B

That vj, whatever I think that shows up if you send it from your phone to email, because I know a couple of times- I've no never mind it's vz nevermind, because I've gotten one from jerry and I thought where's where's this coming from, and I realized it's when it's from his phone.

A

Oh might be the variety yeah verizon yeah.

F

Yeah, I just sent it to you, jennifer, okay,.

B

Marilyn's back.

A

Okay, well um gosh, it's five o'clock. um I don't know if it was.

B

Right behind your window, murray, when we started off it was bright outside now your window's dark all.

A

Right, it is uh old business. You know right paper for items for old business, but does anyone do you have old business? Anyone have. Is there any? Oh, yes, there is old business. I think. Is that update on one card, one? Yes, yep.

D

C

um So, just quickly about the library aid um we have we received over, I want to say, like 55 applications for the library position. um My the circulation supervisor went over to. You know um basically go through experiences and you know what we're looking for um just by resumes and uh we've narrowed it down to about six potential interviews, but then, of course, foreclosure happened, so um we're just holding off because with the library position we actually have to do a test.

C

So, although we're moving into zoom interviews for many of the um uh you know, positions that are open currently, um this one could be rather difficult because again we have to have a test, so we're going to have to wait a bit, um but hopefully I got to connect with hr just to make sure that those people are notified that we're just holding off because of the covet closure. Or you know at this time.

D

How many people um about six six, okay.

B

So they have no possibility of starting until correct okay, correct.

C

To be honest with you, with with where we have we're still staggering people coming in and out, you know staff in the building. So it's probably.

B

C

Because I want to make sure we have our staff all together, so we can welcome this person um to get them started, but uh yeah. So just that's just the update on that. I just wanted to give you some information and then the one card, one community- I don't know if you recall, but jessa franco, who is our teen librarian workforce development librarian.

C

She has been working very um well with our school ground, public schools, both high school and the middle school, with not only the library, media specialists, but some of the teachers trying to sell this initiative that we want to broach with having a having all the students get library cards that they could um basically connect their library card with their student id. So they will automatically be able to. You know just get items from our catalog and have delivery service and really that's.

C

The whole big plan is to be able to do that delivery and connect students with library cards to thereby you know, gain better access to materials.

C

I'm sorry. The initial push was supposed to be because of the digital aspect too. We're really trying to get the digital services, especially now into the kids hands and not everybody. Every student understands that they can use library, materials or buy a library card still so we're trying to connect all those dots.

C

The initiative is a long-term project, but the first phase was to have the teachers and have the board of ed acknowledge that we could do some kind of initiative immediately with the digital resources that we have, and um so jessa has been going to some board of ed meetings um to to sell this initiative and um as of the other day, they are very interested to. You know go to the next step.

C

The next step would be to talk to um bill memorial, library and mystic, and noec library, to um you know ensure that we have a collective gra in library unit to go forward to assist these students with this this project, so we're still in the very early development phase. But um the best part of this is as much as we've worked with the schools in the past.

C

We're really trying to make better relationship. So they know you know we are their support system and we do want to help these students as best as we can as much as the school is doing already, but we want to also be there. I mean that's, that's one of our.

B

C

Pieces of our mission statement: it's we really want to assist these students and if it's nothing else in digital or physical materials, then so be it that's what we want to do, but um we need the school's buy-in. Of course,.

A

C

A

C

In development so very excited she's doing some great work.

A

Is it still I should know, but um I don't know if it's changed, but students obviously had access to research at ct, the connecticut digital library when they were in the school building right, their student ids or whatever they used. For you know, cards in the built in the school building are not public library cards. So that's right. When student left the school building, they could not get to those same resources in their house unless they had a public library card.

A

That's right is that still correct, so that that really is the the crux of the that's still the issue that.

C

A

They get another library cards into the kids hands and then they see the value of them makes it more seamless for them to continue to use the resources they use in the building. It.

C

Does because if you think.

A

C

Terms of um maria, I think you know very well um when you were well at you, know, being at east lime, high school, they had, they were part of a consortium where they could deliver books and what not you know with the greater public libraries. I think.

A

C

Talked to you before about that. Well, now, um we're not hooked up whatsoever to groton public schools, meaning that you know, what's ever in their system, for their books in their uh library, medias specialist. They they can't access our stuff without coming over to our library or going online and placing books on hold like every other person.

C

But what we're trying to do is actually utilize a student's id as their library card in our system.

D

C

um A student apparently has a student id from, I don't know, grade one or kindergarten until they're a senior in high school and.

B

So we're trying.

C

To bridge that divide, you know, so they automatically get a a card number with their id, it's basically their id, and then they can use it throughout their career. As a student.

A

Now it's like a security number for kids, so they're right when they, particularly when they move from school district to school district. They.

C

A

C

We think it would be better at more advantageous for them. It's not just going to the library to get a card. This connects them to a wealth of information that they can have at their fingertips. Instead of having to you know, do that extra step.

B

um Ali, yes ben, would that create a nightmare for statistics.

C

Well, you know these are all the fine details that we got to look into the whole. The whole point of going to the board of ed was to to see if they would be interested in having us pursue this idea, because, honestly, we don't want to put all this information all this detail, all this work into something if the school is like yeah we're not interested. You.

H

C

So this is like, I said, the very tip of the iceberg, like what kind of collaborations can we make? Could this be something we could do and at the very least, we could um definitely share digital resources much better than we.

A

C

Basically, the goal is to support the schools better than we ever had before.

E

C

E

So it would fit in very nicely with your comments about the successful march uh open house for officials who possibly have an open house for school administration and teaching faculty.

C

Absolutely absolutely yeah, I can't I can't stress enough how great um the librarians, especially jessa, um making these really great relationship building with these uh you know administrators and teachers and media specialists, because, honestly I mean, if you have that connection it's much easier to to market yourself and to showcase them that we do have these materials not just materials. We have these services that can certainly be advantageous not only for the students, but for them- and um you know so having that networking right now is is fantastic.

C

A

You know, as we speak, I'm visualizing the the new middle school and how close it is proximity, what an opportunity for that, but also the new grosso tech which your career.

A

I mean it's just you think, that's not even what a mile away and and two and, of course, a high school fish high school so so much there. I really applaud you for reaching out for those to make connections, because such a important time in the in the students lives to learn about the public libraries and to use them and to become lifelong users.

C

Well, it's interesting, too, is just having this uh capability. Now of you know, we have overdrive, we have ebooks, we have and not to completely focus on the you know ebooks, but um because we do want, we want everybody to check out physical materials too, but you know the ground. Public schools doesn't have a lot to offer with the digital services just yet I mean they they've completely, just like anybody else. During this coveted time, they've had to rethink everything and we have those things we have those um supplies.

C

You know if you will to give to them um very seamlessly, to help their students and to help them.

E

And frankly, it's a way of helping to avoid budgetary expenses by having access.

C

That is correct. That is correct. um You know so again, even if it's just the better networking or the collaboration and also the access to the digital resources easier for parents, students and teachers. um I'm happy that with that initially and then we'll go from there, but uh again kudos to the staff for making that happen so she's doing a great job.

A

B

Yes, absolutely great idea.

A

Is there any other old business any other new older in between?

A

Well, I wish you all very happy holidays, they're gonna be different, but um safe and um looking forward to 2021, I said.

C

You and everyone else, I'll tell you I I do want to just mention um uh that tomorrow there could be. um We are definitely gonna close curbside just for tomorrow, only because I'm very concerned with people driving up and walking up to that vestibule um and possibly not that they want to stand in line, but I just I don't I'm better safe than sorry. I don't want anybody getting hurt and I do not know what priority we would be at to dig ourselves out. You know.

C

Public works has to do a lot of roads, so um we are going to be putting publicity up for that shortly. um But I just wanted you to be aware. I don't want you to you, know, stay safe.

B

C

B

Libraries, it closes yeah.

C

Absolutely yeah, but we will resume on friday. So just so you know.

A

All right, may I have a motion to adjourn at 5 14., so moved ally in the second okay. Catherine, thank you for taking minutes really appreciate it.

C

A

Thank you. I will be in touch.

C

uh Momentarily about the uh the um the email situation, I'm gonna send an email and then I'll get back to you as soon as I know that okay can.

D

You send me the thing to type into. I guess I.

C

Will I'll send it after the meetings? I can't.

D

Come in unless I can come in no, I guess I can't right.

C

D

Connect with you I'll send it to.

A

You anyway and then I'll connect.

C

With you, okay,.

A

C

Problem, thank you sounds good all right, nice to see you all happy holidays.

F