Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text

4.26.21 minutes

Library · Source meeting date: 2021-04-26 · Record 70064

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Canton Library Board of Trustees 
Minutes of April 26, 2021 
 
Attendees: Trustees Chris Untersee, Joan Schottenfeld, Emily Prigot, Susan Cogliano, Betty Chelmow, George 
Comeau, Jan Chamberlain & Peg Mead and Director Andrea Capone. 
 
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 pm via zoom. 
 
Minutes: 
A motion was made by Emily Prigot and seconded by Betty Chelmow to approve the minutes of March 15, 
2021. These were unanimously approved. 
 
Director’s Report: 
The month of April has been fantastic at the library! We have reopened our lobby to the public and now offer in 
person services six days per week. We have seen a real uptick in visits and have welcomed 188 visitors back 
since we reopened on April 12th. Our lobby is open Monday and Wednesday from 3-7PM, Tuesdays, 
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10AM- 2:00PM. There is no appointment needed to visit the library, 
but masks and covid protocols must be followed while visiting. 
 
In March we circulated 8,573 items through our curbside pickup program. We continue to offer this popular 
service 6 days per week to the public. 
 
We have provided access to an array of important digital resources for our community through our online 
offerings. E-Book usage is up 82% over where we were at this time last year and continues to grow. Our 
thoughtful and talented librarians continue to select materials in every format available that engage and 
entertain the public. 
 
The library’s “On Demand” printing service has printed and delivered over 700 jobs. 
 
Over the past month the library hosted 22 virtual storytimes for our young patrons with 6,304 people viewing 
these programs. These virtual storytimes are recorded and can be watched anytime on Facebook or can be 
accessed live each weekday at 10:30AM. 
 
We are winding down our very successful Canton Reads program! Over the month of April the library hosted 
book discussions, author events, and speakers about our selection “The Boys in the Boat”. Some of these events 
were recorded and are available through Canton Cable. Thank you so much to the dedicated group of 
volunteers, library staff and Trustees who contributed to our community wide reading program. We look 
forward to hosting another event next Spring. 
 
Amie Grosshans has joined our library staff. Amie is a welcome addition to the Circulation department. 
Lisa Quinn has announced her intention to retire on September 3,, 2021. Lisa’s contributions to the library over 
the past 37 years have been immeasurable and we will miss her tremendously. Work has begun evaluating her 
current job description and responsibilities as we contemplate how best to accomplish the mission of our 
modern library. Lisa currently holds two roles, one as the “Senior Librarian” and one as “Technical Services 
Librarian”. 
 
George Comeau brought up that there will be funds available through the CARES act for one-time “shovel 
ready” projects that will prolong the life of the current building. The HVAC and flat roof replacement/repair 
may be qualified. Director Capone will look into the possibilities.

Budget Update: 
Our current budget sheet is attached. We have signed a new service contract for preventative maintenance of 
our HVAC system. This contract includes MERV13 filters throughout the building. 
 
The library Director recommends that the Board continue the current policy of not collecting overdue fines for 
late materials. Chris Untersee made a motion to continue the current policy through August. Seconded by 
Emily Prigot. The motion was passed unanimoustly. 
 
If Town Meeting approves the budget as recommended by Finance Committee and Select Board, we will have a 
fully-funded materials budget next year. 
 
Sub-committee on reopening report: 
Peg Mead made a motion to adopt Proposed Reopening Subcommittee Recommendations. Seconded by Emily 
Prigot. 
 Reopen Main and Second floors on 5/17. Resume pre-covid hours of operation. Tie capacity limits to 
current Governor’s orders. No time limits for browsing. All patrons continue to sign in for contact 
tracing purposes. No appointments needed for these areas of the library. 
 Reopen Junior Room by appointment only on 5/17 through at least end of school year. Appointments 
booked online through the event calendar. 
 Curbside pickup service available by request only. 
 Remove almost all seating on first floor with the following exceptions: 
o Socially distanced seating (every other) computers. 
o Leave 1 chair at each of the three tables in Reference Room. 
o Leave 1 chair at each end of library tables in Large Print Room. Both Library tables will remain 
in Large Print until floors in Periodical Reading Room are refinished this summer. 
o Remove all seating from YA except for at socially distanced (every other) computers. Socially 
distanced floor markers will be available for teens to sit on. If no marker is available, teens will 
be asked to limit their stay to one hour to make space for others. 
 Propose temporarily changing unattended youth age from 10 to age 14 or Freshman in high school. This 
would not apply to pre-registered events held outside. 
 Indoor meeting spaces limited. Community Room, Trustees, Local History, and private study open with 
capacity restrictions. The Aldrich Room is being used for chair storage. 
 Library to begin outdoor programming following Board of Health guidance and Governor’s orders. 
Storytime for children to resume outdoors. Outdoor furniture has been ordered for library lawn, 
amphitheater has been repaired. 
 
Volunteer Participation is key to reopening as they are needed to relieve the librarians of the onus of reshelving 
books: 
 Allow volunteers to return to the library as space and capacity limits allow beginning May 17th as long 
as they are fully vaccinated. Volunteer shelvers are critical to operations. The Board of Health 
recommends waiting until September 1st. The senior tax abatement program is not resuming until Sept. 
1st. 
 Friends of the Library allowed back in to prep for outdoor booksale (should they choose). Capacity 
limits on Friends storage room. 
 
After discussion, Peg Mead withdrew the motion pending Director Capone obtaining more information about 
Volunteer participation from the Board of Health. A special Board meeting before the next scheduled meeting 
will be held to further discuss this issue.

Friends Report: 
Rosie attended the Friends meeting on April and updated the Friends on the opening of the lobby and the 
number of people attending. 
 
Discussion followed on Canton Reads, not needing museum passes for the time being and volunteers coming 
back into the library. 
 
Canton Writes has had 15 submissions so far and it will be publicized more. 
 
The Ruta Beggars performance at the Coffee House was well attended by 66 “devices”. The next performance 
through the band’s Facebook page will be on June 12 and feature The House of Hamill, an Irish band. 
 
Friends membership stands at 196. 
 
The Friends are working on their certification with the Town for their legal status so they can continue to raise 
funds. 
 
Upcoming programs and events: 
The library will be working with the local Canton Farmer’s Market to host outdoor story times outdoors on the 
lawn at the high school. The library will host twice monthly story times on Sundays from June-October. There 
will be opportunities for on-the-spot library card registration and checking out books. 
 
Summer Reading: 
This year our theme is “Tails and Tales” and our librarians are excited to announce upcoming programs that 
include our animal friends. 
 
Future meeting dates: 
May 17 
June 21 
 
George Comeau made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. Seconded by Emily Prigot. Motion was 
passed unanimously. 
 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
Peg Mead