Crandall Public Library

Call to Order

President Shapiro called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. Quorum was established.

Staff Recognition (2023)

Lisa Daniels - 5 years

Jeremy Dickinson - 5 years

Guinevere Forshey - 20 years

Tala Henry-Halabi - 15 years

Rickele Lomax - 5 years

Cynthia Maguire - 5 years

Becky McDonald - 5 years

Christopher Simmons - 15 years

The Trustees and Ms. Naftaly recognized the employees for their hard work and years of dedication to the Library. The Trustees and Ms. Naftaly thanked the Friends for their financial support of staff recognition.

Public Comment

No public comment.

Correspondence and Press

The Board passed around the correspondence and press.

Incident Reports

The Board reviewed the incident reports.

Department Reports

Assistant Director

Ms. Forshey explained that we are transitioning the Library's calendar software program; the current calendar program, eVanced, will be discontinued at the end of May. Staff are switching their programming schedules to the new software and working on any issues. Hopefully, public notification of the new calendar program will go out next week. The brand new software program - LibraryCalendar by LibraryMarket will be a better solution for staff and patrons; reservations of Study Rooms are being added to the software to help streamline the process.   

Adult Services

Ms. Boyer reported the Department is currently running the Spring Film Series; last night, the film was The Cat Rescuers, shown in partnership with North Shore Animal League’s Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center. On Friday, April 20, the Department held An Evening with Blue Zones Explorer Tony Buettner - Creating a Blueprint for Our Sustainable Future at the Charles R. Wood Theater. The Department is preparing a series of wellness and summer programs, including the Adventure Begins at Your Library Summer Reading Program. 

Children’s Department

Ms. Farrar reported on the programming for the spring school break week; the programs were well attended. The Department is hosting several school field trips; second graders from Lake George were here last week as part of their annual visit, learning about Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas. Crandall Public Library was their Urban stop; the Department brought in food from local restaurants for them to sample our area's cuisine. The students visited the Folklife Center and viewed historical pictures of different communities they visited during the field trip. Next month, Abe Wing School will be here as a prize for a reading contest, and the Department plans to supply them with VIP treatment. The Lip Sync Battle at the Charles R. Wood Theater was a great event; the teens and tweens from the Library sang "I'm Just Ken" from the movie Barbie. The Department is also in preparation for this year's Adventure Begins at Your Library Summer Reading Program.

Teen Department - Frieda Toth (Written Report)

Written report submitted.

Circulation Services

Ms. Costa reported on the statistics of the lost items returned since the Library went late fines-free at the start of 2023. In 2023, the returned items almost doubled the pre-pandemic numbers, which is fantastic. Ms. Costa explained in 2024 (to date), we have seen an over 1,000 returned items increase from the same time frame in 2023, and patrons are increasingly returning items. Ms. Costa stated that patrons love that we are late fines-free and now feel more welcomed here and more comfortable borrowing from the Library, which is so important.

Folklife Department

Mr. DeGarmo discussed the Spring Concert Series lineup; last week was the Crossroads of Sound, next week is the Ukrainian Village Voices, and on May 9 and 10, Joy Clark. The Reception & Book Signing with Jackie Touba for her exhibition, Love Stories from 1000 Years Ago, is on May 2. The Shutter Squad and Learn to Play the Ukulele Workshops are continuing programs and are going well. The Do Tell: Learning to Perform Personal Stories is finishing up, with the participants recording their stories tonight after the board meeting. Mr. DeGarmo explained the microphone being used tonight comes from a company in California, where you can name the microphone you purchase, and the microphone is named 'Betsy' after Betsy Crandall. Ms. Shapiro thanked Mr. DeGarmo for the 2023 Folklife Annual Report and the information shared.

Facilities

Mr. Dickinson is currently preparing the Annual Warren County Safety Training for staff. Mr. Dickinson and Ms. Naftaly discussed the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for public building compliance; a discussion regarding possibly purchasing an AED for each floor of the building and staff AED and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training ensued. Mr. Dickinson is working with Warren County on the staff training; more information will be forthcoming. Mr. Dickinson and Ms. Naftaly explained the bids received for the Boiler Replacement Project; Rozell Industries, Inc. came in as one of the three lowest bids and the only company following all bid specifications; approval is an action item.

Friends of Crandall Library

Ms. McDowell reported the book sale brought in over $4,200. Ms. McDowell thanked the Trustees and staff who purchased books and thanked Ms. Bartlett for her Facebook Birthday Book Sale Fundraiser, bringing in another $400 to add to the treasury; the book sale was a huge success, and the Friends were very pleased. Thank you to Mr. Dickinson and the Custodial Team, Mr. Zwart, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Guay; many aspects of the book sales would not be possible without them. Ms. McDowell explained the Friends have a new Book Sale Banner and thanked Development Assistant Ms. Ziegler for the fabulous design. The next book sale is the Books on Carts in the Park Sale on July 10; they are busy reorganizing for the next sale.

Approval of Board of Trustees Minutes: March 27, 2024

Treasurer’s Report, March 2024

Mr. Barcomb reported that revenues are 62.6%; as of March 2024, expenses are 26.2%. March is 25.0% of the 2024 budget year. Mr. Barcomb explained the budget modifications as outlined in the report.

Approval of Claims Auditor Reports, March 2024

Acceptance of the Claims Auditor Reports for March 2024 bills and payroll; there were no discrepancies in March.

Committee(s) Reports

Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee

Ms. Shapiro reported the Committee had finished updating the Crandall Public Library Purchasing Policy for Board approval. The Committee is now focusing on updating the Crandall Public Library Suspension or Revocation of Library Privileges Policy, comparing the policy with the Crandall Public Library Rules of Behavior Policy to maintain consistency between the policies.

Approval of the Crandall Public Library Purchasing Policy - 2024 revision, effective May 1, 2024.

Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee

Ms. Hogan explained the next step for the Sustainability Committee is gathering information on the Sustainable Libraries Initiative: Sustainable Library Certification Program. Saratoga Springs Public Library has completed the program with Jennifer Ferris as their point person; Ms. Ferris will be at the Sustainability Committee's May meeting to discuss the program and the possibility of mentoring Crandall Public Library through the certification process should the Board choose to participate. Librarian I, Sharon Berg, will be assigned tasks associated with the Library's path to sustainability certification.

Finance Committee

On May 1, the Finance Committee will meet with Glens Falls National Bank to review the Library's first quarter of 2024 financials.

Personnel Committee

Approval of the Provisional Appointment of Sean Valis, Computer Help Desk Technician, effective April 16, 2024, at $37,128/Annual Salary.

Approval of the Permanent Promotion of Rickele Lomax to Librarian II, effective April 29, 2024.

Warren County Civil Service - State Exam #73731 Local Exam #31020.

SALS

Ms. Shapiro discussed the 2025 New York State Budget and the increases to Library Aid. Ms. Naftaly explained NOVELny and its significance remaining in the budget, as the NOVELny program and its online resources were to cease on June 30, 2024. The SALS Annual Meeting is May 20, 2024. The Rockwell Falls Public Library has reopened.

Director’s Report & Action Items

Ms. Naftaly explained the need to add an Ad Hoc Henry & Betsy Crandall Award Committee to begin the nomination process for the 2024 recipient. Trustees Ms. Nemer, Mr. Toomey, and Ms. Shapiro volunteered to serve on the Committee with Ms. Naftaly and Ms. Ziegler. Ms. Naftaly will be the Committee's point person at this time, and the Library will hire an outside event coordinator for this year's gala. Ms. Naftaly reported on the decision to go in a new direction due to the open Development Director position; Teen Services Librarian Ms. Toth has accepted the newly created Community Engagement Coordinator position. Ms. Toth is well-known in the community, and the new position will allow for growth and development for Ms. Toth and the Library. There will be restructuring within the Children's and Teen Departments, to Youth Services, and some personnel changes with a promotion for Teen Librarian Ms. Nelson, the addition of Librarians from the current Warren County Civil Service List, and the canvassing for a part-time Office Specialist position to handle the clerical aspect of the eliminated Development Director position. Ms. Naftaly described the Building Condition Survey bids received and the decision to hire Collier Engineering & Design.  

Action Items

Approval of the 2023 Crandall Public Library Annual Report.

Approval of the Legal Notices for Trustee Petitions (3-City of Glens Falls, 2-Town of Moreau, and 1-Queensbury).

Approval to hire Rozell Industries, Inc. for the Boiler System Replacement Project. Cost not to exceed $235,000.

Approval to hire Colliers Engineering & Design for the Building Conditions Survey. Cost not to exceed $34,500 plus travel reimbursements.

Permission for Todd DeGarmo to attend the Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Indigenous Voices of the Americas, in Washington DC, June 26-29, 2024, as a cost-effective way to speak with a number of Native American artists and presenters in preparation for a National Endowment for the Arts Grant to help fund our upcoming Nell Cunningham Indian Basket Exhibit and series of programs. A $1,000 grant from the New York Folklore Professional Mentoring Program will pay for all travel and hotel expenses. Library cost: per diem for meals at $100 per day x 4 days; not to exceed $400.

On April 9, 2024, we received an unrestricted bequest of $37,037.07 (partial distribution). $12,023.31 exceeds the current year's budget; per investment guidelines, a Board decision is required for the use/placement of the excess funds.

After discussing the action item, the Trustees agreed to place the excess bequest funds in the General Operating Account.

Old Business

Trustee Terms Ending in 2024

Trustees up for re-election: Petitions are due between June 28 and July 11, 2024 (by 3:00 p.m. at the latest).

Reed Antis - Moreau

David Barcomb - Moreau

Amy Bartlett - Glens Falls

Barbara Caimano - Queensbury

Elizabeth Hogan - Glens Falls

Michael Toomey - Glens Falls

New Business

No new business was discussed.

Executive Session 

An executive session was necessary to discuss prospective real property matters. Ms. Nemer left the meeting at 5:30 p.m. No action was taken from the executive session.

Adjournment