The evening of 2024-12-02 was a meeting of the Mendon Public Library Board of Trustee.
There was an interesting conversation around health insurance. While I did not understand all the references, my impression was the Library thinks the Town can provide better coverage at a lower cost. Assuming that is the case, I’m sure the Town Board would like to hear how that could be done.
The Library is exploring creating a Foundation, and I think they need to talk to a lawyer. Tonight there was a discussion around if it was better to house this potential Foundation under this group, or as part of the ‘Friends of the Library‘.
It sounds like the Trustees think the Friends is a better place, organizationally. Primarily because the Friends are better setup to accept donations of non-cash assets (stocks, land, etc). But the Trustees expressed confusion with the process for spending Foundation resources. It almost sounded like they wanted more oversight on the Friends. Which makes sense, except I wouldn’t be surprised if such runs into legal issues. In other words, do the Friends have their flexibility in accepting donations because they don’t have the oversight? I freely admit I don’t know.
The Trustees are reading ‘Handbook for Library Trustees (2023)‘, with the intent of having a discussion about sustainable libraries. There was brief discussion around this tonight, but nothing conclusive, as they have not yet finished their reading. I am hoping I can listen in on future discussion. Mostly because I like to hear ideas about more efficiently using resources. Even as I fear it will be more ideas about worshiping the creation, and not the Creator.
A projection of immigrants leaving New York city and dispersing throughout the State was shared. The intent seemed to be towards how the library might want to consider more bilingual programs. But the conversation spun off in a variety of tangents. Which was entertaining, if nothing else. Bottom line, there are concerns (but nothing concrete) that more immigrants may be in the area ‘soon‘.
Next meeting will be on December 23 at 6PM. As the stated purpose for that meeting is approving vouchers before the year ends, I expect it will be a short meeting.
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the December 02, 2024 meeting of the Mendon Public Library Board of Trustees.
Link to agenda on Library website until they update it, losing the past.