[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6365993,"mediaKeyId","2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3","parentId",2159695,"title","Trustees approve volunteer rules, makerspace and other policy updates; adopt COVID testing guidance","audioSeconds",1113,"startMs",4067000,"endMs",5180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3&start=4067&end=5180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3/thumbnail_4067000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6365993/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Trustees-approve-volunteer-rules-makerspace-and-other-policy-updates-adopt-COVID-testing-guidance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365993-1085f7a429f2032cb20e6a7ee26bcc1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776004704&Signature=KbylSYOMYueJmD7OhhUKKy-kGwG5r1EhUyHIFuhcMajOEG5bG0E7GlgRU9caOHSik1EU1MS9a~woNGg4Q7WSWD~qVAjmsx2aLNZJgDdoWZW06B2dwSDC6swWykma3SmE1Xfjgf4ykmjImasEaQTKmQkUnSBt0C-rEfWifVjLCXqdAYd~VaeDWo8ssGOJHIAfw5V5HiCDVjMcM8ooY5FJfo0gujAh6WujYzudH4HjMIoMPAeOzEIblL3v-6YC0bERoKTyz6XfUc3yNMcWoXDQzVRu3FhswqxoG5azlVTzf2p7990p1eU3aVv2nGblvjZbZixC6JzCnducMUFW76LwTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-29T11:59:20Z","article","Trustees of the St. Mary's County Library approved several policy updates and operational items at their meeting, voting on administrative changes ranging from volunteer rules to makerspace safety and workplace COVID testing.

Minutes and routine financial approvals
Board President Jim Hanley moved and trustees approved the July meeting minutes and the month’s expenses (EALs). The votes were voice votes with trustees indicating unanimous support among those present.

Volunteer and personnel policies
Trustees approved an updated volunteer manual and volunteer guidelines that lower the minimum age for youth volunteers to 14 (with a parent-signed volunteer contract required for ages 14–15) and list duties volunteers are not permitted to perform under Maryland law. The board also approved related personnel-policy edits, including a clarified resignation-notice procedure asking for two weeks’ notice (with up to six weeks appreciated).

Study rooms, makerspace and 3-D/Cricut policies
The board approved changes to the study-room policy requiring that room applicants be at least 12 years old and that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult. Trustees approved a new makerspace policy and agreement that sets safety and training rules for tools such as 3-D printers, Cricut cutters and other workshop equipment. Trustees also approved wording changes to the library’s 3-D printing and Cricut policies clarifying that the library “disclaims knowledge and does not accept responsibility” for patrons’ creations; that wording was amended across the maker-related policies for consistency.

COVID testing guidelines
Trustees approved employee COVID testing guidelines that distinguish treatment for vaccinated and unvaccinated employees. Under the approved framework, vaccinated employees may be exempt from routine screening testing while unvaccinated employees will be asked to participate in periodic testing and follow additional precautions during periods of high transmission. Trustees modified the draft to fix minor wording (removing an erroneous “in”) and to add “bus” (or public conveyance) to the list of travel types that require supervisor notification; the board set an implementation date of Sept. 1 to give staff time to prepare.

Investment policy deferred
The board reviewed a proposed investment policy for the library’s OPEB (retiree health) fund but decided to have outside counsel review the draft before voting. Trustees asked the director to forward the draft to the library’s attorney to determine whether outside expertise is needed or to recommend a specialist reviewer.

Votes at a glance
- Approval: July meeting minutes — outcome: approved by voice vote (unanimous among members present).
- Approval: Expenses/EALs — outcome: approved by voice vote.
- Approval: Volunteer manual — outcome: approved (policy lowers youth volunteer age to 14; parental signature required for ages 14–15).
- Approval: Volunteer guidelines — outcome: approved.
- Approval: Study-room policy changes — outcome: approved (reservation allowed for applicants aged 12+; children under 12 must be accompanied).
- Approval: Makerspace policy and agreement — outcome: approved.
- Approval: 3-D printing and Cricut policy wording change — outcome: approved (library language changed to \"disclaims knowledge and does not accept responsibility\").
- Approval: Employee COVID testing guidelines — outcome: approved with minor wording edits; implementation set for Sept. 1.
- Action deferred: Investment policy for OPEB fund — outcome: tabled for legal/financial review.

Ending: Trustees approved the package of operational and program policies and asked staff to implement the COVID guidance by Sept. 1; the investment policy will return after counsel review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8/16/2021 St. Mary's County Library Board of Trustees","oneSentenceSummary","The St. Mary's County Library Board approved a package of personnel and program policies including a revised volunteer manual, volunteer guidelines, study-room rules, makerspace and 3D-printing language changes, and an employee COVID testing guideline with a Sept. 1 implementation date; an investment policy was tabled for outside counsel review.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6365998,"Library details ARPA-funded mobile library project and statewide ebook initiative",473,699000,1172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3&start=699&end=1172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3/thumbnail_699000.jpg","/articles/6365998/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Library-details-ARPA-funded-mobile-library-project-and-statewide-ebook-initiative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365998-35406d23b2705dc1d00c20cbdb2327c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776004704&Signature=b-0-JNUvJQAsjBl9S1HUqMp-5HeiapAmPpgAv1ZKbFv~BwJLeUv89NIcoxdXtOtRH-4~sL7EjhU25lmcqsiDx0Ezgjy7M-wdA7XkY9ym7N1a7cANFN15miU3fI~gbPbCGpoinkKZHFN6fyfbtqNlR36Al-TJgO4qahmqtgOd7do0jgzszTQByDg6o~uAtvCEN170~w4htLh9KZ1Kj7cPO8IJBS~JPnYFkRgiiYsZAnVVzfsVi7w5MI9ZKYZ5m30vq1Ha6boODYtOYYW~y0ZwVHAUx3HTo6sU4Lvx9-ysYh7a~2CwMKDdNWzXw-jv~Oa950hGEsNsxXY1Nsu~lvosQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Library director updated trustees on two ARPA-funded initiatives that aim to expand services: a mobile library vehicle and an ebook-access grant coordinated through the Maryland State Library.

On the mobile library, the director said the library is working with a consultant, Michael Sandowski, who specializes in outfitting mobile library vehicles. The library has issued a request for proposals for manufacturers and has received one manufacturer response so far. The director said the ARPA vehicle grant originally covered the vehicle only, but the regional program will permit the library to consider hiring staff to operate outreach programs once the vehicle is delivered. He said a full rollout and road service for the vehicle is not expected until at least September or October 2022 because custom builds take time.

The director said trustees should expect to request staffing support during next year’s budget cycle; he plans to brief county commissioners about the mobile library soon and said some commissioners expressed tentative support but asked to see budget details first. Trustees suggested outreach to home-schooling families, daycare centers and other community groups as possible routes for mobile library service.

On the ebook grant, the director said the state is piloting a new reader app developed by Lyricis (SimplyE's new version called Palace) and that the state and local libraries are pressing major vendors to make audiobook and ebook content more widely available to libraries. He said that change could add roughly 10,000 previously restricted audiobook titles to library access and that Maryland’s recent law and multi-state interest may have influenced publishers’ decisions to engage in talks. The director said the state will trial the new app and libraries will work with vendors to expand content.

Trustees did not take a formal vote on either grant update; the briefing was informational. The director said staff will return with formal budget or contract requests for future trustee consideration as projects progress.

Ending: Trustees received project updates and directed staff to continue planning and to brief county officials about the mobile library staffing needs.","Library staff updated trustees on two ARPA-funded projects: a mobile library vehicle with plans for community outreach and a statewide ebook pilot that may expand access to titles previously unavailable to libraries.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6366002,"Library trustees approve participation in regional facilities master study, agree to a $9,435 local match",542,1912000,2454000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3&start=1912&end=2454","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159695-ea013520074e7e5b9e00cd9e7586b6c3/thumbnail_1912000.jpg","/articles/6366002/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Library-trustees-approve-participation-in-regional-facilities-master-study-agree-to-a-9435-local-match","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366002-39275c3f799fd16cc9637133e57e5df2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776004704&Signature=Aj0BJs1Ro0lQ09TqFc8I8NihzhnlhpFikvPYq4~dkuX8TiaClO~Ah3RPDgPhtXoePNT0wbplb3GfQY7A7qKjoKDdH0igS4Td7CBR8pIxi5fM4sr9mq0~8JXuoYqkbXIHtAMo01YBA24jTkrOIoLc8UlHCrKj1byt9Scdp1aD5pr8KG37QwuqfzoIQLg-SI47256df3~m--nd7683~3Mm~lFJFQl33jnNlF86Ou1MR27gpCy0aRupWxOc3-NDhKVwyJt2FqHwJECG0Kc7EroFHeC0yntNcSdHv95xSeDqXlicCekjc2ewU-1eAuUYKMjncyC-xUsgq0eAWxeH2k5d9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Library Board of Trustees voted to join a regional facilities master study through the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association, approving a consulting agreement that will let the county update its building assessments and position branches to compete for state capital grants.

Library Director Michael (staff member) told trustees the county's master study dates to 2007 and that the state now expects an updated facilities assessment before awarding capital grant money. Michael said the state is awarding about $7.5 million a year for library capital grants and the regional approach keeps the county's share for the consultant work to $9,435 instead of the more than $40,000 it would cost the county to commission the study alone.

John Walters, a trustee, moved to approve the SMRLA consulting agreement; the motion carried. Trustees discussed how the study will review each branch's condition and community growth patterns and noted it could identify renovation needs for branches such as Lexington Park. Michael said the consultant firm has extensive experience in Maryland library work and that the study could help the library apply for state funding and for the county’s capital improvement planning.

Trustees asked about ADA requirements and whether the scope of work would identify accessibility or other infrastructure deficiencies. Michael pointed to the consultant's scope, which explicitly lists identification of infrastructure deficiencies, and said those items would be investigated as part of the study.

The board approved participating in SMRLA’s contract so the regional consultant will include St. Mary's County libraries in the study. Michael said the results could be used to ask the county for capital funding or to strengthen state grant applications.

The trustees did not set any automatic capital projects; the study will inform later planning and discussions with the county commissioners.

Ending: The consultant work is intended to be the next step for the library to qualify for state capital grants; trustees authorized participation and the $9,435 match so the regional firm can proceed with a facilities master study that will be shared with the county and used in future capital requests.","The St. Mary's County Library Board voted to participate in a regional facilities master study administered by the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA), agreeing to a $9,435 local match so the county system can qualify for state capital grants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trustees approve volunteer rules, makerspace and other policy updates; adopt COVID testing guidance

Library details ARPA-funded mobile library project and statewide ebook initiative

Library trustees approve participation in regional facilities master study, agree to a $9,435 local match