The Town of Danvers library director reported steady increases in circulation and described several upcoming initiatives at the trustees meeting. The board also approved prior minutes, gave informal approval to the town's draft budget goals, and tabled a tuition-reimbursement item until the next meeting.

In her director's report, the director said circulation rose from about 200,000 in 2023 to 206,000 in fiscal 2024, a 2.7% increase, and that early FY25 figures suggest a possible end-of-year total near 218,000 — a projected 6% increase. She credited staff marketing and outreach for the trend and the library's displays and selection work.

The director also reported that a small "little library" at Endicott Park was repaired and restored to service, and that an accessibility webinar for trustees is scheduled (a free online 90-minute session). She said she would distribute links for that webinar and for the region's legislative breakfast, set for Feb. 7 at the Marblehead Library.

The town has also received a grant to conduct an equity assessment for town employees; the consultant named in the director's materials is Tangible Development. The director said the assessment will include an online survey for employees (about 10'15 minutes) and some focus groups; early information did not confirm whether boards and volunteers would participate.

The director described an incident involving a man outside the library that staff handled by calling police; staff and a responding officer followed up, and the director said the situation appeared to involve a person possibly experiencing a mental-health crisis.

The board approved the minutes from the Dec. 11 meeting after a motion from Jessica and a second by Ken. A trustee said, "I have to abstain because I wasn't here," and the transcript records an abstention; numerical tallies were not recorded in the transcript and will appear in the published minutes.

Under old business, trustees agreed to table the tuition-reimbursement/scholarship item until next month and asked the subcommittee to meet after the next meeting to set a date. Trustees also reviewed the town's draft budget goals and indicated no comment, with the board secretary saying she would relay the trustees' support.

During new business trustees discussed language in the recently negotiated Unit B union contract about emergency staffing (Article 9). Trustees urged the director to seek clarification from town management, human resources or the town attorney about the definition of "emergency" and whether the director has authority and remedies to compel or incentivize staff to cover unexpected shortages. The director said she had asked staff and part-timers to fill gaps during the earlier closure and did not have a clear mechanism (overtime, incentive pay or compulsory reassignment) in the contract.

Votes at a glance: the Dec. 11 minutes were approved (motion moved by Jessica; seconded by Ken; the transcript records at least one abstention), the board gave informal approval to the town's draft budget goals (no formal vote recorded), and the tuition-reimbursement item was tabled to the next meeting. The meeting adjourned by motion and voice vote.

Next steps: the director will circulate links for the accessibility webinar and the legislative breakfast registration, publish circulation metrics in the budget narrative the town requested, and follow up with town management and HR about contract interpretation on emergency staffing.