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Trustees plan orientation sessions, friends group outreach and fall events including road race and summer social
Summary
Trustees discussed trustee training (ALA and MBLC materials), the Friends group’s attempt to form a nonprofit, and upcoming community events used for outreach and fundraising, including the library’s road race (Sept. 6), a town summer social (Aug. 14), a model‑rocket night and a storybook trail.
Trustees reviewed several non‑capital items that affect library operations and outreach: trustee training options, Friends‑of‑the‑Library organization formation, summer and fall events that support fundraising and community engagement, and volunteer coordination.
Trustee training: Trustees described online trustee training offered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and sessions from United for Libraries (part of the American Library Association). Trustees proposed a piecemeal approach — assign two or three short videos for trustees to watch before a meeting and discuss them for 10–15 minutes rather than trying to cover long programs in a single meeting. Trustees who attended the recent online sessions offered to prioritize the most relevant modules and share links via the trustees’ Google Drive.
Friends of the Library: The trustees reported that Whitney (Friends organizer) planned to reach out to the law firm Brecka & Brecka for help drafting nonprofit (501(c)(3)) documentation. Trustees discussed the practical hurdles to forming a friends group, including the secretary‑of‑state filing steps and the need for a point person to complete paperwork.
Outreach and events: Trustees reviewed upcoming community events the library will staff or participate in: a town summer social on Aug. 14 (library table at Curtis Mark Fields), the library road race on Sept. 6 (major annual fundraiser that raises about $3,000–$4,000 in prior years), and Field Day on Sept. 13. The trustees said volunteers are needed to staff registration, food and raffle/prize tables for the race and other events. Trustees also discussed library programs described by staff: a model‑rocket night for children on Aug. 21 and a storybook trail currently installed at Dotty Rock.
Trustees said they will coordinate publicity with town communications (town website, email blast and digital signage) and asked staff and volunteers to confirm availability for event days. One trustee volunteered to work on capital/Community Preservation ideas with another trustee for a future CPC/CIPC application round.
No formal votes were taken. Trustees asked staff and volunteers to follow up with event coordinators and the Friends group and to prepare materials for the September meeting about trustee training priorities and friends‑group progress.
