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Library director says budget spending is on track and plans public action-item tracker
Summary
Library Director Jen Bruneau reported the library is about 81% expended at mid-May, highlighted recent awards for staff and the children's department, described switching analytics to Umami, and said she will publish a visual, public-facing action-item tracker and provide a fuller update at the next meeting.
Jen Bruneau, the library director, told trustees that the library's year-to-date spending is on track and credited staff for improvements in collections budgeting and project tracking.
"We're at 81% expenditures," Bruneau said, adding that changes to collections management and new tracking spreadsheets have helped the department stay on budget at mid-May. She singled out staff members for improvements in budgeting and operations.
Bruneau also highlighted recent honors: an ARPA-funded project recognized at the American Library Association and an award for the children's department for its story-garden program, saying the recognitions reflected sustained staff work and high attendance at children's events.
On data and public engagement, Bruneau said the library has switched analytics to Umami, which provides unique-visit and device-type information without using cookies, and described plans to convert the internal action-item spreadsheet into a more visual, public-facing tracker so residents can follow project progress. She said a fuller update on action-item tracking will be provided at the board's next meeting.
The board had minor questions about a longevity pay line showing an overage for the year; Bruneau said that reflects the updated NMEA union contract and that central accounting will adjust next year's allocations. Trustees and staff agreed to review the gifts policy in light of possible large donations and permanent physical gifts that current policy does not clearly address.
The board scheduled the next meeting for June 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. and agreed to hold at least one summer meeting in person.
