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Library plans summer reading, staffing shift and teen programming changes
Summary
Librarians reported plans for the 2026 Summer Reading program (June 13–Aug. 9) including a Tie‑Dinosaur kickoff, use of Beanstack, a $350 summer reading grant application and altered teen and preschool programming; staffing changes including a possible April move to full‑time for employee Bella were discussed as contingent on budget room.
Assistant Director/Youth Services Librarian Bonnie Lord told trustees on Jan. 26 that the library is preparing for the 2026 Summer Reading program under the theme “Unearth a Story,” scheduled to run June 13 through Aug. 9, beginning with a Tie‑Dinosaur party.
Bonnie said the library will again use Beanstack to manage participants, has purchased additional teen book sets after an increase in teen participation last year, and is lining up performers including Lyric and the Very Merry Theater. The library has scheduled a VINS presentation and will share the cost with Brownell Library. Bonnie also reported programming adjustments — shelving changes in the youth area to make room for growing collections, splitting in‑house preschool programming beginning this summer to support Bella’s preschool outreach and bookmobile routes, and reimagining teen programming toward more game nights and service‑oriented projects.
Bonnie said she is applying for two grants to support youth programming: a Summer Reading Grant for $350 and a Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation grant (amount TBD). The Youth department plans to continue classroom visits to ABS and WCS ahead of the summer reading season and is coordinating with Ellen at WCS for scheduling.
On staffing and budget, Librarian Kevin Unrath presented internal budget spreadsheets and said the town has only reconciled budgets through October; he described an approximate 3% cushion in spending and proposed bringing staff member Bella to full‑time (35 hours/week) in April instead of July to cover intermittent leave and to prepare for summer programming, contingent on available budget room. The minutes do not record a formal decision or vote on the staffing change.
