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Manchester Library Board approves mowing contract, endowment audiobooks purchase and circulation rule updates
Summary
The board awarded the 2026 mowing contract to Stender Lawn Care, approved using the annual endowment distribution ($2,230) to buy audiobooks on Libby and memory-care kits, and adopted multiple revisions to its circulation policy, including raising limited-card checkouts and adding renewal-by-phone.
At its morning meeting the Manchester Library Board approved three operational items: a 2026 mowing contract, use of the annual endowment distribution for audiobooks and related materials, and revisions to the library's circulation policy.
The board accepted a bid from Stender Lawn Care for routine lawn mowing after reviewing three quotes. The director reported bids from two vendors listed at $65 per mowing (SLM/Supreme Green) and Stender at $60; after a motion and second, the board approved the Stender Lawn Care contract.
The board also approved using the library's annual endowment distribution — $810 to the donor account and $1,420 to the agency account, a total of $2,230 — to expand the library of things, add memory-care kits and purchase audiobooks through the Libby platform. "We would get a check of $810 and the agency account would get $1,420," the director said. A motion to apply the endowment funds to Libby audiobooks and related purchases passed on a voice vote.
Board members reviewed an extensive set of changes to Chapter 10 (circulation). The director walked through edits that: add a digital library application option; enumerate Delaware County towns that qualify for full-access cards; increase limited-card checkout from one item to three items per visit; clarify which digital resources are restricted to taxpaying residents (for example, Canopy and Bridges as listed); add the ability to renew some cards by phone; add hotspot loan rules (seven-day loan); impose a modest fee for out-of-state-library consortium (OLC) items after two free items per month; and set the library's "lost item" threshold at 10 weeks before an item is considered lost. Replacement fees will be based on current purchasing price and the director said payment plans can be arranged for patrons who need them.
The board approved the circulation revisions with one agreed wording change to include "other evidence of current address" as acceptable proof for card issuance.
Separately, the director said exterior security cameras have been ordered and one unit has arrived; the second remains in transit. She also briefed the board on a T‑Mobile UMA cellular option to replace copper elevator-phone lines, estimating equipment and installation costs and noting any porting of numbers would wait until an internet upgrade is completed.
The meeting adjourned at about 8:35 a.m.
