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Stoddard trustees accept financial report, direct staff on children's services and school book-delivery pilot
Summary
The Stoddard Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Dec. 15 minutes and accepted a financial report showing healthy midyear balances; trustees asked staff to expand children's services, prepare a detailed Summer Reading Program plan, pilot weekly school book deliveries, and follow up on cleaning invoices and website improvements.
The Stoddard Board of Trustees on Jan. 19 unanimously approved corrected minutes from Dec. 15, 2025, and accepted the library's financial report, with trustees noting town-controlled expenditures are on track and unrestricted funds show roughly 61% remaining at midyear.
The Library Director presented slides showing digital circulation has increased about 33.4% over the past five years and total circulation is up about 23.4% since 2021, with adult physical circulation at an all-time high. Trustees asked that future charts combine physical and digital circulation by demographic and that the "Young Adult" category be relabeled "Teen." The board also agreed to rename the budget category "Non-books and digital" to "Digital Content" to better reflect spending on eBooks and streaming services.
Trustees recorded several action items. Trustee Emily Winterbottom was assigned to finalize corrected January meeting minutes; Trustee Angel Nicoletti will follow up with Samantha (the cleaning vendor contact) about an inconsistent cleaning schedule and an outstanding invoice dated Aug. 25, 2025; and the Library Director was asked to revise circulation charts and present a detailed Summer Reading Program (SRP) plan at the next meeting in February. The SRP plan is to include program vision, potential speakers and activities, frequency and structure, incentives, hybrid participation options, and strategies to reduce barriers to student participation.
On children's services and the library website, trustees noted the Kids Page has been hidden for over a year and lacks visibility. The Director proposed revamping the Kids Page, streaming live content via Syndetics Unbound, adding a children's readers' advisory, and centralizing children's services and programs. Trustees acknowledged the benefits for organization and marketing but flagged the significant staff time required; the Director is not a web designer and may need support.
The board also discussed a proposed school partnership to pilot weekly book pickup and drop-off at schools: parents would place holds online by a set day and library staff would deliver books to the school during a trial period with limits on the number of books. Confidentiality concerns were raised but the board judged them manageable through a school-library handoff. The Director will reconnect with Amy (school librarian/teacher) to explore logistics and a possible trial.
Other program ideas discussed but not acted on included a graphic novel book club, book-to-movie nights, family yoga, a Pokémon club, and STEM-focused events. The Friends of the Library reported 23 participants in the Book Pal program and potential expansion through Middle Village.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve Dec. 15, 2025 minutes (with corrections): Moved by Trustee Jan McGonagle; seconded by Dean Dorman; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to accept the financial report: Moved by Trustee Emily Winterbottom; seconded by Jan McGonagle; outcome: approved unanimously.
The meeting closed at 8:08 PM. The trustees scheduled their next meeting for Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
