HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Board of Trustees - 10/17/2024 - Communications
FINAL Minutes
South Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees Communications Committee
The South Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees Communications Committee held a regular
meeting Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 5:30 p.m., in the Library Board Room and by Zoom participation.
Members: Holly Painter, Chair; Theresa Eirmann, Rebecca Stazi
Library Staff: Jennifer Murray
1. The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. The Library exits were reviewed: Holly P. provided instructions on emergency exit from the
building.
3. Additions and deletions to the posted agenda: None
4. Comments and questions from the public not related to items on the agenda: None
5. Approval of meeting minutes of August 15, 2024
Upon a motion made by Theresa E. and seconded by Rebecca S., the Trustees voted
unanimously to accept the August 15, 2024 meeting minutes.
6. Library card sign-up month wrap-up
For library card sign-up month, the Trustees held two tabling sessions at the new residences on
Market Street, with two different tables covering four buildings. In total, the trustees met 82
new residents and passed out information and candy. This initiative was in collaboration with
South Burlington Recreation & Parks.
Last September, the library issued 133 new library cards. This year, the library issued 159 new
library cards. In August of 2023 199 were issued and in August 2024 122 were issued.
Information on the number of raffle tickets issued for library card sign-up months is not yet
available. A winner was drawn from the raffle and received their prize. Engagement at this event
was of high quality.
No future engagements are yet planned.
7. Planning for next few months
a. Review communications plan/calendar
The annual report is in progress.
Objective 1: Have a visible presence and be engaged at South Burlington community
events. Good data on trustee engagement is available. The team will follow up with
Stacey P. to get the engagement statistics.
Objective 2: Support and amplify the LIbrary’s distinctive programming around topics
such as climate change and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).
Objective 3: Amplify the Library’s efforts around accessibility and access to ensure all
can have an engaging and positive experience
Objective 4: Initiate a test and learn opportunity to reach non-library card holders in
South Burlington to engage them with the Library. Results of the test and learn were
included in the discussion of library card sign-up month.
Objective 5: Increase awareness with key stakeholders around the SBPL teen space as a
viable space to gather and as a place of belonging. A proposal was made to get the word
out about summer reading in 2025 to increase awareness of the teen space.
Communication is needed with Amanda to explore ways the Trustees can contribute, for
example by helping to assemble bags.
b. Brainstorm
The trustees reviewed the calendar of events from last year, and proposed
engagements for the year ahead.
Communications channels identified: Front Porch Forum, Social Media, Tabling, The
Other Paper
Collaborative events with the Recreation department: Collaboration will consist of cross-
publicizing events and having an independent presence at shared events. As such, the
library is focusing on broad-reaching events. The proposed events are Black History
Month, Women’s History Month, Juneteenth, Summer Reading, national screen-fee
week.
Social media/photo events: New Year New Neighbors, Holiday Season Respite (Nov-
Dec), Banned Book Week (Oct), National Library Week (Apr), Accessibility (Mar).
Tabling Events: SoBu Nite Out (Summer), Touch-a-Truck (June), National Library Card
Sign-up Month (Sept), Library’s 5-year anniversary (2026
Articles: Pride (Sept), National Library Card Sign-up Month (Sept), Library as a holiday
respite spot (Nov/Dec), Libby (year-round), Accessibility (Mar), Audiobooks for Road
Trips (Nov).
• Rebecca S. will research activities taken last year that achieved our strategic
goals.
• Theresa E. will write an article for the Other Paper advertising ways to use the
library as a respite resource during the winter holiday season.
• Jennifer M. will ask the South Burlington Communications and Outreach
Coordinator about designing a new flier to distribute at the new buildings. She
will also ask her leadership team about planning something for January with the
theme New Year New Neighbors.
The Communications Committee will meet next on November 21st. The December 19th
meeting will be canceled.
8. Upcoming Amplification Opportunities
a. OCTOBER
i. Craft Materials Swap (10/19)
b. NOVEMBER
i. Friends Book Sale (11/1-2)
ii. Friends of the Library Free Concert Series: Jazz Trio actually a duo (11/2)
iii. Read & Paint with Local Children’s Author Angela Kunkel (11/9)
iv. iv. Energy Book Discussion: Road to Nowhere with Author Paris Marx (11/14)
9. Other Business: None
Seeing no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Theresa Eirmann