HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Library Board of Trustees - 07/20/2023 - Communications DRAFT Meeting Minutes
SBPL Board Communications Committee Thursday, July 20, 2023
Present: Chair Rebecca Stazi, Holly Painter, Penne Tompkins, Jennifer Murray (library director)
Meeting Called to Order 5:32 p.m.
Review of Library exits was done.
A discussion of the Pride Parade was added to the posted agenda.
No members of the public were in attendance.
Holly motioned to approve the June 15, 2023, meeting minutes; Penne seconded, and the minutes were
unanimously approved.
Communications Projects
• “Read Local” window clings/Reading bags – are available to teens and adults. Possible that the
Foundation will want to use window clings for sending to donors. 500 of each were made.
• Strat Plan document needs updating for format only and needs to be completed by August 1.
Penne will provide the updated document to Jennifer.
• Library Pop-up Tent – Jennifer provided information about a potential vendor and the possible
uses for the library were discussed. Jennifer will poll staff about what kind of uses they can envision for
the tent. Jennifer noted that funds from the gift account could be used to purchase a tent, provided the
cost is reasonable.
• Tabling for SB Night Out – Thursdays July 27 and August 24. Mira (library staff) reported on the
plans for the July 27 tabling event and invited our members to attend. All three committee members
plan to attend.
Communications Planning Framework Working Session
Group reviewed objective/goal 3 from the working document which reads:
3. Amplify the library’s efforts around accessibility and access to ensure all can have an engaging and
positive experience.
Members discussed how we are defining accessibility: physical, experiential, and other such as access to
reference materials for selected topics. One of the ideas related to information access was
understanding “neurodiversity”. An idea for amplification would be to photograph a stack of books on
the topic and create a visual that could then be shared on social media.
Rebecca noted her recent volunteering effort with VABVI and suggested we might invite a visually
impaired person to come use our library and provide input on items that could be improved. Jennifer
mentioned the fact that the different meeting rooms have the hearing loop technology but its use is not
well understood and so it is not getting used.
The specific goal set for this objective is:
Trustee members to work together to create outreach graphics on 6 different accessibility topics for use
on social media and forward them to the library director for staff use. In connection with this goal the
committee will develop a Communications calendar for items we plan to do/create throughout the
calendar year.
Rebecca will forward to the committee a link to a guideline document for libraries regarding accessibility.
Objectives 4 and 5 were discussed briefly and will be taken up at the next meeting.
Rebecca will continue to be the “keeper” of the primary Communications and Outreach Plan document.
Upcoming Amplification Opportunities
• Spanish play date opportunity, a local mom has been coming in to the children’s library with her
child and is presenting story time activities in Spanish
• Teens are getting together to make Community care kits to be given to COTS and they are
making cat scratch pads to give to the local Humane Society and the Fancy Pants Tea Party
Other Business
Discussion about library’s plans for having a presence at the annual Pride Vermont Parade and Festival
which takes place the first week of September culminating with the parade on Sunday September 10.
Committee and staff agreed that we will register to participate in the parade and will need to purchase a
banner for the event. Staff librarian Sue Meyer will be asked to connect with Rebecca Stazi about the
plans.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Penne Tompkins