Library Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda

Prepaid Checks #74467 - 74472

Warrant Checks #74474 - 74563

Income Report

Data and Relevant Calculations

Notes

Disbursements as of March 9, 2026: $175,938.28

Bank Balances:

• Money Market: $5,253,872,.33
• Checking: $108,921.36
• Total: $5,186,855.41

Transaction Notes: (ACH: Automatic Clearing House)

• 2/6: SSCSD - ACH - $453,621.5 - February Tax
• 2/6: Mullan - Check # 895 - $50.00 - Donation in Memory of Elizabeth Mullan
• 2/12: Friends - Check # 900747 - $750.00 - Rent
• 2/17: CDPHP - Check # 0001994266 - $12,742.89 - Medicare Premium refund
• 2/18: Corcoran - Check # 1219 - $30.00 - Donation
• 2/18: Friends - Check # 900750 - $2,633.05 - Reimbursement for Read for Recovery
• 2/27: SSCSD - ACH - $453,621.50 - March Tax

Budget Expense Report

Director’s Written Report

Building Improvements

Final bills for the additional work encountered during repairs of two HVAC units last summer have been paid, and submitted to our insurance company for potential reimbursement. Ric Taras reports that the units are now fully functional, and now we should be able to move on to additional needed maintenance.

As highlighted during these recent events, the aging automated building controls, which control climate, lighting, and some fire-control and security functions, will soon require significant upgrades in order to be kept up to date with computer and network security requirements. As we are exploring changes to use of space within the building, we are also gathering information about upgrades to the fire suppression system and its control panel, and enhancements to security systems such as updated proximity locks and door alarms to protect access to non-public areas of the building.

Saratoga Reads

Because “Books and Tea” the group I lead each third Thursday of the month, had discussed this year’s SaratogaREADS! selection, The Soul of an Octopus, in past (in June of 2022) I opted to for another octopus-inspired book during this SR! season, and we had a very well-attended and lively discussion of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt on February 12.

I was happy to join Youth Services Librarian Kate Lambert at this year’s SaratogaREADS! Jr. wrap-up celebration on a snowy February 21 to present Dr. Catherine Golden with the board’s Resolution of Commendation for her service to the SaratogaREADS!, the Library, and the community.

The Friends’ SaratogaREADS! bus trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston - also planned for February 21 - was postponed because of the inclement weather, and has been rescheduled for July 13. Those who are interested and may not have been able to go in February, now have an extended window for purchasing tickets!

Free registration is likewise open for the season’s capstone event, featuring Soul of an Octopus author Sy Montgomery in person at Skidmore College on March 21. This event is being underwritten with a grant to the Friends from the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs, as part of its local giving program. The mobile library van was once again featured at the club’s annual major fundraising event, the Saratoga Home and Lifestyle Show on February 28 and March 1.

Public Library Association “Responding to ICE in the Library” Webinar

Several of the Library’s Leadership Team members and public service librarians joined together on February 24 to watch a webinar about responding to ICE in the library. As a result, we were reassured that our preparations for potential ICE encounters with members of the public were in line with our peers, but, based on the experiences of the Minneapolis Public Library, some enhancements to our preparation for potential encounters between ICE and library employees were in order. We have internally discussed potential accommodations in schedules, work assignments, and use of time away from work that might in order.

Farm2Library and Seed Library

Our participation in the Southern Adirondack Library (SALS)/Comfort Food Community Farm2Library partnership made its public debut on March 4, with the delivery of eggs, cheese, apples, sweet potatoes, beans, greens, celeriac, beets, garlic, and other produce, free to take. On this same day, our seed library made its seasonal debut. A ribbon cutting for the Farm2Library fridge & shelf, in the Henry Street foyer, is scheduled for 10:30am on March 17, and we hope to see many of you in attendance!

Photo Gallery

Photos: March 9, 2026 - Regular Meeting

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Ribbon cutting

Farm2Library

Members post next to the library’s Farm2Library and its fully stocked goods.

SaratogaREADS Jr.

Dr. Catherine Golden poses beside librarian Kate Lambert and Director Ike Pulver while holding her certificate in recognition towards SR! and the community.

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Assistant Director’s Report to the Board

Annual Report

At the time of writing this report, the software and the instructions to complete the report are unavailable. Southern Adirondack Library (SALS) has provided spreadsheets to help compile the anticipated required data prior to the software being ready. NYS Division of Library Development will extend the deadline to file, if they see a need.

In the meantime, included with the Board packet is part of the report (based on last year’s report) that I thought would be of interest to the Board and the community. The numbering system may change and the financial data will be updated after we get the final numbers from the auditor. The sections that were omitted were mainly yes, no questions (that have not changed since last year), hours open, address, full-time employees and information regarding who is on the board.

Once we can submit the report to SALS, they will have to check our data before it is sent to the Division of Library Development (DLD). DLD will then audit our report and provide any mandatory updates before they file the report.

I request that the Board make a motion to approve the NYS Annual Report with the caveat that the a full report will be provided at a future meeting and any updates will be shared.

Space Usage Data Study

The first week of collecting data went well; our next data week begins Monday March 16th. There is nothing to report at this time since there is not enough data to make any decisions. With that said, that week we were closed on President’s Day due to a power outage. We still had a number of devices using our WiFi throughout the day.

Workplace Violence Prevention Program

The Workplace Violence Prevention Program committee met in March to begin a review of the policy and identifying workplace hazards and opportunities for improvement for staff safety against workplace violence. The review will be presented at our May ½ day all staff meeting.

Sustainability

• Seed Library
  I am happy to report that the Seed Library is now being maintained by Rebecca Robinson in the Adult Service Department. Expect updates from Jamie moving forward. Special thanks to the Sustainability Team for getting this project off the ground 2 years ago.
• Repair Café
  Our next Café is at the end of the month, Sunday March 29 from 1-4 pm. New this year, Michelle Isopo will be will teach the essentials of caring for family collections, including preservation techniques, minor repairs, and rehousing solutions. We will also have a special guest, Jay Rogoff, Saratoga Springs poet laureate, will help repair people’s poems, just in time for National Poetry Month in April.

National and Local Work

• As an Advisory Board Member for the Sustainable Libraries Initiative, I was asked to speak at the Southern Tier Library System all day learning symposium, the first week in June. The event will take place at the Corning Community College. I always get to share my learned experience and programs and services that the Saratoga Springs Public Library offers. We do some pretty amazing things.
• Gina Michelin and I will be tabling at the Sustainability Fair on April 11th.
• I kicked off a Saratoga Farmer’s Market series, called Learn And Grow on February 28th. I had a pop-up seed library and was able to promote our Seed Library and why we started the program.

Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ferriss, Assistant Director

IT Group Update

Door Count – 19,289

Anomalous statistic - Remote printing was at 625, 50% higher than the previous month. Although not our highest month at 845 in July, its rivals it because if memory serves I was moving the equipment and test printing many pages to ensure it was working properly.

Accessibility Updates

The training Brendon created after many hours of researching the 300 page federal bill and subsequent state adopted requirements, has mostly concluded. All of our content creators, anyone that may add to the digital landscape of library properties has had an introduction of what the law says, why its important from an accessibility standpoint and how we should navigate the options.

The laws start date was April 24th and though we won’t have all of our previously created items retrofitted in time, any of our new content, where easily done, should reflect the spirit of the law. We are continuing work on options and possibilities for the harder upgrades and previously created documents.

TODO List

• Cassie Print Issue – our color printer seems to lag upon someone sending a type or size print. We haven’t tracked down the reason or glitch yet.
• Web Camera – testing feasibility of adding rooftop webcam.
• Battery Backup Replacement – we had a large UPS fail. Took the opportunity while repairing that to organize and consolidate.
• Merge LibGuides Website Design – due to major update from vendor we took the opportunity to update LibGuides look similar to sspl.org. We had previously completed this with LibCal.
• Direct Testing Of Our Website – running simulated accessibility tests on various portions of the website ensuring and or correcting any issues discovered.
• Incident report – enhanced search, with new data refining the way staff can search for an incident.
• Print management investigation – Our services involve a lot of printing, and we want to ensure we are as efficient as possible. We are looking at print management software to help us with that.
• Selfcheck Repairs – a few of our selfchecks had plotted to disrupt service, we were stunned at their brazenness but quickly recovered and they were forced into compliance by the EmpireTM – Envisonware our vendor – but not before destroying what could have been several hours of my time better used. ?

Respectfully,
Don and Brendon

Access and Outreach Services Monthly Report

Circulation and Technical Services

In February 2026, Circulation and Technical Services:

• Processed 193 library card applications.
• Issued 158 parking permits.
• Received and processed 2400 items from other libraries to fill holds.
• Pulled and transferred 2170 items to fill holds at other libraries.
• Filled 4135 total holds.
• Processed 1087 withdrawn items.
• Received and added 897 physical items to library collections.

In February, all Access and Outreach staff completed their mandatory KnowBe4 cybersecurity training.

Outreach Services

Senior Services, Persons-at-Home (Sarah Derven)

During February Sarah:

• Visited 13 Outreach Sites.
• Lead 5 Memory Care Writing Groups.
• Visited and Delivered Materials to 9 Individuals.
• Served 230 Patrons.
• Loaned 708 items.
• Made 63 Phone Calls.
• Placed 277 items on Hold.
• Renewed 148 Item.

Professional Development:

• Completed online course Excel for Librarians through Library Juice Academy.

Community Events, Partnerships, Mobile Library (Jennifer Ogrodowski)

Programs/Outreach:

• Get Creative! At the Greenfield Senior Center
  Monthly art workshops have started again at the center. This month, we created watercolor hearts in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
• Division Street STEAM Fair
  We were invited to have a table at the PTA sponsored fair. The turnout of both adults and children was wonderful. There were many interesting science projects presented by both local organizations and students. We made a candy double helix for the library project…it was sweet!
• United Way Summer Meals Collaborative Meeting
  We began our meetings to plan for summer meal stops again last month. This month, we broke out into groups that were focusing on the activity portion of the meal service. We are getting excited with lots of creative ideas to bring to the community. The service provides free meals to children in the district over the summer months, and the activity partners provide arts and projects to the children while they enjoy their meal. Last year was the first year that the library participated in the service. Kids loved the van!

Statistics:

• Attendance: 260
• Items Loaned: 37
• Cards Issued & Renewed: 5
• Returns: 28
• Ref Questions: 25

What We’re Looking Forward to Next Month:

• Maple Syrup Tour at Twin Leaf Farms in Greenfield

Adult Literacy and English Language Learning (Mary Ann Rockwell)

Literacy Services

Beginning in February, all classes are being held in our newly assigned English Learning space, the Literacy Lab, located on the first floor. One-to-one tutoring continues to take place primarily in the small tutoring room, unless there is a scheduling conflict.

February Literacy Statistics:

• 32 one-to-one ELL sessions.
• 19 ELL group classes.
• 87 total class attendances.
• 16 volunteer tutors taught one-to-one sessions and/or group classes.
• The librarian is teaching two weekly classes, each with one volunteer assistant.
• We currently have six classes running: one fully online and two hybrids (online and in-person).

Success Stories:

• One student who came to us four years ago with very limited English has advanced enough to secure a full-time position with New York State, working with individuals with disabilities.
• A more advanced student has earned a promotion in his engineering career.
• Two students are studying for English certifications that will allow them to apply to graduate programs.
• A student who works at a Saratoga restaurant began with little English three years ago. After consistently attending classes and tutoring sessions, he is now able to socialize confidently with native speakers and has taken on an informal mentoring role in class.

Two new applicants for literacy volunteer positions are currently being processed.

Poetry Programming

• At the monthly online Poetry Café in February, held as part of Saratoga Reads!, participants read and discussed animal-themed poems ranging from Walt Whitman to contemporary poets. Five people attended.
• The Saratoga Poet Laureate will present a workshop series in March, followed by a “Favorite Poem Reading” on April 9.

A patron from Colombia recently stopped by the desk while checking out three Spanish-language books from our collection to share how pleased he was to find them. He told Mary Ann that he had been a literature professor in his home country and spoke warmly about his academic career. In fact, he shared that Gabriel García Márquez had once been his professor, which is a remarkable connection that made his appreciation of our Spanish-language collection all the more meaningful.

Respectfully submitted by:
Trevor Oakley, Head of Access and Outreach Services

Youth Services

Programming and Outreach

• Teen programs: 9
• Teen attendance: 105
• Teen room attendance: 188
• Teen Volunteer hours: 70
• Children’s programs: 56
• Children’s Attendance: 1551

February break was so very busy! Alex and AnnaRae put together an Octopus scavenger hunt which was available all week. These programs tend to be extremely popular since patrons can work at their own pace on their own schedule. Programming was a combination of frozen nature with Laura and Wilton Wildlife, Kate’s STEM/STEAM, Alex’s crafting and Kristine’s Clifford Birthday Party.

Saratoga Reads Jr. came to an end with the in-person celebration. Ike awarded Catherine Golden with her commendation and she was very appreciative. By a happy accident we ended up with many extra copies of Pax; Kate and Catherine put together some discussion questions and provided the books to the community for free. This meant that many children who were not able to participate in the discussion were still able to get a book and enjoy Saratoga Reads.

Kristine reports that the Flurry was a success this year. Without any bad weather keeping people away, the turn out was excellent and they provided 6 different events for our location.

AnnaRae held her first CPR/FirstAid/AED training for teens this month. She is CPR trainer certified through her work with the Red Cross Baby Sitting class. She was extremely pleased with the turn-out and composition of the class.

Regular monthly programming continues to be popular with many regulars as well as new faces. This includes, Neurodiversity Club, Chess Club, Sensory Play, Minecraft, Homeschool Hang, Drop-In Crafts, and Bookmark Bunch.

Story time continues to be massively popular- we regularly see new faces. Patrons seem to really appreciate that we have a set schedule, but are flexible about attendance so they can make good choices for their families. This session will run through mid-May and pause to allow the staff to focus on summer reading promotions. Summer story times will have a smaller regular schedule and allow more room for the librarians to offer special programs for all age groups.

Updates and Projects

AnnaRae hosted her winter teen volunteer meeting - there are some new faces in the program which is great to see. Staff who attended the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) training are hard at work on updating their guides and consulting Brendon on how to make things compliant.

Collections and Display

Teen book displays included “Crack Open a Love Story,” “Endangered Books,” and the Teen advisory board display “Falling for February.”

Children’s displays included Library Lovers, Black authors, Black History Month, Valentines Day, Lunar New Year, Groundhogs, Dragons, Horses, Foxes and Octopuses, Clifford, Elephant and Piggie. Laura and Catherine are working on finishing the relocation of the Parenting books. They have been focused on determining which topics are most crucial to bring back to the lower level as well as carving out the right amount of space.

What We’re Reading

• AnnaRae is reading The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent
• Alex is reading Death at the Lighthouse (Montgomery Bonbon #2) by Alasdair Beckett-King
• Kate is reading Brady Mason’s Perfect Fit by Nicole Melleby
• Laura is reading Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrel
• Kristine is reading Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita

Continuing Education

• Kristine and Alex both attended Advocacy Day at the Capitol on 2/3/26.
• Catherine attended the virtual summer reading workshop through SALS. Laura viewed the recording later on.
• Catherine attended the ALA seminar on dealing with ICE in libraries.

Respectfully submitted by Catherine Brenner, Head of Youth Services

Adult Services

Service Statistics

Offered Programs

• Total Programs: 66
• Total Attendance: 723

Interesting Additions

• The SaratogaREADS! 2026 adult season kicked off in February with great programs that were very well attended.
• In keeping with a heartwarming gesture introduced by the Saratoga County Chamber of Kindness Leap of Kindness Day (2024) and Random Acts of Kindness Day (2026), care kits were assembled and made available to patrons in need of personal care items. Donations were accepted by Franklin Community Center, Mary Ratzer and Kali Nagler.
• Katie’s weekly Escape Room: Downtime For Adults program has beenpulling in a great number of patrons! It is wonderful watching this program grow. Adults of all abilities are welcome in the Teen Room only during our specially scheduled time. Enjoy gaming, board games, puzzles, coloring, the sensory cart, and relax socially with other adults. No minors will be in the space during the adults-only hours.
• Because of discrepancies with our current adult audiobook vendor, Katie has been working with the AOS department on getting a new vendor set up for ordering, called Blackstone.
• The Adult Services department members represented SSPL (Saratoga Springs Public Library) at NYLA (New York Library Association) Advocacy Day in Albany on 2/3/202.
• Tax Season: This tax season has been full of surprises! The State forms came to us in mid-January instead of mid-February, which was greatly appreciated. The New York State Tax Department has been awesome this year in terms of getting us refills anywhere from one to two days after we call for them. Federal shipping was a little different this year. Usually, the 1040 and 1040-SR forms come in mid-January with the instructions. This year, the 1040-SR forms came in with the instruction booklets in mid-January, but it took about two to three weeks for the 1040 forms to arrive. Staff printed out 1040s for patrons while Katie worked to get an answer from the IRS. They also surprised us with 1040 Schedule 1-A forms, which were not on the originally ordering form. It was good that they sent them though since this is a new form offering for this tax year. Spanish forms were sent in a timely manner. While these forms usually come in protected boxes, some were sent in a paper mailer which got wet somewhere along the way, causing some of the form’s edges to receive crinkling and water stains. These forms were still usable.

What We’re Reading

• Caitlin:
  • Resistance of Witches
    Set in England and France in the 1940s, it imagines what the dangers could have been if witches were real during World War II, and how Hitler would have tried to use that to his advantage.
• Jamie:
  • Frozen River
    I am putting this book in because I need to read it for my book club but honestly, I am still reading Game Changers books. Don’t judge me.
• Katie:
  • The Secret Keeper
    50 years after witnessing a crime, Laurel Nicolson works to uncover secrets that will help her better understand her mother and why a mysterious man appeared at their door all those years ago.
• Kali:
  • This is Happiness
    A historical fiction mirror of small-town life in Ireland on the brink of modernization through electricity. A young man navigates this backdrop while also falling in and out of love.
• Emily:
  • Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature
    A thrilling book about the abounding queerness of the natural world that challenges our expectations of what is normal, beautiful, and possible.
• Rebecca:
  • A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
    A young adult fantasy duology based in West African folklore that has been on my TBR (To Be Read) list forever.

Respectfully submitted by Jamie Chabot, Adult Services Department Head

Operations Report

Work on the 2 major HVAC units from the July 2025 electrical outage claim has been completed. After the insurance directed repairs, some additional damage was detected to the electrical overload control components. Parts were ordered and installed. The addition parts and labor invoice will be submitted to the insurance company for $4,662.65. The units have been running for approximately 3+ weeks with no other problems.

One of our boiler units had an electrical control/ communication module fail. Stark Tech service provided exceptional response time as we were experiencing a very extended period of extreme cold. We were able to temporarily disable the auto control system and run the back up boiler in manual to insure we had enough heat and hot water for a few weeks until the parts arrived. This company truly provides service with a smile, especially in extreme emergencies.

Presently, I am also working on a quote to upgrade the original Fire/Security panels, keypads and possibly the fire control devices (smoke/heat and carbon monoxide detectors) as they are outdated for both hardware and software components. Don Flinton and I are also collaborating as we may be able to integrate the security door control program into this total package upgrade. I greatly appreciate his expertise on the “virtual” component complexities in this digital world.

Otherwise, winter is still demanding allot of our attention for the facilities! Overall, we continue to strive and provide the best customer experience possible here at the library. Teamwork and good communication are the essential keys for providing this positive work environment.

Respectfully Submitted,
Richard “Ric” Taras - Operations Supervisor

Human Resources Summary

Staffing

• Resignation
  • Jason Carey, Cleaner, Operations (P/T), February 9, 2026.
  • Henry Fernau, Computer Clerk, Adult and Youth Services (P/T), effective February 26, 2026.
• Request to Appoint
  • Jacob Argudo, Cleaner, Operations (P/T), $18.51/hr, effective March 3, 2026.
• Hiring
  • Cleaner, Operations (P/T) – currently collection applications.

Recent Professional Development Trainings

Since our last meeting, I attended several professional development trainings focused on employment law, workplace safety, workplace investigations, and staff well-being. These sessions help ensure that our policies and practices remain up to date and that we continue to support a safe, respectful, and legally compliant workplace for library staff.

Trainings included Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law hosted by the Long Island Library Resources Council, which provided updates on changes in employment law that may impact Libraries. I also attended Workplace Violence Prevention through the Capital District Library Council. This training reviewed prevention strategies, recognizing potential risk factors, and employer responsibilities related to workplace safety, and will be particularly helpful in my role serving on the Library’s Workplace Violence Prevention Committee. Several trainings were hosted by the Society for Human Resource Management, including sessions on handling off-duty misconduct, preventing and addressing sexual harassment, leading workplace investigations, and supporting modern employee well-being. Together, these trainings provided guidance and practical tools for handling complex HR situations, supporting staff, and ensuring the library continues to follow current best practices.

ADA Compliance

In February, I met with Brendon for ADA accessibility training related to public-facing documents, including job postings. We reviewed ways to make sure documents are formatted so they are accessible to all users, including individuals who rely on assistive technologies. This included guidance on document structure and formatting that can improve accessibility. This training will help ensure that future job postings and other HR materials are clear, accessible, and in line with ADA requirements.

Respectfully submitted by:
Kelly McCombs, Human Resources Manager