What’s new and coming soon at GKL?

Special thanks to all who came out for our Spring book sale despite the downpours. We had great success with our $5 a bag pricing and will be able to order fantastic prizes for this year’s summer reading program. We sold 31 bags in two hours on Friday night and 30 more bags on Saturday. Between sales and donations, we raised around $300 for library programming and summer reading prizes!
In May, we re-started our preschool story time program, The Hungry Caterpillars Book Club! The kids have had a great time seeing each other again, making Mother’s Day presents, and painting up bird houses donated by a generous patron. Story time will continue to run on Tuesdays at 11. All are welcome, including older and younger siblings! Story time includes a story, craft, and play time. This is a drop-by program and you don’t need to register. The only thing you should bring is play clothes and your imagination.
Also in May, we are busy with the Beyond the Bell Little Librarian program. For six weeks, our Little Librarians worked to build lemonade stands in teams. While reading The Lemonade War, kids are learning about how to run a small business and will compete to see who can sell the most lemonade at the end of the program. We have three teams – Slay Girls, Jolly Ranchers, and Da Blue and Da Pink. Each team is working on marketing, pricing, creating a stand, and making other decisions around how to make their stand successful. You can help by purchasing a cup and voting for your favorite when you see the kids selling outside the library. Watch social media for more information on dates and times the kids will sell their favorite flavors.
Looking ahead, we’re planning our summer reading programming and hope to see kids and adults meeting summer reading challenges! Coming soon is our Level Up Comic Con event, which will kick off this year’s Level Up Summer reading program. This event will take place on June 21 from 10 to 2. We will begin summer reading sign-ups for kids and adults at that time and for the weeks following June 21. Please keep an eye on social media and in the Troy group on Facebooks for specific events as the summer progresses.
After a break from our regular Book Club group, we’re hoping to bring it back. We’re looking to see if there’s enough interest in a regular adult book club. If you’re interested, or are a former member, please stop by or call the library. Our hope is to pick a book and bring the club (which meets monthly) back in July or August.
As we wait for news about a new director, we’re interested in learning about your interests and needs. We believe the library is a place not only for books but for the community. If you have suggestions on titles you’d like us to purchase, programming we can offer, or other resources you believe would be helpful for the town of Troy, please reach out by calling (603) 242-7743.
Thank you to everyone who has been so patient with us during this time of transition. Our goal is to continue to do what we can to make the library a welcoming, helpful place in town as we continue to grow!

Library Trustee Meeting 9/7/23

Attending: Kristan Tilton, Colleen Brennan, Jennifer Momaney
Board of Trustees Meeting Notes
Call to order
No Public Comments
No concerns with August minutes therefore approved.
Discussion of reports: Treasurer’s Report, Library Director’s Report. See agenda for figures.
Discussion of Programming numbers: pre-school story time, story time, book club
Suggested reaching out to new Beyond the Bell Troy coordinator re: library club
Old Business:
Reflected on summer reading. Participation this summer was consistent. Plushie raffle was a big hit.
Crafts and legos were also popular among the readers. Considering integrating into regular library
activities. Discussed ramping up community outreach.
New Business:
Discussed the matter of timesheets. Will remain unsigned. We determined the position is contracted
with expectation of a certain number of hours worked. As none of the trustees are on site to verify the
hours entered on the time sheet, we don’t feel our signature is necessary as we are already trusting that
the director meets their contracted obligation for hours worked and it would be questioned by the town
if another hour amount was being submitted. We feel it would be brought to our attention by
employees or patrons if the library was not being opened or if the director was not reporting to the
library.
Booksale: slated for 10/13 and 10/14. Discussed whether Columbus Day weekend would be worth
considering coinciding with the town’s festival on the common. Reason for not was people potentially
being out of town for the holiday weekend. Discussed at least promoting at the town festival.
Budget Discussion:
Discussed increase in elevator line item due to the recent service calls and issues to be prepared for
unexpected situations in the future. Discussed increase to computer line item to begin updating patron
computers. There have been complaints due to lack of speed. Discussed likelihood of
water/sewer/phone potentially increasing as well.
Discussed procedure for employee complaint.

Next Meeting Thursday October 5
th 5:30pm

Library Trustee Meeting Minutes 5/4/23

Call to Order 5:30pm
No public comments
Prior minutes approval TBD – (Kristan took notes for prior meeting due to Colleen’s absence)
Reports: See attached agenda for Treasurer’s Report
Library Director’s Report:
Door count is continuing to trend upwards. Circulation remains average. Computer usage saw an
increase, in part due to federal taxes being due in April. Digital downloads remain steady and overdues
are low.
In-House Programs:
Take and Makes continue to be doing well. Easter Egg Hunt and Escape Room were both very well
received. It was discussed the winter vacation timeframe would be a great time to do another since it’s
an ideal time for an indoor activity.
Old Business:
Escape room reflection: was a hit but takes time to build activities and gather supplies. Had the benefit
of a grant to fund this one. Discussed possible options including offering sponsorship opportunities to
local businesses. Possible tiered options- i.e.- sponsor one table/activity vs sponsor the entire escape
room. Also discussed perhaps involving the older grades in Beyond the Bell afterschool program with
assisting in the designing.
New Library Card Rollout: new cards being sent out to patrons inviting them to use them.
Library Budget: Discussion was had regarding impacting of halting trust fund disbursements. Kristan
received clarification on balance and Jen provided figures on the impact the library’s purchasing ability
without those funds. As a result a motion was made by Richard to rescind the prior request to cancel the
trust fund disbursement. Colleen seconded, and all were in favor.
New Business:
Future Programming- as mentioned earlier, discussed a winter escape room. Also discussed a possible
book buddy program with veterans through the American Legion.
Book sale- discussed trustee assistance with book sale prep and clean up.
Fundraising was also discussed. It was also suggested that the town be contacted to update the town’s
website which still has Catherine’s name listed for the library director. Kristan also mentioned adding to
an Amazon wishlist for the library as we would get occasional donations from the wishlist.
Meeting adjourned at 6:13pm

Library Trustee Minutes 3/1/23

Attending: Richard Thackston, Kristan Tilton, Colleen Brennan

Call to Order – 5:38

Reports

Reviewed Treasurer’s Report

Reviewed Library Director’ report

Discussed overdue courtesy phone calls- are they still happening? Yes, but Jen will follow up with staff.

Take n Make #’s increased quite a bit!

Trust fund distributions stoppage discussed at length for better understanding

Budget Update- warrant article tentatively passed

Summer Reading- looking at a community centered program. Community scavenger hunt discussed.

Discussed further community outreach- welcome packets with town info.

Kristan has a conflict with current meeting day. Discussed changing the monthly meeting to Thursdays rather than Weds. Richard made a motion to move the trustee meeting to Thursdays at 5:30pm. Kristan seconded. All were in favor.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:12pm  

Library Trustee Meeting Minutes 2/1/23

Call to Order 5:40pm
Attending: Richard Thackston, Kristan Tilton, Colleen Brennan
Treasurer Report Reviewed
Library Director’s Report Reviewed
Door count going up. Year in review- 2022- 85 new patrons, pre pandemic level
Programming- 37 take n’ makes; discussed promotion ahead of snow storms (expected snow days)
Discussed the take your kid to the library day
Staffing Update- Erin working Tu/We/Th and some Sat
Patron Offerings- discussed museum passes; discussed possible donation letter
Large Print- considering change of distributor. Waiting on quote but appears it would be a lower cost
provider. Fewer titles but circulation on low side anyway so no major impact expected.
Revisited Dolly Parton Imag Library- need 501c3 status, sponsor

Thinking ahead-
Focus on addressing pandemic learning loss: literacy, social/emotional skills

Discussed arranging fun family events around books
Warrant articles
Reviewed bids from contractors.
KT: Motion to expand request to $10,000 for warrant article RT- Seconded. All were in favor.
Trust fund level discussed. Concerns too low. Needs time to replenish. But need to also assure sufficient
funding to library.
KT: Motion to cease distribution from trust fund as long as budget committee approval equal increase to
library budget. RT- seconded. All were in favor.
Next Mtg 3/1
Adjourned 6:20

Library Trustee Meeting Minutes 1/4/23

Call to Order 5:31pm
Attending: Richard Thackston, Kristan Tilton, Colleen Brennan
Treasurer Report Reviewed
Library Director’s Report Reviewed
Door count is down. Possible factors discussed- holidays, illness, weather, etc.
Libby numbers holding steady
Story time numbers down, same factors discuss as those regarding door count- holidays, illness, weather
Noon year’s eve- big success! Great turnout
Book club- encountered technical issues
Upcoming- bring kid to the library day – Feb 4th

Old Business
Staffing- new hire started- yay!
Motion to approve modification to reconsideration

Next Meeting 2/1
Adjourned 6:01