1.26.26 Library Trustees Meeting Draft Minutes

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Guilford Free Library

Trustees Online Meeting

Guilford, Vermont

Monday, January 26th 2026 – 6:30 PM

Trustees present: Laura Lawson Tucker, Judith Serkin, Emma Hallowell, John Shaw, Meghan Ohrstrom & Jeannette Tokarz

Others present: Amber Hunt (Librarian)

We are all attending online today due to the big winter storm. Meeting began at 6:37 PM.

The minutes from the December 2025 meeting were approved.

Friends of the Library update

  • Working with a lawyer to guide them through the process of working out the financial flow with the library board. Their goal is to be completed by the end of the fiscal year.

Librarian’s Report – Amber

  • Looking forward to the Rapid Review event on 2/7 at 2 PM. Amber is excited about the event’s community driven aspect to see what people are curious about checking out. The Friends of the Library are making cookies. We are so grateful! It saves the library money & time.
  • First Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 PM, community member will be hosting craft circles at the library.
  • Amber points out that it would be a good idea to create a vulnerable persons policy to state what ages of individuals can attend library events without a caretaker if children want to attend events like the above after school. 

Co-Chair Report – Judith

  • Judith & Amber met to discuss when the library board will meet to create a Strategic Plan & they also discussed the building use policy.

Treasurer’s Report – John

  • Budget is on track & there is nothing notable to report.
  • Financial report will be presented soon in a more understandable way with clearer budget lines. 
  • Finance committee still working with town. 
  • The Library Board of Trustees voted to approve the Library Fund Proposal by unanimous vote. The policy will be submitted to the Selectboard for their approval.

Old Business

  • We reviewed the 2026 trustee calendar to clarify tasks & add more if we so choose.
  • Discussed when exactly to meet in the summer to create our strategic plan & if we’ll have someone there as a facilitator that has knowledge of Vermont library policies. Amber has a few people in mind she may reach out to.

New Business

  • Looked at draft for the “building use by outside groups” policy by Amber & Judith. Will review more in depth at our February meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 PM.

Meeting minutes by secretary, 

Meghan Ohrstrom