2025 Minutes

LUV meeting minutes of 11.17.2025

The meeting was held at Carpenter & Main restaurant in Norwich, Vt.

Attendees: Amy Thurber, Canaan; Judy Russell, Lyme; Dawn Huston, Grantham; Glynis Hart, Wilmot; Amy Lappin, Lebanon; Richard Tutweiler, New London; Jen Spanier, Blake Memorial; Brooke Lewis, Fairlee Vt.; Sally Bernier, Newport NH; Heather Steliga, Orford Free; Lucinda Walker, Orford Social; Holly Lague, Thetford; Michaela Lavelle, Quechee and Wilder libraries.

The meeting began after conversation and lunch.

Judy R. asked what libraries are doing, if anything, with the 250th anniversary. Members offered some of their programming ideas:

Judy R. – Book discussion in April, bio of Jane Franklin

Lucinda – Norwich is doing a monthly memory café in collaboration with Norwich Aging in Place and the community nurse

Sally B. – Richards Free library is offering one of their historic rooms for holiday family photos

Michaela – for 250th – Cemetery Sleuthing

Richard – library is wrapping up a $100K exterior repair project is wrapping up. Interestingly, our knitting club has exploded.

Holly – we share a building with the historical society; they’re doing things for the 250th. Our book groups are reading about the underground railroad in Vermont. Deborah Luskin “Rediscovering Artemis” book talk about women hunting.

Amy – No plans yet. Friends group has been active adding programs; Did a Jane Austen tea; our pub(lic library) trivia series is very popular.

Jen – We built a solar shed where we can store Library of Things items, and people can charge their devices outside library hours.

Amy – Also coming this year is the 150th anniversary of the American Library Association. We have been doing foot clinic and pop-up medical clinics in partnership with municipality.

Brooke – We have nothing planned for 250th. We have a lot going on – probably too much! The library partners with Fairlee Art to do paint & sips; we’ll do 4th of July together; did an Alice in Wonderland tea and a Fairytale tea (come as you are or in costume). We’re working to pull younger kids into the library.

Judy – We always had a booksale on the 4th of July.

Heather – New library director. “It’s reassuring to know 7-14 people is a good crowd.”

Minutes for September were approved.

Treasurer’s report. Everybody got an invoice. Dawn: I realized the buy-in was originally $250, not $200. So, if a new library wants to buy into the video games group, that’s $250 buy in plus one year membership of $100.

Officers: No contested offices! Everyone was re-elected unanimously: Amy and Judy remain as co-chairs, Dawn as treasurer, Glynis as secretary.

Judy and Amy intend to spend the year tightening up the documents so they can pass their leadership on to new folks. “We would love to see some new leadership.”

There was discussion of setting terms for the offices. It would be nice to have the slate of officers not all come up at once; many organizations stagger the terms. Glynis suggested setting a two-year term, but for anyone elected Nov. 26 they could choose to do a one- or two-year term.

Bylaws – Amy updated them. In discussion it was decided that language would be added requiring review of the bylaws every two years. She’ll provide the updated bylaws to the next meeting for approval.

Amy – Audio co-op policy, updated, is offered as a template for the video and video game collections.

Next meeting: January 26th via Zoom, at 10 a.m. Judy will look into getting Kathy from the Alzheimer’s Association to speak.

LUV meeting 9.15.2025

Minutes 9/15/2025

Host library: Norwich, Vt. 

Attendees: Judy Russell, Lyme; Amy Thurber, Canaan; Dawn Thurber, Grantham; Cory Smith, Abbott Memorial Library, Pomfret, VT; Holly Lague, Latham & Peabody Libraries, Thetford VT; Michaela ??; Sally Bernier, Richards Free in Newport; Brooke Lewis, Fairlee Vt.; Glynis Hart, Kristin McCarthy, Wilmot

Meeting started 10:15 a.m. 

Guest speaker: Juliette Gyure of Far Sight Coaching Int’l LLC. Gyure introduced herself as a former high school teacher who became a Career and Life Coach. She noted that libraries are community hubs and that library staff “pour yourselves out for others.” 

Gyure spoke about the importance of, and the practice of compassion. She presented some definitions of kindness and compassion. Attendees split into small groups to talk to each other about examples of kindness and compassion in the libraries. 

She gave tips for acting compassionately and offered a prayer/mantra one could say: “May you be free from suffering. May you have joy and ease.” 

She then asked participants to envision what a library characterized by compassion would feel, look, and sound like. People suggested: Curbside and home deliveries; friendly staff; reshaping the space to make it more accessible; the hum of conversation; consistent respect for everyone. 

Next, she talked about the importance of having compassion for oneself: “Nothing will work unless you do,” – Maya Angelou. 

She shared a mindfulness exercise from Tara Brach, using the acronym RAIN: 

R. Recognize what’s going on

A. Allow the experience to be there 

I. Investigate with interest and care

N. Nourish with self-compassion

Another quote: Do not allow the actions of others to affect your good manners, because you represent yourself. 

Finally she looked for ways libraries can continue supporting diversity and inclusion while those terms have been made pejorative. Someone suggested ABC: Acceptance, Belonging, Compassion.  Holly Lague remarked that librarians “don’t need to be gatekeepers of the inclusive process. We also need to be included.” 

Gyure ended with a mnemonic for compassionate speech: 

1. Will what I say and how I say it bring life to the relationship, or take life away? 

2. Will what I say and how I say it continue an old pattern of behavior, or initiate a new one? 

3. Be conscious of your body language – 

Gyure can be reached at farsightcoaching.com

Those present voted to accept the treasurer’s report, which is unchanged from last month. 

Those present voted to accept the minutes of the July meeting. 

Judy R. said she is taking suggestions for DVD purchases. 

Dawn H. had questions about the November annual meeting. If fewer than 20 people commit, it is not worth it for Carpenter & Main restaurant to host it. If we have <20 signed up by mid-October we should go to Plan B (box lunches) or do something else. 

Amy T. said we all love Carpenter & Main but the lunch is more important (for making connections with other librarians) than where we hold it. 

Judy R. will send Dawn’s questions around the membership to suss out who’s attending and decide as a group what to do. 

There was a discussion regarding the Video Game collection’s Nintendo Switches. Glynis brought a sample permission form for patrons to fill out when borrowing the Switch. Her library uses these forms because the Switches cost $300+. 

Does LUV want to require libraries to have patrons sign the permission form? It basically has them agree to pay the library if the Switch is damaged or lost. 

Glynis said it’s not always possible to recoup the cost from a patron and libraries need to have more flexibility. 

In the end the Switch borrowing agreement was adopted with some language changes (see attached) and the understanding that LUV suggests the use of the agreement but does not require it. 

Meeting adjourned 12 noon. 

Next meeting: November 17th, location TBD. 

LUV meeting 5.05.2025

approved minutes

LUV meeting minutes 5.05.2025

In-person at Norwich Library, Norwich Vt. 10 a.m. Judy R. chaired.

Attendees: Glynis Hart, secretary, Wilmot Library NH; Sally Bernier, Richard Free Library, Newport NH; Sam Milnes, Howe Library, Hanover NH; Kim Baker, Howe Library, Hanover NH; Dawn Huston, treasurer, Dunbar Free Library, Grantham NH; Brook Lewis, Fairlee Public Library, VT; Laurel Fulford, Orford Free Library, NH; Richard Tutwiler, Tracy Memorial Library, New London NH; Jennifer Spanier, Blake Memorial Library, East Corinth, VT; Rubi Simon, Howe Library, Hanover NH; Mike Morries, Howe Library, Hanover NH; Jared Jenisen, Howe Library; Tessa Johnson, Howe Library; Cory Smith, Abbott Memorial Library, Pomfret, VT; Holly Lague, Latham & Peabody Libraries, Thetford, VT; Kristin McCarthy, Wilmot Library NH; Jeff Cabral, Abbott Library, Sunapee NH; Laina Warsavage, Orford Social Library, NH; Amy Thurber, Canaan NH; Lucinda Walker, Norwich Public Library, VT.

Speaker: Mary Danko, director of Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, VT.

Minutes of Jan. 27 meeting accepted.

Dawn H. Treasurer’s report: As of 4/15 bank statement: $4,796.48. Checks post statement = $101.78.

Treasurer’s report accepted.

Amy T. Audio group report. Cory and Amy are the audio group. They have added new titles. Please reach out if you are in the audio rotation and have not received new titles. If you receive an audio that is not on the list for your bag, please don’t pass it on to the next library. Reach out if your list doesn’t match the titles you have.

Judy R. I would echo everything she said about the video group.

Glynis H. Re: Video game group. I will write up the Switch contract for everyone to vet prior to the next meeting.

Judy R. demonstrated how to find items on the master list on the website. Email Judy R. if anything needs to be changed in the spreadsheet.

Mary Danko, currently the president of the Vermont Library Association, formerly director of Abbot Library in Sunapee, said her first library job was in Norwich, 25 years ago. “I don’t know if any of us signed up for what’s going on right now.” Danko came to speak about leadership in troubled times.

“We have to build on our strengths,” said Danko. She passed around a list of leadership assets and urged everyone to check which of these assets they possess. Conclusion: We all have leadership skills that we are already using.

Challenges named by the library staff present:

Where to prioritize funding

Patrons in crisis

When you don’t have answers

Leadership changes

Not showing bias/ having respect for people of different views

Shifting timelines, thinking about longterm strategy

Determining what the public wants in a state of flux

Tech Changes

Recruitment Challenges

Danko: “It’s the job of the leader, the highest status person, to establish a psychological safety zone” so that people will contribute new ideas and share concerns. Lucinda said it’s good to be a risk-taker since “there’s so little we do that’s life or death. Particularly since the pandemic my risk threshold is lower.”

Rubi: “I like this list. During my career different strengths were needed at different times.”

Laina: “All the ideas are volunteer ideas and (staff) has to implement them.”

Judy R. “It is sometimes easier to maintain the status quo.”

Mary D. “The more you can delegate it and let it run its course, the more can happen. When we think about building this culture that is innovative and agile, we can apply Emotional Intelligence. Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence 2.0 is a helpful book. EI will help you build a culture of innovation."

Mary D. "Our Number One job is working with people. Also: Celebrate successes!

Resilience means you have to be willing to stop doing something

Recovery has to have boundaries, be methodical, be scheduled

Lack of recovery causes problems.   

Discussion about de-roling. This term borrowed from theater refers to the transition from wearing your public face to being a private person again. De-roling is important for library staff! Also, taking care of your mental health is important. As leaders we need to normalize that mental health is something we’re working on.”

Conclusion: “These are the hardest times I’ve seen for libraries. Our country needs us. Thank you all for doing the work you do.”

Next meeting: July. Judy R. will be absent. She is looking for volunteers to host the next meeting, preferably in person.

Rubi: “We can probably host. I need to check the schedule.”

Adjourned.

LUV meeting 1.27.25

approved minutes

The meeting took place via Zoom. Attendees: Mindy Atwood (NH State Library), Amy Thurber (Canaan), Betsy Kane (Bradford Vt.), Dawn Huston, Treasurer (Dunbar/Grantham), Judy Russell (Converse/Lyme), Holly Lague (Thetford), Cory Smith (Abbott/Pomfret), Laurel (Orford Free). Secretary Glynis Hart (Wilmot) arrived late and reconstructed the first minutes of the meeting from those who were there.

State library report: Mindy Atwood. Gov. Ayotte has implemented a hiring freeze for most state employees, which may affect library services. The state library was able to get a reference librarian before the freeze. Deb Dutcher has moved from YA services to head the Talking Books department. Political actions on the federal and state level may affect Talking Books and ILL services: if van drivers leave, we will not be able to replace them. Also, if federal funding for IMLS gets cut, that is the source of funding for NH’s ILL system. Atwood asks that everyone be patient and kind with state library staff for the above reasons.

Treasurer’s Report. Dawn Huston:  $9,230.13 currently in the bank. We have received $2,460 in dues and rotations this year (part of that 9k), and if errors are corrected and people do what they did last year except where they’ve indicated ahead of time that they won’t we expect $1,540 more. 

Yesterday I wrote a check for $2,503.04 for audios (so that wouldn’t yet have cleared) and I have been told to expect a video invoice.

The treasurer’s report was approved.

DVD collection. Judy Russell. Has reworked and polished up the collection. Changed the rotation to make it more geographically friendly. If you have already sent your bag out and not weeded it as per my email, okay. If you have it and can weed, you can always call me or look on the website to find out what should be in your bag.

Discussion of the bags, some of which have more than 45 videos. Judy aims for 35-40 DVDs per bag.

Audio collection. Amy Thurber. We are weeding the bags before they leave us. New audios have been ordered. We have plenty of audios if any library is interested in having 2 bags. Please check the rotation list! Audio rotation is pretty small now.

Cory Smith. I ordered 63 new audio books (~$2500). I think we’re down to 12 libraries in the rotation.

Amy T. We have a lot of people using Libby (for audiobooks) and Kanopy (for movies). I need to shift audio/video funds to those services. Our DVD demand is down.

Discussion of whether it’s worth it to buy DVD series. Amy T. We had Longmire and someone stole it except the last one. We have Murder She Wrote and it goes out like crazy.

Video game collection. Judy to Glynis: Send out an email to let everyone know what’s going on. Glynis: Video games went out last week and everyone who signed up should be in the rotation by July. We have three collections to circulate.

Dawn H. suggested buying more video games and increasing to 7 collections.

Glynis brought up the Nintendo switch consoles, which she hasn’t sent out yet. At Wilmot the Switches must be signed out by an adult in good standing at the library. Judy wondered if that was a suggestion by LUV or if it should be a policy; if so, then we should vote on it. She suggested asking Bobbi Slossar at the state library how she handled loaning out the 3D printer.

Discussion of meeting times. Glynis asked if the time had changed? She was late because she thought it was going to be at noon, having copied it directly from the website to her Google calendar. Amy T. said generally if it’s a Zoom meeting it’s at ten.

Adjourned. Next meeting: March 17 at 10 a.m.