Library Board - Special Meeting

Happy New Year, etcetera. So I call the meeting of the library board at, 06:35. Roll call, please, ma'am.

Judy Borey. Here. Robin Barker. Here. Barbara Fitzgerald. Here. Catherine Eak. Here. Nola Perkins is traveling, so she will not join us tonight. Vera Walters. Here. And Alexandra Wyroba.

Here.

We have a quorum.

Thank you. And I need a motion to accept the agenda. So

moved. Second.

Thank you. I have a motion and a second. Roll call, please.

Judy Borey? Yes. Robin Barker? Yes. Barbara Fitzgerald?

Yes.

Catherine Meek? Yes. Paula Perkins is absent. Vera Walters?

Here. Yes.

And Alexander Yaroba?

Yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. And a motion to accept the minutes of November 13. I so move.

Second.

Okay. I have a motion to second. Roll call, please.

Judy Borey? Yes. Robin Barker?

Yes.

Brooke Fitzgerald? Yes. Catherine Meek? Yes. Ella Perkins is absent. Vera Walters?

Yes.

And Alexander Wagroba?

Yes. Motion passes.

Alright. Thank you. And to the public, thank you for coming. Moving on. Do we have any correspondence?

No. We do not.

Correspondence? Then we would love to hear your library report.

Wonderful. Good evening, everyone. Thanks for being here tonight. Pam Harrison, library director. And it is 01/15/2026.

We start off with three months of statistical reports more than normal so we apologize for that. Nothing too exciting in terms of growth these last couple months because it was the last months of the season. So we expect the numbers to be down and they are down a bit. But like I said, that is expected. Our program numbers are still really, really strong outreach as well, 1,400 people in October, same in November and then in December it was about half that.

But our attendance numbers are down of course in those months And and then in January, we should see them climb back up. We welcome winter visitors and start the new work new year off with a big bang. So this was a couple programs that we did in November and December. The cornucopia charcuterie, of course done by the wonderful Megan and Leah Bibliobytes duo. They'd made little cornucopia did any of you attend?

I did. You did. Good. My cornucopia looked awful.

Oh, no. It can't look awful.

It was a squished cornucopia.

It's Okay. It still tastes the same. So they made cornucopia charcuterie. You can see they're super cute. In November, they had 19 in attendance, which is exactly where they want it.

They take 20 registrants because they only have enough materials to accommodate that number of people. However, many Christmas tree boards, they must have had extra materials and more people showed up because there were 27 in attendance And we see there's a couple of teens there, which is always nice because we do, welcome teens to almost all of our adult programs. So that was a lot of fun. And for the next few months, they are, focusing Bibliobites more on demonstrations so that they can welcome more people to attend and see all the great things they do with recipes from our cookbooks in the library. Culinary Kids was a huge hit, too.

That was in late November, I want to say. It could have been early December. There were 32 kids in attendance. They decorated snacks with holiday themes. They were very cute.

I was at the desk that hour when they were coming out. They came up to show me their cookies. They still said they were going to eat them, but they're very cute until that moment. This was Countdown to Noon. This has been a tradition now for probably seven or eight years where kids ages eight and younger are invited to come to the library on New Year's Eve to do crafts, activities, and a virtual countdown to the noon hour since they are not allowed to stay out until midnight.

And you can see they were having a great time there, 50 in attendance for that program. You might notice if you've been to the library or an outreach event lately that the mobile library got a new wrap. It's the same design, but it is all brand new. It looks so much better than it did. It was getting dried and cracking.

So now we have, it's a little bit lighter color. The blue is a new color on there. And then for the Christmas light parade that the city holds in December, they decorated it with lights, and this was the first time that they took play that they took part in the light parade. Megan asked if she could be the lead vehicle and she was told no. It's a fire truck and it has to be a fire truck. She So was okay with that.

We could put red lights in the fire rate on that.

I know. I know. So she was right in the middle, she said. And she was really surprised, these last few weeks. She's had a lot of people come up to her in the library and say, hey, saw the mobile library in the late parade. So it did create awareness. So it was a lot of fun. And I'm sure she's going to do it again because she loves doing these things.

So I have a question about that.

Yeah.

Somebody in the van, I think it was the van was doing six seven back to the kids during the parade.

Somebody in in the mobile library?

I it was either the mobile library or the other I I think it was mobile library.

Oh, I don't know.

I'm trying to remember because it was towards, I was getting tired of the six seven. But when whoever was doing that back to the kids in front of us just got them so excited.

What did they do with their hands?

Yeah. Did. They did six seven and the kids were just

Yeah. It's a thing.

It's an annoying thing.

It's a it doesn't mean

doesn't mean anything. Was driving everybody crazy And then during the whole before the parade and the parade, it drove me nuts.

Well, I'll have to ask about that. I did not know.

Yeah. Because whoever did that really got the kids out.

Well, that's you know, it's all about having a good time. That has anything to do with the mobile library.

Well, it was getting the kids excited.

Yeah. Oh, that's cute though.

Yeah.

Onto the library reading garden. Yes, we've been talking about this for going on a year and a half. We are almost, like, this close to be done with design. Like, really close. We're basically in the in the point now where we're close to getting the permitting, the contract with the contractor who is Wilming. We're doing a JOC, which is a job order contract, so that we can get it done sooner than later. They are pretty sure that we can get it done in three months. Wow.

Just in time for summer.

Exactly. I know. Hoping that it can start late February if all the pieces lay down nicely, if not very, very early March. Nothing has changed in the design. It is what you see, the amphitheater, the shade, the shade umbrellas over the seating area, greenhouse seed, shed, raised garden beds.

Everything is the same. The water bowl feature. So we're just waiting to get all those administrative things figured out. We met with Wyoming today and got a lot of our questions answered. This is my first big project with the city, so I'm super stoked, to get this started and to also get it finished because we've been working on this for quite a while, but that's just the the nature of it. So look for a great day at our next meeting.

Okay. Great. Having been in on a lot of builds in the city, this was pretty fast.

Really? Well, it's not a huge project. I mean, it's still almost 20,000 square feet, but

Big enough. Yeah. Yeah.

Not a ton of, you know, building. It's hard some hardscape, but not like, you know, building a building. You know that the Lost Dutchman Days is the weekend of the February. So the Friends of the Library have decided to do their book sale right before that. It'll be Thursday, the twenty sixth, and Friday, the twenty seventh. It'll be back in the open room. There'll be lots of things to choose from, And we hope that you can come take a look and get some good deals on some great books and benefit the library at the same time. And that's it for tonight for the librarians report. Any questions? Questions?

Well, you're good. No questions. Yes, that's really good. Wow. I'm impressed. Have a question but not about your report but it has to do with the library. Oh okay. When is or is the book drop on the West Side open yet?

We just got the cover for the the inside portion of it this week. So we hope to have that installed and ready to open if not next week then the week. Yes we we've had, I know, for months, and facilities was working on what the cover would be because we can't have people put their hands in there and take materials that have been returned to nothing that they would, but we needed to have something to cover that that box. And they went kind of round and round on what would work, and then something was ordered and, you know, measured for probably about a month and a half ago, and it takes them some time to get it done. Yeah, so we're excited because lots of people are asking about it.

Well, you come in that side with your books and you're thinking I'm gonna drop

them off. I

know. Finally, we'll have a book drop over there though.

All right. Moving on. We have new business. First of all, we have a discussion and possible vote on the changes for the library programs and facility use policy, which we got in an email and you have a copy here.

Pam? Yes, it's on the screen. I hope you had a chance to kind of take a look at it because there's there's a lot of red lines, there's a lot of strike throughs and additional text and things getting moved around. I'm gonna give you kind of the high level overview of why changes were made and and what they are. And if you want me to go through it line by line, I can, but we will get to that in just a moment.

So we made the changes or we're making hopefully possible changes to this, program and facilities use policy to clarify expectations, eliminate internal inconsistencies, and reduced administrative legal risk while preserving our core mission of prioritizing library sponsored programs and equitable public access. There have been some questions about the policy. Things weren't real clear on some things. I think both staff and the public did need a more clear policy with more clear language so they really understand, how the facilities work if you want to reserve them, at the library. So the key reason for the changes, repetitive language was used, through parts of the policy.

There was conflicting or duplicated requirements in some instances, and some of the wording was kind of outdated and the format was was wonky. So now it's more clear who may use the rooms, when they can be used, under what conditions, and what the responsibilities for the users will be if they decide to, rent the facility. In terms of other revisions, that have to do with liability, and more clearly clarifies the financial responsibility for any damage and who is responsible for cleanup, the inspection and reimbursement language and reinforcing indemnification and insurance requirements. Equity and neutrality. We will always give priority to library programs.

We do allow use by nonprofit governmental and educational groups but do prohibit commercial use while allowing limited internal due transfers. So it clearly states that the library does not endorse viewpoints expressed in meetings, and that is one thing that was missing from the original policy. Lastly, it's aligning more with current operations. And now clearly it states what equipment availability we have and who's responsible for it. The timing of payment is made more clear and room vacancy requirements before closing have been added because we have had instances where people were told you need to start cleaning up about 07:30 and 07:45 comes around and they are still having their meeting.

So we're hoping that that is going to help eliminate those issues. So updating the policy ensures that the written policy matches actual operations, which is critical for transparency and defensibility. And the changes modernize policy, reduce ambiguity, support consistent enforcement, and protect the library and city while ensuring fair and predictable use of the library facilities. If you'd like, I can go through it line by line and tell you what has been omitted and why. Some of it is just purely grammatical.

Others are to move it to an area where it makes more sense, and, some of it is to add in wording or take out wording that didn't work for us. So if you'd like me to do that I can or if you're good I cannot.

I have a question.

Go through it.

So

the red line means you crossed that out.

It's deleted, yes.

The yellow highlight means it's in. Correct.

But some of it is in.

So why is the rented rooms may not be used found in number two and number three?

Moving from

I knew that. What was the question? I'm sorry. She's asking why is rented the sentence that begins with rented rooms, why is it in number two and number three? I was telling Sansi and Mike. It's a good question. So yeah, let's go through it. Let's start with, anything that is read strike through has been omitted or deleted or is proposed to be deleted. So we're starting off with the first, paragraph, purpose. The only thing that changed was we added the S word room because we have more than one program room. Under the policy section, all library programs have priority for non library programs. Robin will agree, you don't need the word will in there because. Exactly. Yes. It's a tense thing.

Number two, we took out the word meeting because they're not necessarily meeting rooms. We have meeting rooms. We have program rooms. So we just want to say generally rooms. Rooms may only be rented and used during normal library hours.

We took out no meetings will be allowed in the library if there is any, but instead added rented rooms may not be used for commercial intent, solicitation for profit, sales, fundraising, or the exchange of money from the group or organization. We took out hold in the meeting and put renting room. Now it's appearing in number two, but since it was added language, we I know I was gonna get this messed up. We moved it to number three. And

then you moved number three all the way down to number five.

Correct. Sansi and I went over this and now I forgot why we left it in there twice. Think it was because we wanted to show you, in

number two, what the wording actually was, what was deleted, what was added. And so when we moved it to number three, what we're showing you is, yes, it originally was existed in number two, we decided to change it and modify it. And now we're moving the entire sentence to number three instead of where it was in number two.

And even though it's a new sentence in number two, I think the issue we had was I made so many revisions to this that if she tried to go back and take it out in number two, it was messing everything up. Am I correct?

Yeah. We had to

start over. Okay. Yeah. We had to start over. So it's not in number two, but that's where it was going to be, and it moved to number three. Three.

Oh, so it's not not in number two.

Right so number two right now is just says rooms mainly rented and used during normal library hours.

That's it.

That's it. Okay. Number three. Okay so this was what was added the library requests that a permit for use of library programs.

Why are those capitalized?

I think because that is the capitalization that is

the title of

the policy is capitalized. I think that's why.

What it says is you have to get your permit ten calendar days prior to your meeting.

Yeah. It's capitalized because the title of the policy is capitalized, so we left it. The library requested a permit for use of library program facilities be submitted, took out arranged, at least ten county days was added to the date needed prior to the date needed, excuse me. And everything in red after that was in the original policy but has been taken out. So originally read yeah, I'm really bad at this.

Requests for facilities

Should be Should

Well, for use of library for use of library facilities. Library should be arranged at least on days prior to the requested time.

You don't want it to be permissive. You want it to be they have to be arranged. Correct. Getting rid of the should was a good thing. I I have a question on the rented room sentence that goes in both that you have in both paragraphs now that will be removed and placed in their order whenever. At the very end of that you have or the exchange of money from groups and organizations renting the room shouldn't it be by?

Renting rooms are not used for commercial intents, listed or profit, sales, fundraising or exchange of money Yeah, you're right by the group.

Yeah because from indicates a whole difference.

Yeah, for catching that. When you read it so many times I think you.

Oh absolutely. Yeah.

By the group organization By running the group,

really fresh eyes. Okay. Got

it. So for number three, they took out we took out requested time, signed responsibility form to complete and return to library director. Nothing comes to me at August as somebody on staff. By seven calendar days before the meeting, the library trustees grants the right of approval for use of the library's programs to the library director. So he took all that out because that wasn't true.

And it's redundant.

And it's redundant. Correct. So number three now just says the library requests that a permit for use of library program facilities be submitted at least ten calendar days prior to the date needed. Rent rooms may not be used for commercial intent, solicitation profit, sales fundraising or the exchange of money by the group or organization renting the room.

What happens in the five which you've already read as three?

The first sentence of three went to Oh. Five. So really number three

I was telling her I'm like if I have to read this through and try to get it right It is confusing. I am gonna mess it up. But we couldn't we figure out it since had gone through so many revisions. We couldn't figure out another way to get it without doing the whole thing completely over. Alright. So number the first sentence number three is actually number five. So Okay. My fault on that. I Number four is no changes. Non profit groups using the library facilities may be allowed to collect internal dues provided it is not with commercial or profit making intent.

That one hasn't changed. So number five is the first sentence and number three, which I've read twice, and the library requests that a permit for use oh, it's the same sentence. Okay.

Okay.

Now number six actually comes from number nine.

Okay.

What fun.

Okay. So number six will read. Does that mean both of these stayed in then? Okay the use charge yeah so it's already showing a number six but it originally came from number nine. The use charge must be paid at the time of reservation in person by cash credit card or check.

It doesn't need to be a comma after person.

You're correct. We will correct that.

We're getting picky aren't we?

Hey, you know I was an English teacher too I get it. I'm surprised I didn't catch it. Okay.

Could you?

Goodness. I know. About halfway through this, was like, maybe we should just leave the policy the way it was. Okay, number seven. Persons, we took out organizations

and

said persons and groups because not everybody is an organization. Users using library facilities. Users of library Okay. You want to write that down? Users of library facilities are responsible for we took out all cleanup work and or costs resulting from self use, no storage of equipment, supplies, materials were permitted And instead, setup and takedown of tables and chairs and all cleanup after use of the room.

All cleanup?

Cleanup of whatever they would you like it to be more specific? Like I don't expect them to vacuum the floors.

Don't expect them to vacuum. Some places do.

I know. Do I need to be more specific as to what cleanup is?

Would think Plural cleanup, complete cleanup?

Well, if somebody comes out and asks you where the vacuum cleaner is and they offer vacuum, decided to Yeah, they can do

it. Sure.

Maybe you just take out the word all.

Okay. Take down of tipples and chairs and clean up. Is that what you didn't like was the word all, Vera? Yes. Okay. That's good. Any other comments on that one? So we took out a lot of that from number seven because we I decided the equipment and all that should be in a different part.

Do you have a list for each of your rooms as to what they should look like being returned to their original state?

No we do for the Amethyst room. Old room it's implied that it should every because the tables are normally not up unless they were up when they got in there. But that is something that we can definitely provide.

It would just help the user.

Yeah. That is true. Number eight, we took out a use charges made so the cost of making the room available will be shared by those using it. The circulation desk has the most current fee schedule. Took that out, but no equipment such as laptops, cables, cords, microphones, easels, or carts will be provided for use. Storage of equipment, supplies, or materials is not permitted because we have been asked for those things and those are not things that we loan. Number nine.

The first sentence goes to six.

Right. The second sentence about inspection was omitted or deleted and instead it was reworded. Should a post use inspection of a rented room reveal damages or uncleanliness, committee shall reimburse the city for full cost necessary to restore the room to its condition prior to use. Period. Yes.

I don't know why we have by committee on the end again. If committee cancels the reservation, a verbal request for credit transfer refund must be made by the last day prior to the facility rental date. All refunds granted will be minus 10% or $5 whichever is greater. And that is for our previous policy, which actually is the same as Parks and Recreation. Number 11 is more of a reword.

We took out alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the building at any time, and use of illegal drugs or marijuana is strictly prohibited and instead changed it to food and nonalcoholic beverages may be served in the meeting rooms. Smoking tobacco products of any sort, vape pens, marijuana, and the use of smokeless products such as e cigarettes are prohibited in the rooms and library facility. Painters tape is the only adhesive permitted on walls, doors, or furniture. Number 12, we took out organizations using the program room. She'll hold the city of Apache Junction's elected officials, employees, and agents free from responsibility for any personal injury or damage to property and equipment and replaced it with meeting rooms must be vacated at least fifteen minutes before the library closes.

So that, I wanted to have the safe at the end. 13 was added, at the library's request, persons and groups may be required to provide, pay for, and maintain public liability insurance name in the city, its elected officials, employees and agents as additional insured.

I have a question. Why is pay for necessary if they provide it and they maintain it? They obviously had to pay for it. You

like to provide better than pay for?

Yeah provide.

To provide.

Yeah.

Yeah I agree. To

provide and maintain?

Yeah.

Okay

if you pay for it are you maintaining it right that is it

okay do you want just provide

well a person can provide you with a policy and next year use the room again and not have updated that policy. So I think the maintenance of that policy is necessary.

And number 14, this was added wasn't in the last policy at all. The Apache Junction Public Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints expressed during any program or the viewpoints and policies of any group or organizations that use library meeting rooms for any activity or program. So 13 actually was kind of a rewrite of 12, but I wanted that later in the policy. Yeah there were a lot of changes. Sorry for the confusion but I knew there was gonna be because I was confused.

On your permit for use yes that pay for is in there too.

Okay.

Right above the red.

Okay. So that's where that came from. Okay. So we can take that out. And we just change the wording and the permit to match what we had just put in the policy.

And can we get a clean copy of this once once you've got it all? Oh.

Correct.

So we can

Catherine's go ahead.

And then yeah. The removing the by permittee is a little bit further down in the app the permit application also it's below the red three lines down Restore the facility to its condition

prior Yes, I see that. Permittee shall reimburse it for full cost necessary to restore facility to its condition prior to use by Permittee.

If we remove it from the other one.

Yeah.

So we're changing that to somebody Pick

up by Permittee at the end. Okay.

Excuse me? When somebody requests to have a room, do they get a copy of this? Yes. As well as the

Yes. We send them the policy and the form. We have a supervisor on staff that this is she's assigned to do these, but if she's not there, we have a backup person who does it. But yes, they get both.

And do they have to provide the proof of insurance?

The only time they would have to do that, and I spoke to, the city attorney about this, is if they're doing any type of activity that has a physical component to it, which is very unlikely in the library. We're not going to we're not going to have them provide insurance if they're, you know, having an educational session or a meeting. But if they were gonna do Taekwondo, then then, yeah.

We found another.

Oh, boy. Further down on the the permit, additional fees may be charged on committee if the facility is found.

On committee? Yeah. On committee. Sorry. Okay. Where's that one?

I see it. It's three lines.

Right there. I think so. Wow, where is it?

Do you need to have a signature line on this one?

The policy or the or

to know that they've read you know read this too

you know. Well we only have them return the form. The policy is just for their information so they know what what to expect I mean we could have them sign that that they read it

is reference to the policy anywhere on

the permit I don't think

there is a reference to following the policy

Could be in that first line where they agree to comply with. Okay. I like that idea. Policy to that line. Got state laws and plus library policy.

Okay. Do you want to read that what you said out loud to Robin and see if you can write it down?

Oh, you could add the their understanding of the library policy by to that first line. Permittee agrees to comply with all federal, state, municipal laws. You could have, comma, library policies. To include library policy. Oh, too if we want to.

Library program policy is that what you're calling this

yes library program whatever this is titled okay okay

would be in it well wouldn't rules

with respect to the use of facilities include the policy?

Well, somebody could certainly argue that they didn't realize, although they will not get this to sign until they've read the policy. That my is my understanding correct there?

Say that again, please?

They will not sign this until they've read this. Is that correct?

Yes. Should be what is happening. Periodically.

Your point is is well made. That rules could in fact cover that.

Unless somebody just gets a a second copy of the permit. Somebody gives them a copy of the permit to fill out for whatever they wanna do.

That's true too. Adding it is is less trouble than fighting them.

Adding the

Adding the Reference policies there. A reference to them is less trouble than arguing with somebody they didn't know. Yeah.

Does the city attorney read this?

He he's yeah. I mean, he he wrote most of this in the past. A lot of this is from the Parks and Rec. The permit form here is is very, very close to theirs. So, yeah. So it did go through him. And it went through him the last time we updated this, which was probably gosh, you were probably here. It was probably four years ago when we changed it at one point, maybe three years ago. Yeah. I know.

And then the very last sentence on your, permit. Is AV equipment different from your technology that's not allowed to be used?

Say that again.

Oh, yeah. That should be taken out too. Sorry, I didn't do all my homework. We're talking about all the refunds? We do do. All of that stuff about the refund part is correct. She's talking about use of library a brief requirement requires permission of library director. We can take that out because we don't let them use any of our

wait, where are you?

On the the

very last sentence.

Oh, this sentence. Okay. So take that out. Yeah.

Good catch. Boy. We're getting good.

Yeah. I should have just had you guys rewrite all of this. This was not my best work.

We would have been as confused as you are. We just got to take all your confusion and then we're doing this.

I had her really confused because I would change something and then I'd be like, you know what? I don't like that there. Let's move it there. And then I'd be like, you know what? I want to reword that. And so she had yeah. That's why it kind of became a small mess. So my apologies. Are there any other changes? And would you like to see all the changes before Before we vote. Possible voting. Mhmm. Can bring it up at the next.

You know, if they have to read they have to read the, use policy before they, fill out the permit. Right? They're given the use policy when they fill out the permit?

The one that we did over? Yeah. Yeah. They get both of them together.

So setting up and breaking down of chairs is redundant because you already set it in the use policy.

That is true.

I think it still needs to legally it still needs to be there where they sign.

Well, then everything else here

would happen. I couldn't hear you, Barbara.

I said that I think it needs to be there because that's what they sign.

And did Barbara, did you want something added about room configurations are available in each room or something of I that just

practice on your part. Don't think it's I don't require it. Okay. No.

We're pretty lenient as long as they don't Right.

I suspect most people would ask anyway or most people would know what they were doing.

Right.

I was just curious.

And sometimes if we're going to, you know, if they put tables up and we're going to use it the next day, the the person in charge might just tell them just leave the tables where you left them because we're gonna move them anyway

so

other comments questions on this particular item Will there be a staff person assigned to that

area that helps them either with anything?

While they're in the room.

Whoever the supervisor in charge is for that time. When we have our, our daily schedules, have, we have somebody assigned as supervisors. It's at least one person. Sometimes it's two. So either one of them can be the point of contact or the person that helps. Trisha is the one that facilitates this this policy in this process and the permitting and the payments. So normally it'll be her but if she's not available it could be Jason, could be Megan, could be Penny. Depends on who's there that day.

Other comments, questions? Alexandra, we haven't

I know she's so quiet

I guess I can add two things potentially for the applicant signature I'm assuming they may have their name on it where it might be the name of the organization or something but we might want a specific line that also has the name in case their signature is not legible.

Printed. Okay. Yeah. That's a idea.

A printed name. And then two,

if you know, if they read all this and you want a section potentially that says, like, I acknowledge that I've read this all and agree to these policies and stuff.

Okay. Do you think that should be before the, the charges section like like where the AV equipment part was? That's where I was

thinking originally. That

It could

be on a At different

the bottom of the policy itself, so when they get it, they get it as a package and then when they return it They written it. That's totally doable. Or we can get them both.

Maybe they should keep the policy so they remember all that.

True.

Oh, that's a good point too.

That's a good point.

Get enough brains. They can refer back to what they're supposed to be doing.

Correct.

So in that case then it would have to go on here that they acknowledge they've read this

read and agree

because we keep this

correct yes we keep that

was looking

insurance on here. You've got

That's why I'm looking for the insurance.

Is right here. They acknowledge that. And you don't need a copy of that insurance? More? Longer we sit here the more we talk.

I know. Can like I said we don't have to have to vote tonight if we can come back and have a second look after.

We need that.

Would you like us to write like clean copies of all the changes made so it's a little bit easier to understand? Okay. I totally agree.

Yeah and that way when we see what we're voting for clearly.

Sounds

good.

But this was a financial

Oh, yeah. I'm a little embarrassed, but it's okay. Why? Not my finest moment.

You did a marvelous job. And and that gives the board that job of creating clarity, etcetera. And we need those jobs. We don't need to just sit here and listen. We need to do stuff.

I I agree. She she knows how many times I changed this. And you And I still didn't do a great job. But thank you for doing that.

Proof readers either. No. You you get another person coming in here, they'll

they'll find more information.

Yeah. Know. I know.

Yeah. It'll happen. Okay. Let's, move on to the second part of this item and that is the discussion of future, potential future literacy programs and community partnerships. This is something that we discussed at the last meeting. And asked us to ask around the community, and see how people felt about the possibility of an adult literacy program, correct?

That is one idea, but it could have been pretty much anything.

Or what have you. I did that. Okay. With the resource person there as well as some of our clientele and they all gave me a definitive no. Okay. It was that was the way they felt about it.

That they did not need.

They did not well it wasn't so much not needing it.

Not interested.

They're really wanting to tie themselves down to something that they felt would take more than an hour or so. They're they're shifting population. They are not always here in Apache Junction, and they do not have the transportation to get to the library all the time. You have your regulars here every time I come in, and I know who they are. But, the folks I didn't talk to any of them, I should have. But I talked to other folks there. But that was the reaction I got.

Thank you.

I talked to some people, and their feeling was that the library can't do everything. And we do so much for the community that they they questioned whether we had the power, the money, or the resources to do that, and that that should be done by an educational facility like the schools.

Did you talk to any groups or organizations or was it

just Not a

group or organizations.

I run into, people I know, and some of them are educators.

Okay. Thank you.

Not a big sample size.

On that part, you kind of started talking about, education in schools and how it could be to the school's responsibility. I was part of a program called Valley Leadership, and they had a catalyze program. And one of their initiatives, they have this thing called well, it's their Education Impact Maker. And currently they're in the community, they're in Mesa, Arizona, where they have a few of their alumni from this program, which are leaders across the valley, that can go in and volunteer and be a substitute teacher for teachers. So they go in once a month for four months, and then those teachers can go do a specific Arizona science of reading training

that they have to do.

So that might be something that we can work into for Apache Junction or even if any of us or other volunteers are so inclined, if they do take other volunteers to be a substitute so that teachers can have the time to do additional training. What

would that look like here? How would we as a library board facilitate something like that?

Well, I would be happy to connect with the program that's doing it in Mesa right now and then see if that's something that our public schools are interested in.

Right. That would be my first thought is really the schools have to be the first have the first say in this. Yeah. Interesting. It's an interesting program. I hadn't heard of

it. Yeah. But just like you said, like, resources, it would for potentially for some early literacy, it would be more towards schools.

You had another one though too, didn't you?

I did.

Okay. And then another program that I used to be a part of, I don't know if a lot of you know of, There's this one organization in, I think, Downtown Phoenix. It's called UMOM. It's a homeless shelter. And

in the

past, they've done a Read to Me program where they invited volunteers to come read to some of their residents and their kids, I think, ages four to 12, where they would have volunteers come in, kiddos could select a book, and the volunteer and the child would read together. So I think that could be potentially like all ages of readers, right, getting together and being in a safe space and environment. And kids would be able to take home a book after that session. So I don't think they do this program anymore, but it seemed a little similar to one of the more recent, I think, events at the multi generational center that you all hosted.

What program is that? Are you aware which program that is? Is it somebody or it people coming into

It was in their catalog

Read of

seniors. Asking for volunteers to read to get something about connecting generations. Yes.

So I thought that was pretty similar so that might be a good niche for at least literacy.

So that is it's called gosh, what's the name? Might Eight pages. It could be a partnership with us. We do have, I think, two staff people that are working with staff over at the MGC to have teenagers go over to read to or with seniors. Pages among among ages or something Yeah, like yeah. So that is partially us.

We have reading programs here too for the kids. The library.

Like the summer reading program and story times. Yeah, bars to read.

Where is Ms. Jasmine?

Miss Jasmine is the outreach librarian for the county.

Oh, she is?

Yeah. So she she goes to the libraries that don't have maybe a youth services person because of their size or because of their staffing structure. She does a lot of virtual, events.

She seems pretty popular. Popular.

Yes. She has come to do some programs at AJ, but she's not a regular. She goes to some of the libraries regularly to do story times for those communities. Yeah. Yeah, she's really good.

She must be.

So we have a teen book club, a tween book club, obviously adult book clubs.

Yeah.

We used to be a partner of Read Better Be Better, but I'm they're funding sorry?

The Story Time.

Yep, have Story Time.

So we actually do a lot of that here Yeah. Already. I I think the the key is to find the need. I mean, rather than creating something because we think it looks pretty. But to find find the need for that, and if the need is there, then to figure out how we create an answer to that need.

But what do you want to do with all this information, ladies? Well, not get and Store just keep it,

I guess, trying to figure out where to ask the the question of people. Because adults, I mean, if they're not gonna wanna go to school to take a class in literacy. You know, they just either they have, you know, children at home and maybe babysitting what they need. And so for them to take I I don't know. I think it's gonna just be tough for them to get to a class.

And we no longer have a shelter in AJ. We have one, but we no longer have one here. It sort of mixes that possibility. Mhmm. The Holt Women's Center Does hopes win women's center I'm sorry. I can't get it out. They do something very similar with their young moms in their facility. Well, I think there are a lot of ideas. Yeah. A lot of thoughts, and I think it's something that we can just sort of keep percolating at.

Yeah.

And if we get to the point or when we get to the point where we see that need is out there, we've got all kinds of wonderful ideas now that might we might be able to recreate to answer that need. So Mhmm. Let's just keep looking around to see what the need is here. I'm wondering

if

we need maybe some

We need we need more time.

Yeah. Yeah. It's a good thing to keep up there. Mhmm. But we also don't want to put the library in a position where they are rolling over the school's job and anybody else's job. We don't want that. Yeah it's it's a delicate balance

it is it is

try to do any other comments

Thanks for those of you that brought up some ideas. It's always helpful to hear what people are finding out or hearing from other people in the public that we just might not encounter at the library.

I really like the school idea. I I hope that the school is interested in something like that because I'm sure there are people who would be willing to do that. My substitute certificate is still enforced, but I don't think I wanna go back in the classroom. Stayed there too long. Alright. Shall we, therefore, move on? Are there any future agenda requests?

Just more update on the garden. Think you'll

Oh, yeah. Of course. Yes. Awesome. The

garden is a constant issue beyond every agenda until we're actually sitting.

Exactly. It it will

meeting. I think we need a meeting in It the will be like by the time it's built, it will be daylight.

Yes, it will. We could do that. When

we do get it built, one project I would like to see happen in the garden is sponsored bird feeders.

Oh, okay. Sponsored by

Get an organization that, like, I have 18 hummingbird feeders. And every time I do a bird talk, I give one away. Oh. And it's amazing how wonderful people think that is when they don't have one.

Mhmm. Yeah. We have several.

And for the kids to see a hummingbird up close, a bird in a feeder, and we could get, like, true value might wanna donate a feeder and keep it filled so it'd be of no cost.

That would be wonderful.

That would be nice. Yeah. I think we should have a garden party for the opening.

Oh, yes.

Gonna wear fancy hats and

Yeah.

Okay. I'm holding you to it. I'm not a party planner, so you're going to have to plan it.

I have the teacups. Yeah. She has the teacups.

Oh, you do? Okay. I think we have some at the library too from the teas that we've done. But yeah, that would be a lot of fun.

All right. If there is nothing else, I would like to adjourn this meeting at 07:33.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.