Author: Reading

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees

Meeting Minutes

December 9, 2025 – 6:00 PM

Location: Reading Public Library and via Zoom (see link below)

1. Call to Order / Roll call: Libbet Downs, Heather Evans, Rich Grogan, Tony Pikramenos, and Bill Bakker in attendance
2. Changes to Agenda Items – No changes
3. Approve Minutes from Last Meeting: Rich motioned to approve, Heather second, All in favor. Minutes approved
4. Public Comments – No comments
5. Secretary’s Report – No secretary report
6. Treasurer’s Report – Budget spent year to date is $21,116.82. SB had no comments about our budget request of $34,885.00 for next fiscal year. $18K grant for communication was discussed and the grant will be reviewed to see what expenses beyond internet and phone may qualify
7. Librarian’s Report – Pumpkin carving and painting with Reading Elementary children was on 10/31. Make A Plate program in early November had 40 plates made. Tree Lighting in collaboration with Reading Rec was on 12/1, with Tony reading a story, hot chocolate, and a visit from Santa. Movie night in Brownsville on 12/13, in collaboration with the library in Brownsville. Game night will be held on 1/16. Tony continues to host the 1st and 2nd graders for story time at the library
8. Unfinished Business

Maintenance – We will begin the search for a contractor to repair the sidewalk this spring

New Business – Library files clean up – The Board discussed cleaning out the receipt files from the 1980s to the early 2000s. A motion was made to dispose of these files and all board members approved. Files from the early 1900s will continue to be retained, as there is a high level of interest in the early days of the library.

Discussion of CD and potential options – Moved to next meeting

Secretary vacancy discussion – Moved to next meeting

11. Summary of Decisions
12. Items & Date for Next Meeting – January 27, 2026 is the proposed date of the next meeting
13. Adjourn

ZOOM link –

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6022964075?pwd=allJV0ZjcHRyMHJsSEljNWwxNGpsQT09&omn=8 7100048280 Meeting ID: 602 296 4075 Passcode: 6SBYPV

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees

Meeting Minutes

November 18, 2025 – 6:30 PM

Zoom only

 

 

1. Call to Order / Roll call
   • Call to order at 6:34 PM
   • Attended by Tony Pikramenos, Rich Grogan, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker, Libbet Downs, Kristen Hurd
2. Finalize budget request for next fiscal year
   • Tony and Rich found some information about the sharp increase in the price of books
     7. According to Bookriot, a large editorial book site, and ReadersFirst, an organization that advocates for libraries, there was a 22% increase in the cost of children’s books from 2019 through 2023 (difficult to find data on the specific change for children’s books in the short period since 2023). During that same period there was a 7.7% increase in the cost of adult hardcover books (since 2023, there has been an additional 3% rise in that category). According to Gobook Printing, a custom bookprinting service, there has been a nearly 50% increase in the cost of adult trade paperbacks from 2021 through 2025. The outlook for book costs is cloudy. According to Medium, an online publishing platform, the publishing industry faces challenges as new tariffs on Chinese-printed books (which account for approximately 25% to 30% of books sold in the U.S.) and Canadian paper are resulting in even higher production costs and retail prices.
   • In considering the cost of books and the overall inflation rate of about 3%, a motion was made by Rich to propose a total budget of $34885.00 for the next fiscal year. Heather seconded. All were in favor.
3. Adjourn at 6:54 PM

 

ZOOM link – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84210352411

 

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees

Meeting Minutes

November 18, 2025 – 6:30 PM

Zoom only

1. Call to Order / Roll call
   • Call to order at 6:34 PM
   • Attended by Tony Pikramenos, Rich Grogan, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker, Libbet Downs, Kristen Hurd
2. Finalize budget request for next fiscal year
   • Tony and Rich found some information about the sharp increase in the price of books
     7. According to Bookriot, a large editorial book site, and ReadersFirst, an organization that advocates for libraries, there was a 22% increase in the cost of children’s books from 2019 through 2023 (difficult to find data on the specific change for children’s books in the short period since 2023). During that same period there was a 7.7% increase in the cost of adult hardcover books (since 2023, there has been an additional 3% rise in that category). According to Gobook Printing, a custom bookprinting service, there has been a nearly 50% increase in the cost of adult trade paperbacks from 2021 through 2025. The outlook for book costs is cloudy. According to Medium, an online publishing platform, the publishing industry faces challenges as new tariffs on Chinese-printed books (which account for approximately 25% to 30% of books sold in the U.S.) and Canadian paper are resulting in even higher production costs and retail prices.
   • In considering the cost of books and the overall inflation rate of about 3%, a motion was made by Rich to propose a total budget of $34885.00 for the next fiscal year. Heather seconded. All were in favor.
3. Adjourn at 6:54 PM

 

ZOOM link – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84210352411

 

Reading Public Library

Board of Trustees

Meeting Minutes

October 28, 2025

Location: Reading Public Library and via Zoom

1. Call to Order / Roll call – 6:02 PM. Present: Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans, Bill Bakker, Rich Grogan (zoom) and Kristen Hurd
2. Changes to Agenda Items – New secretary discussion will be moved to the next meeting
3. Approve Minutes from Last Meeting – Heather motions to approve. Bill seconds, all are in favor
4. Public Comments – No public comments
5. Secretary’s Report – No secretary report
6. Treasurer’s Report – Budget is still on track. Files are being reviewed to determine which files can be removed and destroyed, focusing on old receipts and bank statements.
7. Librarian’s Report
   • Winter prep – Last yard mowing has happened; air conditioners are out of the windows and dehumidifier has been turned off for the season
   • Chili Cook-Off was a success with 9 participants and a large crow of tasters
   • Book sale during the Fall Fair raised $60
   • Pumpkin carving with grades K-4 will be Friday, Oct 31 at the library. Tony will also go to the school to paint pumpkins with the preschoolers.
   • Make-A-Plate will be on Nov 8
   • Tree lighting with the Reading Recreation Commission will be Dec 7
8. Unfinished Business
   • Maintenance – Nothing new happening around building at this time
9. New Business
   • Budget request for next fiscal year
     1. Board members will be evaluating the current economic situation to determine an appropriate budget request for the town. Final decision will be made at special meeting in November.
   • Discussion of CD and potential options
     1. Rich introduced the discussion of what options are available for the CD once the term expires. Discussion will continue at future board meetings.
   • Secretary vacancy discussion – Moved to a future meeting
10. Summary of Decisions
11. Items & Date for Next Meeting – December 9, 2025
12. Adjourn at 7:05

 

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
September 30, 2025

1. Call to order 6:15/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans, Janet Malcolm, Bill Baker, Libbet Downs
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Heather seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Secretary’s Report: No new report
5. Treasurer’s Report: Budget up to date
6. Librarian’s report: – Reading Fall Fair is 10am-3pm this Saturday October 4th. Tony is having a book sale at the library and there will be various activities going on in different areas around town, with the headquarters at RES. There will also be a free chili cook off October 3, co-sponsored with the Green Space and the Library. – Second movie night at the library in September went well and had 40 plus attendees. – Tony is coordinating with Pam Boyer-Sheldon and the new art teacher and principal at RES to plan the pumpkin carving/painting with the students. Podcast continues with the 50th episode just recorded. – Karen and Doug Smith donated a painting to the library that is hanging above the bookshelves. Thank you Smith’s!
7. Unfinished Business: – No unfinished business
8. New Business: No new Business
9. Summary of Decisions: No new summary
10.Date for Next Meeting: October 28th
11. Adjourn at 7:15
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm

Reading Public Library
Board Meeting Minutes
August 26, 2025

1. Call to order 6:15/ Attendance: Tony Pikramenos, Heather Evans, Janet Malcolm, Rich Grogan (via zoom), Brian Cali
2. Minutes approved from last meeting: Janet motions, Heather seconds, all in favor, approved
3. No changes to current agenda
4. Energy efficiency project update by Brian Cali: -Electric bills hovering around high $30’s and there has been monthly savings with the library bill. It is the year birthday of the solar array! -The fire house, food shelf, town hall and library are the four buildings that the MERP finances will be used for. First step for our building is to air seal and insulate the floor of the attic which will reduce heat use.
An architect and structural engineer have been consulted for this project. They are hoping to have the initial plan and speak to fire department of safety by September 22 nd . Thank you Brian for all of your dedication and hard work to make our library energy efficient while maintaining the library’s historical structure!
5. Secretary’s Report: No new report
6. Treasurer’s Report:  No new report
7. Librarian’s report: – Town wise fall festival is coming up on Saturday October 4 th .
-Second movie night will be on Friday September 5 th . The first movie night this summer was a success! These movie nights continue to be co-sponsored with the Reading Rec. and the Mary blood library. -Tony will begin having the 1 st and 2 nd grades from RES over every other week for story time and book check out. –
The podcast continues with the latest episode including an interview with Ashley Koetsier. – The ATV club utilized the library along with the Future is Reading group and the Reading Community Trust Group. -Great news about the soffit repair – everything has been repaired by Guido and looks great! – Tony received e-mail from Calista regarding the library CD.
-Rich motions to approve moving forward with five month CD at 3.9%; Janet seconds, all in favor, approved.
– Rich motions to include interest earned of about $78 in the new five month CD, Heather seconds, all in favor, approved.
8. Unfinished Business: – No unfinished business
9. Summary of Decisions: Moving forward with five month CD at 3.9% and including the interest earned in the five month CD.
10. Date for Next Meeting: September 30th.
11. Adjourn at 7:07
Respectfully submitted by Janet Malcolm