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 21116.82
 SB had no comments about our budget request of 34885.00 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 1 st and 2bd 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 on the library.
 Discussion of CD and potential options – Moved to next meeting
 Secretary vacancy discussion – Moved to next meeting
9. Summary of Decisions
10. Items & Date for Next Meeting – January 27, 2026 is the proposed date of the next
meeting
11. 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

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