From Julie Rios at the Walpole Town Library:
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Library Trustees Meeting Minutes – 6/10/25
Walpole Town Library
Board of Trustees Meeting
June 10, 2025
Present: Amy Howard (Chair), Kathy Nerrie (Treasurer), Susan Johnson, Bill Ranauro,
Susan Johnson, Sarah Mann, Erin Bowen, Jana Sellarole, Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary), Jane Malmberg (Library Director)
Absent: Gail Lahaise
Visitor: Eryn Sellarole
Call to Order: Amy called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. in the Hubbard Community Room.
Approval of Minutes: Amy moved to approve the May 13, 2025 meeting minutes. Erin seconded and all voted in favor; motion carried.
Introduction of Eryn Sellarole: Amy welcomed Eryn Sellarole to the meeting. Eryn introduced herself as the new Chair of the Friends of the Library, working along with Gretchen Fowler in this role. Eryn provided an update on their activities. The Friends board approved an additional $5,000 to the library for programming and newspapers. The annual book sale is on again for the end of October. Every Wednesday during the summer from 9:30-10:30 at the Coop, the Friends will sort books and accept donations for the book sale. They prefer that donations be dropped off here but will still accept books at the reuse center. They also welcome volunteers to help with the sorting process.
Treasurer’s Report: Kathy reported that last month we received a quarterly check from the Library Trust Fund for $5,000. It was more than expected but it was based on interest that they make. The library also received a large amount of donations in memory of Gary Rhodes.
Bills: The biggest expense last month was renewal of Library Aware software. Jane said she is considering changing to a less expensive software, but Julie finds it useful when sending out the newsletter each month. They will continue to look for a less expensive option. Amy moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Bills. Erin seconded and all voted in favor; motion carried.
Old Business
Old Home Days: Jane reported that preparations for the march are underway and six staff members will participate. Bill had the bookmarks printed and Sarah will order the temporary tattoos.
Library Scholarship: Amy delivered a letter and check to the high school prior to Awards Night. Analiese Kenyon received the scholarship. Susan suggested putting an announcement of this award in the Clarion.
Bill suggested possibly refining the scholarship guidelines, but this could be done at a future meeting.
Long Range Planning: Jane will send copies of the 2018 Five-Year-Plan to the trustees to review during the summer in preparation for writing the new long range plan.
New Business
Policy Review: Jane recommended reviewing one policy per meeting, as suggested at a recent regional trustees meeting. Trustees agreed it is a good idea.
At this board meeting Jane presented her ideas for our display policy, referring to the Nashua Public Library policy as an example. Bulletin board and rack displays were discussed. Kathy suggested rack displays follow bulletin board guidelines. Susan recommended formalizing each policy by stating the policy has been approved by the Board of Trustees. It was also suggested that a statement saying all policies apply to both the main and North Walpole branches of the library appear at the beginning of the policy handbook. Jane said we can also make that statement on our website link to library policies. Jane will revise our display policy this summer and send it to the board for approval.
Operations: Jane sent her operations report to the trustees for review prior to this meeting. She noted at the meeting that the Savings Bank of Walpole presented the library with a $200 grant, which Jane said would be used for the Walpole Reads program in the fall. The SBW will be listed as a co-sponsor of the event.
Jane said with increased funding from the Friends, she can plan some additional adult programs. She is currently working on one with a chocolate theme for late August or early September.
The frustration over the router continues. No progress has been made. Jane will contact Sarah Downing or Carolyn Vose to see if the Town can contact Consolidated on behalf of the library. In the meantime, it was suggested that staff give patrons who want to print the password for the other router.
Adjournment: With no further discussion, Erin moved to adjourn the meeting. Sarah seconded and all voted in favor. Amy adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.
The next meeting will be September 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in the Main Library.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary
** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the September 9, 2025 meeting.
Great Decision at the Library – 6/16/25
“Great Decisions”
One Week from Today
to discuss:
“Climate Change: A Global Challenge”
The “Great Decisions” public forum will meet again on Monday, June 16, 6:00 p.m. in the Walpole Town Library. Our topic is “Climate Change: A Global Challenge amidst Geopolitical Tension.” Leading the discussion is science teacher, environmental activist, climate-change educator Tom Sintros of Alstead, NH. Along with his many environmental and educational projects, Tom was a Climate Reality presenter for Al Gore and speaker for Carbon Coalition. He has worked with The Climate Project, Climate Solutions University, and Clean Air Cool Planet, and was a founding board member of Keene Cities for Climate Protection.
The relevant reading from the Foreign Policy Association is “International Climate Cooperation in an Era of Geopolitical Turmoil” by Joshua Busby. This article is available at the library or can be emailed to you upon request by contacting Jane Malmberg, Library Director: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org
All are welcome at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, in the Hubbard Meeting Room, Walpole Town Library. We begin with a 20-minute Master Class video prepared by the Foreign Policy Association which cannot be shown over Zoom. For those joining via Zoom, please contact Jane Malmberg for the Zoom link in advance of the meeting and join at 6:20 p.m.
Sue Kibbe
Author Betsy Small at the Walpole Town Library – 5/20/25
Tuesday, May 20, 7 PM
Walpole Town Library
Sierra Leone is often sensationalized as a place of extreme violence and suffering—of blood diamonds, child soldiers, war amputations, and Ebola and now the highly addictive drug Kush. Before Before captures daily life in a different country, one Betsy Small first encountered as a Peace Corps worker between 1984-87, and then rediscovered when she returned decades later with her daughter. Living in Tokpombu, a remote community of forty rice-farming families, the author faced struggles that changed her forever and witnessed the growing tensions in this rainforest village—between the young and old, between the traditions of oral history and honoring the ancestors valued by the elders and the siren call of the illicit diamond mines faced by the youth.
Before Before offers a rare portrait of everyday people, with particular focus on the lives of women and girls, before the brutal war of 1991 tore the country apart. Through Small’s account of immersion in another world as she witnessed injustice and was welcomed as a friend, readers are invited to explore the shared ground of our humanity.
Library Trustees Meeting Minutes – 4/8/25
Walpole Town Library
Board of Trustees Meeting
April 8, 2025
Present: Amy Howard (Chair), Kathy Nerrie (Treasurer), Gail LaHaise, Susan Johnson, Bill Ranauro, Jana Sellarole, Sarah Mann, Erin Bowen, Jean Kobeski (Recording Secretary), Jane Malmberg (Library Director)
Visitors: Bevin Mitchell, Gretchen Fowler
Call to Order: Amy called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at the North Walpole Library. She welcomed Bevin Mitchell and Gretchen Fowler to the meeting and welcomed Jana Sellarole to the library Board of Trustees.
Recognition of Visitors: Amy recognized Bevin and Gretchen, who came to give an update from the Friends of the Library. Bevin reported that the book sale was very successful and the Friends were able to donate $17,000 to the library. She said the Friends have made $3500 from book sales at the Reuse Center and offered a short history of the book area at the center. The 2026 book sale will take place October 25th and 26th, no Friday night. She said it was difficult to coordinate that with the school.
Bevin stated that volunteers and board members are welcome to help sort books starting Wednesday, June 11th (and Wednesdays thereafter) at 9:30. She also invited board members to join the Friends for their working meetings this summer on the third Thursday of the month from 5-6 at the coop. They discuss business as they sort and move books and pallets. Gretchen stated that they need more banana boxes. There has been a shortage but Kathy said she believes that is over. Amy thanked Bevin and Gretchen for the update; they left the meeting at 4:38.
Elections: After discussing the roles of Chair and Treasurer, Amy was reelected to the position of Chair of the Board of Trustees; Kathy was reelected as Treasurer and Jean as Secretary.
Approval of Minutes: Amy made a motion to accept the March minutes as written. Gail seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Kathy reported that our CD came due and was automatically renewed.
Bills: Jane reported that magazine subscriptions are ordered once a year through one company and that explains the high bill reflected in the report. She also said she bought a $20 library ad for the FMRHS playbill. Susan thanked Jane for the new Mahjong cards. Sarah moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Bills. Erin seconded and all voted in favor. Motion carried.
Old Business
Old Home Days: Sarah found a musician, “Mr. Aaron”, to perform in the library after the parade. Time of the performance will be determined after the Old Home Day Committee has their next meeting.
There was a discussion about the parade: who would march, what they would do, what they would offer parade-goers. It was decided that bookmarks, rather than candy would be offered. Bill volunteered to make those; Sarah offered to help him. Gail and Erin suggested using the bubble machine and dancing to the accompanying song, encouraging children along the parade route to join in. Plans will be finalized via email; Amy, Bill, Sarah, and Jane will serve as organizers.
Scholarship: Kathy reported that the scholarship can be funded by fees and donations. As a reminder, this scholarship is needs-based, merit-based, and the recipient must be civic-minded (school and community). The recipient will be chosen at the high school. Bill will find out the name of the recipient and Amy will write a letter of congratulations to accompany the check. This individual will also be invited to a trustees meeting to be photographed with Shirley Capron.
New Business
Impact of Funding Changes: Jane reported that the state is working on the state budget now; there will likely be library cuts because the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has been told to make cuts. Jane said she met with the Alstead Library Director and they felt Inter Library Loan (ILL) would be the service most impacted by cuts in IMLS funding. They discussed the possibility of a mini consortium of local libraries but driving is a primary concern due to insurance and sorting and paperwork would need to be organized. Jane said she thinks Libby would continue but it would cost more and talking books are at risk. NH Humanities was cut, so grants will not be available. Everything is up in the air right now. The trustees discussed ways they could lobby against these cuts; Sarah offered to draft a letter of support for state libraries on behalf of our Board of Trustees and will email it to members of the board for approval before sending it to local and state officials. Such a letter from the trustees supporting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) can also be sent to our senators and representatives in Washington D.C.
Policy Changes: Jane will clarify the policy regarding meetings and events in the Community Room to read: “All meetings, programs, and events utilizing the library” must be open to the public.
Jane suggested changing the policy on library cards to say that a parent must sign for a library card along with their child, assuming responsibility for the materials the child checks out.
Buildings and Grounds: Jane reports that neighbors have complained the new lights on the porch are too bright. She will talk to Brad about this; perhaps there are warmer bulbs to use or the lights can be tilted differently. She will discuss this with Brad.
Technology: Because Jane cannot get the router password from Consolidated, the printer manager suggested paying Consolidated $58/month for a new router and service. We cannot change providers; we are part of a town contract with Consolidated and manage our own internet. Jane said we have enough money in the technology budget to pay for this. Amy suggested buying a new router elsewhere and finding someone to install it. Sarah suggested that Jane write a list of everything that needs to be done once we have a new router, and we will look for someone who is capable of doing all these tasks. Trustees had a few names of people to contact. Sarah said she would have her husband send his recommendation for a router. She asked Jane to take a picture of the existing router so he could find something comparable.
Friends: After Amy, Sarah, and Jane met with various members of the Friends of the Library, they felt all outstanding matters of concern have been addressed and need not be discussed further.
Adjournment: Gail moved to adjourn the meeting; Erin seconded, and all voted in favor. Amy adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
The next meeting will be May 13, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Main Library.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Kobeski, Recording Secretary
** These minutes are in draft form until approved at the May 13, 2025 meeting.
The Walpolean 
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