Bill Library

718 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Library Commission

Meeting Minutes

Gales Ferry Library

18 Hurlbutt Road

Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06335

Chair

John Bolduc

Special Meeting

7:00 PM

Monday, February 9, 2026

Bill Library

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman John Bolduc called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. at the Ledyard Bill Library.

II.

ROLL CALL

In addition, the following were present:

Jessica Franco - Library Director

Chairman John Bolduc

Present

Vice Chair Rolf Racich

Recording Secretary Ellin Grenger

Commissioner Peter Diette

Commissioner Wendy Hellekson

Commissioner Cynthia Wright

Treasurer Ralph Hightower

Commissioner Gillian Thorne

Commissioner Elizabeth Rumery

Excused

III.

IV.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

MEMBER COMMENTS

None.

REPORTS

Treasurer’s Report

None, Treasurer excused.

Director’s Report

Discussing January 2026, Presented February 2026

Budget:

The proposed budget for FY27 was presented to the Mayor on January 28th. Our

Budget Work Session with Town Council will be Thursday, March 13 at 3 PM. My

due date is March 20, which could impact this presentation. I am working with Erica

to ensure that she has a full understanding of our budget proposal, should I be

unable to attend.

Director Onboarding:

· I have met with half the staff for individual meetings discussing their regular

responsibilities, professional goals, and my current and long-term plans (below).

Current plans: my focus is stability and consistency. I want to make sure I

lay the groundwork for a smooth maternity leave, while also addressing

inconsistencies in some of our practices.

Long-term: After I return from maternity leave, I want to address larger

projects and goals. This would include any ideas the staff have, as well as

developing the process for a new strategic plan.

Leadership meetings continue on a bi-weekly basis, covering topics ranging from

policies to budget planning.

Library News:

The monthly statistic report has been adapted to include e-lending services. There

was no way to keep it to one page, so there have been some formatting changes.

Deliveries are back in full force! Erica has been doing a great job catching up and

getting items on the shelves in a timely manner. At one point, she had 10 boxes of

books surrounding her desk! Staff is taking note of this pattern for next year so we

can adjust our ordering practices for the holiday slow down.

As I am getting to know our services and practices, I have found some areas that

need to be addressed or formalized. This includes our circulation/loan rules, animals

in the building, volunteering, and photo permissions. I am working with HR and

Parks & Rec to see what the Town expectations are for these practices, as well as

digging into past records from the Library to confirm current practices. I will be

presenting all new/updated policies to the Commission as they are developed.

We are in the process of developing a Marketing Team that will ensure consistency

across all marketing efforts. This team will be comprised of smaller groups that

focus on specific marketing platforms. Our first focus is social media. Raven,

Lyndsey, and I have a developed a new planning tool that we are implementing in

February. Our goals are more consist posting, varying topics for each post, and

increased engagement by our followers. We encourage all of our Commission

members to follow us if you are on social media and let us know what you think of

the upcoming changes.

Both weeding projects are still underway. We have a tentative timeline to finish

them by the end of the fiscal year.

It is hard to think about gardening after we got 15 inches of snow, but plans for this

season’s Seed Library are underway! To coordinate such a complex service, we

have formed a small team that will be driving force of it: Matt will be our Seed

Coordinator, Lyndsey our Volunteer Coordinator, and Laura our Mentor, as well as

Marketing Coordinator. Each is tackling their respective roles as we work toward a

spring debut.

From the Children’s Department: Registration for the “Whale, Would You Look At

That?!” program will be opening on February 17. This is a special program that we

are able to provide for the community through the Janet Barnett Grant. A life size

inflatable whale named Delilah is coming from Plymouth Mass and families will be

able to go inside the whale to learn all about whales. Mystic Seaport will also be

coming that day to offer special whale learning activities and information. In

addition, we’re giving out bags with crafts and activities, there will be a whale

listening station, and we’re raffling off a 43-inch stuffed whale big plush pillow.

We’re hoping for a full house and lots of fun! The program is on Saturday, March

21 and people who want to register must call either library to be put on the list.

Our staff are actively involved in regional and state library professional

development. Matt has begun co-chairing a Genealogy Roundtable for the

Connecticut Library Consortium, allowing him to connect and collaborate with other

libraries and organizations. Lyndsey had her proposal accepted to the Connecticut

Library Association’s Annual Conference. She will be presenting in April about our

“Dying to Talk About This” program.

Building News:

Shawn from Public Works and his team have been very good to us! Bill’s heat is

fixed and stable, just in time for Children Department at Gales Ferry to falter.

Shawn and his crew are checking in to maintain that unit as well. Fortunately, the

heat at Gales Ferry is struggling but still supplying some hot air. There is very little

risk of pipes freezing. Shawn is hopeful for an easy and quick fix.

Town News:

As a reminder, FOIA Training is being offered by the Town for staff, commission

members, and volunteers on Tuesday, February 10, at 3:30 PM and 6 PM in the

Council Chambers. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Training/Presentation

will be provided by the Director of Education & Communications, Russell Blair,

from the State of Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. I will be

attending on behalf of the Library and encourage any Commission members who are

interested to attend as well.

Investment Working Group

Investment Working Group met last month. The Janney funds are in line with the Russell 1000

Value Index, and slightly exceeding in. Sal Tocco is working with the fiduciary of an estate and

the William Holton Fund may be the beneficiary of an estate.

Friends of Ledyard Library

Friends of the Ledyard Library - Bag promotion - fill a bag for $20.00 at the Gales Ferry Library

is ongoing in February. New leadership has hit the ground running and seem to be doing well.

VI.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Library Commission Special Meeting minutes January 12, 2026.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Wendy Hellekson

RESULT:

MOVER:

Rolf Racich

SECONDER:

Bolduc Racich Grenger Diette Hellekson Wright

Hightower Thorne Rumery

AYE

EXCUSED

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Diette moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded

by Ms. Hellekson.

The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

VOTE: 6-0 Approved and so declared

Respectively Submitted,