Trustees heard detailed plans for a Friends-run community yard sale in June and agreed to let the group continue developing logistics, while flagging concerns about table availability, pricing and volunteer capacity.

Library Director Ryan told trustees the Friends (the library’s volunteer fundraising group) are planning a community yard sale on June 21, with the library open and tables placed in the parking lot and adjacent greenspace. Ryan said organizers would solicit parking permission from St. Mark’s (to use its field and parking lot across the street), and he has spoken informally to police and fire; DPW would provide traffic cones if needed.

Board members and volunteers discussed inventory of available library tables—Ryan said there are about 10 mobile tables on wheels used for book sales and a few folding tables from a garden grant, so the Friends’ initial plan to offer roughly 25 tables would require either borrowing or purchasing additional tables. The Friends briefly discussed selling a table space (a “spot”) rather than renting tables, and pricing was under discussion: early planning suggested a $25 spot, but trustees and Friends participants called that likely too low to meet fundraising goals if only 10 library tables were provided.

Trustee Mary and others described the yard sale as both a fundraiser and a “beta test” community event to build awareness of the Friends, increase membership and recruit volunteers; the group also plans complementary activities such as a bake sale and donated-book sales to increase revenues. The Friends also plan to ask trustees and other community volunteers to help staff the event.

Ryan told trustees the Friends will also have a presence at the Art in Bloom reception (a library exhibit event): volunteers or trustees will staff a small Friends table to sell select donated books and to provide information about the Friends’ work. The trustees discussed publicity plans and asked that the Friends provide materials for the town meeting handout; trustee Mary said Kim Reagan is compiling the library’s town-meeting handout and Mary has supplied copy for Friends activities.

Trustees also noted the Friends are planning the June 7 annual book sale and the June 4 annual meeting (which may include an author talk by local author Meredith O’Brien); trustees encouraged Friends to publicize events to local media and to seek photographers/reporters for coverage.

Ending: Ryan and Friends representatives will continue to refine logistics and pricing; trustees asked the Friends to return with finalized table counts, pricing and volunteer needs at a future meeting.