Much of the discussion at the recent Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees meeting offered a wide-ranging report on safety training, building maintenance, staffing changes, and upcoming community programs.
Early in her report, Library Director Kimberly Grad emphasized staff preparedness and safety, noting recent professional development efforts.
“We did something called de-escalation training,” she told the Board, explaining that it helps staff “provide the best customer service possible” while learning how to respond to challenging situations and remain mindful of the library’s code of conduct.
She added that additional training is scheduled with local police.
“We’re inviting the chief of police to come in and do a training with us on Jan. 8,” Grad said.
While acknowledging the difficulty of the topic, she stressed the importance of readiness.
“It’s one of the most difficult trainings to teach and to experience, the active shooter training, but we’re trying to be very cognizant of safety all the way around,” she said.
Grad also addressed staffing updates, sharing that a temporary children’s room assistant recently resigned due to medical reasons.
“She only worked for us 10 to 13 hours a week,” Grad said, adding, “It was really nice to have her back, but she just couldn’t continue.”
The position will be reposted.
Budget planning was another major topic. Grad explained that the library is preparing a level-funded budget for fiscal year 2027.
“We prepared a level-funded budget which complies with our state aid compliance rules and COLA raises,” she said, noting that while the library is not requesting additional staff, “we always have to make sure that we’re compliant.”
On the programming side, Grad highlighted the launch of new “memory kits” designed to support caregivers of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s for a caregiver who is working with someone who has dementia or Alzheimer’s,” she explained. “There are different themes… that can help provoke conversations.”
Teen services continue to see strong participation, according to Grad.
“The teen center is really good at attendance right now,” she said, adding that staff are adjusting service models to address behavior concerns while keeping the space welcoming.
Looking ahead, Grad previewed an upcoming outreach event.
“We’re working on Winter Fest, which is maybe Feb. 7,” she said.
The event will include crafts, games, a book swap, and maker-space programs.
“It’s not as formal as a party,” she added. “It’s more like an interior outreach event where we’re inviting people to come in and do something fun and cool.”
The Board approved two motions before adjourning: the 2026 holiday schedule and $2,795.82 for sprinkler system repairs. As the meeting wrapped up, Grad briefly shared highlights from recent school visits and early literacy outreach.
“I think I saw over 200 kids in the span of November and December,” she said, calling the experience “wonderful” and praising the students’ enthusiasm.
The meeting concluded with thanks to volunteers and trustees, underscoring a period of active planning and community-focused growth for the Abbot Public Library.
