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Record of Proceedings

Great Barrington Library Trustees Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee Meeting - August 26, 2026

Selectboard & Town Boards — Wednesday, August 26, 2026

BodyGreat Barrington, Massachusetts

SessionSelectboard & Town Boards

DateWednesday, August 26, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:00:22

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

The purpose of this meeting is uh Ramsdale Outreach.

0:07

So we as co-chairs have come up with a few initiatives.

0:13

And uh we want to establish an official Ramsdale outreach committee to continue the effort.

0:22

Subcommittee.

0:23

Um outreach subcommittee to continue the effort.

0:30

Thank

Unassigned speaker

0:30

you.

Speaker 1

0:31

Um Pat.

0:33

You you've had some good ideas about outreach um, you know, over the last couple of months.

0:38

So would you be interested in joining?

Speaker 2

0:41

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1

0:42

Good, good.

0:43

Okay.

0:44

So um, so that's you know, we also would like the group to include some outside members.

0:52

Um if there's any suggestions, if anyone has any suggestions of people who who you might think might, you know, might be valuable in this regard, that would be appreciated too.

1:05

Um don't have to, you

Unassigned speaker

1:09

know,

Speaker 1

1:10

not Sharon.

1:12

Oh, sorry.

Speaker 3

1:14

No, hi.

1:15

Um I was just trying to finish the minutes from our last meeting, and I just got to the place where we were talking about involving the Ramsdale Building Committee.

1:26

So I just thought I'd remind you of

Unassigned speaker

1:28

that.

Speaker 4

1:29

Yes.

1:30

Uh we I was on that meeting last night and um we discussed

Unassigned speaker

1:35

it.

Speaker 1

1:38

Yeah, so so this this particular meeting tonight, um, yes, that's actually part actually part of outreach.

1:46

Tonight we're just the intention is to um talk about there are some initiatives that that we have started or we are we're thinking about.

1:58

Um if we can establish you know the the Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee and the three, well, more than more than three, but um if we can just summarize, I will summarize the initiatives that that we are thinking about.

2:20

Um, and we can comment and talk about

Unassigned speaker

2:23

them.

Speaker 1

2:23

The first is uh monthly tours of the Ramsdale um on monthly tours on a Saturday.

2:33

We're thinking tentative dates, September 26th, October 24th, November 21st from 11 to 1130.

2:42

Um we think it's wise to limit these groups to six per tour, and that they be led by Dawn and one other trustee or two trustees.

Unassigned speaker

2:56

Um

Speaker 1

2:57

we'd like to advertise on the library website through a flyer at both libraries.

3:02

Um we were talking about perhaps the shoppers guide, PSA at the radio stations, and at the Great Barrington Farmers Market, which which is the next order of business.

3:14

But um what does everybody think about that

Speaker 3

3:24

anyone comments?

3:26

Um

Unassigned speaker

3:27

do

Speaker 3

3:27

we raise our hands?

3:28

Do you want us to raise our hands?

Speaker 4

3:30

I yeah, I don't know that you need to raise your hands.

3:32

We're it's just us right now.

Speaker 3

3:35

Well, I think it's good, and I I do agree that small groups are good, but I really think we're gonna need more than just getting six people a month through there.

3:47

So um, you know, maybe instead of just uh from 11 to 11:30, maybe we could do a couple on a Saturday.

Unassigned speaker

3:58

Um yeah,

Speaker 4

3:59

Sherry.

3:59

Yeah, we were thinking about that too.

4:01

We did discuss that and uh thought what we would do is see what the um you know what the reaction is, and if we get enough attendees, we thought then we would do uh set you know, two or three or whatever it would take um on that day, and you know, an advantage.

4:23

Yeah, good.

4:24

If it filled up, if it filled up to six really quickly, we'd go, okay, so from 11:30 to 12 or 1145 to 1215 or something, another tour.

Unassigned speaker

4:34

Yeah,

Speaker 4

4:35

okay, great.

4:36

Yeah.

4:37

Because we don't know.

4:38

I mean, maybe no one will maybe nobody want to come.

4:41

Who know who knows?

4:43

Um we're hoping that's not the case.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement█████████████████████████████████████████████70%

Public Engagement█████████████████26%

Procedural███4%

Summary of Proceedings

Great Barrington Library Trustees Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee Meeting

The meeting of the Great Barrington Library Trustees on August 26, 2026, centered on forming a Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee and planning community engagement to support the Ramsdale library renovation project. Trustees discussed monthly tours, participation in local events, a letter-writing campaign, and addressed communication issues with the building committee and architect.

Discussion Items

Formation of Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee

Co-chairs proposed an official outreach subcommittee to sustain the effort. Pat agreed to join. The subcommittee will include trustees and outside members; the Ramsdale Building Committee was suggested as a partner.

Monthly Tours of Ramsdale

Proposed tours on Saturdays: September 26, October 24, and November 21, 2026, from 11:00 to 11:30 AM, limited to six participants, led by Dawn and one or two trustees. Multiple tours could be added if demand exceeds capacity. Advance sign-up required.
Advertising plans: library website, flyers at both libraries, Shopper’s Guide, PSA on radio stations, and the Great Barrington Farmers Market.
Donna stressed the need for compelling messaging to generate interest; the subcommittee will develop materials and return to the board for approval.
A potential date conflict with the Housatonic Farmers Market on November 21 was seen as an opportunity to reach people.

Farmers Market and Other Outreach Venues

A trustee noted that a previous table at the Great Barrington Farmers Market attracted mostly weekenders, but later-season markets draw more locals. The group plans to table at the Housatonic Farmers Market on November 21, pending confirmation.
Alternative venues suggested: in front of the Co-op, Guido’s, and the Housatonic Post Office, to engage local shoppers and residents.
The subcommittee will update existing FAQ sheets and design board materials.

Letter-Writing Campaign

Trustees encouraged supporters to write letters to the editor (Berkshire Edge, Berkshire Eagle) about why they support the Ramsdale renovation.
To avoid dictating content, letters should come from individuals expressing their own reasons. Trustees can write as residents but must disclose their board affiliation and clarify they are not speaking for the board.
A previously published letter containing misinformation had already been corrected.

Coordination with Housatonic Improvement Committee (HIC)

Lauren and Sharon met with Sarah Parker (HIC chair) to identify collaborative opportunities. Upcoming events where the library can have a presence:
- Housatonic Long Table Supper: August 30, 5–7 PM, on Main Street. Lauren and Sharon will attend with bookmarks.
- Housatonic Harvest Festival: September 19, 12–3 PM. Volunteers needed to staff a table.
- Housatonic Halloween Parade: October 31. A trustee float was suggested.
The cultural district designation being pursued by Sarah Parker and Liz Hartgrove could bring funding for Ramsdale and should be leveraged.

Building Committee and Architect Communication

Pam (architect on the building committee) expressed frustration that she was not included in recent architect communications regarding renderings. She judged the current renderings as poor and offered to produce better ones through her office.
The board acknowledged a breakdown and agreed that all architect-related matters should be directed to Pam. The chair will forward Pam’s comments to the architect.
Parking concerns related to the Ramsdale renovation were also discussed, with a need for coordination among HIC, town planning, and the trustees.

Key Outcomes

The Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee was established with Pat as a member; it will develop tour materials, FAQs, and a design board, reporting back to the full board.
Monthly tour dates were tentatively set for September 26, October 24, and November 21, 2026, with sign-up required.
The board will pursue tables at the Housatonic Farmers Market and explore other venues.
All future architect communications regarding renderings will be handled by Pam.
Trustees were encouraged to participate in Housatonic events (August 30, September 19, October 31).
Next meeting scheduled for September 9, 2026. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:37 PM.

Meeting Transcript

The purpose of this meeting is uh Ramsdale Outreach. So we as co-chairs have come up with a few initiatives. And uh we want to establish an official Ramsdale outreach committee to continue the effort. Subcommittee. Um outreach subcommittee to continue the effort. Thank you. Um Pat. You you've had some good ideas about outreach um, you know, over the last couple of months. So would you be interested in joining? Yeah, absolutely. Good, good. Okay. So um, so that's you know, we also would like the group to include some outside members. Um if there's any suggestions, if anyone has any suggestions of people who who you might think might, you know, might be valuable in this regard, that would be appreciated too. Um don't have to, you know, not Sharon. Oh, sorry. No, hi. Um I was just trying to finish the minutes from our last meeting, and I just got to the place where we were talking about involving the Ramsdale Building Committee. So I just thought I'd remind you of that. Yes. Uh we I was on that meeting last night and um we discussed it. Yeah, so so this this particular meeting tonight, um, yes, that's actually part actually part of outreach. Tonight we're just the intention is to um talk about there are some initiatives that that we have started or we are we're thinking about. Um if we can establish you know the the Ramsdale Outreach Subcommittee and the three, well, more than more than three, but um if we can just summarize, I will summarize the initiatives that that we are thinking about. Um, and we can comment and talk about them. The first is uh monthly tours of the Ramsdale um on monthly tours on a Saturday. We're thinking tentative dates, September 26th, October 24th, November 21st from 11 to 1130. Um we think it's wise to limit these groups to six per tour, and that they be led by Dawn and one other trustee or two trustees. Um we'd like to advertise on the library website through a flyer at both libraries. Um we were talking about perhaps the shoppers guide, PSA at the radio stations, and at the Great Barrington Farmers Market, which which is the next order of business. But um what does everybody think about that anyone comments? Um do we raise our hands? Do you want us to raise our hands? I yeah, I don't know that you need to raise your hands. We're it's just us right now. Well, I think it's good, and I I do agree that small groups are good, but I really think we're gonna need more than just getting six people a month through there. So um, you know, maybe instead of just uh from 11 to 11:30, maybe we could do a couple on a Saturday. Um yeah, Sherry. Yeah, we were thinking about that too.

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