Trustees
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Facilities Committee – January 3
Personnel & Policy Committee – January 10
Facilities & Finance Committee – January 11
Board of Trustees – January 17
Personnel & Policy Committee – January 31
Facilities Committee – February 7
Board of Trustees – February 21
Personnel & Policy Committee – February 28
Facilities Committee – March 6
Board of Trustees – March 20
Personnel & Policy Committee/Director Search Committee – March 27
Facilities Committee – April 10
Board of Trustees – April 17
Personnel & Policy Committee – April 24
Board of Trustees – May 2
Facilities Committee – May 8
Board of Trustees – May 15
Personnel & Policy Committee – May 29
Personnel & Policy Committee – June 3
Facilities Committee – June 5 – DRAFT MINUTES
Board of Trustees – June 19
Personnel & Policy Committee – June 26
Personnel & Policy Committee – July 24
Board of Trustees – July 24
Facilities Committee – August 8
Board of Trustees – August 21
Personnel & Policy Committee – August 21
Facilities Committee – September 16 – DRAFT MINUTES
Board of Trustees – September 18
Personnel & Policy Committee – September 25
Finance Committee – October 8 – DRAFT MINUTES
Board of Trustees – October 9 – DRAFT MINUTES
Personnel & Policy Committee – October 24 – DRAFT MINUTES
Facilities Committee – October 23 – DRAFT MINUTES
Board of Trustees – November 20 @5:30pm – AGENDA
Facilities Committee – December 4 @4:30pm
Personnel & Policy Committee – December 12 @5:30pm
Board of Trustees – January 18
Personnel & Policy Committee – February 2
Board of Trustees – February 15
Personnel & Policy Committee – February 22
Facilities Committee – March 1
Board of Trustees – March 15 – no meeting
Personnel & Policy Committee – March 29
Board of Trustees – April 19
Personnel & Policy Committee – April 26
Facilities Committee – April 28
Facilities Committee – May 10
Board of Trustees – May 17
Facilities Committee – May 26
Personnel & Policy Committee – May 31
Facilities Committee – June 7
Board of Trustees – June 21
Personnel & Policy Committee – June 28
Facilities Committee – July 12
Board of Trustees – July 19
Facilities Committee – August 2
Board of Trustees – August 16
Budget Committee – August 28
Personnel & Policy Committee – August 30
Board of Trustees – August 30
Facilities Committee – September 6
Board of Trustees – September 13 (originally September 20)
Facilities Committee – September 20
Personnel & Policy Committee – September 27
Finance Committee – September 27
Facilities Committee – October 2
Board of Trustees – October 11 (originally October 18)
Personnel & Policy Committee – October 25
Board of Trustees – October 25
Facilities Committee – November 1
Personnel & Policy Committee – November 8
Work Session (Focus Group) – November 11
Board of Trustees – November 15
Personnel & Policy Committee – November 29
Finance Committee – December 6
Facilities Committee – December 12
Facilities Committee – December 19
Personnel & Policy Committee – December 20
Board of Trustees – December 20
Board of Trustees – January 19
Board of Trustees – February 16
Board of Trustees – March – No Meeting
Board of Trustees – April 20
Board of Trustees – May 18 – Cancelled
Board of Trustees – May 25
Board of Trustees – June 15
Facilities Committee – June 21
Board of Trustees – July 20
Recording Secretary Meet & Greet – August 11
Board of Trustees – August 17
Personnel & Policy Committee – August 31
Budget Committee – September 1
Facilities Committee – September 7
Board of Trustees Special Meeting – September 12
Board of Trustees – September 21
Personnel & Policy Committee – September 28
Facilities Committee – October 12
Board of Trustees – October 19
Personnel & Policy Committee – October 26
Board of Trustees – November 16
Personnel & Policy Committee – November 30
Facilities Committee – December 7
Board of Trustees – December 21
Personnel & Policy Committee – December 28 @ 4:30pm – Cancelled
January 20
February 10 (special meeting)
February 17
March 24
March 31 (special meeting, non-public session)
April 21
May 19
June 16
July 14 (rescheduled from July 21)
August 18
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15
January 15
February 19
March 19
April 15
April 29
May 27 (rescheduled from May 20)
June 11 (Emergency Meeting)
June 17
July 15
August 19
September 9
October 21
November 18
December 16
January 16
February 20
March: no meeting
April 17
May 15
June 19
July 17
August 21: no meeting
September 18
October 16
November 20
December 18: no meeting
February 21
March 19
April 18
May 16
June: no meeting
July: no meeting
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 14
December 19: no meeting
January 17
February 23
March: no meeting
April 18
May 17
June 20
July 18
August 15
September: no meeting
October 17
November 28
December 19
January 18
February 15
March 29
April 19
May 16
June 29
July: no meeting
August 22
September 20
October: no meeting
November 15
December 1
December 20
January 16February 20
March 20
April 17
May: no meeting
June 19
July 31
August: no meeting
September 17
October 16
November: no meeting
December 4
January 17
February 21
March 28
April 18
May: no meeting
June 27
July: no meeting
August 1
August 21
September 19
October 17
November 21
December 19
January 19
February 23
March 15
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August: no meeting
September 13
October 18
November 15
December: no meeting
Upcoming Meetings
Board of Trustees Meetings are currently held in the Meeting Room at the Library on the third Wednesday of the month at 5 pm, unless otherwise noted.
Next Board of Trustees Meeting: November 20th @ 5:30pm
Committee Meetings occur as needed.
Agendas for all upcoming meetings will be posted on this page in accordance with NH state laws.
Current Board
Joanne Palmisano (2026)
Steve Solomon (2026)
Gerald Coogan (2025)
Emma Phipps (2025)
Jennifer Cross (2027)
Eula Kozma (2027)
Thomas Carley (2027)
Patty Foose Bechok – Alternate (2025)
About the Trustees
Gerald Coogan
Board position – Trustee, Finance Committee, Facilities Committee
Brief educational history & current occupation
BA, History, University of Scranton
Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Pittsburgh
Town, city and regional planner; a specialist in community planning, zoning, economic development and local land use policies.
Why did you want to serve on our board?
I enjoy serving on local boards (budget committee, recreation commission and member of New London Rotary) and wish to help the library with strategic planning, the budget, building maintenance and communications.
What is your favorite library memory?
Bringing our children to the library and see them experience the joy of learning.
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
Life’s downs and ups make us stronger and resilient. Learn from the past and look forward.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Tuscany and Umbria, Italy. Italians enjoy a pleasant and relaxed lifestyle.
What would surprise people to know about you?
After a cross country road trip, I worked as a US Forest Service ranger in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State.
What is your all-time favorite book?
Favorites change over time. Enjoy historical biographies by David McCullough, Ron Chernow, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Evan Thomas and others. At present: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Emma Phipps
Board position – Trustee
Brief educational history & current occupation
I studied Psychology at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. I am currently running an afterschool program for the Boys and Girls club in New London, NH.
Why did you want to serve on our board?
I wanted to serve our board as Tracy Library was an important part of my childhood, and I would love to continue that legacy for our current generation of children.
What is your favorite library memory?
My favorite library memory is learning to play the ‘Didgeridoo’ at the summer reading program.
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
A life lesson I still follow today is treat everyone with kindness as everyone is fighting their own battle.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
If I could visit anywhere in the world it would be Thailand, because I love the rich culture and landscape. I plan to visit in January!!
What would surprise people to know about you?
Something about my that’s surprising is I have a Leopard Gecko named Gus!
What is your all-time favorite book?
My all time favorite book is the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Eula Kozma
Board position – Trustee, Chair, Facilities Committee, Finance Committee, Personnel & Policy Committee
Brief educational history & current occupation
BA Franklin and Marshall College, 2004
JD and MSELP Vermont Law School, 2008
Development and Fundraising professional. I am currently the Development Director at the Good Neighbor Health Clinic in White River Junction, VT.
Why did you want to serve on our board?
I am very passionate about all things related to reading, books, and libraries. Tracy Library was one of the first places I visited when I moved to the area. The staff really made me and my family feel welcomed to this community (they still do!).
What is your favorite library memory?
Getting my very first library card.
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Oh… everywhere! Iceland and a tour of the Nordic countries if I had to choose. I love traveling so visiting new places, learning about the culture, and trying new things are what I want most out of a trip. Being able to explore the outdoors is a must as well.
What would surprise people to know about you?
I worked and studied on a tall ship from Alaska to San Francisco after I graduated from college.
What is your all-time favorite book?
I am one of those people that finds this question so hard to answer! In recent years I would have to sayLife After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and Where’d You Go, Bernadetteby Maria Semple all left a lasting impression on me for completely different reasons.
Board position – Vice Chair, Personnel and Policy Committee, Liaison to the Friends
Brief educational history & current occupation
Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, MD 1979 – specialist in Endocrinology/Diabetes
Academic Medical faculty positions at SUNY, Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston – 1979 -1998
Executive leadership positions in human drug development and regulatory affairs for chronic and rare diseases, at Merck, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelhiem, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals– 1998 – 2022 (retired)
Why did you want to serve on our board?
Literacy is a key element in participatory citizenship, personal development, and wellbeing. I believe that Libraries are a critical part of our communities, fostering community and literacy at all educational levels.
What is your favorite library memory?
Introducing my two boys, now in their early 30s to our community Library when they were even too young to read – picking out picture books and joining story time. The library was our treasured weekly family outing. They learned to love books and developed life-long habits of reading through Library programs.
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
My father was a school teacher for over 40 years. He taught me to never shy from hard work and personal commitment in the service of others.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I have traveled the world extensively in my career, which has given me an appreciation for the beauty of other countries, their people and their cultures. Nevertheless, I will always embrace the chance to travel to Italy where my family originates. I can never get enough of the food, the people, the art and culture.
What would surprise people to know about you?
I am an obsessive home cook and baker, and I collect and read cookbooks for pleasure – in fact that is how I “traveled the world” during the pandemic. My collection is over 200 now and I love the stories they contain, as well as learn from the recipes.
What is your all-time favorite book?
I love reading books by women authors. Two of my many favorite authors are Elena Ferrante who wrote the Neapolitan Quartet and Alice Munro, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013. I was thrilled when Italian television produced a film of the first book in the Neapolitan Quartet, My Brilliant Friend. I have a goal to read at least one book by every woman who has won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Board position – Trustee, Facilities Committee
Brief educational history & current occupation
University of Chicago, A.B
University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
I practiced real estate and business law and related litigation in New Hampshire from 1972-2016. I am currently retired from the practice of law but am a commercial arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
Why did you want to serve on our board?
I served as a Trustee of the Manchester City Library for ten years and found the work important and rewarding. I believe libraries are essential community resources. I recently moved to New London and wanted to contribute to the Tracy Library.
What is your favorite library memory?
I spent many enjoyable hours browsing the shelves of my town’s library when I was growing up.
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
There’s no success like failure, and failure’s no success at all.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I have been fortunate to visit many places and found South and Southeast Asia very interesting, so my choice would be Sri Lanka.
What would surprise people to know about you?
During the weekend of the Woodstock festival I stayed in Bob Dylan’s house. He wasn’t home.
What is your all-time favorite book?
War and Peace
Jennifer Cross
Board position – Trustee, Personel & Policy Committee
Brief educational history & current occupation
Colby-Sawyer College B.S, Augustana University, M.Ed.
I am a teacher at New London Elementary School.
Why did you want to serve on our board?
When I was growing up, our town had a severe budget crisis and the library closed for a year-I was devastated. When I saw the seat was open, I thought back to that time and wondered how the town had landed on that decision, and wondered how I might have been able to change the outcome if I had sat on that board. I had been looking for ways to get more involved with things that I am passionate about and having been an avid reader since childhood, getting involved with the library was an easy decision.
What is your favorite library memory?
I read the most books in a summer during our summer reading program and won a bike!
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
Please and thank you go a very long way!
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Sydney, Australia! I did a project on Australia in third grade and fell in love and have wanted to visit ever since.
What would surprise people to know about you?
I was a competitive figure skater for ten years. When I was 11, I placed first place in my age and level in the World Competition! I miss it and hope to teach my girls some day.
What is your all-time favorite book?
It’s so hard for me to pick a favorite so I’ll give a few: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Harry Potter by J.K Rowling, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E Schwab, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, & Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.
Thomas Carley
Board position – Trustee, Treasurer, Finance Committee, Facilities Committee
Brief educational history & current occupation
Undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in Classics and Economics
MBA from University of Chicago with concentrations in Accounting and Finance
Currently COO of Urth Agriculture, a manufacturer and distributor of organic fertilizer.
Why did you want to serve on our board?
I wanted to serve on the Board as I saw my experience and skillset complementing that of the other Trustees. I believe that I have an obligation to give back to the community.
What is your favorite library memory?
My favorite library memory was the four years I spent in Sanborn Library as an undergraduate at Dartmouth.
What early life lesson do you still live by today?
My father drilled into my three siblings and me at an early age that a job worth doing was worth doing right. That mantra holds true today.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would visit New Zealand as it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
What would surprise people to know about you?
Most people would be surprised to learn I played one year of college football at Dartmouth.
What is your all-time favorite book?
Homer’s Odyssey. Would you expect anything less from a Classics major?