Taken November 17 by Elaine Nelson, Secretary
Meeting run by VP Mary Flannery in President Mary Belz’s absence.
Present: Mary Flannery, Gayle Newsom, Lila Sjodin, Eve Johnson, Jean Finely, Mary Applen, Patti Paul, Cheryl Heywood, Elaine Nelson, Emmett O’Connell, Irene Osborne, Mary Campbell, Beth Dubey.
Guests: Kay T [do not have list in front of me with correct spelling]
[note: arrived after meeting called to order, so do not have exact time.]
October Minutes: request from Cheryl for editing on information about library fines.
Treasurer’s Report: received $102 from Barnes & Noble event. What’s listed in checking account is low, art show funds are in separate “escrow” type account right now. Have $500 of previously approved budget items not yet spent.
Some general updates:
- Georgia is somewhat better at home with drop-in health. Winnie spent three weeks in intensive care after neurosurgery, now at Panorama city convalescent center.
- Patti noted that the reason the newsletter went out later was because of Columbus Day holiday, and all the mail goes to Tacoma before coming back to Olympia.
Library Manager report: Cheryl noted that we were sitting on chairs bought with interest from bequest: lightest on the market, LEED-certified, made from recycled plastic from car batteries. Discussion of request for funds for staff appreciation event. They are a highly functional team, but tired. Don’t have time to set aside for any sort of entertainment. Report reflected total request, including many activities through early June. Irene moves to approve all, Gayle seconds. Discussion. All aye.
Art show update, Irene: Thinks it’s ready to go, asked everyone to please take fliers to post. Artists got fliers as attachments in an email. Newsletter with the same announcement is going to printer with corrected artist name spelling today. Artists will be doing their own selling. Jennifer is calling and emailing to get help with volunteers. Jim Lynch (author) will be speaking on the first Friday evening, but otherwise library will be closed on the other Friday evenings. Cash or check only, paid to FOL, but with notation of name & table number of each artist.
Procedures manual, Lila: Will be talking to committee chairs to figure out procedures as they are currently done. Posted days available on the whiteboard. Later someone brought up that everyone wrote job descriptions last summer sometime. Patty’s isn’t done.
Budget discussion, following Mary B’s notes, although she was out ill. Discretionary funds? Cheryl has authority to spent under $100 between meetings when things are needed. Discussion. Gayle does not want food in the library for public events: furniture, computers, books. Jean disagrees, was once prevalent to never have food in libraries, but lots of libraries are having a more informal atmosphere around food. Eve is concerned about obesity issues. Mary [forgot to write which one] brought the discussion back to the discretionary. Cheryl responded that take-aways — as an alternative to food in the building — also have environmental and other issues. Emmett: having food at an event adds to it, makes it more social. Building community through food, builds goodwill, eases crises. Beth: cost is not much per person. Elaine: return on investment? The district administration makes the decision whether there is food allowed at all at programs & events; the question is: do we want to help pay for it?
Irene moves that we provide food when requested, two Marys second it. Discussion continued. Beth has reports from 2006-2009, in that four years, approximately $10,000 ($2500/year) was spent for food. Over four years, book sales were $55K, shelves $32K. Total income: $122K+, making food spending about 8% over four years. Jean notes that local people that we buy food from know that the Friends is buying from them, increasing awareness. Jean calls for vote. 2 nay, all other aye.
Cheryl notes that it’s important to buy the top of the line item for durability & longevity, 1500 visitors per day, large staff. Working at peak in terms of staff and building size re: events, etc.
Tabling discussion of discretionary funds until Mary B can be here.
Funding request from Kay: request from friends of Washington Performing Arts Center, fundraiser for their youth programs: student rush tickets, youth tickets, young musicians, try out musical instruments at Arts Walk, research guide created with Timberland Regional Library. At one station [of indoor mini golf event? forgot to write particulars] would like to give book to every child who comes in with can of food for needy. [Carrie?] thinks she might have enough books in her Scholastic/Evergreen book collection. Event is about two weeks before next book sale. Irene moves that we support this and donate books to the Washington Center, Patti seconds. All aye.
Cheryl: we were written up in HR newsletter that was sent to all staff.
Irene: Kay has been volunteering beautifully in the book sort, esp while Wanda is in Africa.
Adjourned 12:57 pm