Stowe Free Library

Minutes – Friends of Stowe Free Library Board Meeting
November 3, 2011

Present: Dee Reever, Caren Goodhue, Rebekka Mateyk, Library Director, Bonnie Billings, Sally Nolan, Elizabeth Weschler, Carol Stevens, Nancy Stead, Louise Thompson, Phyllis Thibault

President, Dee Reever, introduced Carol Stevens to all present and announced that Carol would be our new assistant Treasurer. Carol reported income to date of $17,725 and expenses of $19,884 for a net of -$2158. There is currently a balance of $15,716.80 in the checking account.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the September Board meeting. The motion passed.

Dee Reever and Elizabeth Weschler gave us a report on the annual giving drive. The cost of the project was about $860 and a total, so far of donations was $1155. 26 people responded to the mailing, 8 of the 26 becoming new members. We can hope for further donations as people sometimes wait until the holiday season to make contributions.

The new Library bags were presented. 250 were made at a cost of $1750, $900 of that amount paid for by Everbank. With EverBank’s contribution, they cost $3.40 per bag and they are already on sale for $10 each at the Library circulation desk.

Library support was discussed. The Friends have contributed $18,551.10 to the Library this year. This includes $6000 that goes directly to the Town for the Library budget as a supplement for tax appropriations from the Town. The book sale made $12,430 this year with about $1000 more from the foliage book sale, and more coming in daily from the ongoing sale in the Library.

Louise Thompson reported on her efforts to have the Town consider naming the property where the Library, HDAC, Gazebo and Historical Society buildings are located as Schoolhouse Common. The idea was presented to the Library Trustees and did not get a positive response.
Under this topic, we also discussed use of the area that is common to the above entities. There is concern about use of the area for outdoor art displays that conflict with other uses, i.e. for Gazebo Concerts and the Annual Summer Book Sale. We will proceed to help resolve those conflicts.

Louise Thompson will coordinate our Friends Scrapbook. If you have photos, write-ups, etc, there is a box in the Library to place your items.

Dee Reever announced that Sandy Simonds has offered to help her create an eNewsletter for Friends. Dee will use it to communicate with the general membership.

There was discussion about general membership meetings. It was decided that we would go back to an earlier format of having Board Meetings September through March– open to the public. Louise will have meetings announced in the Reporter in that format. We will continue to have 5 meetings per year, September, November, January, March and the Annual meeting with speaker in May. The May meeting this year will be on May3rd from 4 – 6PM.

Under new business, the Board approved a request for money for tree decoration from Robin Sutton. She decorates the Christmas tree in the downstairs lobby of the Library/HDAC. A motion to spend $150 was proposed and seconded. All were in favor.

There was discussion around when the next Book Sale should be held, since the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday this year. A couple of dates were considered, July 7 or July 10. Dee will contact Margot to discuss.

Rebekka reported that the basement is to be cleaned up on November 4. She also noted that they have gotten good service from the Superstore for the AV equipment and that other town agencies may use them for their AV needs. Library staff like the disc repair machine and will demonstrate at a future meeting.

Respectfully submitted, Caren Goodhue