Stowe Free Library

STOWE FREE LIBRAY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING JANUARY 6, 2012 8:31 AM

PRESENT –D.Bryan, P. Thibault, E. Wechsler, C. Lusk, A. Kuhnert, J.Courtney, S. Clymer, D. Johannesen, Treas., D. Reever (Friends), Rebekka Mateyk RM)
Minutes of the December meeting will stand as read
Treasurer’s Report – Dick paid $7575 to the town as our latest payment due, which left approx. $3000 in regular checking acc’t. a/o Dec 31/11. We did receive what has become an annual grant from the Copley Munson Foundation for $3000 for elderly library services. Our development acc’t. shows $65,900: $4700 is free to use, the rest in encumbered by restrictions we or the donors placed. $17600 was our total income for the first half of FY 2012. Registration fees were $2310 for that period, $350 less than the previous year, reflecting the decline we have noted in the past.
Friend’s Report – the year’s end showed 18 new members and approx. $2900 new income from the annual mailing. Upcoming events – Jan 11 – Barry Estabrook – speaker, author of book TOMATOLAND; Mar.14 – poet Sydney Lea
Director’s Report – RM continues to be pleased with Fairpoint as our ISP. VTel is looking to jump into the market, with a Federal grant involving fiber optics, which RM is investigating regarding overall cost vs. services provided. The KOHA update continues to smooth out. Dealing with overdues is the major project for all at this time, in addition to planning to police the DVD fine policy.
HDAC Sculpture issue –they have not disappeared off our lawn this winter because a new curator did not follow past practice, and signed contracts with artists to allow them until June. We expect them to disappear in Oct 2010 next time.
Policy Reviews – RM is going to look at other town’s Trustee Bylaws to compare to ours and we will revisit these topics at a later date.
Space Planning – Jo reviewed the issue’s history for new members. We have spent $2000 to date for the outside evaluation. We have money from the John Wood bequest to implement changes . Jo requested that RM reinvigorate this study. RM did answer many of the previous proposals with opinions of her own, as she sees our needs at this time.
Follow-up business – Charlie researched the projector we want to rent or loan out. We were concerned with the bulb issue. The only equipment rental place he found sends a technician with the machine for $150, therefore monitoring the bulb. We will continue to discuss what to do about this item.

Next Meeting scheduled for Feb 3, 2012 , site TBA
Meeting adjourned at 9:23 AM
Respectfully submitted,
Phyllis Thibault, Board Treasurer