Cornwall Free Library

Minutes of the January 15, 2005 Meeting

Present: Janet Gold, presiding, Paul De Angelis, John Green, Pam Jones, Dominique Lasseur, Roxana Laughlin, Julie Schieffelin, Ann Schillinger, Jean Vitalis, and Amy Worthington-Cady, Library Director. Absent: Alec Frost, Norma Lake,

Janet Gold called the meeting to order at 11:10 a.m. Upon motion by Ann Schillinger, seconded by Pam Jones, the December minutes were accepted as presented.

Library Director’s Report:

• There have two meetings of the “Cornwall Classics” group, one to play games and one to show a film. The third scheduled meeting was cancelled because of bad weather. Interest in the group’s activities is growing beyond the “Classics” age range.
• Amy Buck has designed new Library bookmarks showing the new hours, and 2,500 have been printed. For the first two Wednesday nights the Library remained open, two patrons came in the first week and three the second. There is a need to get the word out about late Wednesdays, especially considering that two people, one librarian and one volunteer, are needed to staff the Library during that time. The street sign has been revised to show the correct schedule of open hours; the answering machine message still needs to be changed. (Amy also noted that the phones themselves work badly and need replacing.)
• The new Bibliomation system is working well, and Bibliomation will conduct its own evaluation. Inter-Library Loans are now much speedier to process. Cablevision is giving the Library six free online connections.
• Amy [Cady] is starting work now on next year’s budget.
• The children’s program and story hours are going well, and Amy Buck is continuing to work with the new CCS librarian.
• The Libri Foundation awarded a grant for new children’s books.
• There is a need to communicate better with the Cornwall community, e.g., via the website and the newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report: John Green reported that the Annual Appeal had reached 78 percent of its goal, somewhat behind last year’s total at the same time. Revenue from the Waterston benefit is starting to come in, with about $2,300 in sponsorships and $1,300 in expenses so far. The second Bibliomation payment, about $6,000, is due in February. Operational expenses run about $6,000 per month; the Library is currently slightly over budget in some expense categories, including fuel oil.

President’s Report: Janet has met with Alexa Venturini, Juliet Hubbard and John Miller to discuss the future of the Friends of the Library. Major problems remain: a new president has not been identified, and the currently available volunteer group is so small that the same people land up having the same responsibilities again and again.

Organizational Chart: Janet also reminded committee chairs to send her the names of the people on their committees.

Operations Report: Janet reported that she, Alec Frost and Amy Cady met with Brad Hedden to identify locations for new exterior lights.

Old Business: The idea of honoring the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department with a party at the Library will not be pursued because CVFD is planning to hold its own party. Lisa Simont and Amy Cady have written letters thanking the Trustees for their gifts. We all thanked John Green for hosting a wonderful party to thank Library contributors.

Development Committee The rest of the meeting was devoted to a report on arrangements for the February 6 Sam Waterston event. Roxana Laughlin reported that invitations and sponsorship letters have gone out. The committee has arranged transportation (Geer vans) between Cornwall Village and the Library, and she has asked the Fire Department to help with parking at the Library itself. (This is how Roxana and the other organizers learned that our event is happening on Super Bowl Sunday!). The Selection Committee met again on January 16, and suggestions have been sent to Sam Waterston and Jill Clayburgh. Paul is doing a press release. Posters were handed out to trustees to distribute to key locations in the tri-state area around Cornwall.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Julie Schieffelin, Secretary