Cornwall Free Library

Minutes of the Meeting of January 26, 2004

Present: Janet Gold, Julie Schieffelin, Lisa Simont, Norma Lake, John Green, Jean Vitalis, Alec Frost, Roxana Laughlin, Dominique Lassuer and Will Calhoun. Amy Cady, Librarian.

The minutes of the November meeting were approved as presented.

Treasurer’s Report: John Green said that $39,450 (87%) of the annual appeal has come in. Expenditures are normal for this time of year. Grants revenue stands at $2,000. The auction of Jonathan Scoville’s “Departing Storm III” netted $2,800 for the Library and the picture itself. Tim and Marie Prentice, whose bid was high, gave the painting to the Library. The Board thanked the Prentices.

Lisa Simont related a conversation with Ann Coffin who has offered to help the Library produce fine reprints of Ruth Gannett’s “Covered Bridge at Night” for sale as a special edition.

Janet reported that the appeal to the Board of Selectmen for an increase in the Town’s grant to the Library went very well. Will Calhoun produced handsome handouts in a folder. The Board seemed receptive, all things considered, to an incremental increase for FY 2005. Amy Cady was also a presenter. Janet made a point of offering the Library’s Calhoun Community Room as a meeting place for town boards and commissions so that the heat would not have to be (so noisily) turned on in the old Town Hall building.

Librarian’s Report: Amy showed a summary of purchases and gifts to the collection so far this year. Sixty percent of the 912 acquisitions were gifts. Circulation over the first six months of the fiscal year is up 11%.

Amy reviewed a list of new programs for children and adults (see attached report). Bibliomation discussions about the change in our connection mode are continuing in hopes that we can avoid heavy capital expense. New CPU’s, at least, will be needed for most of our computers to make them compatible.

Personnel Committee: Roxana Laughlin reported that the group had met a couple of times to discuss staff issues. A review of the personnel policy will be underway soon.

Operations: Will reported that a new gutter for the front entrance has been ordered. He and Doc Simont have met with Casle Corporation, construction managers, to ensure that an engineer comes to “balance” the heating controls. This procedure is standard and was included in our contract with Casle. The boiler now seems to be functioning as expected. This is the only part of the system now covered by a warranty agreement.

The board discussed the idea of installing a simple lift of the dumb waiter variety in the work room to raise and lower heavy boxes of books to and from the attic. Will and Tim Prentice have designed a possible version.

Janet said that work on strategic planning needs to be moving ahead. This will be the task of the Executive Committee which meets (ideally) on the second Monday of the month.

There was no new business.

The meeting adjourned at 5:25 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Lansing Simont

Secretary.