Cornwall Library Association

Minutes of the May 12, 2006 Meeting as corrected: see CartoonFest report below

Present: John Green, President, Carla Bigelow, Paul De Angelis, Alec Frost, Pam Jones, Dominique Lasseur, Roxana Laughlin and Jean Vitalis. Absent: Louise Dunn, Julie Schieffelin and Ann Schillinger. Also present: Amy Cady, Library Director.

John Green called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.

Approval of Minutes: Upon motion by Jean Vitalis, seconded by Pam Jones, the minutes of the April 21, 2006 meeting were accepted.

Treasurer’s Report: John Green circulated a written report and added the following remarks. Expenses are on track, with a few exceptions. Borrowing from the endowment has been held to $3,000, and a gift of $2,000 for the endowment has been recently received. John anticipates that the Library can start the next fiscal year clear of any debt to the endowment.

Library Director’s Report: Amy Cady circulated a written report and also reported that the Annual Appeal is still short of its goal because some past Sustainers have not renewed their contributions.

2006-2007 Budget: John circulated a preliminary 2006-2007 budget and reviewed the various projections for income and expenses. In the discussion that followed, Carla Bigelow suggested that an article describing Bibliomation be published in a local paper, so that Cornwall residents can see how essential it is. (The Library’s Bibliomation subscription is one of the largest fixed expenses.) The budget will be formally approved at the June meeting.

Report on May Book Sale: Many books have been donated, and Louise Dunn has done a great job setting it up. Everything is ready, but more volunteers are needed. Louise will see what can be done to achieve more sales through the new book scanner service.

Report on CartoonFest: Paul De Angelis reported that:

• 100 sets of note cards with cartoons by 4 different artists will be for sale at $14 each.
• We have sold enough ads for the program, and the program is ready.
• 4,700 (not just 2,150) postcards were sent in a bulk mailing, and another news release is coming.
• The festival will be featured in The Litchfield County Times.
• We need to print and sell tickets ($20 each) for the evening program, to be sold in advance and at the door.
• Thanks to Alec Frost, Ed Koren has sent two cartoons for display;
• There will be 120 works on display,
• People should be encouraged to buy works of art, since the percentage of the proceeds to be returned to the Library ranges from 50 to 100 percent.
• Some old New Yorker cartoons will be for sale as prints.
• The artists will wear special badges so that they can be identified.
• Pam Jones, Carla Bigelow and Jean Vitalis are coordinating dinner for the artists.

Public Relations Task Force Report: Paul De Angelis reported that everything is OK.

Use of Space Task Force Report: Carla Bigelow reported that Ian Ingersoll will build a table to go between two chairs. The bulletin board in the entrance space will be removed and/or changed. The proceeds of the children’s sleepover will be used to buy a bean bag chair for the Children’s Room.

New Business:

Upon motion by Jean Vitalis, seconded by Carla Bigelow, the Trustees voted to approve Dan Gracey’s request to pasture cows in the field behind the Library.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Jones

Acting Secretary