Cornwall Free Library

Minutes of the October 25, 2004 Meeting

Present: Janet Gold, presiding, Paul DeAngelis, Pam Jones, Norma Lake, Dominque Lasseur, Roxana Laughlin, Julie Schieffelin, Ann Schillinger, and Jean Vitalis. Absent: Alec Frost, John Green. Amy Worthington-Cady, Library Director, and Juliet Hubbard were also present.

Janet Gold called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm. The minutes of the September 26 meeting were approved with the correction that Deirdre Fischer will co-chair the Talent Show in 2005, not the Friends of the Library board.

Treasurer’s Report: Janet Gold presented the report in John Green’s absence. John believes that the Library’s finances will be OK through November, thanks to the Gross Sisters art show and the ticket sales for the Talent Show. A written financial report was circulated for the Book Sale, which returned $2,176.63 to the Library. Norma Lake expressed the board’s appreciation to Roxana Laughlin and Jill Bryant, co-chairs of the sale, for their hard work. Upon motion by Norma Lake, seconded by Paul DeAngelis, the report was unanimously accepted.

Librarian’s Report: In addition to distributing a written report, Amy Cady commented that the T1 line will be installed the following week and then Bibliomation staff will visit to adjust the system. She praised the volunteers for their “incredible patience” while they struggle with the interim system. She mentioned the October 26 brainstorming session about services targeted to older Cornwall residents and urged board members to attend the forthcoming Sirius Coyote program for children on Friday morning October 29. She also noted that a knitting class will start on alternate Saturdays.

Friends of the Library: Juliet Hubbard, president of the Friends of the Library, spoke to the board about the difficulty of recruiting and retaining Friends board members, producing programs and meeting the Library board’s fund-raising expectations. She and Alexa Venturini will rotate off the Friends board this year, and no incoming president has been identified. She noted that the Friends produced 16 events in 2002-3 and 14 events in 2003-4: two fundraisers (the Talent Show and the Manhattan String Quartet concert), two receptions, and 12 events. She has found that volunteers will help with one event but not more than that; refreshments are provided by the same few people. Recent former board members of the Library have been approached to join the Friends board but have said no. The Book Sale and MSQ concert are being chaired and organized by Library board members or by a board-Friends team. In the following discussion, the board expressed appreciation for Juliet’s and the Friends’ hard work.

Organizational Chart: A draft chart was circulated and discussed and further assignments made. Officers and committee chairs for 2004-5 are as follows:

President Janet Gold

Vice President Ann Schillinger

Secretary Julie Schieffelin

Treasurer John Green

Operations Alec Frost

Personnel Roxana Laughlin

Material Selection Norma Lake

(Franny Taliaferro chairs the Adult Selection Committee)

Development Jean Vitalis, with Roxana Laughlin and Pam Jones

Public Relations Paul DeAngelis and Dominique Lasseur

Janet reminded the chairs that they choose their committee members, who do not have to be members of the Cornwall Library board. There was discussion of the responsibilities of individual committees.

Development Committee: A thank-you party for donors will be held at John Green’s house on Saturday, December 11. Jean Vitalis and Roxana Laughlin reported on continuing negotiations with Sam Waterston. They have convened John Zinsser, Catherine Noren, Brian Thomas and Catherine Tatge as a program and planning committee for what is currently envisioned as a joint benefit with the Cornwall Consolidated School. The tentative dates for the event are the first or second Sunday in February 2005.

Operations Report: Janet Gold reported that Mike Root will be consulted about protecting the Library’s trees from winter damage from hungry deer. The recent oil delivery program has been resolved—the gauge on the tank wasn’t working—and the Region I consortium has negotiated a price of $1.67 per gallon for the coming season, considerably above what the members had hoped.

Old Business: Julie Schieffelin circulated a final draft of the fall newsletter, which is almost ready for the printer. Roxana Laughlin reported on the book sale, singling Jill Bryant out for her “fantastic” organization of volunteers and noting that the sale realized almost $2,200. Ann Schillinger reported that she continues to pursue the two likeliest possibilities to lead the board in a strategic planning exercise. She hopes to meet each candidate in January; one has been much more responsive than the other. The likely cost is $4,000-5,000. Norma Lake described in detail the way a Habitat for Humanity combined wine tasting, wine sale and silent auction had succeeded in raising $15,000. She and Amy Cady will keep talking with Russ Sawicki. On the ongoing question of a corporate credit card for the Library Director, Norma commented that the Child Center had had no difficulty in acquiring one. The decision will be deferred until John Green returns and can describe the auditor’s objection to such a card. Janet Gold reported that the electric bill has now returned to normal levels. She asked Julie Schieffelin to circulate the notes she took at the team-building session with Sharon Brettschneider. Finally, Janet described the Friends’ plan to create a special Christmas Tree with tags with the names of special books on them. People can claim a tag and donate that book in honor of (or in memory of) a person of their choice. A special book plate will note the honoree’s name.

New Business: Cornwall lighting district: this has been essentially non-functional for years and will be formally dissolved as of January 1, 2005. After that date, residents living near the current street lights would have the option of paying to keep them on; the cost is yet unknown. The board discussed the need for adequate lighting outside the library during evening hours in the winter. Joan Titus is organizing a petition asking the Town of Cornwall to pay for the street lighting, but the Selectmen were unenthusiastic about doing so during earlier discussions. Janet Gold read a thank-you note from the Klaw family thanking the Library board for making the building available for the reception following Spencer Klaw’s memorial service.

NEW MEETING TIME: 3^rd Monday of the month at 4:00 pm. (Note earlier time) The next scheduled meeting is Monday, November 29 at 4:00; the December meeting will be held Monday, December 13 if a meeting is needed (it will be if the Waterston benefit is going forward in February).

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:45

Respectfully submitted,

Julie Schieffelin, Secretary