Friends of the Deering Library
Minutes for September 16, 2003
Attendance: Tom Copadis, Susan Bartlett, Don Johnson, Judy Wood, Jean Johnson
1. Summer activities: Judy Wood reviewed summer activities at the Library and she thanked Emma LaChance, Sarah Kuhn, Susan Bartlett, Bev Yeaple, and Pia Sunderland for helping her cover the library hours. She thanked Deborah Albert for leading Story Hour. Young people from the Tumbletots at the Deering Church came to Story Hour three mornings. The Friends were pleased to hear that Judy had successfully continued bringing the library Bookmobile to West Deering, and they urged that this program be continued and several members volunteered to help Judy next year. Twenty-seven people attended the “Conversation on the Porch” with Wallace Wood, which Don Johnson organized and which he and Tom Copadis led. Stephanie Brown took a video.
II. Plan for fall/winter activities: The Friends of the Library, led by Judy Wood, plan to make library services available upstairs at the Town Hall on Thursdays from 3 pm to 7 pm, the hours the Town offices are open. Judy Wood and Jean Johnson were instructed to ask the Selectmen if that plan meets with their approval. Judy Wood is also to check with Barbara Dodson about holding story hours after January in conjunction with her Tumbletots’ program.
III. Discussion of collection and purchasing new books: Recent acquisitions to the library collection include:
Russell Banks. Affliction; and The Sweet Hereafter;
A. Scott Berg. Kate Remembered;
an Brown. The Da Vinci Code;
Robert A. Caro. Master of the Senate The Years of Lyndon Johnson;
Hillary Clinton. Living History;
Barbara Ehrenreich. Nickel and Dimed;
Laura Hillenbrand. Seabiscuit An American Legend
Queen Noor. Leap of Faith Memoirs of an Unexpected Life;
Walter Isaacson. Benjamin Franklin An American Life;
Jane Kenyon. Otherwise New and Selected Poems;
Sue Monk Kidd. The Secret Life of Bees;
Yann Martel. Life of Pi;
It was decided to spend all but about $50. of the library funds to purchase new books. It was further decided to open a checking account to which the three trustees have access. Don Johnson volunteered to research titles of recent prize-winning books, and the trustees also ask that Friends of the Library and other interested persons submit suggestions to them for new books.
IV. Renovation of the Town Hall: The Friends continue to be very enthusiastic about plans for a Library room in the renovated Town Hall. They pledged to help the Selectmen publicize plans for the renovations in an effort to create support for the plan. At the same time, the group reviewed the decision from its Visioning session at its last meeting when it was decided to work toward moving the Library building onto the hotel lot and initiating plans for the eventual building of a Cultural Center behind the library. It was decided to ask the Selectmen whether the hotel lot could be used for the library. It seems prudent not to spend money fixing the library’s fragile foundation if the building will soon be moved. The Friends would like to submit a Warrant at the 2004 Town Meeting for $1,000 to cover
the cost of obtaining an archi-tectural rendering for the placement of the library and adjacent building(s) on the hotel lot. At the same time, the Friends plan to try and raise the funds necessary to prepare a foundation and move the building.
V. Meeting with Library State Representatives: Sarah Kuhn organized a meeting with two State Library representatives who came and gave lots of advice about improving our library. They encouraged us to try and eliminate dirty, musty, or otherwise unappealing books in our collection, assuring us that “less is more.” Judy Wood has already done a good job culling the adult fiction section.
After reviewing Sarah Kuhn’s report of the meeting, the Friends voted to proceed with long-term plans to become “part of the state system.” This involves 1) having some good books to lend; 2) being able to offer reference assistance; 3) being open to everyone in Deering; and 4) being open year round, and 5) entering the titles and authors of each book in our collection into the state’s computer system. It was felt we already fulfill requirements 1-3. Planning to serve the public on Thursday evening during the winter months will fulfill the fourth requirement. Before entering the books on the computer, it was decided to try and cull out more of the old books. Work on this will continue the last week of September.
VI. Further consideration of the Mission Statement and viewing the Wallace Wood video was put off until the next meeting of the Friends of the Library.
The next meeting will be Friday, October 24th at 7 pm in the Johnson barn.
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