Minutes of Friends of the Library December 4, 2003
Meeting was held from 7:00 to 9:15 at Bev Yeaple s home. Present were Jeanne Bartlett, Susan Bartlett, Tom Copadis, Kathy Luger, Don and Jean Johnson, Polly Pierce, Pia Sunderland, Roberta Walmsley, Judy Wood and Bev Yeaple.
Kathy Luger was welcomed to the Friends.
No corrections to the minutes were suggested.
Book donations: The Friends welcome donations of books to the Library but decided to draft a policy statement about donations and donated books that the library cannot use. Tom Copadis volunteered to draft the statement for the next meeting.
Thursday hours: Judy Wood reported that the Thursday library hours in the Town Hall are going well. People who come to see the Town Clerk are learning about the library and some are taking out books. One or two have come expressly because of the library.
New Book Acquisitions: The committee carefully reviewed the composite list of book recommendations that members of the Friends had submitted. The Friends eliminated some, identified some that could be gotten through donations, and added some to the list. Once all the suggestions have been reviewed and a final list has been compiled, the trustees will purchase the new books. The suggested list will also be posted on the library web site. Donations from the list are encouraged.
Future plans for the library: The committee reviewed the questions on the Master Plan questionnaire to be submitted to the Services, Staffing, Space and Capital Needs chapter of the Master Plan. These included a description of the service the library provides, needs anticipated in the next five years, long-term needs for the next ten years and staffing and equipment needs. The Friends hope that within the next five years the library collection and circulation will have significantly expanded, the library will be functioning full-time, the collection will be on-line and the library will have become part of the state library system with access to inter-library loans and other state-wide services. We are also hoping that a room for the library will be available in the renovated Town Hall and the library will be able
to expand its activities to include book discussions, tutoring, adult literacy and other possible activities. The committee further identified the urgent need to provide proper maintenance for the historic library building including new wiring, windows, screens, handicap access, and perhaps the rental of a port-apotty. The committee also supports the plan to provide extended library and other town services to Longwoods Park, including the possible acquisition of a mobile home that could become a multi-purpose Town center that includes part of the library collection.
Members of the Friends were urged to attend the selectmen s meeting on the bond for the renovation of the Town Hall scheduled for January and to express their opinions at that meeting.
The next meeting of the Friends is scheduled for February 6th at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.
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