MINUTES
MATHEWS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 8, 2018
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Steve Wilson, chairman, at 5:02 p.m. The chairman welcomed Board of Supervisors representative Edwina Casey to her first meeting.
ATTENDING: Joanna Brown, Edwina Casey, Reed Lawson, Jim Pavik, Mary Sampson, Carolyn Taylor and Steve Wilson. Also present were Bette Dillehay, library director, and Molly Broderson, president of Friends of Mathews Memorial Library.
MINUTES: The minutes of the March 13, 2018 board meeting were approved as presented. Carolyn moved; Joanna seconded.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR: The attached report covers the period March 13, 2018 to May 8, 2018. Also attached are the Operating Expenditures Report as of May 8, 2018, the Activity Report in numbers and graphs for April 2018 and the approved FY 2019 county budget for the library.
The Director highlighted the digitizing of the 1940-1976 Mathews High School yearbooks by the Library of Virginia under the supervision of Colanne Bunting, noting that the public through The Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal will be asked to supply missing years for digitizing. She announced that the World War I/World War II Commission slated to be in Mathews County August 4 - 5 approved the positioning of the exhibit van in the parking area in front of the library. There will be a follow-up commemoration in November of the 100th anniversary of the ending of WWI for which the library is a memorial. Mathews County administration has received two applications to fill the vacancies on the library BOT. The Board of Supervisors will address the matter at the May meeting.
The Director discussed the approved 2018-2019 library budget which is lower than in previous years because of the reduction in benefits. It also includes a 2% increase in full and part time salaries. Operational expenses for March and April totaled $14,568.56. Unencumbered funds total $42,738.88 including donations and grants. See attached. In the category of Salaries and Related Expenses, the library is under budget for the ten months in FY2017-2018.
MML has been nominated for two awards -- the ALA for "Library of the Year" and a Penguin Random House grant to the library demonstrating exceptional community-based programs.
Under Personnel Concerns, head of Youth Services Maude Donovan will return June 1, following the birth of her second son. Ms. Bunting is now FOIA certified, one of two county employees so qualified.
March and April programs included tech classes, the three book clubs, the spring tea dance and the spring break youth fantasy trip, this year to Alaska. Upcoming are the June 15 annual Highland Games for youth, the July summer youth program entitled "Through the Looking Glass" -- a voyage of adventure to places around the world. On June 21 William Geroux, author of The Mathews Men, will speak to teens on being part of Mathews history and heritage. The challenge will be to entice the teens to come. Soothin' Summer Sounds has an international flavor: Ambrosia Quartet on June 7, Bagels and Fralox on July 19 and Charles Moeser on August 23. See attached.
REPORT FROM THE FRIENDS: Molly Broderson reported for MMLFOL. The April General Meeting featured a program "Recognizing Mathews County Champions of Literacy". See attached. The Friends recently installed a parking sign designating the Director's 'spot'. Communications chair Mary Whitley and her committee updated the FOL brochure. See attached. The Friends manned a booth at May Faire, selling books and welcoming eight new members. The organization will attend the Gazette-Journal Book Fair June 21 and the Gwynn's Island Festival June 30. Maurice Levis is chairing the Blue Skies initiative -- where will FOL be in five years, in ten years. The web page is managed by Joyce McKelvey.
OLD BUSINESS: Steve recognized the two retiring members of the BOT, Joanna and Carolyn, thanking them for their service and untiring and long-standing dedication and commitment to the board and to the library as members of the board and as volunteers. Carolyn presented a gift to Bette -- a tee shirt inscribed "Library Director because Miracle Worker isn't an official job title".
NEW BUSINESS: The board will need to replace Carolyn as vice-chair. No action was taken.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, 2018.
Submitted by Reed Lawson, Secretary
Attachments to the official record as stated.