SIMSBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Minutes of the November 17, 2003 Meeting
These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes, please contact the Town
Clerk’s office.
PRESENT: Babs Gardner, Charmaine Glew, Carol Bingham and Gail Ryan. Susan Bullock, Director; Eileen Sickinger, Recording Secretary. Eileen Higham, Friends Liaison, Paul O’Sullivan from Rep. Nancy Johnson’s Office.
The meeting was called to order at 7:25 P.M. by Gail Ryan, Chair. Mrs. Bullock congratulated those members who were recently re-elected to serve on the Board. The minutes of the October 20, 2003 meeting were accepted as presented. Carol Bingham moved that Item 9A, Trees, be added to the Agenda. Second: C. Glew. So moved.
It was agreed to change the Agenda so that Mr. O’Sullivan could give his presentation next. Paul O’Sullivan, Director of Grants and Special Projects for Rep. Nancy Johnson, discussed outside funding that might be available for the proposed building expansion. He not only addressed what might be available for libraries through federal funding, but also through private grants. There are direct federal opportunities through the Institute of Museum and Library Services Leadership Grants and the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grants. The Federal Community Block Grant Program goes through the state to provide funds for community projects. Mr. O’Sullivan suggested that the Board go the website of the CBDO for additional information. Different restrictions applied to these grants and
a familiarity with workers wages, unions, prevailing wages in the area, among other things, must be reviewed before any application is made. Mr. O’Sullivan also mentioned corporate funding. Local corporations and banks have supported similar projects and he suggested looking into this. He mentioned The Hartford and included information from their Community Relations Department on the priorities of the company, as well as a description of their grant review process. Other corporations mentioned were Ensign-Bickford, SBC/SNET and local banks.
Private foundations also support library projects. One in particular is the Gladys Brooks Foundation. Mr. O’Sullivan informed the Board that that The Hartford Public Library has a Foundation Center Database that would be helpful in researching foundations that support libraries. The recent expansion of the Farmington Library was also discussed.
Mrs. Bullock reviewed the history of the plans for the $7.25 million expansion. Mr. O’Sullivan had prepared a packet describing possible federal support for the expansion and said that Congresswoman Johnson would offer her support when the application process begins.
The Board discussed ways to go about fundraising and how to approach corporations and other groups for funds. Before any definitive plans can be made the date the project is put to referendum must be firm. Mr. Mandell will be asked to attend the December 15th meeting to discuss this. Mrs. Bullock will ask Kevin Kane how taxes will be impacted by the $7.25 expansion.
COMMUNICATIONS: Free public service announcements may be made on SCTV for the holidays by anyone interested. The list of recent elected municipal officials was shared as well as the Town’s Annual Report for 2001-2002. The Board is requested to make a list of accomplishments and goals for the new annual report. The Connecticut Book Award Newsletter “Readings” was shared.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: Personnel: Mrs. Glew distributed a copy of the Director’s evaluation form and she will contact members regarding it. Friends: Mrs. Higham reported that Friends have designated $500 for the Thurlough Ricker Memorial and his family will add $1,000. The actual memorial will be decided upon when the expansion is complete. New museum passes have been added. Friends will be giving Ken Mason a gift in appreciation for designing the new Friends brochure. The Boston trip to the Fine Arts Museum and Christian Science Center was very successful.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Mrs. Bullock distributed her written report and among the highlights discussed were the 2002-2003 Connecticut Library Survey. The statistical report for this was included in her packet. For the Town’s Annual Report among Mrs. Bullock’s goals for the new year will be upgrading technology, rethinking how volunteers are used, and increasing the number of library cards issued. The Board continues to seek an improvement in the parking lot. Programs that seem to be coming more popular are those where there is greater participation on the part of the attendees. The book discussion groups are extremely well received and the lecture program “Recent Discoveries in Astronomy and Astrophysics”, was so popular that more of the same type programs were requested. The Library’s webpage is being redesigned and Mrs. Bullock asked the Board to serve as a focus group to give feedback to the committee.
Mrs. Bullock recently attended a workshop on engaging retiring baby boomers serving their community. New strategies in how to use the talents of these people as productive volunteers was one main focus. Another was to aid these individuals in their life-transition.
The second workshop had to do with the next generation of Internet, Internet 2. While Internet 2 is currently here, it is mostly in research establishments. It won’t be long before it is in libraries and the staff must be able to know what is happening. Two staff members will be attending the Public Library Association Conference in February.
Statistics are down. Evening hours have been very quiet. Some of this is attributed to the shorter hours and some to the fact that more people are working from home.
The Meeting Room Policy Agenda item was tabled.
TREES: Mrs. Bingham reported that she learned from someone from Butler Landscaping that rare evergreen trees on the Library property had not been sprayed this fall. Mrs. Bullock will speak with Steve Markie about this.
At 9:15 P.M. Carol Bingham moved for adjournment. Second: B. Gardner. So moved.
Eileen Sickinger
Secretary Pro Tempore
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