REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
August 12, 2014
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period July 1 - August 12, 2014.
Financial Report
The information presented includes FY 2013-2014 year-end expenditures and FY 2014-2015 expenses for the period ending August 12.
Operational expenses for 2013-2014 show a negative balance of $2,145.94. This resulted from two annual subscription payments of $3,348.00 for the library online patron access and cataloging system (Autographics) in line item 5240, one which was paid in August 2013 for the period 2013-2014 and the second in June 2014 for 2014-2015.
Per final figures provided by the Office of the County Administrator, library expenses, overall, for FY 2013-2014, including salaries and related benefits, reflect $36,068.35 in unexpended funds. This is the result primarily from unexpended funds for salaries and associated benefits, occurring as a result of an unfilled position during the budget period.
The report of operational expenses to date for FY 2014-2015 include a grant of $1,500 allotted to Account 3000-Professional Services. This was received from the Mathews Community Foundation and is to be used by Coaliltion4Kids group in providing after-school tutoring. To date, grants/donations and reimbursements for FY2015 total $2,429.08. This does not reflect the funds provided by the Friends ($9,850) in support of the library's summer programs.
Personnel
Effective August 11, Mary Bull, head of teen services, resigned her position. Mary has accepted a position with Newport News Public Library.
We intend to fill the position; however, it seems prudent to evaluate the assumptions made in filling the position initially to determine if changes are in order. In the interim, Carol McCormack, head of youth services, will assume supervisory oversight of part-time staff members, Michael Fisher and Amy Hudgins, to provide full support of the Teen Territory.
Patron Update
With 47 new patrons added, the total number of patrons is 10,708. Along with visitors, they made 6,660 visits to the library. The high number of visits is somewhat inflated by the unusual traffic that occurred during the youth summer program when activities entailed the participants making numerous trips in and out of the library.
Circulation continues to show positive growth in Teen Territory, possibly reflecting the existence of the new center and the more appealing arrangement of the collection.
Summer Programs
The annual Highland Games launched youth library summer programs with the largest number of participants (53) in the ten years it has been held. The event was enhanced by the performance of a 7-piece pipe band from Richmond. Funded by the Friends of the Library, the total cost of the event was $655.42, which included supplies, entertainment, prizes and lunch.
The youth summer program, What If!, ended on a high note with a trip, to Virginia Beach on Friday, August 1, to view the work, King Neptune, created by sculptor, Paul DiPasquale. Earlier in the week, Paul had provided the children with an exciting discussion of its creation. In addition to Virginia Beach, Discovery Day trips were taken to the Air and Space Museum, Virginia Science Museum and a local tour of environmentally significant sites. During the four-week period, 99 children were registered with an average daily attendance of 42. The cost of the event is anticipated to be approximately $4,000 or $40 per participant.
Soothin' Summer Sounds, an annual program of musical events, has received positive reviews this season. With two of three events having been held, total attendance has topped 200. A similar record attendance is expected for the final event in the series that will occur on August 28th at 4 p.m., when the VSO Ambrosia Quartet performs.
The library was privileged on July 24th to host John Pogue, son of Dick and Adele Pogue, who presented a program on his experience as a Hollywood writer/director.