REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
July 10, 2018
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period May 8 – July 10, 2018.
About the Board
The library staff joins in welcoming the two newly appointed members of the Board of Trustees, Susan Jennette and Dick Pogue. We are anxious to assist them in fulfilling their roles in any way they deem helpful. As we are welcoming incoming members, we also wish to thank departing members Joanna Brown and Carolyn Taylor, both of whom have served in leadership roles during their two terms on the Board.
Financial Report
Budget FY19
The Budget for the new fiscal year reflects action taken by the Board of Supervisors who voted a 2% raise for all County employees. Following approval of the budget, a request to further increase the budget for library part-time personnel was presented to County Administrator, Melinda Conner. The amount of increase requested is $9,000, which will cover the cost of retaining Carol McCormack as a member of the youth services team. Carol, who formerly worked at the library and also has most recently worked during the absence of Maude Donovan, brings a special skills set which are advantageous to the success of our youth programs. She has agreed to work two days a week and oversee youth reading and storytime activities.
Current Reporting Period
The current financial report is a statement of resources and expenses for a two-month period ending June 30, 2018. For the most part, this report constitutes a full report for the fiscal year 2017-18. Although expenses can be accrued through July 12, 2018, we do not anticipate the amount to be substantial. Operational expenses for the bi-monthly period totaled $14,545.58. This amount does not include the item shown under Account 8102 for $4,591.54, which was a credit charge made for Main Street, but covered by a check from that group. This transaction had previous approval from the Office of the County Administrator.
Current year-to-date expenses total $96,343.45 or 85.3% of operating budget (not including grants/donations). Current unencumbered operating funds total $27,693.30, including donations of $11,107.75. Also included in unencumbered funds is $5,000, the amount in the C4K Leadership Grant. Subtracting this grant from the unencumbered amount leaves a total of $22,693.30.
Salaries and related expenses
Salaries and related benefits information through the report period has not been received. .
Patron Update
The current number of patrons is 12,056, an increase of 34 patrons over the previous report period and a 2.56 increase over the previous year. The average number of patrons and others visiting the library daily during the report period was 147.
Personnel
The library provides service 7 days of each week, with reduced hours on Saturday, 10 am – 2 pm, and Sunday, 1 pm – 3 pm. These hours make it possible, both for more people to use the library and, also, it allows for community programs, frequently scheduled for weekends, to be held at the library. A staff change recently occurred with the departure of part-time employee, Christy Poteet who was replaced by, Rachel Musick. Rachel, who works in the day care center of Kingston Parish, brings needed skills to the weekend program.
Programs
With the beginning of summer, the library program calendar is bursting with activities for young and old. We are indebted to the Friends of the Library for making possible many of the library programs held at the library.
Following the youth Fantasy Trip to Alaska in April, the Highland Games were conducted for the 14th season at the Ruritan Center, hosting more than 40 young people who enjoyed competitive traditional Highland games and authentic Scottish bagpipe music.
Two concerts occurred in June, the first on June 6, a concert for middle-school age young people performed by the Virginia Symphony Quartet, with 39 in attendance. It was made possible through a grant received from the VA Commission for the Arts. The second, which took place on June 7 with a performance by the very popular Ambrosia Quartet, launched the library’s 2018 Soothin’ Summer Sounds Series. Eight-one persons attended.
A June 21st event held for teens, while not well attended, was extremely well-received by those in attendance (13). William Geroux, author of The Mathews Men, shared his thoughts on the significance of their roles as seamen and also the benefits of writing as a career.
July 10th marks the beginning of the summer youth program, “Through the Looking Glass.” Fifty-one young people ages 6-14 have registered to participate in the four-week program. In addition, there are over two dozen between the ages of 3 through 5 who are signed up for the weekly “Tales To Be Told.”
The goal of this year’s program is to expand the intellectual horizons of Mathews young people, providing them with a more informed view of the world and the people who inhabit it.
A Klezmer band, Bagels and Fralox, will appear on July 19th and closing out the Soothin’ Summer Sounds season will be a flamenco and classicist guitarist, Charles Moeser on August 23rd. These events reflect the international flavor of the youth summer program.
Profiles of Honor Mobile Tour
The Virginia World War I and World War II Profiles of Honor Mobile Tour brings an interactive exhibit to museums, libraries, and historic sites throughout Virginia. It will be at the Mathews library on Saturday and Sunday, August 4 & 5, 2018, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Profiles of Honor brings to life the state's integral role in both wars, highlighting stories of Virginians who served in both conflicts. As part of the tour, visitors are invited to bring their own WWI and WWII-related photographs to be scanned for inclusion in the Virginia Profiles of Honor project. This partnership with the Library of Virginia will help preserve the documents and stories of our veterans for generations.