REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
August 11, 2015
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period June 9 – August 11, 2015.
Financial Report
FY 2014-15 – Year-end Totals
Operational expenses for FY 2014-2015 totaled $102,574.46 compared with expenses in
FY 2013-14 of $125,766.87, an 18.56% reduction. Unencumbered operating funds at the end of the past fiscal year were $16,713.56. The largest decrease in spending was in line item 6012 – Books and Subscriptions, with the largest increase occurring in line item 3320 – Maintenance Service Contracts. This line item includes, among other items, online catalog support and computer and Internet security services.
Through June 30, salaries and related benefits totaled $220,600.24 or 86.3% of the budgeted amount for FY 2014-2015 ($255,556.00). Unencumbered funds totaled $34,955.76.
A request made by the library to re-appropriate $20,000 of the FY 2014-15 budget to the FY 2015-16 budget was approved. However the Board subsequently reduced the operating budget in the amount of $7,967 due to State-Aid Funding being over-estimated during the budget preparation process.
Current Reporting Period
Operational expenses for the report period ending July 31 totaled $9,325.58. This amount includes an annual payment of $7,025.94 for online catalog support.
Salary expenses for the report period were $21,989.32, compared with $20,281.80, the cost of salary and related expenses for the same period in 2014. This increase, reflects the change in several positions from part-time to full-time, encompassing not only increases in salary but also benefits (insurance, retirement, etc.). The re-appropriated funds are anticipated to cover this increase.
Patron Update
The current number of patrons is 11,054. It is determined that the current patron/visitor count is unreliable due to malfunction of the counter located at the main entrance. It has been replaced and an accurate figure is expected to be available for the next reporting cycle.
Personnel Update
Boosted by a full complement of staff, the library launched a most ambitious summer program schedule. Members of the staff continue to exhibit great commitment to the success of the library and are most supportive of fellow staff members in achieving the library mission.
Congratulations go to Haven Head, head of youth services, who travelled to Columbia, South Carolina on August 6 to receive her graduate degree of Master, Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. Her expertise and growing experience will be a tremendous asset to the library.
The library is also delighted to welcome weekend staff member, Lucy Kirkman. Lucy is an artist and Mathews resident. In addition to her weekend work in the youth center, Lucy played a major role working with the youngest group (6-7) in making our summer program the success that it was.
Summer Programs
Beginning in June with the annual Highland Games, the library staff has been fully engaged in providing programs for young members of the community. The support of the Friends made both the Highland Games and the July summer program possible through their grant of over $9,000 for the programs and for Soothin’ Summer Sounds.
The July program, “Science Matters,” received accolades from both children, parents and grandparents. More than 125 were registered for the programs in ages ranging from 6 to 14. In addition, twenty-plus attended the weekly storytime programs associated with the theme. Supporting the program and guaranteeing its success was dependent upon the unselfish support of each staff member, all of whom were involved.
Likewise, the 2015 Soothin’ Summer Sounds events to date have been “sell-outs” with more than 100 in attendance at each of the two events held to date. A third event, a Tea Dance, was added to the schedule. Held on August 9th, there were 83 in attendance. The program celebrated the life of Barbara Walters Williams, who participated in former tea dance events as a member of the combo, After Six. The final program will feature the Ambrosia Quartet from the Virginia Symphony on August 27th at 4 p.m.
To date, the cost of all programs stands at $5,493.45.