REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
March 14, 2017
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period January 10 – March 14, 2017. The Board of Supervisors announced in February that among the items covered in their organizational meeting was the re-appointment of Stephen Wilson whose term expires in March 2017 and the appointment of James Pavik to replace William Story whose second term expires in October 2017.
Financial Report
Current Reporting Period
The current financial report is a statement of resources and expenses for a two-month period ending March14, 2017. Operational expenses for the bi-monthly period totaled $20,617.43, of which 39.9% were subscription fees for online databases, two of which are offered through the Library of Virginia.. Year-to-date expenses totaled $65,142.29, or 55.8%% of budget (not including grants/donations), and reflect an 10.8% increase over the previous fiscal year total. Current unencumbered funds total $57,115.23, including funding of $6,212.60 in line item 3001 (C4K grant).
The library was presented with a $100 donation from Jeff Valdrighi. This donation was made when the work done under contract with the Friends of the Library to renovate the restrooms in the rear lobby was completed.
Salaries and related expenses as of March 13, 2017, totaled $158,275.41, an average of $19,784.50 per month. The total amount budgeted for salaries and related benefits for FY2016-2017 is $248,951 or roughly $20,750 per month. We continue slightly under budget for these expenses.
Patron Update
The current number of patrons is 11,571, an increase of 55 patrons over the previous report period and a 2.99% increase over the previous year. The average number of patrons and others visiting the library daily during the report period was 184.
Personnel
Three members of the staff are currently engaged in professional training, all of which are online courses. Becky Barnhardt is talking a course sponsored by the American Library Association on digitizing archival materials; Maude Donovan is enrolled in a class, “the Importance of Play in Learning,” offered through the Library of Virginia; and Diane Riley’s course on “Effective Communications” is available through the University of Kentucky. These staff members are to be congratulated for their efforts which will further enhance library service to the community.”
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
In 2009, the library executed a memorandum of agreement with SEAC to establish a Special Education Resource Center where parents and caregivers could utilize available resources. The agreement covered the cataloging and housing of PRC materials and meeting space. Recently, we received notice that as of February 23rd, SEAC would be henceforth located in the facilities at the Mathews Boys and Girls Club. Barbara Fleming,, SEAC chair indicated that the move will provide “increased exposure through the Mathews County Department of Social Services and will put PRC Coordinator Barbara Ettner in closer proximity to the populations we serve in the Mathews community.” Ms. Fleming indicated that SEAC wishes to continue to hold its monthly meetings at the library.
Computer Training
Greg Lewis, Head, Technology Services, has scheduled a series of Tech Tuesday workshops for April and May. In addition, a basic computer class will be offered in June. Recently, Greg and Diane Riley presented a “Tech Zoo” program to staff members of Gloucester Public Library.
Collection Development
January and February are generally the time used by staff to conduct a series of activities related to collection development and review. To this end, the staff began an extensive collection inventory of all items in the library. The first phae is due to be completed by March 10th. The output of the effort is the identification of items that have been shelved incorrectly or are missing. The inventory project will be followed by a review of holdings removal from the collection titles which have outlived their usefulness.
Programs
February would not be complete without the celebration of Valentines Day. The library observed this custom by hosting a Tea Dance on February 12th with music by Phil Johnson and 36 “young at heart” in attendance. On Tuesday, February 14th, a party was held for youth, offering games treats and crafts.
February is also Black History Month. The library undertook to present a six-hour documentary, “Eyes on the Prize,” a documentary series on the civil rights movement that “illuminates the struggle for racial equality and social justice in America.” The series was presented in three consecutive presentations on Thursday evening beginning February 16th. The initial audience numbered 26 and grew with each presentation, with the final event on March 2nd attracting 42 individuals, all of whom had great praise for the library for facilitating the presentation of this important story.
Dr. Seuss Day is annually celebrated by the organization of reading to students in classes pre-school, kindergarten and second grade at Lee Jackson. Fourteen 5th graders read in seven classrooms to more than one hundred students. The library staff led the students in the “Readers’ Pledge,” provided the books for each classroom and presented the readers with commemorative “Dr. Seuss” pens.