REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
May 14, 2019
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period March 12 – May 14, 2019.
Financial Report
Current Reporting Period
The current financial report is a statement of resources and expenses for a two-month period ending May 14, 2019. Operational expenses for the bi-monthly period totaled $14,569.78. To date in FY2018-2019, operating expenses total $74,010.96. Current unencumbered operating funds total $55,639.44. Included in unencumbered operating funds is $14,038.50, the C4K Leadership Grant. Subtracting this grant from the unencumbered amount leaves a total of $41,600.94.
Salaries and related expenses
As of May 1, 2019, for the ten-month period in FY 2018-19, salaries and related benefits totaled $203,664.47, averaging $20,366 per month. The total amount budgeted for salaries and related benefits for FY 2018-2019 is $272,955 or roughly $22,746 per month. Of the total budgeted amount, $74,129 is allocated for benefits.
Summary
With a combined budget total (Salaries/related expenses; Operating) of $391,993 and expenses to date of $277,675.43, approximately 70.8% of total available funding is unencumbered.
Approved Budget - FY20
The FY20 County budget, approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 23rd, reflects an overall increase of $13,916 or 3.73% over the requested budget amount A $15,907 increase in salaries was approved. The budget contains a $16,626 reduction in Hospital/Medical Plan over the current fiscal year. Two line items, 3000, Professional – Training and 3320, Maintenance Service Contracts were each reduced by $1,500 while 3310, Repairs and Maintenance and 3160, Computer/Installation Maintenance were each reduced by $500.
Patrons
The number of patrons now stands at 9,663 The number of new patrons added during the report period totaled 49.
Personnel
No significant changes occurred in staffing.
Collection Update
It has been noted that “libraries are not museums,” giving approval for routine weeding of collections to ensure their currency and appropriateness and creating space for new titles. Led by staff member Colanne Bunting, Mathews Memorial Library is currently engaged in weeding the adult fiction section, anticipating that 200 to 250 titles will be removed. The currently fiction collection numbers approximately 14,000 titles. The total print collection is lightly under 80,000.
Technology Update
USDE/OCR Investigation. Working closely with Judith Risch, Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, library staff has successfully completed negotiations to fulfill access requirements for its website. Ms. Risch complimented the library on its handling of the issue. She is currently working with our website provider to complete the process.
Tech Tuesday, et al
For almost a decade, the library has been offering opportunities for patrons to enhance their use of various technical devices through courses taught by library staff. These courses, ranging from basic computer to digital camera range from a one afternoon session to three-day session. During March and April 4 classes were presented attracting 55 participants.
Programs
During the report period, twenty-one events or meetings were sponsored by the library while other organizations utilized library spaces for 32 meetings/events. An interesting use of library space was made recently when a fund-raising party sponsored by the Mathews County Historical Society in concert with the Visitors’ Center was held on the evening of May 3rd in the library courtyard. Approximately 100 persons attended the event. In addition, the AARP completed its series of tax assistance, a service offered each Friday from February through April 15.
Three events highlighted the early spring at the library. The first event was the annual Fantasy Trip held on April 3rd. Twenty children accompanied library tour guide, Carol McCormack, on an exciting train ride across Canada. Carol was assisted by such seasoned travelers as Janine Burns who shared her deep knowledge of Toronto. Lunch was served with the assistance of two Friends of the Library board members.
The adult program line-up was highlighted by the appearance of two outstanding Virginia authors - Brad Parks, a local mystery writer on Thursday, April 25th at 7 pm and Earl Swift, author of Chesapeake Requiem on Thursday, May 9, also at 7 pm. Each author attracted a large attendance – Brad Parks, with 60-65 and Earl Swift whose audience numbered between 95 and 100. During the latter program, many expressed excitement upon learning that the library is contemplating sponsoring a trip to Tangier Island in late summer or early fall.