REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
September 23, 2022
The report that follows outlines current administrative matters and ongoing activities that occurred during the report period.
Financial Report
Current Reporting Period
Information presented in the current financial report is a statement of resources and expenses for a two-month period ending August 31, 2022. Operational expenses for the report period totaled $27,597.38, which includes the annual subscription fee ($8,601.72) for the library catalog and transaction system, Also, a major element impacting the current statement remains the monthly charges payable to Verizon supporting the WiFi program making offsite Internet access possible for patrons. Charges are to be reimbursed through a Federal Emergency Connectivity Fund providing a total of $20,019.11, some of which has not yet been received. Monthly charges average $2,000. Continuing the program is critical to the community, and discussion is ongoing with the county regarding options for support.
Salaries and Related Expenses
The amount budgeted for salaries and related benefits for FY 22/23 is $330,771 or $27,564 per month. The current financial activity report reflecting the amount spent as of August 31, 2022, shows a total of $59,077.13 or approximately $29,539 per month.
State Aid
Word was received from the Library of Virginia that Mathews Memorial Library has been approved to receive an additional $18,586 in State Aid funding for FY 22/23. This brings the total amount approved for this period to $104,326.
Patrons
The number of active patrons now stands at 10,516. In addition to circulation of materials (2002), use of computers and printing devices continues to reflect community needs bringing citizens to the library.
Library Staff
Efforts to fill the weekend position formerly held by Jackie Craven have resulted in the employment of Jean Williams. Ms. Williams began work on September 8th and is quite excited about becoming a member of the library staff. In addition to weekend coverage, she will be working one day during the week to ensure her familiarity with ongoing projects and an opportunity to communicate with fellow staff members.
Public Library Association (PLA) Grant Award
The library was one of 160 public libraries nationwide chosen to host their digital literacy workshops. A grant of $4,000 is given to support our efforts to boost digital skills for all members of the community. A series of workshops will be offered in person and/or online through March 2023. In addition to the funding, the library has unlimited access to the PLA digital literacy courses and training materials.
Projects/Programs
Summer 2022 The library successfully offered a summer season of activities for both youth and adults. The youth program held throughout the month of July had an average daily attendance of 25, ages 6-12. The program included lectures by visiting professionals, a creative crafts day and weekly bus adventures. Soothin’
Summer Sounds, the adult music series, featured two events. Attendance at each, as anticipated, was less than in prior years. The cost of all summer programs was $7,223.99, of which $6,190.89 was funded by Friends of the Library, the remainder covered through library resources.