Minutes- Otis Library and Museum, Inc.
September 8, 2016
The Roosevelt Room- 6:30, Chair Person: Diane Dyer
Members present included: Diane Dyer, Susan Ebitz, Walter Engels, Jane Feldman, Steve Graves, Lois Hall, Eve Kummel, and Kay Rice
- Meeting called to order at 6:35, Minutes from August 11, 2016 were approved
- Director’s Report: submitted by Kathy Bort
- TAKING STOCK!~ The collection will be weeded with removed and items placed on the porch~which will be available FREE beginning now thru Thanksgiving. Worn DVDS will be resurfaced by a company which does this for a reasonable fee. Those that cannot be fixed will be removed and destroyed.
- LEGO club resumes on the second Saturday of each month.~ All ages are welcome. ~
- READ FOR THE RECORD: On October 27, 2016 join us to participate and a nation-wide reading event. We’ll be reading The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, a classic tale of a bear’s epic journey and the mystery surrounding one delicious sandwich! We hope to have readings at the Farmington River School and the Otis Library.~ Times will be announced. Two volunteers are needed for the Farmington River School as well as one for the library. We need volunteers to make several kinds of sandwiches as well. A motion was made and accepted to table who would make the sandwiches until more information was available.
- CORA’S BOOKS have been selected and purchased. Approximately 55 books were purchased in memory of Cora Barrett, a young child who died last year from rejection complications from a heart transplant.~ Cora lived in Sandisfield, attended Farmington River School, and was a patron at the Otis library.~ This delightful energetic young lady gave us many special moments in her short lifetime.~ From the donations we purchased books from Barne’s & Noble, to give to the Sandisfield Library, the Farmington River School Library, and the Otis library. Special thanks go to Cory and Regie and Tom at Barnes & Noble for advocating for a significant discount, and to Patricia Hoskeer and Karen Gralla former English teachers and friends of Cora’s family who helped select the items. Please stop by later this month to see the selections.~ The press in both Otis and Sandisfield will be called and the board will be made aware of the date that they are scheduled.
- CALLING FOR ARTISTIC TALENT: There are a few exhibit vacancies in our art exhibitor program.~ If you are interested in showing your artwork please contact Diane Dyer. ~
- CERTIFICATION: I am proud to announce that the state reports for library certification have been submitted. Once they have been approved a copy will be made available for examination by our trustees and then our patrons.~
- CORNERSTONE: Jon Charow reviewed the band width and activity figures with Cornerstone.~ Computer speed and reception is directly related to our subscription levels with Cornerstone.~ To increase this one notch would cost and additional $70 per month.~ This would be the minimum of what we need.~ As our computer use increases we need to consider raising the band width.~ Downloading and streaming are difficult at our current level.~ When a patron does this, it slows all online activity on other computers down. ~
- PERSONNEL: Lois is more available to work at the library. Lois and Kathy Crowe will be covering the library most of the time during Kathy’s absence and Patty Strauch and Donna Latham will fill in as needed.~
- Treasurer’s Report: Walter Engels-
- Treasure’s report was read and accepted
- $20,000 donated to the Library Annual Appeal
- The budget is on target for six months out
- Computer Upgrade
- Purchase Microsoft 10 for a onetime fee of $369, updating the software on each computer
- Other Business –
- Lois suggested the installation of a floodlight to allow all to see the walkway during the evening hours. The board unanimously agreed and approved of this idea.
- Museum – Diane will look into someone cleaning it so that it is not too filthy for volunteers
- Five Year Plan – Diane, Eve, Jane, and Susan met on 8/19/16 at Diane’s house to formulate a plan for how to proceed. It was decided to have the group meet before regularly scheduled board meetings. The five year subcommittee met on 9/8/16 at 5:30 in the Children’s Room. Members in attendance included Diane, Eve, Jane, and Susan with Eve chairing this subcommittee. Town inspector Larry Gould presented the committee with background information and maps concerning the library land site and structure of the building. His recommendation to the committee based on state statistics was that the potential cost to restructure and remodel the current facility is cost prohibitive.
- Meeting adjourned at 7:29
Next Meeting: September 8, 2016 at 6:30 – Full Board, Five year subcommittee meeting at 6:00, all welcome.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Ebitz, Recording Secretary