REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
May 10, 2016
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period March 8 – May 10, 2016.
Financial Report
Current Reporting Period
Operational expenses for the bi-monthly report period totaled $12,003.09. Current year-to-date operating expenses total $70,777.40, an increase of $8,532.12 over the previous year-to-date total. The increase reflects expenditures of $23,416.24 for line item 6012 (Books and Subscriptions) which year-to-date in FY2015 was $13,818.92. Unencumbered operating funds are estimated to be $26,845.57 for the remainder of FY 2015-2016
Salaries and related expenses for the bi-monthly report period total $38.684.08 for a year-to-date total of $200,700.73 or 69.6% of budget, placing us slightly under budget at this time. The total amount budgeted for salaries and related benefits for FY2015/2016 is $288,331.
Community Foundation Fund Summary
A financial report from The Community Foundation indicates that the fund balance for the Mathews Memorial Library Endowment Fund now stands at $70,669.63. We should, perhaps, consider how to encourage greater use of this resource by students who may pursue appropriate fields of study.
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Patron Update
The current number of patrons is 11,352, an increase of 64 patrons over the previous report period and a 3.95% increase over the previous year. The average number of patrons and others visiting the library during the report period was 6,958.
Personnel
A number of re-alignments have been made in staffing as a result of the resignation of Haven Headley as Head, Youth Services. Effective May 1, 2016, Rachel Wood was designated Head, Youth Services. Rachel, who previously served as Head, Teen Services will continue in this role but is assuming oversight responsibility for both youth and teen areas. Her salary was increased from $16,000 to $20,000 to compensate for the additional responsibility. Lucy Kirkman, a part-time staff member who worked in the youth center on Saturday and Sunday now works Tuesday through Thursday. Replacing Lucy on weekends is a new addition to the staff, Maude Donovan who will work on Monday and Friday in addition to the weekend hours. All part-time employees are paid the same rate of $9.65 per hour.
Programs
Youth and adults both enjoyed programs held in late March and April. The library’s annual fantasy trip was held on March 29 when 32 young people between the ages of 6 and 14, along with staff and volunteers spent the day in Spain. It was organized by the library staff and led by Carol McCormack, a former staff member who continues to provide great programming support.
A last-minute decision to host a Cinco de Mayo party for teens was greeted with appreciation from the more than 25 teens present to enjoy tacos, music and to learn a little history about the celebration.
Two authors accepted invitations to appear at the library during April. The first, Virginia Pye, had a smaller audience than did the second, John Warley. Both were well received.
Community Outreach
People are at the center of the library’s mission to provide access to education, learning opportunities and social connections for all. Placing emphasis on the library as people reflects the shift away from building collections to building human capital, relationships and knowledge networks in the community. This move away from traditional concepts is one of the great challenges of today’s public libraries.
While Mathews Memorial Library’s mission and current strategic plan contain elements to support such a change, we propose to explore what are the expectations that the community has for the library and how we can best meet them. As we perceive it, our community is currently composed of individuals, young families, retirees, teens, students, job seekers and perhaps others we have not identified. We intend holding small sessions with representatives of each group to expand our understanding of their expectations.
It should be noted that the library is increasingly a center of community activities and awareness. In addition to increased use of meeting areas by groups, we are invited to display items such as the large promotional display for the Courthouse Players, a painting by a local artist and a series of flower arrangements done by members of the local garden club. Each of these brings increased awareness of the library, while at the same time serving groups and organizations within the community.
Coming Events
Planning is well underway for summer programs 2016. With the greater emphasis on youth programs. This year’s “month of fun” in July is entitled “Capture the Magic.” A copy of the program schedule is attached to this report. We have completed identifying Lemonade lecturers and are well underway in identifying associated activities. It promises to be a popular program.
Performances for Soothin’ Summer Sounds are confirmed. The 2016 program “Notes Afloat” will feature familiar faces with J. Plunky Branch on June 2nd, Art Muroff on July 21 and the Virginia Symphony Quartet on August 11th.