REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mathews Memorial Library
Bette Dillehay, Director
November 8, 2016
This report is intended to provide the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees with a report of activities during the period September 13 – November 8, 2016.
Financial Report
Current Reporting Period
The current financial report is a statement of resources and expenses for a two-month period ending October 31st, one month into the second quarter of FY 2016-17. Operational expenses for the bi-monthly period totaled $18,173.92. Year-to-date expenses totaled $33,747.20, or 29.5% of budget.. Unencumbered operating funds of $80,680.74 for FY 2016-17 include carry-over funding of $1,212.60 in line item 3001 (C4K grant). Total spent to date for line item 6012 is less than the previous period, reflecting the transfer of several items from this line item to line item 5240 during the budget process for FY2016-2017.
Salaries and related expenses for October, 2016, monthly report period provided by the office of the county administrator has not been received. Expenses as of September 30 totaled $59,545.10. 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.
Bibliostat
Several members of the staff have been engaged over the past several weeks in compiling the necessary information to support the submission of financial and activity data to the Library of Virginia. The submission is due November 18th. Failure to submit the information would result in the loss of State Aid for the library, which in FY2017 is $81,892.
Cuts at the Library of Virginia
In reducing the budget for the Commonwealth, Governor McAuliffe cut executive agency budgets by $73 million, requiring up to 26 layoffs, 15 of which are at the Library of Virginia (LVA). Although seriously impacting library services at LVA, the budget cut does not currently impact State Aid to public libraries.,
Patron Update
The current number of patrons is 11,489, an increase of 60 patrons over the previous report period and a 3.51% increase over the previous year. The average number of patrons and others visiting the library daily during the report period was 209.
Computer Training
The County Administrator requested that the library staff make its two-day basic computer training program available to county employees. The initial class was held November 3rd and 4th with a second session to take place on November 17-18. The classes are taught by Greg Lewis with assistance from Becky Barnhardt.
Programs
Youth library staff members planned and coordinated a lively, successful series of Halloween events in coordination with members of the Mathews Main Street Committee. Several activities took place in the library, including a scavenger hunt, followed by a Trick or Treat Walk on Main Street. Participation was calculated to be approximately 40 kids and half as many parents.
Coming Events
November will feature an author forum with the appearance on November 10th of the award-winning author, Robert Goolrick. On Thursday, November 17th, the library is sponsoring a bus trip to the Virginia Historical Society to view the exhibit, “The Private Jefferson.”
Thanksgiving leads directly into the holiday season at the library with Deck the Halls occurring on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27th. Several associated events are planned including storytime with Santa Thursday, December 6th and a cookie exchange featuring a presentation by the Richmond Times Dispatch food editor, Clare Osdene Schapiro, on Wednesday, December 14th. There are plans to coordinate a teen art exhibit exploring this year’s theme, “Color It Christmas” as well as an adult exhibit in the library of holiday art.