Minutes of the Meeting
Fitzwilliam Town Library Board of Trustees
6 January 2020
Present: Dick Goettle, Beth Lorenz, Trish Toomey, Pam Troccia and Library Director Kate Thomas
Beth Lorenz called the meeting to order at 5:45 PM in the Quick Meeting Room of the Library.
The Trustees reviewed and signed the Library Manifest and Spending-to-Date Expense Report.
The minutes of the December 9th meeting were reviewed and approved as submitted.
Kate Thomas presented her monthly report; circulation for the month of December was down 10% from last year. The number of programs presented for the year was 294 with total attendance of 2557. This was a bit higher than last year’s attendees of 2545. Discussion followed regarding the reason for the decrease. Online streaming of movies and television shows was thought to be one contributing factor. Kate will be researching other area libraries with similar populations to determine if this decreasing circulation is a trend that all face. Meredith will be planning a party that will celebrate the acquisition of a Nintendo Switch and making sure that flyers are sent to the school to make the children aware. The Switch can accommodate up to 4 people at a time, as well as several popular games. A Chinese New Year’s party for all ages is being planned for Sat. Jan 25th. The Children’s programs continue with Book Group, Storytime and after school programs as well as an evening preschool on Thursdays for Little Einsteins.
Dick Goettle discussed the results of the CIP Committee meeting of 12/12. The Committee recommended that a warrant article be put up, in the amount of $20,000.00, to be used for the repairs to the North side of the building, the porch and possibly the fence. The Trustees discussed gathering pictures of the needed repairs and putting a display together to inform patrons and other people of the current condition of the building. Trish Toomey will be getting three quotes for work on the front porch to add to the quotes already given for the work needed on the North side. Selectman Dan Baker has started cutting the wood for the new fence and, once completed, the Trustees will be organizing a “Tom Sawyer Day” to paint or stain the pickets before installation.
The Locke Collection Subcommittee reported on the examination of the Hawaiian artifacts at the Township Office. The overall condition of the artifacts was found to be good. Discussions on where and how to display the items determined that more research is needed to be sure they are displayed with the proper lighting and temperature conditions so that some of the more delicate items will not deteriorate.
Kate reported that the Friends of the Library have received over $4,000.00 in donations from their annual pledge campaign, which is the most raised to date. She also informed the Trustees that Ann McEntee will be leaving the Board at the end of March and that she has asked Robin Marra to fill that vacancy.
The Trustees discussed the need to put together a schedule of duties and a time line for when those duties need to be completed throughout the year.
The next Trustee meeting has been scheduled for Monday, February 3rd at 5:45 p.m.
Beth put forth a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Dick. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela J. Troccia
Trustee