I.        Call to order

Robert Dilts called the meeting to order at 5:00pm.

 

    II.        Roll call

The following board members were present: Robert Dilts, LeeAnn Podruch, Carolyn Siccama, Marleen Moore, Michele O’Brien  Library Director: Kip Roberson.

Friends of the Library Liaison: Cathy Townsend

Rob Geiszler from the Department of Libraries.

 

 

Rob provided the Board of Trustees with an introduction to and a description of four primary areas that are a focus for board members.

 

These four areas include:

1. Advocacy – focuses on our mission in the community.

2. Fund raising &financial management.  

3. Governance – Examples would be actions such as setting policy, planning and overseeing the broad operation of the library. Rob highlighted the importance of liability issues specifically related to existing policy. He suggested that we have and/or revisit our policies on unattended child(ren), confidentiality of patron records, intellectual freedom, collection development, donations, monetary gifts, and investments for endowments.

4. Hiring and interacting w/ director.

 

Rob provided the board with numerous handouts. He gave out a booklet titled: The small but powerful guide to winning big support for your rural library. Additional handouts included:

·         Excerpt from The successful library trustee handbook from ALA.

·         Who should handle it?

·         Online Resources for Boards

·         Responsibilities of Trustees/ Responsibility of Librarians

·         A simple checklist for trustees

·         Personal assessment for library trustees

·         Resources for VT library Trustees and Advocates 

 

Marleen presented the Treasurer’s report.

 

Kip provided the board with his monthly librarians report.

 

Kip shared a copy of the budget. Based on our conversation and discussion of the budget, Kip will update it and email it to the board for final review. Bob has asked that once each member of the board reviews the updated budget that we email Kip with our signoff and approval.

The board agreed that we would like to continue our tradition of recognizing our library volunteers with a holiday gift. We will purchase a gift bag from the Shelburne Country Store for each of our volunteers.  

 

Kip asked the board to consider closing the library on May 25, 2010 so that all of the staff could have an opportunity to attend the Vermont Library Conference. It was agreed that we will put this on the agenda for our December meeting and will talk further about this.  

 

December: Tuesday December 8, 2009 at 5:00pm

 

Meeting adjourned at 7pm. LeeAnn moved to end the meeting and Carolyn seconded the motion.

 

Minutes submitted by:  Carolyn Siccama