We will be closed December 25th and 27th and January 1st. We will re open with our usual hours Thursday January 3rd (Tuedays 3 to 5 and Thursdays 5 to 7.) Our spring schedule of activities for kids and adults is looking very full. Game nights, after school programs, music, chinese, book club, e mail classes and more. Keep checking our programs page for more information.
Roger Clark Memorial Library
Pittsfield Vermont
Meeting Minutes 12/6/07
Attending: Susie Martin (Trustee & treasurer), April Hayden (trustee), Angelique Lee (trustee), Marion Abrams (Trustee chair & acting secretary).
Mission statement: To be a multi generation community center fostering traditional, cultural and technological literacy. Was unanimously approved
Marion and Angelique reported on their meeting with Joyce to plan the Tuesday after school program.
April will research books from mid state library on the theme of each session. Marion will send her a schedule of activities
It was decided to schedule a work day January 13th at 1:00 to clear weeded books from the shelves, pull cards, catalog books etc... We need boxes for this.
Decided to do another town wide mailing to be sent out early January. We will list Tuesday program schedule, the Saturday music program and Chinese, book club, e mail classes, game nights etc... We will emphasize that the library is not just for kids, there are new books and activities for adults too.
Once we have a phone we will promote one on one e mail classes during open hours Thursday nights. People can call to make an appointment. We will need volunteer tutors for this and can provide them with information on teaching seniors and absolute beginners.
It was decided (after much discussion and a brief sword fight) that we will try to schedule weekend programs on Saturdays (music, Chinese and summer story and craft) so that people will get used to coming to the library Saturdays. We will aim to start the music educator Feb 14th and continue the second Saturday of every month for 6 months.
Susan Davidson's term as a trustee will expire at Town Meeting. She does not want to continue. If April takes her place that leaves a one year term to be filled. We discussed a few ideas. Watch out, it could be you!
We would like to start an adopt a monthly display program to start in January. We will try to find one family, person, or group to create a display each month. They can pick any theme they like (could be seasonal like valentines day or spring, could be something of interest like cooking, hiking, biking, photography, picture books....). We will write out procedures to clarify, but basically the group chooses several books some from the shelves, to be ordered from mid sate, or to be donated by the group, AND some to be purchased with a small budget to purchase a few books each month. This way we'll have a new display, and our collection will grow representing the interests of our community. Marion will write up structure, Angelique will contact people for the first month.
Announcements
-We will host game nights or afternoons this winter. Karen Waterworth and Kelly Zieggler have agreed to run this. They are thinking 4pm last Sunday of the month starting December or January.
-Thank you Susie for taking on thank you notes.
-Since there will be a community dinner as part of the after school program we will not do a Chinese new year party.
-New book club date January 10th 6:30pm.
-As you can see we need lots of help. Please talk up library programs and recruit volunteers to help.
The grant will pay for a musical educator to provide monthly programs for small children, $500 of early reader and picture books, $1,000 of juvenile fiction, non-fiction and biography, comfortable chairs for the kids area, an outdoor A-frame sign with changeable letters, and craft supplies for our Tuesday and Saturday programs.
Our Tuesday program will continue through December 4th (and will start again in the new year), two more Chinese sessions are scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 2nd 9:30am to 10:30 and Sunday, Dec. 8th 9:30am to 10:30. The book club book this month is "The Mammoth Cheese" meeting December 11th at 6:30pm (new members always welcome.) You can always find out about library and other local activities on our programs page (see link to the right.)
Last week kids in the after-school program painted their bowls. Here are a few photos.
Thanks Joyce for another great program, thanks Angelique for more great photos, thanks kids and parents for participating. Remember, information on activities can be found here or by clicking the PROGRAMS link on the right side of this page. Please note the last session of the year is Tuesday December 4th.
BOOK CLUB notice- the next book club meeting has been changed to December 11th at 6:30. The book is "The Mammoth Cheese." New members are always welcome. Join us for tea, cookies, discusssion and help us pick the next book.
Roger Clark Memorial Library
Pittsfield Vermont
Meeting Minutes 11/8/07
Attending: Marion Abrams (trustee chair), Susie Martin (trustee & treasurer), April Hayden (trustee), Angelique Lee (volunteer), Beth Sullivan (volunteer). Marion will act as secretary.
-Treasurers report
we received: additional $175 from the book sale
$50 donation by mail
$627 at the fund raising dinner
we spent: $24 CliF party
$34 gift certificates and thank you card
we have $3165.32
New Business
-Report from Beth on Senior Programming workshop.
We would like to reach out to seniors in our community. Beth attended a dept. of libraries workshop.
She brought materials and suggestions for activities for seniors in the library and outreach. Possible coordination with Carolyn Mayer librarian in Hancock. Possible coordination with Quintown center. Angelique will follow up with scheduling of free Rural Legal Education session on Elder Law. We will offer 1 on 1 e mail classes but will wait until we have a phone number to promote them so people can sign up. Beginning of the year we will do a town wide mailing emphasizing adult programs (game nights with cards, e mail classes, rural legal ed, book club).
-Should we get phone line with money from dinner? It would pay for 1 year of phone. (Note: Winnie Belle may also cover this). We made more money than anticipated with the book sale and dinner. We are in need of a phone line.
It was decided that we will use voip service like Vonage ($15/month) because of price and convenience. Approved by trustees assuming all technical issues work out. This will be helpful to have an outgoing message with schedules, to receive messages for sign ups, to list a contact number for press releases, and to make calls if necessary during after school program.
-Will we host game nights or afternoons this winter? Perhaps last Sunday of the month to follow up on Summer picnics.
We will discuss starting after the holidays at the next meeting and see if Kelly and Karen are interested in heading this up again.
-Should get a new sign? People driving by do not realize there is a library here. There is not outward sign that this is a library. Angelique made preliminary research on prices. Discussion of blue “traffic” signs for library at either end of green, a new sign for the P, a sign on the front railing that says “Library” and something permanent for the Library and community bulletin board. Marion will get traffic sign prices. Angelique will make diagram up with signs and sizes and bring that with final prices o next meeting. If we approve we can run this by the selectboard.
-Thank you notes. We have a long list of people who donated books that have not been thanked.
Susie Martin volunteered to catch up on Thank You notes for the library.
-Turrell Fund site visit November 19th. This is exciting because it means our application is being taken seriously. Since the library is closed that day it would be helpful to have a few people there who can explain how active the library is. If you would like to be there please contact Angelique to read the application. - April volunteered to help Angelique with cleaning.
-Can anyone return books to mid state? - Susie volunteered to do this.
-After school program. Check with Joyce to confirm that it ends on the 11th. The women's alliance will be refinishing the floor in the Town Hall.
Other ideas mentioned but put on hold for future meetings:
-I would like to start an adopt a month display program to start in January. Which shelf, anyone like to run this? (recruit people, schedule them, give them guidance).
-Chinese New year party? February or March. If we are interested bring ideas to next meeting.
Announcements
Book club meeting 6:30 pm November 27th.
Chinese for all ages
Sat Nov 10th 9:30am to 10:30am
Sundays Dec 2nd and 9th 9:30am to 10:30am
We had our first session of multi-age Chinese lessons this morning. They are aimed at young children, but all ages are welcome to participate. The class has lots of interaction and is great for any beginner. This week we had 9 kids ranging in age from 2 to 12 and 4 adults. Future Sessions:
Sat Nov 3rd 9:30am to 10:30am
Sat Nov 10th 9:30am to 10:30am
Take two weeks off....(Thanksgiving)
Sunday Dec 2nd 9:30am to 10:30am
Sun Dec 8th 9:30am to 10:30am
More about our other programs, including our after school program here.
Thanks everyone who showed up for a great evening at the Swiss Farm in to raise money for the Library. Roger, Joyce and a fantastic staff of volunteers made it a wonderful community party! Youth volunteers Cassi and Deja Lee were honored for their work which included cataloging books, helping with signs, and helping with our summer Saturday kids program. Susie Martin was honored with the creation of a new annual award, "The Susie Martin Library Volunteer of the Year Award." There was so much community support The Swiss Farm ran out of room to hold us all. Next year we may need to find a bigger room, but it will be hard to beat the food and the service.
Sharon, who handed out all the books Halloween night said:
"The children were very excited about choosing a "free" book. The parents were ecstatic that it wasn't candy. Many people said either "I didn't know this was here" or "I've never been in here before" or I haven't been here since I was a kid". I definitely think it could be the start of a tradition."
Angelique, a regular library volunteer heard similar reactions:
" We live on the green, and heard lots of great feedback from parents and kids about the Library's book giveaway. My own kids were thrilled with their books, which I know will last longer than the candy! "
This has been a great week for the library. Joyce and a few other parents organized a crowd of kids during the Tuesday after school program to carve jack o lanterns. These joined the pumpkins carved for the VMBA contest to decorate the Library and the Green . Next week kids in the after school program can learn to make miniature books. The after school program meets Tuesdays 3:30 to 5 for children 2nd grade and up (younger kids welcome with parents).
We had our last Saturday story and craft program of the summer. What a great turnout. About 10 kids from 1 to 12 (some watching, some helping, some participating). Lots of fun. Can't wait to start again after ski season.
As you probably know we got the after school program off with a bang. The new book party was a huge success, there are new photos added in this post. Stop by Tuesdays this fall from 3:30 (or whenever you get off the bus) to 5 for crafts and other activities for kids 2nd grade and up (younger kids welcome with parents.)
October 30th - Carve Jack - o - lanterns to decorate the green.
November 6th - Make mini books to decorate the Library's Christmas Tree for the Festival of Trees.
November 13th and 20th - Create and paint paper mache bowls ready to bring home for the holidays
November 27th - Check back here for details.
Can't wait to see everyone at out fund raising dinner this Friday November 2nd at 6pm at the Swiss Farm. If you haven't made a reservation yet, call Joyce at Swiss Farm 746-8341.
Halloween night please stop in during your trick or treating rounds for a surprise between 5 and 7:30pm.
Where do I begin. Thank you Angelique for securing the grant, April for snacks, Joyce for Library cards, Kelly for checking out books, Susie for holding down the fort, CLiF for donating the books, and of course our youth volunteers for all their help with set up and everything else.
If you want to see the library continue to host programs like this please make your reservation for our fund raising dinner at the Swiss Farm. It will be a great chance to visit with neighbors, enjoy good food, support the library, and honor the volunteers. Our goal is to be a multi generational center for our community promoting literacy. Cultural, technological and traditional literacy. Some ideas we are considering include basic e mail classes, a pen pal project with children in the Philippines whose library received our leftover book sale books, monthly themed book displays, Chinese Language classes for all age, and another series of family game nights. We have 100s of new books for Children and Adults, a new computer with high speed internet access, and we are still 100% volunteer run.
Call Joyce at the Swiss Farm 746-8341 to make a reservation.
