Thanks everyone for a great season of after school programs.  We had 20 to 25 kids at most of our programs, and we couldn't have done it without our volunteers.  In fact we are nothing without our volunteers.  Literally.  We are a 100% volunteer run library.  If you would like to see more programs like this in the spring, drop us a line at pittsfieldvtlibrary@gmail.com and let us know how you can help.  Can you show up to unlock the door every week?  Do you have a project or interest to share one week?  Are you good at organizing?  Join the competition for the 2009 Susie Martin Award.

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Roger Clark Memorial Library
Pittsfield, Vermont
Minutes of meeting 12/04/08

Called to order at 7:07 pm
Present:  Susie Martin, Marion Abrams, Sharon Mayer, April Hayden , Karen Waterworth
Nancy Blessing & Angelique Lee

Treasurer’s Report
Receipts                        $ 100.00 Donated in memory of Sara Flynn
Disbursed 375.64 Books
  74.41 Supplies
Account Balance 2987.64
 197.21 ½.com(Vonage)
Ranney CD 1036.76 Maturity date 12//04/08
Jutson CD 1036.70 Maturity date 12/10/08
(both to be renewed and interest deposited in ½.com account)
AEF Savings  642.20
Cash on hand    23.55

Nancy extended thanks to Angelique & family for massive effort and accomplishment during recent library work day.
Signage discussed.
Marion to follow up on previously  cleared by select board plan to place two signs on green to  heighten awareness of library presence.
Plexiglas cover suggested for bulletin board on front of building.
New signs on books shelves created by Angelique & Sharon noted and Sharon volunteered to
improve same with Velcro .
After school programming discussed.
In ‘09, Angelique will strive to provide programming for students in grade 5 and up.
Any volunteer wishing to carry on programming for younger children encouraged to step forward.
Tracy and Eunice mentioned as individuals who had expressed interest in providing programming.
Participation in The Big Read sponsored by The Vermont Humanities Council discussed. This year’s book selection is Fahrenheit 45, 10 free books available to participating libraries.
Library volunteers encouraged to  attend the Women’s Alliance Dinner at the Swiss Farm on December 10th as the Trustees will at that time present an award  to one deserving library volunteer.
Game night discussed.  Hope to expand appeal to the adult community expressed.   Timing and child care discussed; a Cabin Fever February Pot Luck Game Night suggested.  Karen likely to follow up on plan.
Nancy Blessing  indicated continued  exploration of Listen Up Vermont downloadable books and plans to  keep us informed.
Quarterly work days slated for January 11th, April 5th, July 12th & October 18th in the coming year.
Karen asked to write a letter to library users explaining purpose of registration and issuance of new library cards.
Thank you notes sent to Saskia Hagengroom and the Hayden family for presenting after school programs.
Decision made to again request $940.00 from town budget in 2009
Angelique plans to write Turrell grant by February 1st due date
Next Trustee Meeting scheduled for Sunday, January 11,2009, 12-1:00pm.  Followed by the aforementioned workday.

Minutes submitted by Karen Waterworth

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DSCN2791

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Roger Clark Memorial Library
Pittsfield Vermont
Meeting Minutes
9/5/08

Present:  Susie Martin, Marion Abrams, Sharon Mayer, Karen Waterworth, Angelique Lee

Financial Report by Susie Martin:
$148.00  spent
25.00 donation
$94.00 received from town
Bank balance $3908.01
Half.com account 36.05
Ranney Justin CD $1000.00
AEF savings 641.80

Old Business
All present encouraged to sign up for September shifts which total only nine for the month.  Library was short staffed in August.  Schedule can be checked at http://tinyurl.com/2ave4j

Volunteer needed to lead the way to utilization of www.listenupvermont.org, the online collection of audio books.  Number 333 can be used for tutorial.
Volunteers recruited for book sale at the Bazaar on September 27th.  Set up to start at 9am and breakdown likely around 3pm.  Sign up sheet to be circulated online.

New Business
Sandy Begin previously expressed desire to step down as trustee.. Appropriate replacements discussed.   Marion  will recruit some lucky individual
All present agreed to change meeting time to 7:00 pm starting in October.
After school program slated to resume on Tuesday afternoons starting in November.  Volunteers needed for organization and presentations. Possible  candidates discussed.  Interested individuals encouraged to sep forward.
Library  trustees voiced desire to increase adult appeal. .  Adult programming discussed.  Cooking demonstrations suggested by Sharon.
Sharon looks forward to meeting with teen advisory group.  Meeting tentatively slated for November.  Focus of group discussed.  Teens pioneering RCML access to online audio books discussed.
Purchase of MP3 players  for patron use  in conjunction with  Listen Up Vermont program discussed.
Pumpkin carving planned for afternoon of October 28th.   Time, source of pumpkins and volunteers to be determined.  It is hoped that in addition to volunteer supervisors, teens will help younger children with activity.
Sharon offered to distribute books to Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween.
Possibility of November fundraising dinner and award ceremony discussed.
Halloween book give away discussed.
Flyer listing  fall and winter event to be complied by mid October.

Scheduled upcoming events
Doug Lewis Sept 11th 6pm-7pm
Book Sale at Bazaar Sept 27th
Book Club Sept 30th 6:30pm

Submitted by Karen Waterworth

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Roger Clark Memorial Library Minutes 8/7/08
Present – Marion, April (secretary), Susie, Sharon, Nancy, Angelique

Treasurer’s report:  Checking balance - $3091.05.  half.com (telephone) account - $55.35.  Ranney/Jutson CDs -  $1000 each.  AEF savings - $641.80.  We received a donation of $100 for our summer programs.

Upcoming events:
8/24 – last summer picnic/scavenger hunt/movie (will check with Becca on scavenger hunt)
9/2 – mushroom walk at 4pm
9/4 – library meeting at 6:30
9/27 – book sale at town bazaar
9/30 – book club at 6:30

Turrell grant:  Angelique reported that the next deadline is in Feb. and the process can be done online.  What are our needs for Fall 09/Spring 2010?  We should definitely ask for book money, but what about the after-school program?  We need someone to head this up the year after next as Angelique will not be able to commit.

Listen Up VT:  We are looking for someone to run this program, Nancy will review information about this.  We paid membership toward this and need to begin training staff and offering to community.  Maybe purchase MP3 players to circulate?

Monthly display:  Ray Rice is on board for August.

Cataloging:  Susie is weeding the card catalog so that we can add new ones.  We file by title and author.  New cards need to be sorted into categories (such as adult fiction, easy reader, etc.), then alphabetized by author and title.  Author cards can go in drawers; title cards are not cleaned out yet.

Book sale is 9/27.  Be ready to volunteer!

We have a lot of new juvenile books from Turrell Grant – spread the word!

Privacy compliance:  Per State of VT, we need to develop a new circulation policy – all patrons need to be assigned a number, rather than using name to check out books.

Language program:  Sue would be willing to teach Korean if there is interest.  John could also teach Chinese twice a week!  We don’t have a library person who can host on a regular basis at this point.  Perhaps we can fold this into the after-school program?  We will check with Angelique and Joyce.  Another thought was that we could offer adult cooking/language classes?

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Roger Clark Memorial Library Meeting Minutes 6/5/08

Attending:  April Hayden (Trustee & secretary), Marion Abrams (trustee Chair), Susie Martin (Trustee & treasurer), Karen Waterworth (trustee & Secretary), nancy Blessing (volunteer), Sharon Mayer (volunteer), Angelique Lee (volunteer)

Treasurer’s Report:
Half.com $94.08, R & J CDs $1,000 each, Checking ending balance $4,262.41, AEF CD $641.53.

Planning of Summer events:
Picnics will be held June 29 (Karen), July 20 (Kelly), and August 24 (Nancy).  Special events/neighborhood games will be held during picnic.

Saturday story time will be held during July and August from 9:30-10:30 starting July 12.  Library will be open from 9-11.

We now have a movie license.  Nancy will lend us “A Bug’s Life”; Courtney- projector?; Marion – speakers.

Jason will lead a mushroom walk in July – if weather has been rainy enough.

Greg Lobella will do a “parachute tutorial” with any interested parties, Sharon will pick up Parachute, and Nancy will look for her book on games.

Reading incentive program – We’ll give bug stickers for visits to the library – we will submit proposal to Greg for Picarellos’ Pizza certificates!

TAG – Teen Advisory Group – proposed a movie and pizza night and maybe a sleepover?

Adult programs – There were seven who attended the retirement program.  There was some discussion about community interest in adult events – perhaps we will wait until fall.

Mailing – Angelique will coordinate and design but will need help with putting together.

The Killington Library is hosting a resort librarian meeting.  Anyone interested in attending?  No one was able.

The first set of new Ingram books are here – primarily junior fiction.

Listen Up VT – we need to get trained for this and find out more about passwords.

Do we want to get a dry erase board to feature/highlight upcoming events?  Tabled for now.

Library Trustee Meeting Minutes (continued)

It was decided that the Book Club will not meet during the summer months, but will resume sometime in September.  Regular host, Sharon Mayer, encourages members to read the next selection, Twenty Chickens For A Saddle by Robyn Scott, at their leisure and be prepared to discuss it in the fall.

Angelique Lee offered to take on the task of finding a suitable sofa for readers with funds from the Turrell Grant as previously decided.

July 12th was chosen as the start date for this summer’s Saturday morning Story Hour.  The library will be open from 9 to 11 for story hour and a related arts & crafts project suitable for  preschool aged children.   A variety of library enthusiasts are encouraged to assume responsibility for hosting at least one of these sessions.

It was mentioned that the Roger Clark Memorial Library was largely featured in a documentary film about the Cliff Grant Children’s Literacy Foundation.

A note was written to thank Mr. Skrobak for his retirement planning presentation on May 28th.

The meeting was adjourned by 8:30 pm 

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A group of 10 volunteers showed up Sunday for our second library work day.  We moved boxes, cataloged books, weeded shelves, set up new displays, updated spine tags, and generally spruced up books.  Stop by, we add new books every week. 

We have lots of plans for the summer including picnics, presentations, outdoor games, a big summer reading kick off and more.  Our second Saturday of the month music and stories for toddlers will continue, and we'll start our Special Saturdays up again too.  Check back here for details.

Have you noticed there are no photos lately?  My camera's broken, I should have it back in a few weeks.

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Library board & volunteer meeting notes 2.7.09

attending: Susan Davidson (trustee & secretary), Susie Martin (trustee), Sandy Begin (trustee), Kelly Zieggler (volunteer).

Treasurer’s Report:
Receipts:    $   51.00 Gingerbread house raffle
           250.00 Winnie Bell grant
         3100.00 Turrell grant
Disbursements:    $182.82 Postage
                40.00 Post office box
                65.55 Books
                16.78 Miscellaneous/supplies
                63.75 After school program
              316.00 After school program
                50.00 Green Mtn Library Conference
Balance: $5665.63

Half.com account
Beginning:    $ 112.29
        + 109.25 CD interest
        -    44.98 Vonage
Balance:    $ 176.56

A.E.F. CD: $1197.97
Ranney CD: $1000.00
Jutson CD: $1000.00

Old Business
Susan hasn’t heard from the Rural Legal people. She’ll be looking for a phone number for contact.

New Business
Money available to spend thru grants:
$1K juvenile fiction & non fiction books
$500 kid’s books
$250 kid’s periodicals
Also want to purchase new adult books, but don’t have grant $ for that. What do we want to spend from our funds for adult books, and in what time cycle?
Need to find out what Ingram charges to prep books for library, with mylar and cataloging.
Susie and Marion to go over numbers to see how much we can spend quarterly for the year for adult books. Look at wishlists on library website created by April Hayden and Angelique to give feedback or add books.
Must purchase kid’s periodicals for Winnie Bell grant fulfillment. $250 to spend. Suggestions: Highlights 5; Ranger Rick; Nickelodeon

Programs
Sat. 2.9: James Mee for music with kids. Then Susie Smollen will pick up after that.
Table discussion on Jan Reynolds until next month, when April can describe it. Possibly it’s a summer picnic plan.
VT Arts Council puzzle program: too large of a project for library to take on at this time

T-shirt
Angelique has done a beautiful design for t-shirt. Think about selling the t-shirts at the autumn bazaar.

Adopt a display
Ideas: knitting; aviation; electricity; Hardy Boys;
Request books from Midstate Libraries
Can purchase $50 of new books for display
Can donate or loan books
Not a huge commitment, so it’s a good way to get people involved in library

Trustee possibilities for one-year term discussed, beginning in March

Note from Angelique
Kelly and Steph are helping to mylar collection. They’re almost done.
Bunch of new books from Midstate Libraries and state library that need to be cataloged. Much cataloging to be done.
Need to add spine labels to books that have lost them.
We have $300 from Turrell grant to buy seating for children’s area: beanbag chairs.
Message board is here!
Feel free to put books out for display, rotating as you want.

Announcements
Thanks to Johnnie Goldfish. He’s done a great job promoting library events.
New record-keeping procedure in white binder.

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Meeting notes 8.2.07

Present: Marion Abrams, Susan Davidson, Angelique Lee, Susie Martin, Kelly Ziegler, Courtney DeSena, April Hayden

Treasurer’s report:
$25 donation
$120.29 expenses
1863.82 current balance

New $21 donation

Future meeting times:
1st Thurs of ea month 6:30 pm
Next mtg 9.6

Next picnic / last picnic: 8.26
We will have donated flatbread pizza again with pot luck for salads drinks and deserts.
Drinks, salads, desserts also assigned to library volunteers
Angelique looking into live music (Pea Pickers)

Bazaar activities for the library, for fundraising and public relations
    Book sale
    Popcorn with popcorn machine
Marion has 10 x 10 tent that we’ll use
Prepublicity: posters and press releases
Signage for tent

Angelique: Report on grant apps and status
See Grant Application Status Report 8.1.07 below

Joyce offered to do fundraising dinner for library. $16 pp / $9 pp to library. Looking at mid-September date.

Announcements
re. Tuesday after school program – from Joyce:
“I am working on the tuesday thing and if anyone has any ideas or would like to donate their time and a project for the day I would love any input.  I will let you know as soon as I have a schedule of things and people to set this up.”

-Book club meeting  6:30 pm August 30th

-Kids program, spread the word.  Saturdays 9:30am.

-Youth volunteers.  Know Anyone who would like to participate?  Contact April.

-Letters have been sent to Selectboard and Historical Society.  They are in the notebook.

-Please catalog books during your shift.  Instructions will be in the “notes” binder.

- We need donations for sale and collection.

Weeding protocol defined
    Books that haven’t gone out in 5 years: LOTS in current collection
    Graph as in United Way thermometer showing new books coming into the library

Discussion on signage for the front of the library

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Grant Application Status Report – August 1, 2007

APPLICATIONS COMPLETED

DUC (Books Received)
Online form filled out and art books received – Thank you April!

Turrell Fund (Awaiting Decision)
Application sent in July 24, 2007
Funds requested for children's and juvenile books and extensive programming: $3100
Program cost to RCML: $200 if approved

Pathways Within, Inc.: Books For Kids (Approved)
Application sent in July 24, 2007
They are shipping us 50 children's softcover storybooks.
Program cost to RCML: $30 to defray shipping and handling

Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) (Awaiting Decision)
Application sent in July 12, 2007
Matching book grant of 3-to-1 to our $350 of RAISED funds

APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS

Libri Foundation
Matching book grant of 2-to-1 to our $350 of RAISED funds
Application DUE August 15, January 15 or April 15

Pathways Within, Inc: Bi-Annual Book Grant
Roads to Reading Initiative
Application DUE October 15
Grant of 100+ books
Program cost to RCML: $75 to defray shipping and handling

POTENTIAL GRANTS

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
DUE September 15 - $500 for unique art or creativity programming – IDEAS ANYONE??

Vermont Arts Council
Programming, matching funds

Paul Post Fund
Programming for young adults - DUE June 1

Vermont Humanities Council
Programming, matching funds or literacy program

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Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

After a succesful first book club meeting we have chosen our next book.  It is Eat, Pray, Love.  We are working with a local bookstore to arrange a discount and will keep you posted.  If you wanted to join but couldn't make the first meeting, please join us this time around.  The meeting will be April 26th at 6:30 in the library.

As usual the library will be open Tuesday 3 to 5 and Thursday 5 to 7.
Please come see us and encourage the volunteers.

We had another successful game night (see the photo by Mo below,) stay tuned for more dates.

Library volunteer George Simpson has big plans for a library fundraiser this summer.  He says: There is a dictionary somewhere that next to the word “Americana” shows a picture of the Pittsfield Village Green. What better location to show off the American Kinetic Art of the Automobile. We have has begun the planning and organization of a Cruise Show on the Green for this summer to raise funds for The Roger Clark Library of Pittsfield. We hope to invite automotive enthusiasts from throughout Vermont to show off their pride and joy for the benefit of our town library and its future. The general public will be invited to view these classic cars and trucks, visit our town and contribute to the future of Pittsfield with the Roger Clark Library. Stay close to this site for more details, including the date, as they develop. We hope to grow this into a premier event and it all starts this summer.  If you have any suggestions, as this is our first show, or comments, drop George a line at geonorth2@verizon.net.

PittsfieldGames2

You can view the Pittsfield Library's entire collection of books on tape here.

You can check Pittsfield Library's volunteer schedule here.

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