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Minutes
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Grafton
Public Library Trustees Meeting Minutes DRAFT
January
19, 2017 6:00PM
Attending: Bob Donald, Lucia Corwin, Andrea Dunmire, and librarian Michelle Dufort
Bob
Donald called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Public
comment: No public in attendance
The
minutes of the December 15th meeting were read and approved
Librarian’s Report
Suzanne
Welch is reporting on Grafton organizations to the Windham Foundation Trustees,
and spoke with Michelle for this purpose on January 13.
Chappy Matt’s monthly investment discussion group
has been going well with good attendance.
The
automation project is almost done! Only
local history books and older classics without ISBN numbers remain.
Treasurer’s Report
The
updated financial reports were distributed and discussed. The GPL is effectively on or below expense
budget for the fiscal year. The Annual
Appeal has received 97% of the budgeted amounts to date.
Endowment
reports from TIAA-CREF were also distributed.
The combined endowment – main and Jerry Stevens Fund – totals slightly
over $1 million.
A
discussion ensued about future annual appeal letters. Lucia reported on talks she has had with some
residents who feel the library doesn’t need their support because the library
‘has so much money in its Endowment.’
Like any endowment the GPL one can only take a limited amount out of
principal each year if it hopes to be sustained over time, much like an
individual 401(k) balance. The endowment
already supplies about 2/3 of the GPL budget.
Tax support from the Town is de Minimis.
Michelle stated forcefully that she feels we all need a coherent story
of why the library continues to need public support, one that all Trustees can
emphasize in all of their local discussions with residents.
The
need for a revised GPL Strategic Plan came up.
Lucia noted that some time ago she and Deborah attended an excellent
training seminar on developing library strategic plans. It was agreed to ask both to look over their
notes from that session, and the subject would be an agenda item at the
February meeting. In discussion, it was
felt that the Board should begin to address this in the spring, with a limited
number of focused meetings with public input.
The
next Board meeting will be on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 6 pm.
The
meeting adjoined at 6:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted.
Bob
Donald