Minutes of the Trustees' February 2017 Meeting

February 17, 2017

Minutes for Feb. 13, 2017



Present: Cindy Binzen, Curt Albee, Rachel Kurland, Marty Frank, Rebecca Seibel, Carol Wilson, Miriam Newman, David Webb (for the Friends)


Minutes of the January meeting were approved.


Librarian’s Report: Rebecca reported that scanning capability has been added to the printer and the monitor of one of the public access computers has been replaced and upgraded. Bob Bauer will be holding a meditation group on Tuesday evenings. Paperwork has been submitted to the Secretary of State’s office to keep the library in good graces with the state. An application for a new round of grant money has been submitted to the Turrell Foundation although  Rebecca cautioned that receiving approval may be more difficult because of the organization’s current emphasis on supporting programs that can provide quantifiable evidence of the benefits of whatever programming is being supported. Rebecca will be away on vacation from March 27 to April 3.


Friends Report: David reported that the Friends have added two new members to its board — Kemba Russell and Mary Newman. The Friends’ next meeting is May 3.


Treasurer’s Report: Rachel reported that the library is in good financial shape and distributed the most recent budgetary statement.


Building Use Policy: The recent request by a town resident to leave buttons to be distributed to people planning to attend a recent demonstration in Montpelier — one rejected because a majority of the board thought it was in conflict with the library’s policy of not making the library available for partisan purposes — raised questions about whether that policy should be changed. Miriam believes the current policy, which makes the building available to Strafford residents and organizations for noncommercial and nonpartisan purposes, is in conflict with the the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights. The ALA policy "affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas,” that they should provide "materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues,” and that "materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”


The board focused on two applications of the building use policy — 1. who can use the building and for what purposes; and 2. what sort of literature and information should be allowed to be distributed at the library.


Research by Miriam and Rebecca indicates some variation among libraries, but that most allow local nonprofit organizations to use their buildings for noncommercial purposes, including political ones, with the stipulation that the library is not acting as sponsor. Many libraries allow the distribution of political and advocacy literature and information, but some draw the line at activities that cross the line into solicitation (such as leaving petitions in a library).


The board reached a consensus that the library’s building use policy should be brought into conformance with the ALA’s recommendations and that the library should make itself available for all uses, except commercial ones. Space for the distribution of literature can be provided in the front entrance, either where the old card catalogue now sits unused or near where books are displayed for sale. 


Next meeting will be March 13.


Submitted by Marty Frank


 

MM&HL Investment Committee minutes 1/10/17

January 17, 2017

Morrill Memorial and Harris Library Investment Committee

Minutes of January 10, 2017 Meeting

 

Present:  Cindy Stableford, Betsy Ruml, John Hawkins, Gretchen Rittenhouse

Absent:  Rachel Kurland

 

Minutes of May 17, 2016 approved.

 

Cindy reported for the Friends:

1.     The Friends of the Library made a $1,000 annual contribution to the endowment.  Cindy reported that the Friends have donated $5,300 to the endowment since 2011.

2.     Trustees donated $200.

3.  ...


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January 2017 Minutes of Trustees Meeting

January 14, 2017

Minutes for Jan. 9, 2017



Present: Cindy Binzen, Curt Albee, Rachel Kurland, Marty Frank, Rebecca Seibel, Carol Wilson, Miriam Newman, Davi...


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January 2017 Trustee Meeting Agenda

January 5, 2017

Morrill Memorial and Harris Library Board of Trustees Meeting

January 9, 2017, 7:00 PM

Agenda

Any items to add or remove?

Secretary's Report

* Review and approve minutes from December meeting

Librarian's Report

* Afterschool program update

* Scanner

* Computer monitor update

Friends' Report

Treasurer’s Report

* Review profit and loss statement

Other business

*Secretary of State governance registration (EOY)

January Monthly Duties

* Prepare narra...


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December 2016 Minutes

December 16, 2016

Minutes for Dec. 12, 2016



Present: Cindy Binzen, Curt Albee, Rachel Kurland, Marty Frank, Rebecca Seibel


Minutes of the November meeting ...


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December 2016 Trustees Meeting

December 2, 2016

Morrill Memorial and Harris Library Board of Trustees Meeting

December 12, 2016, 7:00 PM

Agenda

Any items to add or remove?

Secretary's Report

* Review and approve minutes from November meeting

Librarian's Report

* Afterschool program update

* Senior lunch presentation

* Vacation coverage - Emily

* Appeals Letter donations

* Short Takes for Trustees - 10 short videos (8-10 minutes each). Topics explain the basics, such as what it means to be a Trustee (di...


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Minutes for Nov. 14, 2016

December 2, 2016

Minutes for Nov. 14, 2016



Present: Cindy Binzen, Miriam Newman, Carol Wilson, Curt Albee, Rachel Kurland, Marty Frank, David Webb (for the Friends), Rebecca Seibel


Minutes of the October meeting were approved.


Librarian’s Report: Rebecca said the after-school program is still going well, averaging between 14 and 16 kids. The library will sponsor a special program for seniors about financial safety and end-of-life decisions, to be presented by Tori Lloyd at senior lunch on Nov. 3...


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Minutes for Oct. 17, 2016

October 22, 2016

Present: Cindy Binzen, Miriam Newman, Carol Wilson, Curt Albee, Marty Frank, Rebecca Seibel

Minutes of the September meeting were approved.

Librarian’s Report: Rebecca reported that the after-school program is going well. Between 12 and 16 kids are regularly attending. Fortunately, Isabel has been helping. Emily Z. attended a program at the Montshire about STEM activities and said she left with some promising ideas for inexpensive programs.

Rebecca said she missed the most recent de...


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October 17, 2016 Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda

October 14, 2016

Morrill Memorial and Harris Library Board of Trustees Meeting

October 17, 2016, 7:30 PM

Agenda

Any items to add or remove?

Secretary's Report

* Review and approve minutes from September meeting

Librarian's Report

* Afterschool program update

* Vacation coverage

Friends' Report

* Holiday Sale

Treasurer’s Report

* Review profit and loss statement

* Insurance

Other business

* Building maintanence

* Steps and brick repointing

* Tree removal

O...


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Minutes of September 2016 Trustees Meeting

October 2, 2016

Minutes for September 12, 2016



Present: Cindy Binzen, Miriam Newman, Carol Wilson, Curt Albee, Rachel Kurland, Marty Frank, David Webb, Rebecca Seibel


Minutes of the July meeting were approved.


Librarian’s Report: The summer programming has come to an end; 30 children maintained  reading logs, and 27 received gift certificates. Attendance on Monday evenings was down but the program went well overall.


The after-school program will begin Sept. 22 — a little later than usual bec...


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Trustees of the Morrill Memorial & Harris Library


The Board of Trustees meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at the library.

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