05-09-2017 Library Board Meeting

Board of Trustees Meeting
Fairlee Library
Tuesday May 9th, 2017

Call to order was at 7:10 by Chair Joel Adamson

In attendance: Cyrie Lange, Samantha Hickman, Crystal Champagne, Joel Adamson, Charlotte Williams. Guest:  Contractor Tim Danen

1) Windows facing the street
Tim reported on his proposal for fixing up the front windows: He would remove the panes of glass in the existing wood frame and replace them with Harvey Thermopane windows at an estimated cost of $3K for the windows themselves. Total for the full job including labor would be about $10K-$12K. Siding would be additional. They will try to put in the window units without damaging the vinyl siding.

We have $3K set aside for library window work this year. In addition, we do have funds available to do the full job this year.

Cyrie brought pictures showing how the front would look with straight windows and with and without doorway. We took a look at the windows from the inside, and Tim responded this would be more costly than putting new panes in the existing panes, due to additional labor time. Also, there is local support for keeping the outside appearance of the building as it is now.

We might have to close the library for a couple of weeks during the window work. Samantha will ask Tim.

Starting May 22nd the Selectboard will meet Monday evenings in the library during Town Hall renovation. We will try to get on the Agenda the 22nd (changed to June 5th due to scheduling conflict) to let them know what we plan to do:
~$4000 in Building Repairs line item.
Capital budget “Library Facility” – $5982
$5950.19 in line item for things that go overbudget.

2) Parking issue: Samurai Soul Food needs more parking area. Crystal suggested making head-in parking under the tree, using line markers on the gravel. Maybe Samurai could give some kind of donation to help with that. Samantha will speak with the owner. It would be important to reserve spaces for Library patrons.

3) Librarian’s Report: Suzanne Stone will work park-time (there is a substitute librarian line item in the budget) to cover Samantha’s time off for her children’s baseball games and vacation. Weeding of books: Better World Books is reimbursing us with some credit to use for new book purchases, plus 5% in cash goes to Friends of Library. We have been weeding out some nonfiction but will switch to fiction now as more space is desperately needed, and fiction titles may sell better on July 4th.

Samantha would like to buy three computers from Staples, Trustees approved.

Vermont Reads community book this year is Brown Girl Dreaming with discussions on May 25th and June 7th at Samuel Morey.

Preschool is coming for Story Time. Kindergarten plans to visit soon,

Fairlee Gardeners/community garden still in discussion.

Samantha listed her upcoming events.

4) Next Trustees Meeting: Tuesday June 6th at 7 PM
5) Previous minutes were approved.

Adjournment was at 8:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Charlotte Williams
Secretary/Treasurer