LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022

OBSERVER CORPS REPORT 2022

In spite of the difficulties this second year of Covid has posed for the Falmouth Public Library and its branches in East and North Falmouth,  2021 has been an impressively successful year.  It has also been a year of important mandated milestones, significant innovations,  important projects completed, and exciting new plans. 

 

Beginning at the end of 2021, the agenda for each monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees has begun with the Falmouth Public Library mission statement:  The Falmouth Public Library engages and empowers the community through its programs, services, and collections that inform, educate and entertain.    The dedicated work of the Trustees, Library Director Linda Collins and  Assistant Director Jennifer Woodward over this year surely reflects  their adherence to the mission.  The current 2021-2022 officers of the Board of Trustees are:  Judith Fenwick, chair; Sylvia Szulkin vice-chair, Jennifer Alai, Secretary, Kathy Elder, Treasurer; Kathy Mount and Lindsay Hopewood, Buildings and Grounds;  and new Board member Lucy Helfrich.

 

Among the mandated milestones met this year were the following:

  • creation of the 2021-22 Falmouth Public Library and Board of Trustees budgets
  • creation of a new Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2022-2027
  • first formalTrustee evaluation of Linda Collins, FPL Director since 2017

Other important achievements :

  • seamlessly moving back and forth from limiting access to the libraries, to partial admission to check out materials, to limited in-person, socially distanced access,  to back to more restricted access as the omicron variant appeared.  Curbside delivery of requested materials had begun even bofore Covid first struck.   Trustee meetings moved from zoom to in person to back to zoom over the course of the year.
  • installation of  an OWL camera and enhanced audio to support remote participation at meetings
  • providing more picnic tables on the lawn during the summer months for public use
  • in-person meetings for the trustees, the head librarians, and interested observers at the East Falmouth and North Falmouth libraries, hosted by librarian Meg Borden who is head of the staffs for both who work as one department unit.  These visits helped all see and understand the crucial future needs of the two branches and to appreciate the innovative programs each offers its community.
  • receipt of a charitable bequest of $525,000 with no strings attached
  • successful August and December holiday book sales, thanks to the Friends of the Library which garnered $58,000 and $6000, each. 
  • continuing to honor special requests for use of the Library lawn for public functions
  • Air purifier added to the Friends Room where donated books are culled for potential sale
  • the placement on the Library lawn of the Air Foil sculpture  after the long-term efforts of
  • Trustee Kathy Mount  and Linda Collins to make re-location a reality 

Significant innovations:

  • Planning the creation of a Tween Room (for  8-12 year olds) adjacent to the Children’s Room and securing necessary funding ($23K)  from  the following:  Board of  Trustees $10K, Support Fund $10K and Friends $5K 
  • Trustee Budget for  2022 to include funding for more Portuguese language books for children, for a Feasibility Study for a new East Falmouth library building (cost $20K) and  line-item funding ($1000) for its Outreach and special Programs. The total Trustee budget will increase from $29K to $54K and will also include additional professional development funding for library staff.
  • hiring of a full-time Teen Librarian, Meg Krohn
  • installation of summer reading tents on the E. Falmouth lLibrary lawn, funded by the Support Group
  • Trustee donation to the Falmouth Village Association to support Movie Under the Stars in  summer 2021

 Ongoing Concerns:  Staffing problems because of Covid, retirements, and lack of affordable housing for prospective hires 

 In conclusion, all the above reflect the dedication of the Trustees and the Library staff to the thoughtful implementation of the goals stated in the mission statement.  Falmouth should feel immensely grateful that our libraries are in such capable hands.             

Marcia Easterling, League of Women Voters Observer Corps

 

 

 

 

 

 

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