Friends of the Vallejo Public Library

The Grand Poobahs:

• Larry Holzer – President
• Jim Kern – Vice-President
• Shirley Martin – Secretary
• Cile Brewster – Treasurer

The Lonely Grunts:

• Marty Kuehneman
• Lois Bareilles
• Lynn Combs
• Barbara Cooley
• Phyllis Honodel
• Larry Holzer
• Kenneth Innes
• Jim Kern
• Margaret Olson
• Olga Crotty
• Guia del Rosario

Ex-Officio Directors:

• Linda Matchette
• Juli Huston

In Memoriam:

• Margaret "Peggy" Long. 1924-2009

To contact the Board with comments or suggests, please contact us via e-mail at vallejofriends@gmail.com

The Friends of the Vallejo Public Library support many library programs that could not be properly funded otherwise. Some of the programs which we support are the following:

• Children’s Summer Reading Program.
• Children’s Book Week Certificates.
• Re-upholstering the existing furniture.
• Free concerts to the community.
• Teen Appreciation Events.
• Outreach treats and giveaways.
• Ellison Dies for all-purpose cutouts.

The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Vallejo Public Library was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on June 16, 2010 in the McCune Room by President, Ken Innes. A quorum was present.

The President extended a warm welcome to everyone. Those present were:

• Board members: Ken Innes, Irma Liberty, Shirley Martin, Cile Brewster, Lois Bareilles, Barbara Cooley, Lynn Combs, Olga Crotty, Larry Holzer, Phyllis Honodel, Marty Kuehneman, Margaret Olsen
• Friends members: Gladys Woodward, Dorothy Pitchford, Diji Christian
• Librarians: Linda Matchette and Juli Huston
• Guest: Dilenna Harris, Executive Director of the Solano County Library Trust
• Board members excused: Jim Kern and Guia Del Rosario

The minutes of the June 17, 2009 Annual Meeting were approved as read.

Treasurer, Cile Brewster, gave the following report:

Income:	$23,451.12
Expenses:	$12,306.07
Total Assets:	$45,916.37

LIBRARIANS’ REPORTS

Linda Matchette gave the annual report for JFK. She thanked the Friends for all the assistance they have provided. A few that were mentioned are as follows:

• Adult Programs – Long-running Lawyer @ Your Library program is filled to capacity twice a month. Adult author visit is planned for June 26th. Friends funds the honorarium for the speaker. The baby grand piano kept in the Joseph Room is once again tuned and was pronounced in fine condition.
• Young Adult Programs – The Wii gaming programs combined with the many board games that Friends have funded in previous years allow teens to come to the library and have fun. Once here, they check out materials and use the library. Their Summer Reading Program is supported by Friends for a kick-off party and books as prizes for reading. Cartooning workshops are a natural offshoot of the current interest in anime and manga for teens. A well-known artist who lives in Vallejo has done and will do cartooning/drawing workshops for teens.
• Children’s Programs – The Summer Reading Program is the biggest event for kids in Vallejo and the performers who come weekly are all paid for by the Friends. Books given as prizes at the end of the program are donated by Friends. For the rest of the year Friends helps with bringing in groups for African-American History Month, Asian Pacific Heritage Month and many others
• Friends also funds the wrap-up party at the end of summer for the high school seniors who come in to do community service, helping with the Summer Reading Program.
• This past year Friends funded four chairs being reupholstered in Children’s.
• Linda again thanked the Friends for all their support.

Juli Huston reported for Springstowne. She also thanked Friends for their generosity in helping provide n exciting year of programming for patrons young and old.

• Children’s Crafts - Juli reported on the many craft projects going on at Springstowne. Highlight of the year for children’s was the start of the monthly Lego club. She showed us some of the Lego creations.
• Young Adult Programs – Teens enjoyed a jewelry-making workshop during the holidays. Friends provided funds for extra supplies for the Homework Help Program. A joint children’s and YA Earth Day craft program was held.
• Adult Programs – Friends approved funds to offer stipends for speakers at Relatives as Parents Project meetings. Thus far, we’ve had four speakers. Two more speakers are scheduled.
• Summer Activities – Looking forward to summer reading activities for children and families with musicians, puppet shows, etc. An adult program is in the planning stages, as well. In the fall, Springstowne will again offer a tutoring program in partnership with Fighting Back .
• Juli again thanked the Friends for making the programming year so successful.

REMARKS BY DILENNA HARRIS

Dilenna thanked the Friends for their generosity in helping the Solano County Library Foundation, fund the Reach Out and Read Program. With the help of the various Friends organizations and two grants that were obtained, the Reach Out and Read Program has been fully funded for 2010-2011. She emphasized the importance of funding literacy programs for the future, citing the fact that there are over 30,000 adults in Solano County who cannot read.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Outgoing President, Ken Innes, presented his annual report, mentioning the following:

• Very productive year: The annual sale netted over $10,000 and the ongoing mini sale brought in approximately $900 per month.
• Vallejo Friends helped fund the Reach Out and Read Program.
• Donated books to the Vallejo Education Association who handed them out to students at four venues. Two of them were JFK and Springstowne.
• Friends also donated books for an assisted living center; National Library Week; and the Summer Reading Program.
• Encouraged everyone to check out the Friends’ website where lots of good information can be found.
• President Innes mentioned that, at the end of our book sale, we try to give as many of our leftover books as we can to nonprofit community organizations within the county. If anyone knows of any group that would like to have books, have them contact us.
• Volunteers are always needed. They can get information at our website.
• Thank yous to the members of the Board, Linda Matchette and Juli Huston for all their assistance.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE’S REPORT AND ELECTION

The Nominating Committee was comprised of Jim Kern, Barbara Cooley, and Jim Kern. They proposed the following slate of officers for the 2010-2011 term:

President	Larry Holzer
Vice President	Jim Kern
Secretary	Shirley Martin
Treasurer	Cile Brewster

Board Members: Lois Bareilles, Lynn Combs, Barbara Cooley, Olga Crotty, Guia Del Rosario, Phyllis Honodel, Ken Innes, Marty Kluehneman and Margaret Olsen

The President asked for nominations from the floor. Hearing none, Barbara Cooley moved that nominations be closed. Motion seconded and carried. Lynn Combs moved that the entire slate be elected. Motion seconded and carried.

NEW BUSINESS

Marty Kuehneman mentioned that, when we select volunteers, we need to make sure that some of them have the strength to move boxes of books to the third floor. Discussion followed on how volunteers are screened and selected. Barbara Cooley suggested that maybe we should rethink the way Friends’ volunteers are selected. This will be taken up at the September meeting.

On behalf of the Board, Barbara Cooley thanked Ken for his hard work and dedication, which contributed so much in making 2009-2010 such a successful year.

President Innes turned the gavel over to newly elected President, Larry Holzer, who, after brief remarks, adjourned the meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. Refreshments were served after the meeting.

Shirley Martin
Secretary

Annual Report to the Friends of the Vallejo Libraries
June 17, 2009
Linda Matchette

It has been nearly a year since this branch has closed two evenings a week and yet business is up nearly 50%. As you probably are aware, in tough economic times, the public library usage rises. We are seeing new faces and many of our regular customers. In all this business, we couldn’t do our jobs as well without the constant support of you, the Friends of the Library.

I hope our friendly staff say “thank you” when they see you in the course of the day, but this is my opportunity to give you all a big Thank You and remind you of the many things you do that the public has come to rely on.

ADULT PROGRAMS

The Friends have allowed staff to provide programs that fulfill our Strategic Plan. Author visits by Eva Rutland, Mai Nguyen and MaryLou Peters Schram this spring brought in very enjoyable activities and the ability to pursue topics of interest that allow our customers to learn, explore and expand their thinking.

Providing water for Lawyers @ Your Library allows the lawyers to continue speaking to capacity crowds twice a month, every month. The lawyers are very appreciative.

The first time for us Adult Summer Reading Program has ‘reader’s journals’ to offer participants when they sign up. These little journals are a clever way for readers to keep notes on what they’ve read. We hope to get the word out about our first time with this program by having local author, David Corbett come and talk to summer readers. Again, thank you Friends!

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS

While it has been a year with two different young adult librarians, the programs you were asked to support are still being carried out. We offer the ever popular Poetry Slams that provides teens with the enjoyable activities, while also encouraging literacy. These provide a venue for safe, good natured competition.

Friends funds provide for small prizes.

The Manga and Anime book clubs are regular programs that keep many dedicated teens returning to the library to discuss what they have read. Friends provide light refreshments for these monthly programs. Friends also provided for a cartoonist to come and talk to teens about that particular job.

We participated in an ALA sponsored teen event with the Teen Halloween Costume Party. This was a direct tie in the popular literature. Friends provided refreshments and prizes.

The traditional young adult summer reading program is off to a very good start with 30 teens attending the kick off party. This program encourages teen literacy while providing enjoyable activities. Friends supported this program with funding for prize books. Friends also provide for light refreshments.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

The Friends of the Library have traditionally funded the big programs for the children’s summer reading club. This year is no exception. Today got off to a great start with 250 attending Magic Dan. Although the program has restructured somewhat, the Friends provide funds for a paperback book to keep for those that reach their goal. Also during the summer, the children’s staff plan “Terrific Tuesdays” to help provide activities that meet the strategic plan of enjoyable recreational activities.

Throughout the year the Friends make possible for children’s to provide another program that meets library strategic plan goals. Second Saturdays is a series of family friendly programs that again provide enjoyable recreational activities. Friends also fund craft supplies for some of the Saturday programs.

All through the calendar year the Friends fund craft supplies for the weekly storytimes. The crafts that the children happily make and take home make the library a very positive memory to children and their families. The variety of storytimes given at this branch continues to be some of the best attended programs we offer to the public. Friends funds allowed children’s to replace the foam blocks, wooden alphabet and number block puzzles and purchase an additional set of music shakers. All these storytime enhancements are an important part of helping young children develop social and emerging literacy skills.

Younger teens, with out the hope or interest of working in the summer, volunteer in the children’s section in order to assist when 250 program attendees descend to the first floor to get their sticker for the reading activity they’ve completed. The Friends fund a “volunteer appreciation event” for all their summer-long work.

And lastly, the reading nook furniture that you provided for this year is especially loved by little children. I’ve observed the frog being read to and a train made out of the others. These animals match nicely with the jungle theme painting on the walls of the picture book area. This wouldn’t be possible without funding from the Friends of the Library.

Again, for all these things, the staff of the John F. Kennedy Library wish to give you a heartfelt THANK YOU.

Friends Thank You

This year thanks to the friends we were able to offer many programs for children, adults and teens.

Toddlers and preschoolers enjoyed weekly storytimes enhanced by a craft time following the stories. Throughout the year our Children’s librarian was able to offer at least one seasonal program a month. These included African American storyteller Kirk Waller and several joint Children’s and YA crafts. You supplied funds for Dia de Los Muertos crafts, a book party for Solano Kids Read, Chinese New Year crafts, and Earth Day Crafts.

Friends’ money also supplied new board games that are enjoyed almost daily by customers of all ages and a set of new foam blocks to replace our aging wooden blocks, which proved difficult to keep clean. The new blocks are easy to clean and much less noisy when towers are knocked over.

Teens enjoyed programs such as a cartoonist who drew Halloween themed caricatures, an artist who taught a cartooning workshop, a jewelry making program, and a Chocolate tasting program. You also supplied refreshments for the teen Manga book club as well as gift cards for the Black History Month trivia contest and Back to School Games day.

We are now starting our annual summer reading programs. Friends’ money will be used to pay for not just two, but three age levels of summer reading programs. Children and families will enjoy weekly activities and performers and receive prize books for completing our summer reading game boards.

This year we will again offer teens the opportunity to choose prize books after completing goals they set for themselves. There will also be a summer reading kick-off party complete with ice cream sundaes and an end of summer pizza party for teens who participate in summer reading.

This year for the first time we are having an adult summer reading program. Thanks to the Friends we were able to purchase small book journals as a sign-up gift. We will also be hosting Dalt Williams and his jazz ensemble as one of our adult programs this summer. He will be appearing on Tuesday July 14 at 11 a.m.

We are also planning to start a book club for adults at Springstowne. It will start this month and run through the summer. Refreshments will be enjoyed as Springstowne residents sit down to discuss the book of the month.

Finally, in July the Friends’ money will provide for a family law attorney to visit the Relatives as Parents Project (the group I’ve been working with for my Eureka grant). This will be a valuable speaker for this group.

The entire Springstowne staff thanks you very much for your generosity. You make it possible for us to have quality programs that enrich the lives of Springstowne customers of all ages. Thank you.

Annual Report to the Friends of the Vallejo Libraries
June 2008
Linda Matchette

As you are all probably aware, the Board of Supervisors have adopted the recommendations to close the John F. Kennedy Library on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I await your choice of a new meeting day and time so that I can book the Board Room. ACTION ITEM

Juli and Linda both hope that we and our staffs say think you more than once a year for all the many things you do for us, but we do look forward every year to this opportunity to say “Thank You.” The funding you provide pays for many programs, equipment, materials and support for services that we could not afford in our budget. It improves the quality of service we provide and there the quality of life in our community.

Children’s Services

The majority of children’s programming is funded by you. Below is but a partial list of the programs that bring children and their families into the libraries.

Library events featuring crafts and treats continue to be some of the best attended programs that we offer to the public. Successful storytimes featuring crafts, hands-on projects or treats include Preschool and Family Storytimes, Dia de los Muertos, Magic Tree House Adventures, Second Saturday Series, and more. You fund book giveaways and other enhancements that help meet goals in the Strategic Plan.

The Summer Reading Program is an extremely successful and valuable program at the JFK Library. Parents, children and daycare providers have commented that the program increases interest in books and reading and the programs help entice them to visit the library. Families always express their appreciation of the wide variety of activities they are able to attend. Getting a book to keep is the goal of our summer readers. Summer programs are a variety of performers who tie their act to books. The weekly incentives keep the kids coming back each week to show off more titles on their reading log and pick up their prize. You funded the performers and prize books.

In celebration of Children’s Book Week, you fund the four winning artists’ gift certificates. We hold a tea for the winners and celebrate the drawings being made into bookmarks for their class.

Goal Four of the Strategic Plan states that “Children in Solano County will be offered a variety of activities to encourage reading for entertainment, inspiration and delight.” In order to help us meet this goal, you funded performers such as musician, puppet group or other children’s entertainer approximately four times this year.

In our mission to help our young patrons develop language and literacy skills, you purchased a tabletop theater, nursery rhyme surprise boxes, movement scarves and song and story sets. These items enhance our storytimes and help reinforce rhythm, words and meaning. The tabletop theater is my favorite as I see it in use constantly. Very young children are able to open the curtains and make up their own story to share.

The foam blocks are used in both Toddler and Baby Bounce programs and your funding allowed for them to be replaced for hygienic and cosmetic reasons. These are part of helping young children develop emerging literacy skills. The same reasons saw the replacement of the wooden number and alphabet puzzles which are so beloved and well used by our families.

Young Adult Services

To fulfill goals, young adult programs were planned to interest the teens to come into the library. The Pizza and Pages was held 6 times and gathered more than 55 teens.

Two programs of Guitar Hero were held that really brought teens into the Joseph room to test their ability to play the guitar. This program is building and is bringing in more and more teens.

The Young Adult Summer Reading Program brings teens into the library to encourage reading. They read and draw for enjoyment and earned prizes that you funded.

I need to ask for an additional $350.00 for teen programs planned for September through October. Planned are:

• Book and Anime Club (September and October) refreshments, crafts and books $200.00
• Guitar Hero Gaming (September and October) refreshments and prizes $80.00
• Vallejo Teens Poetry Slam Competition (September and October) prizes for 1st and 2nd $70.00

ACTION ITEM

Adult Services

As always, keeping the piano tuned is important to the many recitals and concerts that have happened in the Joseph Room. The friends pay for this on an annual basis.

You funded and we chose not to pursue the Adult Summer Reading Program this summer. We will have our hands full with the changing schedule of the branch. We will make this a priority for next summer.