Friends of the Vallejo Public Library

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