Minutes
Friends of the Library
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015
Library Community Room
Mary Ann O’Neil called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. (This meeting was originally scheduled for
January 26 but was rescheduled due to snow.)
Present: Mary Ann O’Neil, Mary Ann Melgey, Susan Brosnan, Elaine Leon, Mary Jo Nugent, Ann
Legler, Gladys Kimmel, Toi Willson
Minutes from Last Meeting: Elaine Leon read minutes from Sept. 29, 2014. A correction was made
to New Business to show that Mary Ann O’Neil recommended purchase of 3 DVDs on farming for the
library collection. The minutes were accepted as corrected.
Treasurer’s Report: Mary Ann Melgey reported the balance for FOL is $7852.04. She reported that
$842.45 was realized from the last book sale, with total revenue of $1052.06. A motion was made
and carried to accept the Treasurer’s Report as read.
Secretary’s Report: Elaine Leon reported that she would complete the online OMS Registration for
Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts. This will enable employees of Pfizer and other companies that also
participate in the Consiva Organization Management System (OMS) to make matching gifts to the
Friends of the Library.
Director’s Report: Susan Brosnan, Director, reported that the following purchases funded by the
Friends were made: the Felt Board for the Children’s Librarian, the farming DVDs, and the passes to
Roger Williams Zoo and Mystic Seaport.
Jayne Perry, Children’s Librarian, is requesting volunteers to bake and to help with “A Very Happy
Unbirthday Party” to be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. She is also requesting that the Friends
consider sponsoring the Summer Reading Program once again. She believes that supplies could
cost up to $500 and $300 if we wish to sponsor a program for Summer Reading.
Connecticut Author Trail will be from July 7 – Sept. 10, 2015. Sue asked if the friends want to
participate. There are printing costs, refreshments for the author talk, basket for the finale at
Mohegan Sun. Sue mentioned that Jedah Maybery, author of The Unheralded King of Preston Plains
Middle, would be very interested to speak at the library. Sue was asked to share the list of potential
authors with the Friends for further discussion.
Sue also reported that the rates to insert the library and Friends information into the Preston Pipeline
are going up from $50 to $62.50 (the Friends share of the cost) beginning in the spring.
Library Board: Ann Legler reported that the heating/cooling replacement bids are coming in. It is
hoped that the work will be done in the spring. The town budget process is under way. She also
reported that the Library Board acknowledged the hard work of the Friends in planning programs for
the community.
Committee Reports:
Program Committee: Mary Jo Nugent reported on upcoming programs:
 Hands-On Woodturning Demonstration with Ken Guarneri and members of the Central
Connecticut Woodturners will be held at the Poquetanuck Fire House on March 14.
 “The Life and Legacy of Prudence Crandall”, a program with Kazimiera Kozlowski, Museum
Curator, The Prudence Crandall Museum, will be held at the Preston Veterans Memorial
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School on Rte 165 on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. This program is being presented in
cooperation with the Preston Historical Society.
Other ideas for programs were also discussed: a gardening program, an astronomy program,
and a program on understaning genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Mary Jo also raised a request by Linda Christensen for the Friends to a portable microphone
system for $120. A motion was made by Elaine Leon and seconded by Toi Willson to make
the purchase. The motion carried. The order will be placed by Linda.
Book Sale Committee: Marie Perrin was not present at the meeting. Toi Willson reported that a
tentative date for the next book sale is April 17 & 18.
Old Business:
The discussion to purchase a bicycle rack and a picnic table for the library was tabled until the next
meeting.
New Business:
Upcoming Specialty Basket Raffles:
 Spring/Summer - Ann Legler
 Back to School – Elaine Leon and Mary Jo Nugent
 Winter – Mary Ann O’Neil and Mary Ann Melgey
Mary Ann O’Neil suggested the purchase of 2 books and a DVD on Prudence Crandall for the library.
The motion was made to make the purchases by Toi Willson and seconded by Elaine Leon. Motion
carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 3:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Elaine Leon, Secretary
Next Meeting: Monday, March 23, 2015, 3:00 p.m. in the Library Community Room
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