Minutes
Friends of the Library
Monday, Sept. 28, 2015
Library Community Room
Mary Ann O’Neil called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Present: Mary Ann O’Neil, Mary Ann Melgey, Elaine Leon, Mary Jo Nugent, Ann Legler, Toi Willson,
Marie Perrin, Linda Christensen
Minutes from Last Meeting: The reading of the minutes from July 13th was waived. The minutes
were accepted.
Treasurer’s Report: Mary Ann Melgey reported the balance for FOL is $7619.61. She reported total
revenue of $887.87 and expenses of $1083.54. The back-to-school basket raffle raised $78. The
membership drive brought in $605. A motion was made by Linda Christensen and seconded by Mary
Jo Nugent to accept the treasurer’s report.
Director’s Report: Susan Brosnan was unable to attend but left a written report which was read by
Mary Ann O’Neil. She provided a breakdown of expenses for the summer reading program that was
sponsored by the Friends. Children who attended decorated bird houses at the program. She also
requested the financial support of the Friends for the following:
 $500 to purchase DVDs and Read-a-Long Audio Books
 Library’s membership in an interlibrary consortium
 Bicycle rack and picnic table
Library Board: Ann Legler reported that the project of installing cabinets in the library workroom is
nearly completed. The purchases were made using the Friends 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The
heating and cooling installation is finished. The Library board is updating its policy and procedures
manual. Ann reported that she and Mary Ann O’Neil had spoken to the Board at its last meeting
about the Friends and requested suggestions for goals from the Board members. Ann suggested one
possible goal that the Board and Friends may want to consider: funding a scholarship for a student
studying to become a librarian.
Committee Reports:
Book Sale Committee: Marie Perrin reported the book sale will be held on Friday, October 16th from
9 am – 7 pm and on Saturday, October 17th from 9 am – 1 pm, at the Poquetanuck Fire Department.
Members were asked to volunteer to work at the sale and/or to set up or pack up the books. A list is
being drawn up by Pat Berthiaume. Please contact Pat at 860-885-4508 or by email at
p.berthiaume@sbcglobal.net to volunteer.
Marie reported that Boy Scout Troop 75 from Preston will help to move books from the library to the
fire house and will help to return the unsold books to the storage shed after the sale.
Program Committee: Mary Jo Nugent reported:
 Author’s Trail program with Jedah Mayberry, author of The Unheralded King of Preston Plains
Middle, was well attended.
 The first two gardening programs – Gardening to Attract Birds and Butterflies on Sept 3rd and
Pruning Techniques on Sept 17th – attracted 11 people and 17 people, respectively.
FOL Minutes Sept. 28, 2015
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Minutes
Friends of the Library
Monday, Sept. 28, 2015
Library Community Room
(cont.)
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The final gardening program this year, also presented by Master Gardener Tracy Burrel, is on
Thurs., Oct. 1, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Preston Public Library Meeting Room, Composting &
Amending Your Soil – Steps to Take Now for a Beautiful Garden Next Spring.
Linda Christensen will present a Genealogy/Ancestry Workshop, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3:00 - 4:00
p.m., Preston Public Library Meeting Room
Anita Smiley will present “Life in Finland” on Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 6:30 pm, Preston Public
Library Meeting Room
Additional programs are in the planning stages.
Mary Ann O’Neil and Mary Jo requested more support from members for the programs. They need
more members to attend the programs and also discussed the issue of providing refreshments at the
program. The group felt that it is not necessary to provide food or drink to those attending future
programs with the exception of the author’s trail program. Mary Jo said she will discontinue providing
food after the Finland program in November.
Mary Jo reported that surveys are being distributed at the programs and they are very positive.
Old Business:
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Bike Rack and Picnic Table: The original request to purchase a bike rack and picnic table was
presented in Sept 2014 and has been tabled ever since awaiting further information from the
Director concerning the costs for each item. We will request that Sue Brosnan provide more
information on the costs at our next meeting.
The request by the Director for the Friends to provide funding for membership in an interlibrary
consortium was originally raised at the July 13th meeting and is pending further information
from the Director concerning more specifics on the cost and scope of the proposed consortium
membership as will as the new statewide system that was to go into effect in September 2015.
The Winter Basket Raffle basket will be prepared by Mary Ann Melgey and Mary Ann O’Neil.
A bill for the renewal of the Friends dues in the Friends of CT Libraries was presented to the
treasurer for payment. Mary Ann O’Neil recommended that members visit the website at
www.foclib.org
New Business:
A motion was made by Mary Ann Melgey and seconded by Elaine Leon to provide up to $500 to
purchase DVDs and Audio Books as requested by the Director. The motion was approved.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted: Elaine Leon, Secretary
Next Meeting: Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, 3:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room
FOL Minutes Sept. 28, 2015
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