2018 March Minutes

Minutes of the Friends of the Mission Hills-Hillcrest Library

The meeting was held at the Mission Hills Branch Library.  The meeting was called to order at 6:27 P.M. by Phyllis Marion, President.  In attendance were Phyllis Marion, Robin Baker, Lee and Jean Dresser, Leanna Selleck, Nancy Carol Carter, Al Hoefer, Don Rudesill, Frances Schroeder, Mary Rose Mueller, Elaine Kalin, Pat Littell and Steve Wheeler.

Minutes: The minutes were approved after two corrections. Both were in the Librarian’s report.

Financials: Don Rudesill provided a quarterly report, but he said that we may return to a monthly report to show changes more clearly.  Our total in all accounts is $156,827.32.  Monthly income and expenses were not on the quarterly report.

Membership: Nancy Carol Carter said that she is working on a new membership letter.  She is coordinating with the fundraising campaign for the new branch and wants to direct members to the website for photos and information.

Programs: Steve Wheeler said that the Chinese New Year lion’s dance was fun and attracted a mix of children and adults.  The Oasis vegetable gardening class had a good turnout.

Upcoming events include Science for Kids on March 6, Mars Colony on March 22, a St, Patrick’s Day event for children on March 10 with a hunt for the mythical pot of gold, an India classical music program on March 17, and Zzymzzy quartet, a program for adults, on April 14.

Website: Al Hoefer said that the site is current and pictures are up of the new branch construction.

Corporate Meeting:  Phyllis attended the meeting and reported that The Corporate Friends need a secretary who would attend a meeting once each month.

There was a discussion about the floating collections.  Many members are not in favor of the plan.  La Jolla has the biggest problem with it.  The discussion was tabled for now.

Misty Jones and the controller for matching funds were at the meeting.  Misty said that she is going to the City Council about the idea of no overdue fines.

She also presented a report on matching funds.  Phyllis distributed the handout from the meeting.  In the future, all funds will be in one fund, not three, and will work like the matching book fund.  There will be a 50 percent match and another 50 percent to a pool.  The pool will be allocated by formula. This plan needs Council approval before implementation.

Fundraising/Book sales: Robin Baker donated $26.00 from book wrapping at Barnes and Noble before the holidays.

Librarian’s report: Steve reported on today’s managers’ meeting.  The system is floating fiction books that are over two years old. Non-fiction and others will float later.

Our branch should get a new clerk soon.

Steve said that Council member Ward is providing funds from his budget for a proposed program of coding for girls.  He is also providing ten Chromebook laptops.  Rebecca, our children’s librarian, is well qualified and will teach the program.

The annual “How to Festival” meeting was today.  This is a one-day program in which people come in and teach their skills to others.  The branch will participate this year, we are looking for partner donations.  We approved $50.00 for promotion and for snacks for the presenters.

President’s report: Phyllis reported that we now have a books store committee of Alan Sparks, Don Rudesill, Frances Schroeder, Phyllis Marion, and Michele Pieters.  Contact Phyllis if you would like to participate.  A request for participants may also be put in the newsletter.

Old business: Phyllis tallied the volunteer hours of the Friends.  The total was 1241.5 hours in the last six months and 2574 hours for the year.

A draft agreement for the use of LGBTQIA funds that are being redirected to our Friends from Logan Heights has been prepared.

Elaine Kagin and Mary Rose Mueller visited Skyline branch to see the bookstore.  The store was not open at the time, but they reported that the library is impressive.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 P.M.  The next meeting is April 5 at the branch.